Hogg's Crisis

Linley left Wushan Town at noon the next day. That evening, two people sat in the Baruch clan's sitting room: Hogg and Hillman. The doors were tightly shut, and a bag of Magic Crystal Cores lay on the dining table.

Hillman was stunned by the bag of Magic Crystal Cores. Hogg said, "Hillman, I'll sell these Magic Crystal Cores sometime soon. I hope you can keep the gold coins for me."

"I've kept that matter buried in my heart for nearly eleven years. For these eleven years, it has felt as though ants were gnawing at my heart. I kept enduring it, day after day, year after year... and in the blink of an eye, eleven years have passed."

Hogg's entire body began to tremble faintly.

Hillman's expression changed. He abruptly rose to his feet and said in horror, "Hogg, you intend to?"

"Yes. I have to investigate what happened back then. I have to avenge Linda." Hogg's face twisted savagely, brimming with murderous intent.

Hillman failed to stop Wharton. Just like in the original story, Hogg still set out to investigate Linda's kidnapping.

Wharton, now capable of transforming into a seven-meter-tall form, sat on Little Gold's back. It was Wharton's first time riding Little Gold. They stopped outside the Magical Beast Forest, and Wharton prepared to cross the forest to reach the Holy Alliance.

With Wharton and Little Gold's strength, they would not be in much danger from ordinary Level Nine Magical Beasts in the Magical Beast Forest, aside from Saint Domain Magical Beasts.

They constantly challenged Level Eight and Level Nine Magical Beasts. Aside from a few blind fools, most merely sparred with them and did not fight to the death.

A year later, Wharton celebrated his thirteenth birthday in the Magical Beast Forest and finally reached the Holy Alliance. After resting for a day in Hess City, Wharton continued on his journey.

On the road from Fenlai City toward Wushan Town, just after leaving the mountain range, he heard the sounds of weapons clashing ahead.

"Come on, Little Gold. Let's go take a look," Wharton said through their soul link.

One man and one magical beast became blurs as they arrived at the site of the battle. Six identically dressed men had surrounded another man in the center.

"Who exactly are you? Why did you try to assassinate Duke Paderson? Do you know that Duke Paderson is the king's younger brother?" one of the men said.

A man with a red spider mark on his hand questioned him.

"Hahaha! You bastards, even if I die, I'll drag you down with me! What's hateful is that I failed to kill that bastard Paderson." The surrounded middle-aged man spoke.

Wharton's body immediately shook when he heard this. Could this be my father? Father investigated Mother's whereabouts and was ultimately severely wounded to death. And today, I actually ran into him.

"Little Gold, help me kill them." Wharton's face was filled with killing intent.

After following Wharton for so long, it was Little Gold's first time seeing such intense killing intent from him.

Without hesitation, Little Gold swiped a claw and killed a Sixth-Level Warrior. Only then did the others realize that the newcomer's strength far surpassed theirs. They immediately gave up attacking Hogg and respectfully addressed Wharton.

"My lord, we are Duke Paderson's guards. We are currently hunting down the culprit who attempted to assassinate His Excellency the Duke. Please leave this place. We will surely repay you in the future." The man with the spider mark spoke to Wharton while warily watching Little Gold.

"Kill..." Wharton said only that.

Little Gold charged into the battle without the slightest mercy. In the blink of an eye, the guards, all Level Seven Warriors, had been completely massacred.

On the way to the Holy Alliance, Little Gold had already broken through to become a Level Nine Magical Beast. Wharton's warrior training had also reached the Peak Level Eight Warrior, while his magic had broken through to Level Seven Mage.

Hogg struggled to support his badly injured body with his warblade and said to Wharton, "My lord, thank you for your help." As he spoke, he prepared to bow to Wharton.

Wharton hurried over to support Hogg, then knelt before him.

"Father, I'm sorry I came too late. I'm Wharton," he said with guilt.

"What? You're Wharton? Weren't you in O'Brien? How did you come back?" Hogg asked.

"Father, I'll explain that later. Let me check your injuries first." Wharton did not answer Hogg's question.

Wharton examined Hogg's body. His internal organs had all shifted out of place, and he had several deep blade wounds. His face was pale. Wharton used a Level-Six Water-Type Healing Spell to treat Hogg's external injuries, then told Little Gold to carry Hogg to a quiet place so he could treat him properly.

In a cave not far from Wushan Town, Wharton gave Hogg a Qi-Replenishing Elixir and began treating his injuries. Little Gold stood guard outside the cave.