Joining Forces

Inside the cave, the firelight flickered.

Sessler leaned against the stone wall, using the firelight to tend to the wounds on his body. The old man had over a dozen injuries of varying sizes; some had already scabbed over, while others were still oozing blood. He winced and gritted his teeth as he bandaged himself, muttering curses against the Radiant Church under his breath. His movements were practiced, but he was old, and bending over pulled at the wound on his side, causing him to gasp in pain.

"Those sons of bitches, they chased this old man for three whole days. If I hadn't been prepared, this old life of mine would have ended right there in the Magical Beast Mountain Range." As he cursed, he sprinkled medicinal powder onto his wounds. The powder was a grayish-brown color and carried a pungent, medicinal odor. "I bought this medicine in Fenlai City. It cost over a hundred gold coins. The effect is decent enough, but it hurts like hell."

Linley sat at the cave entrance, his back to the others, his gaze fixed on the night outside. Bebe crouched on his shoulder, his little head bobbing as he drifted toward sleep. Occasionally, a night breeze would blow in, carrying the damp, distinct scent of the mountain forest. Linley remained motionless, as if he had melted into the night.

Akes sat by the fire, tossing in a few dry branches. The branches were pine, crackling softly as they burned, the firelight casting flickering shadows across his face. He appeared nonchalant, but in reality, he was observing Sessler out of the corner of his eye. In the original story, this old necromancer was a character who walked the line between good and evil—ruthless in his methods but loyal and righteous. If he could be brought into the fold, he would be a capable assistant. Looking at him now, the old man certainly had his merits.

"How much do you know about the Radiant Church?" Akes asked suddenly. His voice was not loud, but it sounded exceptionally clear in the quiet cave.

Sessler's eyes narrowed, his hands pausing for a moment before he continued bandaging. He knew this was the real issue. The old fox had lived for more than half a lifetime; he understood at a glance what people were thinking. These two young men had saved him, but it certainly wasn't out of simple chivalry—in this day and age, who still did such foolish things?

He sat up straight and said solemnly, "A fair amount. For years, this old man has been investigating them, from the Fenlai Kingdom to the O'Brien Empire, from common believers to Cardinals. I know a thing or two about their dirty dealings." As he spoke, he finished bandaging his last wound, then straightened his clothes to look more formal.

"For example?"

"For example, the descent of an angel requires a vessel." Sessler lowered his voice, the firelight casting deep shadows across his furrowed face, making his expression look somewhat sinister. "For example, they secretly capture children with pure souls all over the continent. For example, they have an important stronghold in Basil, the capital of the Northwest Province, responsible for screening and transporting these children."

Linley turned his head, the moonlight shining in from behind him, outlining his tall, straight silhouette. His expression was calm, but Sessler noticed his fingers tighten slightly.

A chill ran through Sessler's heart.

He paused, then continued, his voice dropping even lower. "The person in charge in Basil is Count Perry. On the surface, he is a noble, but in reality, he is a lackey of the Radiant Church. This old bastard is a Count of the Fenlai Kingdom, managing affairs in the Northwest Province, but behind the scenes, he does the Church's dirty work. He is responsible for the 'supply' for the entire Northwest Province; every year, dozens of children are sent from his hands to the Church's secret bases."

"How do you know all this?" Linley asked. His voice was quiet, yet carried an unquestionable power.

Sessler subconsciously sat up straighter. He had a strange feeling, as if he weren't talking to a young man, but facing some superior being. He steadied himself and said, "This old man has tracked their transport teams. I followed them three times. The first time, I lost them; those guys were too alert. I was discovered before I could even get close and nearly died there. The second time, I watched from afar and confirmed their route and personnel configuration. The third time..." He gave a bitter laugh and touched the wound on his side. "The third time, my luck ran out, and they spotted me. Those fanatics escorting the team chased me for three full days. I lost seven or eight of my undead puppets and only escaped by using the emergency measures I had prepared beforehand. Otherwise, I wouldn't have ended up in this state."

As he spoke, a look of pain crossed his face. Those undead puppets had taken him over a decade to accumulate; each one was refined with special materials, and some had even been purchased at a high price. Losing seven or eight at once was like watching over ten years of hard work go down the drain.

