Lesao Valley, Valley City.
The councilors gathered before the Portal to welcome their heroes—the Holy Grail Knight Delatorre and the King of the North, Annan.
Delatorre had held out until they finished the Autumn Harvest, while Annan had brought crucial information and support. Without them, half of the Dimon Kingdom would have fallen by now.
"I'll report to the King and see that you receive generous rewards!" The elderly Council Chairman was so delighted that the age spots on his forehead seemed to disappear.
Delatorre had no interest, but Annan asked curiously, "What kind of rewards? Treasure or money?"
"The Kingdom's finances are tight right now... I'm afraid we can only offer honors."
"A world title?"
"Only the Thirteen High Kings can bestow those..."
No treasure and no title. Annan promptly lost interest. "Speaking of which, where's your King?"
"The King and his ministers have all gone to the Fas Tundra... And not just them. Most of the Kingdom's forces are there too. More than half this grain is headed there. If your message hadn't arrived in time, we truly wouldn't have known what to do..." The elderly Council Chairman expressed his gratitude.
"You've thanked me many times already."
"Still not enough!" the elderly Council Chairman said earnestly. "And your companion—she truly is a righteous lady."
"Righteous?"
Would you still be smiling if you knew you were praising an assassin from the Shadow Brotherhood? Annan wondered.
But the elderly Council Chairman already knew. "I intend to grant her a decree of atonement, wiping away all her crimes—"
This was clearly a favor to Annan. He agreed. "Don't judge people by who they are. Some live in darkness, but their hearts remain in the light."
Moved by his words, Shadow Song stared at Annan with her violet eyes.
"Indeed... A councilor