Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
The Demon Fall Valley was situated in between Jarrosus and the Forest of Whispers. Heading north along the highway coming out of Jarrosus for over forty minutes, a short forest could be seen. Following the border of this short forest and heading forward for a few kilometers, the beautiful and bountiful valley could be seen…
It was just that the owner of the Demon Fall Valley had currently changed from the Emerald Tower to the Shadow’s Nest.
Under the winding mountain range and in between the luscious greenery, there was a motley plain of tan. Breathing and shouting were continuously heard from the mountain caves. This was accompanied by the monotonous “dang, dang, dang” sounds, adding a tinge of cruelty to the Demon Fall Valley. There were ore carts coming out from the caves’ entrances occasionally, and the carts were filled with a dense and heavy load of black-colored ore. Even though the Felan Kingdom was the least advanced in regard to mining technology, this was still the most primitive form, where humans were pushing carts to transport the ore.
“Hurry, you damn lazy pigs. You only know how to eat and be lazy. Isn’t food that costs 5 copper enough to keep you full for the whole day? You still move so slowly while pulling carts with so little ore. Do you want me to use a whip to wake you up?” There were a few supervisors walking around the caves’ entrances; the whips in their hands danced, giving off cracks. They were the lowest-ranking members of the Shadow’s Nest. It was only natural that they did not get comfortable tents or have a relaxing patrol duty. Those were the privileges of the core members. Low-ranking members that had only joined for less than three years like them could only accompany the slaves under the blazing sun. The only privilege they had was only to use the leather whips in their hands.
The emaciated slaves moved the carts strenuously, dripping their sweat all over the luscious grass. In a further place, there were a few simple and crude furnaces that were set up temporarily. The order they had received was to refine as much mithril ore into mithril ingots as possible within the shortest time.
Ronald was forty-five years old this year. His early life of exile had caused him to lose an eye, but Ronald never regretted it once. It was because he had traded this eye for the control of the whole Shadow’s Nest. The current him now stood on top a sentry tower, using his remaining eye to overlook the whole Demon Fall Valley. Under the torture of the blazing sun and leather whips, there were slaves collapsing at the side occasionally. Some struggled and stood up, while some never got back up again. Ronald watched everything coldly. For him, slaves were merely expendable goods. Their value could not even be compared to a refined mithril ingot’s. The only issue was that if too many slaves died, it’d disrupt the mining process.
“The output recently is not up to standard. I think we have to purchase another batch of slaves. Yes, the number of supervisors would have to increase as well. These good-for-nothings are too lazy, they need more whips to greet them…” Although he was complaining, his tone carried a sense of pride that could not be concealed.
It was hard to blame Ronald for being proud…
Ten years ago, he had developed his wild ambitions within the Shadow’s Nest, but his ambition was hampered by barren lands. It wasn’t until two months ago, when the Demon Fall Valley had been taken over, that he finally obtained sufficient capital. The enormous yield of the mithril ore had brought about a terrifying advantage for the Shadow’s Nest. Probably not long later, he would be able to have an elite force armed to their teeth. When it reached that point, what could Jarrosus amount to? My wild ambition is to spread Shadow’s Nest’s influence throughout the whole Felan Kingdom. Even His Majesty would have to hand over protection fee if he were to venture into my area of influence…
“Ronald, don’t count your chickens before they hatch. The real danger has yet to arrive. You need to prepare for battle…” The one standing behind Ronald was an old man with a frail voice. He was wearing a black robe, and his hood was pulled over. His face was thoroughly serious, and it was only under the shadow of the hood that his eyes had a sharp gleam to them…
“Haha, you are too careful, my old friend…” Ronald’s laughter spread far and wide. His only eye was filled with complacency. “If it was the Emerald Tower from two months ago, I might worry for a bit. But now, they no longer have this right. Gerian is just a piece of trash now. When we burned the Emerald Tower, he did not even dare to emerge from his shell. Do you know, my old friend, that that fatty is afraid now? Haha, he is afraid now. He is afraid of Shadow’s Nest’s strength, and he is even more afraid of our powerful ally!”
“Gerian is not the only mage in the Emerald Tower…”
“Mage? Are you joking? My old friend, didn’t you always tell me that in the world of magic, level is everything? An Archmage can easily kill tens of Magic Shooters. Now that we, Shadow’s Nest, have you, an Archmage, other than Gerian fully recovering his powers, who else in the Emerald Tower can be your opponent?”
