Surrounded by his entourage, Dierde arrived at the camp gate and stood atop the wall, looking down.
He recognized Valen, of course.
Dierde had no fondness whatsoever for this stubborn bastard who had humiliated him several times.
So, as soon as the opportunity arose, Dierde had ordered his death without hesitation.
But...
Useless trash!
That was Dierde's assessment of the adjutant, though the smile on his face grew ever more natural.
Valen might have survived before, but this time he was certain to die-and at Dierde's own hands.
The thought of personally killing someone like Valen filled Dierde with delight. With that joy still lingering, he looked at Qin Ran, who stood shoulder to shoulder with Valen.
Then Dierde frowned.
He had heard countless rumors about the Burning Family's eldest illegitimate son.
Although they lived near the Supreme Road, noble lords like them paid exceptionally close attention to news from Dawn City.
Especially news about someone as renowned in Dawn City as Qin Ran.
The Burning Family's gifted eldest illegitimate son, skilled in swordsmanship, versed in pharmacology, and even somewhat knowledgeable about Astrology... actually looks this ordinary?
Dierde could not help shaking his head.
With his ordinary, less-than-handsome face, Qin Ran clearly did not meet the aristocratic circle's standards of beauty.
And Dierde, who excelled at judging people by their appearance, lost his last shred of interest in Qin Ran.
He's a dead man anyway!
With your knowledge of Astrology, I wonder if you've foreseen your own death?
That lord has wanted your head for a very long time!
Dierde's thoughts brimmed with malice.
Then he made a show of announcing, "Welcome Special Envoy 2567!"
"Welcome Special Envoy 2567!"
The messenger repeated his words.
Call after call spread beneath the mountain peak, like wave upon wave of a rising tide.