Chapter 36 : Chapter 36
Chapter 36. The White-Haired Lord and the Family Reinforcements
The sanctuary’s heavy stone doors slowly closed behind them, hiding that sacred place where moonlight flowed once more within the embrace of the mountain wall and its vines.
Only after the final dull echoes of the doors shutting had completely faded did Wolfgang turn around.
The moment he did, his massive body went rigid.
Eli emerged from the sanctuary with a head of snow-white hair that carried a cold and mysterious aura.
Beside him, Ella’s skin shone with a lustrous radiance, and a calm yet noble halo seemed to linger about her.
Wolfgang stared with his mouth open wide. The lord before his eyes... seemed as though he had undergone a rebirth.
Seeing Wolfgang’s stunned expression, Eli could not help but laugh softly.
“What? You do not recognize your lord anymore?”
He flicked his wet white hair, scattering droplets everywhere. “How much time has passed?”
Wolfgang abruptly came back to his senses. Suppressing the shock in his heart, he lowered his head respectfully.
“My lord! You and milady in the sacred spring... spent an entire day there.”
“An entire day?” Eli frowned slightly. The time had lasted longer than he had expected.
His gaze swept across the waterskin still hanging full at Wolfgang’s waist, and he asked, “You did not drink it?”
“I... wanted to bring it back with me. To share it with my tribesmen. Only by spreading such a divine treasure among us can its power better help us guard the gates of Black Territory for you, my lord.”
In his ice-blue wolf eyes shone both a sense of responsibility toward his people’s future and absolute loyalty to Eli.
Eli looked at Wolfgang deeply, and a trace of approval flashed through his eyes.
“Good.” He said no more and simply gave the order, “Let us go. Back to the territory!”
The three of them immediately sped off along the path they had come by.
With their strength greatly increased, Eli and Ella moved with light, swift steps, while Wolfgang was even more like a shadow in the forest, soundlessly leading the way ahead.
The return trip was much faster than when they had come. In less than an hour, the outline of Obsidian Territory’s camp, enclosed by rough log palisades, came into view.
Yet Eli’s steps suddenly halted.
On the open ground outside the camp, there was now a fairly large force stationed there.
Dozens of soldiers in House Black’s black leather armor trimmed in red were pitching camp, each of them carrying a sharp, hardened aura.
Several wagons loaded with heavy wooden crates and tools stood nearby.
And beside the black raven banner flying at the center of the camp, there was now another banner bearing the same emblem, only smaller in size.
The family reinforcements had arrived, and far sooner than expected.
Eli was instantly invigorated, joy appearing on his face as he quickened his pace toward the camp gate.
Ella and Wolfgang followed close behind.
“Halt! Who goes there?!” one of the gate guards shouted sharply, crossing his spear in front of the entrance.
This was a new face. His eyes were keen, and he had clearly been drilled by this suddenly arrived family force. His vigilance was exceptionally high.
He looked at the white-haired, cold-tempered young man before him with uncertainty and alarm.
And at the imposing Wolf-kin warrior behind him, as well as the extraordinary woman at his side.
Eli looked at this dutiful soldier and found it rather amusing.
“Bran? You do not even recognize your own lord now?”
The young soldier named Bran’s eyes flew wide open, his mouth gaping so far that an egg could have fit inside.
He stared fixedly at Eli’s snow-white hair and those familiar blue eyes.
Then he looked at Madam Ella, who gave a slight nod at the side, and at Lord Wolfgang, the silent Wolf-kin leader behind them...
“M-My lord?! It really is you?!”
Bran’s voice abruptly rose, filled with disbelief and shock.
He hastily drew back his spear and snapped his body upright, his face flushing bright red.
“I... I deserve death! I failed to recognize you, my lord! Please forgive me!”
“You were only doing your duty. What crime is there in that? Open the gate,” Eli said with a wave of his hand, utterly unconcerned.
The palisade gate opened at once. Eli and the other two quickly entered the camp.
When the soldiers saw Eli’s white hair, every one of them revealed a look of shock. They all saluted, their eyes full of awe.
Sure enough, on the lord’s open ground, several familiar figures were standing there in conversation.
At the head of them stood a tall, powerfully built man.
Dressed in House Black’s signature black light armor, he was none other than Buck, the Gold Tier knight who had returned after departing before.
“Captain Buck!” Eli called out loudly, his voice carrying the delight of a reunion after a long separation.
Buck turned at the sound, his sharp gaze instantly landing on Eli.
And when he saw that dazzling head of white hair, his resolute face showed obvious astonishment and shock for the first time.
Those hawk-like eyes narrowed at once as he sized Eli up from head to toe, as though trying to see through him.
The aura of a Mid-Bronze Tier! And that white hair... What had happened in barely ten days?!
“Young Master?” Buck’s voice was thick with suspicion and surprise. “What happened to you...?”
“It is me.” Eli walked up to him and met Buck’s scrutinizing gaze.
“I told you we would meet again.”
He pointed at his hair, his tone light.
“A little... accident happened. The situation is rather complicated. Still, it is good to be back! Are you not going to introduce them to me?”
As he spoke, his gaze swept over the people behind Buck.
