Crisis Approaching (1)

Green rode a carriage back to Wilson Castle. He could leave the rest to others. As they approached the castle gates, he spotted an elegant noblewoman whose beauty had not faded. She and Vincent stood with a group of servants, peering down the road.

The woman was Viscount Paul's wife and Vincent's mother. Born into the nobility, she was kindhearted and had always treated Penny like her own daughter. When she heard Penny was in trouble, no one had worried more than she had.

As soon as they stepped out of the carriage, she showered them with concern and thanked Green profusely. Then the viscountess took Penny by the hand and led her into the castle's private quarters, while Green followed Vincent to the viscount's study.

The enormous room occupied the castle's top floor. Apart from the windows and door, floor-to-ceiling bookshelves covered every wall, lending it an ancient, weighty air.

When Green and Vincent entered, Viscount Paul was standing by the window, looking down into the castle courtyard. He must have seen Green and Penny arrive by carriage.

"Thank you, Green," Viscount Paul said at last, slowly and solemnly. Green heard the sincerity in his voice. The viscount genuinely cared for his niece, though a trace of guilt seemed to lie beneath that affection.

Green had little interest in the secrets buried within the noble family. To a large extent, he had rescued Penny for the chance to fight monsters and grow stronger.

Green gave them a brief account of what had happened, leaving out certain details, such as the Hard-Skin Ghoul's existence and the evil god priest's strength. Then he excused himself, saying he had exhausted his Magic Power and needed to rest.

Viscount Paul watched Green leave. After a moment's silence, he turned to the son on whom he pinned such high hopes. "What do you think, Vincent?"

Vincent pondered for two minutes before answering. "Green didn't tell us the whole truth. He left some things out, at least. I find him harder and harder to read."

Viscount Paul suddenly broke into a smile, as if he had heard a delightful joke. "Hahaha! My son, you actually tried to see through a mage!" His face darkened just as abruptly, and he fixed Vincent with a hard stare. "Remember this, Vincent: never probe a mage's mind. They're monsters wearing human skin. Power far beyond anything human will corrode their hearts completely. Even if you're on good terms with Green now, remember to know your place, draw a clear line, and abide by the principle of equal exchange. Owe too many favors, and you'll never be able to repay them."

Vincent was taken aback and did not immediately grasp his father's meaning. But he was clever and well versed in the ways of the world. Soon he nodded slightly. "You're telling me to reconsider how I see Green, Father? Since he became a Necromancer apprentice, I haven't really thought of him as a mage... But he isn't my brother by blood, after all."

Viscount Paul nodded in satisfaction. "Green has excellent talent. And unlike a Knight, a mage faces almost no bottlenecks once he gets started. He has a good chance of becoming a Formal Mage someday. That sounds wonderful, but you must understand one thing: a lion's enemy will be another powerful lion. We're hunting dogs living in the lion's shadow. We cannot withstand another lion's wrath."

Vincent's brows drew tight. For a long time, he said nothing...

Green had no idea that Vincent and his father were discussing him. After returning to his quarters, he immediately entered the Graveyard.

Three Ghouls had died. The loss was minor, but it showed Green that although Ghouls fought well, they could not take much punishment and were ill suited to serve as front-line tanks. Ordinary Zombies, with their tough hides and greater endurance, could hold the line instead. He adjusted his recruitment accordingly, reducing the proportion of Ghouls and adding ordinary Zombies.

With the units that had refreshed in the Graveyard, Green's Undead Troops kept growing. Their total strength nearly doubled: twenty-seven Gun Skeleton Soldiers, five Zombies, five Ghouls, and one Hard-Skin Ghoul. Including the cost of healing the Hard-Skin Ghoul's injuries earlier, he had spent 140 Psychic Energy in all.

Recruiting the Undead creatures that had refreshed in the Graveyard gave Green a welcome boost in strength. He was delighted, unaware that elsewhere, in the basement of an abandoned church more than fifty li outside Landon City, an angry voice was roaring: "What did you say? They failed again! Are the people of the Tower of Yin Spirits all brainless fools? I prepared everything for them. All they had to do was follow the plan and summon the Void Yin Spirit. How can that be so difficult? And that Holy Son of theirs was a muscle-brained waste. I hear he's dead. Who killed him?"

The furious, rasping voice echoed through the empty basement, thick with obsession and venom.

"L-Lord Akalusi..." A fat middle-aged man knelt trembling on the floor, his flesh quivering with fear. Yet he did not dare leave the questions unanswered. "My lord, according to our investigation, the plan went smoothly at first. But then the Tower of Yin Spirits' High Priest came into conflict with the Wilson Family of Landon City. He sent men to abduct Viscount Paul's daughter, which drew out the viscount's niece, Penny Wilson. Every sign points to that woman being involved in both the failed summoning and the Holy Son's death."

The fat man was named Snett Kaspar. He was an underworld boss in Xilansuowa City, near Landon City, and a peripheral member of a terrorist organization. His intelligence network in Landon City was mediocre, however. It had uncovered Penny but missed Green entirely. Faced with that mysterious figure, and knowing how brutal and terrifying he was, Kaspar could not bring himself to say, "I don't know." So he steeled himself and laid the blame on Penny.

"The Wilson Family of Landon City?" The mysterious voice gave a cold laugh. "Ants like them dare ruin my plans? It seems the Blood Eye has lain low for too long. People have forgotten what it was like to live under terror! Send the Six Witches. Let the Wilson Family perish in fear!"

Green did not know that rescuing Penny and killing a Holy Son of the Tower of Yin Spirits had inadvertently set certain events in motion.

Back in his part of Wilson Castle, Green replenished and reorganized his Undead Troops in the Graveyard, then returned his awareness to reality. In good spirits, he skipped his Meditation Method training and enjoyed a rare chance to relax over a cup of black tea.

That little Penny actually drew out a Holy Son of the Tower of Yin Spirits. Still, the fight was a useful test. My overall combat strength is roughly on par with an Advanced Mage Apprentice, Green thought. That Holy Son was strong, but he didn't seem fully aware of himself. He fought like a madman who knew only how to attack wildly. Otherwise, I would have had a hard time winning in those circumstances. Luck helped, but the main reason it went so smoothly was that I had a high-level unit that could turn the tide at the critical moment.

Of course, "high-level" reflected only Green's current standards. As a level-two elite monster, the Hard-Skin Ghoul certainly qualified as a high-level unit, but only at Apprentice Rank. If Green ever faced a Formal Rank Transcendent, the Hard-Skin Ghoul would be no match.

So it comes back to gathering Psychic Energy to upgrade the Graveyard, Green thought, shaking his head. He knew he should not rush. His strength and progress in training already far surpassed most people's, and with the Graveyard's help, his future held limitless possibilities. There was no need for impatience. What mattered more was not getting himself killed through some reckless stunt.