Linley was silent for a while, the firelight dancing on his face, making his expression flicker between light and shadow. He suddenly asked, "Where are those children sent?"

"This old man hasn't figured that out yet." Sessler shook his head, a flash of frustration in his eyes. "I only know the general direction—the Chaotic Lands. The Radiant Church has secret bases there, but I don't know the specific locations. I once tried to follow a transport team deep into the Chaotic Lands, but they vanished after entering the edge of the Magical Beast Mountain Range. I spent two months searching that area and found nothing. There are too many magical beasts in that region, and the terrain is complex; my undead puppets couldn't penetrate deep enough to investigate."

"What do you plan to do next?" Linley asked.

Sessler glanced at him, then at Akes, weighing his words. He knew this was a critical moment; what he said and how he said it would directly determine whether he could survive and whether he could align himself with these two. He had lived long enough to have that much insight.

"My life was saved by you two. If you don't mind, I am willing to work with you." He paused, as if organizing his thoughts, observing their reactions as he spoke. "Although my strength is not equal to yours, necromancy can still be useful at times. Furthermore, the intelligence I possess should be of use to you. Additionally..." He lowered his voice, as if sharing a secret. "I have saved up some assets over the years. I have several secret hideouts, all in remote, safe locations. I also have a network of connections, from all walks of life, which could be useful at critical moments."

He finished speaking and watched them cautiously.

Linley did not answer immediately, instead looking toward Akes.

Akes knew he was asking for his opinion. He thought for a moment and said, "Having someone familiar with the situation to lead the way is better than us stumbling around blindly. And his necromancy does have advantages in reconnaissance and tracking." He was telling the truth. Necromancy had unique benefits; undead puppets were tireless and fearless of death, making them perfect for scouting and reconnaissance.

Linley nodded and turned to Sessler. "Fine. But I'll say this first—if you have any hidden agendas, I won't be polite."

The words were spoken plainly, but Sessler felt a chill climb up his spine. He had an intuition that this young man wasn't just trying to scare him; he truly meant what he said. He waved his hands in an exaggerated gesture. "No, no, this old bag of bones still wants to live a few more years. You two can rest assured. Although I'm no saint, I understand the principle of repaying kindness. Besides..." He gave a bitter laugh and pointed to his wounds. "The Radiant Church is hunting me down too; we are all in the same boat. Even if I wanted to run, where could I go?"

Bebe woke up at this moment, jumped off Linley's shoulder, and hopped in front of Sessler, tilting his head to examine him. Sessler felt a bit unnerved being stared at by the little creature. The mouse's eyes were too intelligent; that gaze didn't look like a magical beast at all, but rather like a human's. He chuckled awkwardly. "This little brother is..."

"Bebe," Linley said. "My partner."

"Partner..." Sessler nodded thoughtfully, not asking further. But he looked at Bebe with a bit more caution—he had lived for so many years and seen many magical beasts, but this was his first time seeing a Shadow Mouse with such human-like intelligence. And to have such a magical beast willingly follow him, Linley's identity certainly wasn't simple.

Halu lay at the cave entrance, not having moved from start to finish, only occasionally flicking his tail. Sessler glanced at him and wisely chose not to approach. That was a level-nine magical beast, and judging by its size and coat, he didn't think his old bones could withstand a single bite.

The matter was settled.

The next morning, the group continued their journey.

The morning mist had not yet dispersed, and the woods were damp. Dewdrops hung from the leaves, and insects chirped in the grass. The air was fresh, carrying the scent of grass and trees, but for those on the road, this humidity was rather uncomfortable.

Akes walked in front to clear the path, Halu following behind him, occasionally sniffing the grass by the roadside. Linley and Bebe walked in the middle, while Sessler limped along behind.

Sessler's wounds hadn't fully healed, making walking difficult. He gritted his teeth and persisted for a while, but after less than half an hour, sweat began to bead on his forehead. After all, he was old, and his recovery wasn't as fast as a young man's.

Linley noticed his condition, stopped, and gestured to Halu. Halu looked at Akes, who nodded.

