Unknown Enemy

After listening to Old Green, Green finished his training and dinner. He then sat at the desk in his room, holding a book about the history of the Lodin Kingdom. However, his slightly dilated pupils showed that his attention was not on the book.

Chip, summarize my current physical condition.

[Current physical condition: Strain in right forearm, bruising on left shoulder, fatigue in waist muscles, increased cellular activity throughout the body. Estimated recovery time: 7 hours.]

Seeing his data, Green nodded in satisfaction. After being in this world for so long, he had discovered his abnormality as well. This body's recovery ability exceeded that of an ordinary person.

But considering that this world possessed supernatural powers, the existence of special individuals was only natural. Although he did not know what secrets lay behind his origins, Green had no intention of seeking the truth. Before obtaining absolute strength, such actions could easily bring him danger. Once he had power, these questions would resolve themselves.

After confirming through the chip that his body had no hidden injuries, Green exited the chip interface. He set down the book in his hand, rose, opened the window, and looked out at the snowy scenery.

A layer of snow had already piled up by the window. A cold wind blew in through it, brushing over Green's body and refreshing his mind. But a chill of this degree had no effect on Green's current physique.

Looking at the snow-covered earth beneath the moonlit night and feeling the all-encompassing silence, Green's heart filled with peace and contentment.

After calming himself through the snowy view, Green prepared to close the window. But at that moment, a faint flicker of fire suddenly appeared in his sight. The flame was utterly out of place with its surroundings, instantly putting Green on alert.

Firelight? Why would there be firelight at this hour?

The firelight appeared for only an instant before disappearing into the snowy landscape. To make sure his eyes had not deceived him, Green immediately pulled up the chip's real-time recording.

After reviewing it repeatedly, Green confirmed through the visual data recorded by the chip that firelight had indeed appeared.

Green immediately had the chip bring up a map of the baron's territory. He had gathered the information about the surrounding environment while running. As for maps of a wider area, he had relied on Old Green's books.

A three-dimensional image appeared before Green's eyes. After carefully comparing it, he determined that the firelight had appeared in the Annabur Mountains, making the unease in his heart grow stronger.

The Annabur Mountains are sealed off by heavy snow at this time of year. No one in the baron's territory would take such a risk. There is something wrong with that firelight.

Without hesitation, Green shut the window and went straight to find Old Green. This was clearly a situation that required someone more experienced. No matter how strong Green's learning ability was, he had been in this world for too short a time and lacked too much life experience.

Knock, knock, knock. Green's forceful pounding on the door instantly woke Old Green, who had been about to sleep.

"Old Green, I need to tell you something. Open the door quickly," Green shouted from outside. Upon hearing Green's voice, Old Green immediately opened his door.

"What happened?" Old Green asked Green the reason the moment he opened the door.

Green told Old Green everything, from beginning to end, about discovering firelight in the Annabur Mountains while watching the snow.

After hearing Green's words, Old Green sat on the edge of his bed and took a map from a nearby drawer. It was a detailed layout map of the baron's territory and the Annabur Mountains.

"Green, based on what you saw, can you mark the approximate location of the firelight?" Old Green asked, pointing at the map.

Green, who possessed the chip, had long calculated the firelight's precise location. But to avoid drawing attention, he merely pointed to the map and gave a relatively broad direction.

Judging from the map, the firelight had appeared on the outer side of the Annabur Mountains, where there was a river called the Nason River, the very river that ran through the baron's territory.

Green and Old Green immediately realized that, if this was not an accident, someone appeared to be planning to make a move against the baron's territory.

"It is very likely only preliminary scouting. The mountains are blocked by heavy snow in winter. The conditions are too harsh to breach the castle," Old Green said after studying the map in thought for a while.

But both of them knew this was not good news. The peace of the territory might be broken, and the danger outside the castle would greatly increase.

"Green, bring out the carriage. We are going to the castle." After thinking for a long time, Old Green finally decided to inform the baron.

