Kane's Arthas (Combined Chapter)

In the rebuilt front hall of Redleaf Lord's mansion, a bandit rushed in in a panic.

"Something terrible has happened, Lord!"

"Is it a spirit of the dead?" Bai Xiaowen asked.

"Hmm, that doesn't seem right. I see two human knights leading the way..."

Li Shuyi said, "Could it be a special envoy sent by the Empire to interfere in the affairs of Redleaf City?"

Bai Xiaowen shook his head and said, "Logically, it shouldn't be this fast. I think those two knights might be like Ian and Jericho. Let's go take a look. Even if they are enemies, we can handle them."

Many residents of Redleaf City stood at the city gate, watching the procession in the distance with curiosity and wariness.

The two knights at the head of the group stood side by side, with no difference in rank. One of them, a burly knight as tall as an iron tower, called out loudly, "Is the lord of Redleaf Fief present?"

"Maki is dead, and I am now in charge of Redleaf City!" Bai Xiaowen appeared on the city wall and shouted, "I am the lord of White Stone Town, you can call me Dio. Who are you?"

Two knights rode slowly to the city gate.

"We are knights of the Papacy. You may call me Job, Your Excellency. This gentleman beside me is Ferdinand," the burly knight said, looking up. "We have received news of a serious undead riot in Redleaf City, and we have been ordered by Prince Nicholas to exterminate the undead."

Job produced a stone engraved with mysterious runes. "This is Communication Rune Stone; you can use it to contact Crown Prince Nicholas. Lord Dio, Prince Nicholas has many questions for you."

With a flash of light, large swaths of colorful mist rose from the Communication Rune Stone. Soon, the colorful mist condensed, transforming into a phantom image of a person.

This was a young man, handsome and tall, with dazzling blond hair. He wore azure knight's armor and a flamboyant cloak with a lion pattern on his back. Lightning occasionally crackled around the silver warhammer in his hand. Even from the illusory image, one could see his power.

The residents of Redleaf City knelt down one after another, cheering for Prince Nicholas's name.

"This Little Bai seems to be much more popular than me. He's good-looking too, almost catching up to me," Bai Xiaowen muttered to Li Shuyi.

Upon seeing the prince's image, Bai Xiaowen naturally had to show due respect. He stepped down from the city wall, came out from the city gate, gently tapped his right fist on his left chest, and bowed in a greeting commonly used in the Kane Plane.

"It is an honor to meet you, Your Highness Prince Nicholas."

The image of Prince Nicholas nodded and said, "Who are you?"

Bai Xiaowen introduced herself.

"The lord of White Stone Town? I remember White Stone Town is a very small territory. It's hard to believe you have the strength to conquer Redleaf Fief." Prince Nicholas's face revealed a meaningful expression.

Bai Xiaowen said, "Your Highness should know that there are many bandit groups in White Stone Town, all pitiful people who have gone astray. I recruited them into my own forces, thus creating a fairly strong army. They contributed greatly to the purification of Redleaf Fief."

Bai Xiaowen deliberately used the word "purify" instead of "conquer".

"Reorganized bandits?" Job suddenly asked. "There's a Black Wind Bandit Group in White Stone Town; did you also recruit them? What about their leader, Ian?"

Bai Xiaowen replied, "Ian is dead."

Upon hearing the news of Ian's death, Prince Nicholas frowned slightly, while Job and Ferdinand showed undisguised grief on their faces, and their eyes held a hint of resentment as they looked at Bai Xiaowen.

After all, Ian was their comrade-in-arms.

However, Bai Xiaowen wasn't foolish enough to reveal Ian's true identity. He continued his narration, glossing over the discovery of the clues to the Necrotic Plague and focusing on the outcome of the battle, mentioning Maki, Jericho, and the Lich Ebizer.

"In other words, you've wiped out a major lair of the Necrotic Plague for the Empire. Well done," Prince Nicholas nodded. "Furthermore, I've also seen your contribution to the Empire's conscription order. Now you command a decent army. Bring it to the Blackrock Line and fight for the fate of the Empire and humanity."

