Chapter 197 : Chapter 197
Chapter 197. The Fool Turns Out to Be Himself
The guard pressed his hand firmly against the hilt of the sword at his waist, his gaze cutting toward the envoy like a blade.
William, however, laughed. He unhurriedly poured himself a cup of wine.
“A suicide squad? Have all the Shadow Mages of your Blackgold Empire died off? You have to find me, an ‘outsider,’ to risk my life for you?”
“Your Highness jests.”
The envoy took a sheepskin map from within his black robe, spread it across the desk, and tapped his fingertip on the mark indicating the Holy Light Empire’s right flank.
“There are three layers of Holy Light Barriers set up there. The moment shadow power approaches, it will be burned. Only your Gold Legion can do it.”
“They are fully armored, and they are not rejected by Holy Light. Only they can charge in at the instant the barrier ruptures.”
He paused. A hint of temptation flashed through his black pupils.
“Once the matter is done, thirty percent of the Magic Crystals stockpiled by the Holy Light Empire on its right flank, along with twenty Mineral Veins, will all belong to you. The Blackgold Empire only wants those Four-Winged Pegasi.”
William stared at the marks on the map, his fingertip tapping lightly on the words “Mineral Veins.”
Twenty Mineral Veins. That would be enough to fill the Kroll Kingdom’s treasury by another third.
But he understood even more clearly what scheme the Blackgold Empire was playing at.
For a mighty empire to seek him out for troops, the hidden trickery behind it was obvious.
William pondered for a moment, then looked up at the envoy, his tone solemn.
“This matter is no small thing. I still need to consider it carefully.”
When the envoy heard this, a nearly imperceptible trace of anxiety flashed across his face. He then bowed and replied, “In that case, I will not disturb Your Highness’s deliberations.”
With that, he adjusted the front of his robe and turned to walk out.
William rose to see him off, watching as the envoy walked out through the gates of the Gold Legion’s encampment.
The moment the envoy stepped out of the camp gate, his steps paused. He turned back and cast a complicated look toward the encampment.
There seemed to be unwillingness in his eyes, and also disdain. Immediately after, his figure shifted slightly, then vanished soundlessly from sight like a drop of water melting into the sea.
William gazed in the direction where the envoy had disappeared. His fingers unconsciously rubbed the sword at his waist, and his brows furrowed slightly. Clearly, the calculations in his heart were still continuing.
After returning to the Main Tent, he looked at the map of the Barbarian Tribes and sank into thought for a long time. It was obvious that the Blackgold Empire had set its sights on them.
But what exactly was their purpose?
Suddenly, Darwin’s yawning Dragon’s Roar rang out, and William’s entire body trembled.
“So that is it…”
He abruptly clenched his fist, his knuckles turning white.
“What they want is not the Holy Light Empire’s territory. It is the Giant Dragons of Dragon Island!”
The Blackgold Empire wanted to use an attack on the Holy Light Empire as a pretext to pin down all parties. In truth, they intended to take advantage of the opportunity to reach their hands toward Dragon Island. Those Giant Dragons were their real target.
The wind outside the tent suddenly grew urgent, nearly blowing out the candle flame. William made a decisive call and lifted the tent curtain as he strode out.
“Pass down my order. The Gold Legion is to break camp at once and return to Despair Fortress overnight!”
“Your Highness?” The Deputy Legion Commander froze. “Leave now? We have only just occupied the southern Mineral Veins…”
“Mineral Veins can be seized again. Once your life is gone, there is nothing left!”
William’s voice carried unquestionable authority.
“Move quickly.”
The order swept through the camp like an electric current.
The originally silent river valley instantly came alive. The clash of armor, the thunder of hooves, and the soldiers’ shouted commands wove together into a single roar.
Campfires were swiftly extinguished. Tents were rolled into bundles and thrown onto wagons. The entire Gold Legion was like an awakened giant beast, gathering into a steel torrent beneath the night sky.
Only an hour later, the last soldier mounted his Warhorse. The entire encampment had been restored to its original state, leaving behind only trampled grass and a few wisps of lingering smoke.
However, there were always eyes watching from the darkness. Deep within the dense forest, several black-clad figures saw the direction in which the Gold Legion had departed and immediately activated a Communication Crystal.
They reported the situation there.