"Get on," Linley said.

Sessler froze for a moment, then realized what was happening and waved his hands, his movements somewhat exaggerated. "How could I, this old man..."

"Your wounds will become more troublesome if they drag on," Linley interrupted. "We need you to recover as quickly as possible."

Sessler opened his mouth, but didn't refuse again, climbing onto Halu's back. Halu wasn't used to carrying strangers and shook his fur, but eventually settled down. Sessler sat on the wolf's back, muttering "I am ashamed, I am ashamed," but his face carried a touch of emotion.

He had lived for more than half a lifetime, always alone, and had never been treated this way. His fellow necromancers were all eager to stab him in the back to steal his puppets. The people of the Radiant Church wanted to kill him on sight. Ordinary people hid far away when they saw him. Yet now, these two young men, who were complete strangers, had not only saved his life but were willing to take him, a burden, along and even let him ride a magical beast.

His feelings were complicated.

At noon, the group stopped by a small stream to rest.

The stream was crystal clear, revealing the pebbles and small fish at the bottom. The water was shallow, reaching only to the knees at its deepest, and flowed gently with a soft, murmuring sound. Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting dappled light and shadows on the water's surface.

Bebe crouched by the stream, reaching out with his paws to catch fish. He missed several times, squeaking in frustration. He simply dove into the water, splashing everywhere, but still caught nothing. He climbed out, soaked to the bone, and bared his teeth at the fish in the stream, looking absolutely ridiculous.

Sessler climbed off Halu's back, stretched his stiff joints, and walked to the stream to cup water to his mouth. The water was cool and carried a hint of sweetness. He drank several mouthfuls, then sat on a rock, watching Akes and Linley.

"I am curious about the strength of you two. May I ask?" he suddenly spoke up.

Linley glanced at him but didn't speak.

Sessler wasn't embarrassed and continued on his own. "Young friend Linley, after your dragon transformation, you must be at the peak of the ninth rank, right?" He had seen clearly just now; the aura Linley possessed after transforming was definitely not something an ordinary ninth-rank could compare to.

Linley's eyes narrowed.

Sessler waved his hands hurriedly, his movements somewhat exaggerated. "Don't misunderstand, don't misunderstand, this old man was just speaking casually. I know a thing or two about the four ultimate warrior clans. The Dragonblood Warrior, Undying Warrior, Purpleblood Warrior, and Tiger-striped Warrior—they are all bloodlines passed down from ancient times. You must be a descendant of the Dragonblood Warrior, right?" As he spoke, his eyes held a hint of curiosity.

Linley remained silent for a moment, then nodded.

Sessler's eyes lit up. "As I thought."

He spoke with a suddenly serious expression, "This old man must warn you both: the true strength of the Radiant Church is far greater than what appears on the surface. The Radiant Church branch in the Fenlai Kingdom is merely a small fry; the real big fish are in the O'Brien Empire, the Holy Union, and the headquarters of the Religious Inquisition. Those fanatics are each selected from countless believers, trained from childhood, and are absolutely loyal to the Church. Their strength is at least the seventh rank."

He paused, then added, "And what about young friend Akes?" He turned to Akes. "This old man senses your aura is restrained; you should also be a ninth-rank, and that flame..."

"Early ninth rank," Akes interrupted. "Fire-style mage."

Sessler nodded, not continuing to press about the flame. He was a smart man who knew what should be asked and what should not.

"With the strength of you two, plus this old man's necromancy, it should be enough to deal with an average Radiant Church squad," Sessler said. "But I must warn you, the true powerhouses of the Radiant Church have yet to move. Those people in the Religious Inquisition are all lunatics, each at least ninth rank. And there is that Inquisitor Wusenno, a Saint-level powerhouse." When he said the words "Saint-level," his voice dropped very low, as if afraid of startling something.

Linley's expression remained unchanged, but Akes noticed his fingers twitch slightly.

Saint-level.

He was currently eighth rank, and ninth-rank peak after dragon-transformation, but there was still a chasm between him and the Saint-level. He didn't know how long it would take to cross that chasm. Some people were stuck at the ninth rank for their entire lives, never even touching the threshold of the Saint-level until they died.