Green quickly brought out the carriage. Under the moonlight, he drove through the snow toward the castle. Fortunately, it was not far away, and they reached the foot of the castle in less than half an hourglass.

A large group of sentries patrolled atop the castle walls. With the watchtowers and torchlight, the patrolling soldiers quickly spotted the carriage outside the castle.

By the light of the torches, the sentries soon recognized the carriage bearing the Klo Family's flying eagle emblem, along with its rather worn appearance. They quickly realized it was Old Green's carriage. But as sentries, they still had to fulfill their duty.

"Old Green, what brings you to the castle so late at night?" a sentry called down from the wall.

"Open the castle gates at once and notify the baron. I have something important to tell him in person." Old Green did not explain the reason, only saying that he had something important to tell the baron himself.

The guards on the wall looked at one another. They did not have the authority to notify the baron directly. Under normal circumstances, only the captain of the guards was qualified to meet the baron directly.

Kalant, the patrol squad leader for the night, also showed a troubled expression. But thinking of Old Green's relationship with the baron, Kalant took a deep breath and instructed the guards beside him, "Go open the gate first and let Old Green in. I will personally go find the baron."

After taking only a few steps, Kalant turned back again. "Make sure you receive Old Green properly. Do not let them suffer frostbite."

The soldiers nodded repeatedly, indicating that they would carry out the task properly.

With the combined efforts of the guards, the castle gates were soon pulled open. Green drove the carriage into the castle.

As soon as they entered the castle, the surrounding guards brought Old Green and Green to the nearby guard rest room.

"Please wait a moment. Our squad leader has gone to notify the baron and will return soon." Old Green nodded in understanding. After saying that, the guards brought over two steaming cups of black tea and handed them to Green and Old Green.

Old Green naturally accepted the black tea handed over by the guards and slowly drank it. Green, on the other hand, did not move at all, resting with his eyes closed nearby.

The guards looked at Green with both envy and a trace of jealousy. Green's luck was simply too good. After becoming an orphan, he had been taken in by Old Green and treated like a son. He might even inherit Old Green's breathing technique. It was enough to make the many guards with no connections envy him to the extreme.

Kalant, who had gone to meet the baron, soon returned to the castle entrance. But this time, someone was following behind him.

It was Basel, the steward of Klo Castle. Although Basel had arrived in great haste and his clothes were somewhat disheveled, as a steward, he still maintained his composure and did not look overly untidy.

"Old Green, come with me to meet the baron!" Basel did not exchange any pleasantries and directly led Old Green to see the baron.

Green continued waiting in the guard rest room. Old Green, who had gone to meet the baron, soon returned alone.

"How did it go? What did the baron say?" Green asked. Old Green's expression upon returning was not pleasant.

"I'm afraid our peaceful life will end within the next two years. There were rumors years ago that the Saladin Kingdom had found a passage through the Annabur Mountains that led directly to the border of the Lodin Kingdom. But the possibility was too low, so everyone treated it as a rumor. Yet the firelight that appeared now may mean it is true. The baron has already prepared to send guards to investigate. We will have an answer soon," Old Green replied with a worried expression.

The nearby guards also looked concerned upon hearing the news. None of them wanted war to come. On a real battlefield, people died.

Just as everyone was worried, Os, the captain of the guards, and the baron set out together. Leading a large group of guards and carrying special torches, they raced toward the Annabur Mountains. Under the moonlight, their silver-white armor glinted with a cold sheen, and a chilling killing intent radiated from the group.

Green and Old Green did not leave the castle. Instead, they stayed there directly. It was no longer safe outside, and returning to the warehouse would have been foolish. At the very least, they had to wait until dawn before going back to retrieve their belongings.

Under Steward Basel's arrangements, Green and Old Green were placed in rooms reserved for guests.

That night, Green tossed and turned, unable to sleep. Although he had been rather aggressive in his previous life, it had only been aggression in method. He had never truly experienced war. Only in the latter half of the night did Green finally drift into a confused sleep.