A notification message regarding the Spirit Realm Rules has arrived:

"Heroic Tier Side Quest Step 1: The Truth of the Plague has been completed and submitted. Rating: Excellent."

Main Quest: Recruit Your Army- Completed and submitted. Rating: Perfect.

Prince Nicholas continued, "Your troops are sufficient to form the main force of the 17th Infantry Phalanx of the Blackrock Line. Based on this, I hereby appoint you as the commander of the Seventeenth Infantry Formation. This is an important military position in the Human Allied Army, and you must not slacken your efforts. If you achieve sufficient military merit in the war, I will request His Majesty the King to elevate your rank to match your military position."

Bai Xiaowen nodded. "I will prove my loyalty to the Empire and the people, Your Highness."

He knew very well that the position of "Commander of the Seventeenth Infantry Formation" was usually reserved for viscounts, but because Bai Xiaowen had recruited more than ten times the number of soldiers of an ordinary Baron, he was granted this important military post.

A notification from the Spirit Realm Rules sounded, "You have completed the main quest. You are free to explore for the next 9 days, 14 hours, 23 minutes, and 31 seconds. You may leave the Kane Plane at any time while in combat, and all Psionic Points, equipment, and items you have obtained will be retained."

"[Main Quest Step 2: The Flames of Blackrock] is now available."

"Mission Objective: Defend Blackrock Fortress for 10 days until Imperial reinforcements arrive."

"Mission Difficulty: S"

"Mission deadline: 15 days."

Following this quest, there is a special message: "Countdown to the Remnants's Attack: 9 days, 14 hours, 23 minutes, and 31 seconds. Please reach Blackrock Fortress before the countdown ends; failure to do so will be considered a quest failure."

"If you fail [Main Quest 2: The Flames of Blackrock], all Psionic Points, equipment, and item gains you received during that main quest will be lost. Gains you received during [Main Quest 1: Recruit Your Army] will remain unaffected."

Bai Xiaowen and Li Shuyi shared the notification information. They looked at each other, and a hint of excitement could be seen in each other's eyes.

What does [Main Quest 2: The Flames of Blackrock] mean?

A full 15 days of extra time in the Kane Plane! That's practically equivalent to another Spirit Realm Ticket!

Moreover, its significance far exceeds a mere Spirit Realm Ticket. The two can start from the current situation, delve deeper into side quests, and plan for even greater benefits.

Many awakened individuals believe that the 10-day stay in the Spirit Realm each time is too short. It's like starting a project only to have to return due to time constraints, limiting them to short-term projects rather than long-term planning.

Therefore, a 15-day pass is worth much more than a 10-day pass, at least double the value.

As for Bai Xiaowen and Li Shuyi, being able to stay in the Kane Plane for a full 30 days, how many additional benefits could Bai Xiaowen, who is skilled at planning, possibly gain? It's hard to say. At least from Bai Xiaowen's perspective, he wouldn't be willing to exchange 10 C-Tier or lower Spirit Realm Ticket for those 30 days.

The extra 15 days of stay were something Bai Xiaowen had to fight for herself.

Under normal circumstances, when an Awakened One completes the first main quest, the army they can recruit is at most a dozen or so people. Even if they exceed the quest requirements, it won't be by much. And a small team of a dozen or so people is insignificant in the Blackrock Line. They won't get any important military positions, and of course, they won't be able to get extra time to stay.

Bai Xiaowen, however, recruited twenty times the number of soldiers and even captured Redleaf Fief, meaning that Lord Maki's original recruitment task was also completed by him. This resulted in him gaining command of an entire infantry phalanx and holding an important position in the Human Allied Army.

After calculation, the Spirit Realm Rules determined that the character played by Bai Xiaowen — Dio Skellboom, the lord of White Stone Town —had gained an important position that affected the balance of power and could not be easily removed. Thus, the second main quest was initiated.

This was something Bai Xiaowen had vaguely deduced when he first Kane Plane and encountered the first main quest—there was a hint at the time. "The stronger the army you recruit, the higher your status will be in the Human Allied Army."