“Hmph, Gerian? So what if he recovers his powers… He is not the one I’m worried about…”
“Oh?” Ronald could not help but be afraid for a while. His only eye was filled with shock. “Could it be that there’s another Archmage in the Emerald Tower other than Gerian? My old friend, don’t joke with me. If there had been such a person, then wouldn’t we have been unable to take over the Demon Fall Valley?”
“I’m not sure if that person is an Archmage, but there is one thing I am sure of. If that person had been around when we attacked the Demon Fall Valley, then even if we were able to take over the Demon Fall Valley, we would have paid a very heavy price…”
“There is really such a person?”
“Yes…”
The old man’s voice was very soft, but Ronald always felt that this old friend of his sounded very ghastly for some unknown reason.
“His name is Felic.”
“Ah?” When the ghastly voice was heard, Ronald had a shock. After that, he suddenly laughed loudly. “Hahaha… Oh my God. I was wondering whom you were talking about. So the person you were talking about is that pharmacist from the Emerald Tower? Stop joking. Indeed, my old friend, I admit that that pharmacist is powerful. He is able to concoct the Arcane Magic Potion and Wild Elixir at such a young age. But so what? He is only twenty years old. Even if he were to study magic from the day he was born, he only has the power of a Magic Shooter now at best. With your powers, you can turn him into ashes just by moving your fingers. Let me say this: what is wrong with you recently? You become timid after encountering some obstacles. Even a twenty-year-old kid makes you scared…”
Ronald’s words were very rude, especially so for that last sentence. It was blatant derision, but the old man seemed not have heard it. His eyes just stared into the mountain range in the distance. After a long pause, he finally let out a soft sight. “Ronald, you have never seen that Felic before. You have no idea how terrifying he is. If it was any other Magic Shooter, I would probably tell you ‘no problem, he is not my match’, but this Felic is really different. I am not confident… I really do not have any confidence at all.”
“Why?”
“Why?” The old man suddenly laughed, but this laughter was indeed a little miserable. It was hoarse and heavy, just like the sound produced when two shards of glass were rubbed against each other. “Do you know that when this Felic was only level-eight, he could already resist my mental strength suppression… Do you dare believe it? A level-eight mage resisting an Archmage’s mental suppression. Ronald, you haven’t seen it before, so you won’t be able to imagine how terrifying he is…”
“Say no more!” Maybe it was because the old man’s words were too direct, but Ronald’s voice was rather rude. He gripped the sides of the sentry tower, and his gaze fell upon the continuous chain of mountains. Over there was the only entrance to the Demon Fall Valley. “If it really is as you said, that Felic can go against an Archmage, what of it? Could it be that you think that the Emerald Tower still has the guts to come to the Demon Fall Valley again? Could it be that you think that they really have the ability to take back the Demon Fall Valley? Its not that I, Ronald, am boasting. If the Emerald Tower really dares to come to the Demon Fall Valley again, I would eat up this sentry tower— f*ck!”
Ronald’s voice had not even fallen when his gaze suddenly froze. After that, a chain of vulgarities was spewed by him.
It was because he clearly saw that there was a cloud of dust in the continuous chain of mountains in the distance. Based on years of experience, Ronald could tell with one look that this was a battalion with more than a thousand men. F*ck, this really is like seeing a ghost. A battalion with more than a thousand men coming over to the Demon Fall Valley? Could it be that they did not know that this place belongs to our Shadow’s Nest, and barging in without an invitation equates to declaration of war?
“Could it be the Emerald Tower?” This thought had just appeared in his mind, but Ronald had already denied it. Of course, this was not because he wanted to eat up the sentry tower, but because he believed that the Emerald Tower could not rally so many people. Even by thinking with his feet, he knew this terrifying number was definitely not something that the Emerald Tower could gather…
Not a single force in the whole Jarrosus could summon so many men, not to mention the Emerald Tower.
Unless they came together…
A thousand thoughts appeared in Ronald’s mind. He already did not bother trying to think which one was the most possible one. He hastily reached out with his hand into his clothes, and pulled out a magic beacon. At the same time, he pulled the fuse of the magic signal. Afterwards, a red flare shot into the sky.
“Bang!” The red flare exploded in the air. In an instant, dazzling red light covered half of the Demon Fall Valley.
“Enemy attack, enemy attack! Come out, all of you bastards! Prepare for battle!” Ronald hoarse shouting spread far and wide from the sentry tower. A large number of the members of the Shadow’s Nest came out from their tents continuously. All their faces were filled with confusion. There were even people mumbling, “F*ck, it’s broad daylight. Attack my a*s…”
After that, they saw the brilliant red flare.