Buck suppressed the storm of shock in his heart, knowing that now was not the time to question him further.
He stepped to the side and introduced the distinguished figures behind him one by one.
“Young Master, your letter was delivered. The Marquess... has sent the support you urgently needed.”
He gestured to an old man wearing a dark gray scholar’s robe, his hair already white.
“This is the family scholar, Mr. Alva Cecil. He is a man of vast learning.”
Scholar Alva gave a slight bow. His eyes swept over Eli’s white hair, carrying a powerful desire to study it.
“Good day, Young Master Eli. Your... transformation is truly astonishing.”
Buck then pointed to a short, sturdy old man wearing a scorched leather apron marked with sparks and burn scars.
“This is the family’s master smith, Glenn Parr.
By the Marquess’s order, he has come to help you solve the problems of mining and initial smelting for that special ore deposit.”
Master Glenn did not care about formalities in the slightest. He strode forward directly, his rough hand nearly grabbing Eli’s arm, his voice hoarse with excitement.
“Boy! That mithril mine in your letter! Is it real?! Where is it?!
Take me there at once! Good heavens, mithril! In this old man’s entire life...!”
Buck coughed helplessly, interrupting Master Glenn’s feverish excitement.
Then he pointed to the blue-haired middle-aged man beside him, who had been smiling amiably all this time.
“This is one of the overseers of the family merchant guild, Mr. Tim Lawrence.”
“Good day, Young Master Eli. Good day... young madam.”
Ella revealed a kind yet shy smile, and Eli nodded. As expected of someone in charge of a merchant guild.
At last, Buck pointed to an old man whom Eli knew well.
“This gentleman, you know already: Sebastian, the chief steward of the Marquess’s Residence. By the order of the Marquess and Young Master Kaelus, he has come to assist you with the territory’s complicated documents, accounts, and personnel management, and has also brought part of the family’s material support.”
Sebastian stepped forward, his voice steady and calm. “We meet again, Young Master Eli.”
His gaze, seen through those gold-rimmed glasses, paused on Eli’s white hair for a brief instant.
Deep within those ancient well-like eyes, which usually seemed devoid of emotion, there appeared to be the faintest ripple, though it vanished too quickly for anyone to catch.
Then his gaze shifted to Ella behind Eli, and he gave a slight nod. “Young madam.”
Ella quickly returned the courtesy. “Mr. Sebastian. My name is Ella.”
Seeing this old butler, who was like an iceberg that never thawed, truly surprised Eli a little.
His father had actually sent even him?
It seemed the importance of the mithril mine had indeed drawn the family’s highest attention.
This old steward’s abilities were absolutely first-rate. With him here, the territory’s internal administration could be sorted into perfect order.
“This is wonderful! Welcome, all of you!” Eli suppressed the stray thoughts in his mind and revealed a sincere smile.
“You must have had a hard journey. Obsidian Territory is in urgent need of capable hands right now, and your arrival has resolved my most pressing crisis!”
The moment he finished speaking, Master Glenn impatiently rushed forward again, his goatee trembling upward with excitement.
“Boy! Enough with the courtesies! The mithril mine! Where is it?! Quick! Take me there! I cannot wait even a second longer!”
Eli was amused by him. He turned to Estor. “Estor!”
Estor, who had been standing by all this time, felt as if a great burden had been lifted. He was extremely afraid of the old steward.
“Young Master!”
“You will take Master Glenn, Scholar Alva, and...” He glanced at Tim.
“If Mr. Tim is interested, he may come as well. Go to the rift valley in the south. Leon knows the location. Be careful.”
“Yes, Young Master!” Estor answered loudly.
The moment Master Glenn heard that, he wasted no time at all. He seized Scholar Alva and rushed toward the outside at once.
“Quick! Lead the way! Mithril! My mithril!”
Scholar Alva staggered from being dragged so suddenly, and his glasses nearly fell off.
Tim, meanwhile, gave Eli a slight bow and followed behind them with measured, unhurried steps.
Watching the prospecting party depart in a whirlwind, the smile on Eli’s face gradually faded as he turned toward Buck and the old steward.
“Captain Buck. Steward.” Eli’s voice grew grave.
“Surveying the ore deposit is important, but right now, we have a more urgent crisis to deal with.”
He led Buck and Sebastian into the council hall.
Ella immediately brought over the detailed map depicting the terrain of the Western Frontier and spread it out across the central long table.
Eli’s finger struck heavily upon the mark representing Lucerne City.
“Lucerne City! Baron Grumm and the rebels under him are entrenched there, with a force of over a thousand men.
Previously, they had scattered their strength outside to loot and keep watch, but just the day before yesterday, Brandon sent back urgent intelligence.
Grumm has already recalled all of his scattered main forces back to Lucerne City, and the soldiers inside the city are making urgent preparations.
All signs indicate that they are preparing a large-scale operation!”
He lifted his head, his gaze sweeping across Buck’s face.
“Their target is very likely our Obsidian Territory, and they may strike at any moment.”
“Obsidian Territory has only just begun to develop. Its defenses are crude, and the number of soldiers is insufficient.
Faced with such an experienced army, our situation... is extremely dangerous.”