Chapter 69
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Chapter 69: The Boy and the Crow
Three days later.
In Count Kafka’s territory.
A boy dressed as an adventurer walked quietly along a deserted gravel path. His plain armor looked utterly common, his greasy brown hair unwashed for days. His sallow face bore distinct freckles, and his vacant gaze bordered on dullness. Though not hideous, his appearance was unremarkable enough to vanish in any crowd.
Only the black sword beneath his travel pack hinted at quality—though its cloth-wrapped, weathered hilt suggested mere practicality rather than grandeur.
The boy trudged along the potholed road until twilight, when a town emerged on the horizon.
Tucker Town.
The nearest settlement to the Forest of Gran.
His first destination.
A small black head suddenly wriggled out from his pack, screeching in a grating voice:
“Squawk! Thrilling! After taking a sword strike for my glorious master, I never dreamed I’d get to play! Boss, let’s storm a tavern, thrash some fools, and rescue a beauty! Just like proper adventure tales!” Crow Robin croaked excitedly.
Midi nearly retorted that he’d endured twenty years of adventures—sweet, bitter, and bloody. Now he just wanted to build a safe haven for his loved ones.
But he bit back the words, recalling the black-haired girl’s stern warning: _“Never stoop to Robin’s intellect. You might never recover.”_
Was this bird truly his only companion?
Midi sighed inwardly, rolling his eyes as the crow clambered onto his shoulder.
One boy. One bird.
This was the “elite team” seeking the Elven Palace’s heritage.
Fina had stayed behind.
Forming the ten-thousand-strong Hawk Brigade in secret—while evading the Iron-Blood Duke’s notice—required a cunning leader.
Old Bartran and Lothran, though shrewd, lacked noble cunning. Midi’s father, Count Ingman, could spar politically with the Duke but knew nothing of military logistics.
Only Fina Hamilton, the Queen of Magic, could manage it.
So Fina remained—her eyes blazing with fury.
Alice stayed too.
Establishing a magical laboratory in the legion demanded the Mist Sorceress’s touch. More crucially, only she could fully activate the strategic magic array shrouding both counts’ territories from her Autumn Ancient City villa.
In truth, Alice ruled these lands. Fina and Midi were merely privileged guests.
Fina could unleash Magic Beams using the array’s Infinite Magic, but defense, surveillance, and repairs hinged on Alice’s power. Her presence made the Asreks territory impregnable—a necessity in these volatile times.
So Alice remained—her frosty stare accusing.
Bringing troops was impossible. Small teams drew less scrutiny. Mobilizing soldiers now would attract noble attention, as during the five Elven tribes’ relocation.
Thus Midi journeyed alone through the whistling winds.
The girls, resentful of this solitary departure, had at least saddled him with a dim-witted bird.
Of course, Crow Robin had undergone new upgrades. Empowered by the Infinite Magic of Autumn Ancient City villa, he now enabled long-distance communication across vast distances. According to Alice, they could converse without delay even when separated by half the Arad continent.
With real-time updates, various rare artifacts, an army of ten thousand deployable during crises, and the full support of two operational count’s territories, Midi felt the calmness of someone using artillery to kill a mosquito.
Yet one thing puzzled him – why did his disguise have to be so unflatteringly ugly?
“What if Midi actually brings a woman back?” Alice cut straight to the chase in the villa’s sunroom.
“With that hideous appearance? Unlikely. Besides, the crow’s watching anyway,” Fina replied, though uncertainty flickered in her eyes. “Even if he did… as comrades, we’ve no right to interfere. Probably…”
“Truly?” Disappointment flashed in Alice’s eyes. “Then perhaps we should…”
The black-haired girl drew a slender finger across her neck.
The red-haired girl shook her head pensively before brightening. “Wait! As comrades, we must evaluate new members’ capabilities. If he brings someone, I’ll test if she can survive my Magic Beam.”
“And have the Red Sorceress’ Rose Hound assess her magic,” Alice added approvingly.
“Perfect.” The Queen of Magic smiled.
“Perfect indeed.” The Mist Sorceress sipped her tea, shoulders relaxing.
Hundreds of kilometers away, Midi shuddered with sudden chill.
Who’s targeting me? Could the Nightmare Hand Wiseman have revived already?
His vacant eyes sharpened instantly.
At that moment, a swift figure burst from roadside shrubs – a dual-pistol girl sprinting while firing backward, pursued by thirty shield-bearing warriors. The lead pursuers carried tower shields yet kept pace effortlessly, deflecting bullets with practiced ease. Flankers began encircling her.
From afar, it resembled a hare fleeing hunting hounds.
Midi sighed. This wasn’t ordinary robbery. The girl likely carried vital intelligence – probably about Forest of Gran.
Though intrigued, he dismissed involvement. Speculation wasn’t worth the trouble. He protected only his own, and time dwindled before Queen’s faction and Senator’s faction clashed in civil war. Finding the Elven Kingdom’s heritage took priority.
Yet both prey and hunters now charged toward him. The desperate girl saw him as her only chance; the pursuers expanded their encirclement to eliminate witnesses.
“Boss, they’re provoking us. If we retreat, we’ll lose face before even reaching town,” Crow Robin whispered gravely – though Midi detected hidden glee.
This chatterbox bird differed completely from his past life! When had he become so brash?
Midi forgot – had he not grown powerful enough to stay composed, Robin wouldn’t dare act so boldly.
Now committed, Midi drew his sword. Fleeing meant endless chase. Total annihilation was the efficient choice.
Cold silver flames ignited in his eyes. The unremarkable youth vanished, replaced by a killer radiating icy intent.
The black longsword slid silently from its sheath. Forged from Void Star Iron, “Black Sky” absorbed all light, heavier than any greatsword yet never dulling – the only blade enduring his Ultimate Intent. Fina’s gift.
Let your blood christen Black Sky.
Midi leveled the blade calmly.