If there's no more time to stay, what's the point of climbing to a higher position in the Human Allied Army? The Spirit Realm Rules don't offer meaningless hints. That's why Bai Xiaowen spends so much time recruiting bandits to build his legion.

"However, before the formal appointment is made, I need to verify one thing," Prince Nicholas called out, "Ferdinand."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Beside Job, another knight named Ferdinand took out a monocle, put it on, and then carefully examined Bai Xiaowen.

"Lord Dio is not an undead, and has not been infected by the plague."

That monocle is the Holy Light Plague Detector.

Job looked relieved. Prince Nicholas nodded. "Very good."

However, Ferdinand frowned when he turned his gaze to the others, especially the residents of Redleaf City.

"Wait a minute, Your Highness... Lord Dio and his guards were not infected by the plague, but all the other residents of Redleaf City Stealth the virus... There isn't a single healthy person left."

"What?" exclaimed the knight Job, then looked at the residents of Redleaf City with pity.

Bai Xiaowen sensed something was wrong. "What's wrong?"

The image of Prince Nicholas waved his arm.

"Clear them all. This task is entrusted to Lord Dio and his guard. Job, Ferdinand, you are responsible for overseeing the execution; not a single infected person from Redleaf City may escape."

"Yes, Your Highness." Job and Ferdinand both sighed. "Lord Dio, give the order."

"Wait, what's going on?" Bai Xiaowen was stunned.

This strangely familiar scene...

In another timeline, isn't there a similar plot in a game? Civilians infected by the plague, a prince who has followed the path of the Holy Light since childhood, and the executioner's blade of Stratholme...

Is Prince Nicholas Kane's version of "Arthas"?

"Didn't you hear His Highness's order? Clear out all the civilians infected with the Necrotic Plague! They have no hope left!" Job's voice was loud, showing no regard for the many Redleaf City residents around them.

Ferdinand: "Your Highness, please carry out the prince's orders as soon as possible!"

Bai Xiaowen shook her head and said without hesitation, "I refuse."

"You're refusing my order?" Prince Nicholas frowned, his face showing displeasure. "You need to think this through! This is my decision!"

"The army's duty is to protect the people. If I receive orders to raise a knife against unarmed civilians, I will never accept it." Bai Xiaowen appropriately projected a righteous image, and the panicked residents of Redleaf City looked at Bai Xiaowen with hopeful eyes.

Prince Nicholas was not angry. Job and Ferdinand were not surprised by Bai Xiaowen's words.

This is because the Golden Broom Dynasty's values are such that chivalry emphasizes mercy and forbids the bullying of the weak. If Bai Xiaowen readily agrees to Prince Nicholas's order to massacre the city, these three will have to consider whether Bai Xiaowen is inherently Cold Blood.

"Your Highness, believe me, His Highness's order, though ruthless, is the wisest decision!" Job advised. "Redleaf City is not the first town infected by the Necrotic Plague. There was a similar town before, but His Highness did not have the resolve to massacre the entire city, which ultimately resulted in the city being filled with undead, and it took the Empire a great deal of effort to completely eliminate it."

"Indeed, His Highness was in far more pain than you can imagine when he issued this order. However, as a leader, he couldn't possibly show his pain. Lord Dio, if you can't bring yourself to do it, or are unwilling to bear the infamy, then let us do it."

Seeing that the act was almost over, Bai Xiaowen revealed the truth.

"I understand how terrible the Necrotic Plague is, but indiscriminate killing won't solve the problem. We must find a cure for the Necrotic Plague! I believe there must be a way to save these innocent people."

"You have a way?" Prince Nicholas stared intently at Bai Xiaowen.

"In fact, one of my scholars is researching a cure for the Necrotic Plague," Bai Xiaowen said.

"Countless scholars in the Holy Light Church have tried to study the Necrotic Plague, and even Archbishop Arlo was at a loss. I don't think your polymath can do what so many scholars couldn't."

"But I have to try," Bai Xiaowen said. "Your Highness, I will not report to the Blackrock Line for the time being. My guards will take control of Redleaf City, and the severely infected patients will be isolated. If they show any signs of becoming undead, they will be eliminated immediately to ensure that the city is not overrun with undead."