"So we must act carefully," Sessler said. "We cannot fight head-on; we must use our wits. My experience in dealing with them over the years is—if you can ambush, never fight head-on; if you can use poison, never use force. They aren't good people anyway, so no method is excessive." As he spoke, a sinister smile appeared on his face.

That was certainly true.

Akes recalled Sessler's style from the original story; he was indeed a man who would stop at nothing to achieve his goals. But if used correctly, such a person was the sharpest blade. Moreover, Sessler knew his limits in speech and action, knowing when to advance and when to retreat; this kind of old veteran was exactly what they needed.

"Where to next?" Akes asked.

Sessler thought for a moment. "First, to Basil. I discovered earlier that Count Perry has a shipment to send out recently, and the timing should be within these few days. If we hurry, we might just catch it. I still have a few informants in Basil City who can help us gather information." He paused, then added, "Those informants are all small-time characters, but they are well-informed. Old Zhou who runs the grocery store, Big Liu who sells steamed buns at a street stall, and Fatty Sun who collects taxes at the city gate—they are all my people."

"Can your injuries hold up?" Linley asked.

Sessler patted his chest. "A small matter. Although this old man is aged, I am not that fragile. Besides, with you two here, what could happen?" He paused, then added, "However, I suggest we travel at night and rest during the day. Spies of the Radiant Church are everywhere; caution is paramount." As he spoke, he pointed into the distance. "I chose this road; it is sparsely populated, remote, and not easily discovered. It is just a bit of a detour, so we will have to walk two days more."

Linley looked at Akes, and Akes nodded.

"Then let's go."

For the next few days, they traveled during the day and found places to rest at night. Sessler's injuries improved day by day, and he became increasingly talkative. He told the two many secrets of the Radiant Church, including the training methods of the fanatics—those children were locked in secret bases from a young age, doing nothing but praying and training every day, with no childhood and no freedom, raised into killing machines that only knew how to obey orders; the ritual process of an angel's descent—which required a vessel, sacrifices, and a specific time and location, with the pain of the vessel during the ritual being unimaginable; and the internal grievances and entanglements of the Church's big figures—the infighting between Cardinals, the conflicts between the Religious Inquisition and local churches, and so on.

Linley listened carefully, asking a few questions from time to time. Akes also listened, but he spent more time observing Sessler—this old guy certainly knew a lot, but he also hid a lot. Some things he said half-heartedly, clearly testing their reactions. For instance, when speaking of the angel's descent, he deliberately avoided the fate of the vessel. When speaking of internal Church struggles, he vaguely glossed over certain key figures.

However, Akes did not point it out. It was normal for Sessler to have reservations; after all, they had only known each other for a few days. Trust needed time to be built.

On the evening of the fifth day, they saw the silhouette of Basil City from afar.

It was a large city with towering walls. In the twilight, one could see the flags fluttering on the city towers—the Golden Lion flag of the Fenlai Kingdom and the Holy Light flag of the Radiant Church hung side by side. The walls were built of bluestone, about seven or eight zhang high, with watchtowers at regular intervals where guards patrolled. Outside the city gates, many people were coming and going—caravans, mercenaries, and commoners, bustling with activity; some driving carriages, some carrying loads, some leading children, it was very lively.

Sessler pointed at the city. "That is Basil, the provincial capital of the Northwest Province. Count Perry's mansion is in the east of the city, near the Lord's manor. That old brat built his mansion like a fortress, keeping over a hundred private soldiers, plus guards sent by the Church. We must first find a place to stay, then investigate slowly. I have an acquaintance in the west of the city who runs a grocery store; he is trustworthy. That man is called Old Zhou, formerly a mercenary, but after injuring his leg, he opened a grocery store to make a living. I helped him a few times, and he owes me a favor."

Linley nodded, his gaze falling upon the city.

Akes stood beside him, also watching the city. There were twice as many guards at the city gate compared to an ordinary city, and everyone entering had to undergo inspection. Some were queuing to enter, some were arguing with guards, and vendors were hawking their wares by the roadside.

"Let's go," he said.

The group walked toward the city gate.