At that moment, inside the Blackgold Empire’s encampment, a commander who was wiping down a curved blade listened to the scout’s report, and a cold smile curved his lips.
“You want to run? Too late.”
He tossed the curved blade to the person behind him.
“Notify the Domain-Level Powerhouses. Catch up to them and bring back William Kroll’s head. I heard he is an honored guest of that old loach on Dragon Island. I want to see whether she will send Giant Dragons to help him.”
Five black shadows rushed out in response. Dark-purple Dou Qi surged beneath their feet, and they tore through the night sky like arrows loosed from the string, chasing swiftly in the direction the Gold Legion had left.
Their speed was astonishing. The grass and trees beneath their feet were ground into powder by their Dou Qi, and a pungent, sickly-sweet scent spread through the air.
In the direction of Despair Fortress, the vanguard of the Gold Legion had already spotted the Beacon Tower in the distance.
William reined in Darwin and looked back toward the darkness behind him. The air there seemed to be warping, and he could vaguely sense several terrifying auras closing in.
“Advance at full speed!” He drew his sword, its blade gleaming coldly beneath the moonlight. “Tell the mages to prepare for battle.”
The night wind lifted his cloak, making it snap sharply.
William knew this flight would not be smooth.
Once the Domain-Level Powerhouses of the Blackgold Empire caught up, the Gold-Rank soldiers of the Gold Legion would be utterly unable to withstand a single blow.
He had to hold out until Dragon Mother Daenerys arrived.
William himself had not expected the Blackgold Empire to ignore the face of two Demigods and come after him.
It was all because he had thought too simply. When the Radiant Sun Empire had been driven away, he should have withdrawn immediately.
Hooves raced across the wilderness. In the darkness behind them, five black shadows drew closer and closer, carrying the aura of death as they followed like shadows.
The wind over the wilderness suddenly stilled. Five black shadows planted themselves in front of the Gold Legion like iron stakes, and the dark-purple Dou Qi surging beneath their black robes almost condensed into substance.
William had just reined in Darwin when the other side attacked without hesitation.
The halos of three Super-Tier Spells exploded in the night sky. Spears formed from shadow shot straight toward the densest part of the legion’s formation with a sharp whistle that tore through the air.
“Defend!”
William roared as he drew his sword. The sword light carved a golden arc beneath the moonlight.
At that moment, a black shadow on the right suddenly vanished. When it reappeared, it was already in front of him. A withered hand carrying a rotten stench reached for his throat.
At the critical moment, a clear horse’s neigh tore through the night sky.
A silver-white Four-Winged Pegasus shattered the flowing light beneath its hooves. The female knight on its back wore dazzling Armor of Light, and the lance in her hand was like the light of dawn as it accurately deflected the incoming hand.
“The Holy Light Aresos Empire’s Temple Knight Order is here!”
The female knight’s voice rang out with weight and force. Three streaks of flowing light flashed one after another behind her.
Four more knights, also clad in Armor of Light, descended on Pegasi. The sacred aura unique to Domain-Level Powerhouses spread out like a tide, instantly overwhelming the haze of shadow.
The expressions of the Blackgold Empire’s Domain-Level Powerhouses changed abruptly.
The leader looked at the four fluttering temple banners, then glanced at the Sacred Crystal embedded in the female knight’s lance. After his eyes flickered for a moment, he withdrew without hesitation.
“Retreat.”
He gave a low shout. The five black shadows were like drops of water sinking into ink, instantly vanishing into the darkness behind them. Not even the aftershocks of the Super-Tier Spells remained. They disappeared cleanly and completely.
The battlefield fell into an eerie silence.
The Gold Legion’s soldiers’ hands were still trembling around their weapons. The deathly pressure from that instant seemed to remain frozen in the air.
William looked at the Knights of Light, especially the female knight leading them.
The brows and eyes revealed beneath her helmet were as sharp as a hawk’s, and the Holy Light patterns on her armor were still flowing.
“The Temple Knight Order?” he asked with a frown.
The female knight dismounted, removed her helmet, and revealed a head of dazzling golden hair.
“Your Highness William of the Kroll Kingdom, the Bishop predicted that the Blackgold Empire would move against you. He specially ordered us to come and receive you.”
She paused, her tone solemn.
“The Bishop has something he needs your help with. Please come with us.”