Chapter 2071: Meeting Valhalla
It was only about an hour before dusk that they finished their trip and went to the palace.
"HALT!" the guards, a third of whom were half-orcs, stopped them from entering the gates. Althea then brought out the invite sent over via the Post Office, complete with signatures and seals and only then were they allowed inside.
If they tried to push entering, the rules of the territory would activate. After all, each building within a territory had its own protections outside of war, preventing people from trespassing.
For Castles, palaces, and top-level residencies, there were even more advanced arrays available. Later, she’d find out that Warrior City’s Palace, one of the peak-level castles, even had a minor attacking array.
If one insisted on entering deep into the castle without the invitation, then it would activate.
It couldn’t be too strong or deadly, but at their level, it would still hurt. Continuously getting attacked would certainly neutralize them, at least until the actual guards arrived to take them away.
Seeing the invitation, the guard immediately became much more polite. The softening up of the large guy was almost comedic. It was like he was just taking advantage of his big frame to intimidate people, but he wasn’t actually fond of it.
It was much like someone with a beer belly, in order to reduce the size of their tummy and look better, sucking in their stomachs for a long time. It was very tiring.
The couple entered the large gate more than ten meters high. The gate was the classic large double-door gate that was taller than three people on top of each other.
The door itself had some gem-like inlays, but the most striking design was the carvings. It showed images of valiant battles, some with humans and some with half-orcs. It was quite interesting. Had it not been for the occasion, Althea would’ve stood in front for a while, studying each motif.
Beyond the gate, they were greeted by a large garden characterized by intricate garden arrangements, arches, and fountains. From there, they could see the palace in sight but a few hundred meters away.
Althea recognized a lot of different plants, and she knew that they were mostly endemic in this region while some were exotic (at least relative to this place).
It was very well designed and had complex mosaics and colors. They used the characteristic designs, took note of their effect. It was very beautiful.
When their feet landed on the castle itself, they immediately felt the difference. There was a refreshing, cleansing aura, feeling the effects of the built-in arrays there.
Before they arrived, the Lord was sitting in his office and doing mountains of paperwork. He was informed of their arrival as they appeared by the gate.
He emerged from his study not long after they arrived, and he gave the couple a greeting to that of peers. This surprised the servants, who now had to bow subserviently to them as well because of it.
While Lord Valhalla didn’t know that Althea was the Lord, he already had an idea of it. At the very least, according to the information they had gathered so far, he knew that it was one of either of the two to most. However, if one studied the timelines, then it could only be the woman.
Anyway, although her territory was just a town, its development and potential was superior to Warrior City. In this sense, she was indeed a peer.
"I apologize for being unable to welcome you with more hospitality," Valhalla said, guiding them back to the lounge to sit. Soon, they were served with more snacks and drinks.
Otto had sent Post a few days prior that some important people were heading there for missions, and that he hoped Valhalla’s side could help them and give them a few shortcuts to their destination.
Valhalla did not mind doing this favor personally. He had always been curious about Alterra and even looked up to it, especially for their contribution to the Fire Plague.
In his generation, the Fire Plague could be said to be a major traumatic point no one would forget. They encountered extreme disasters every one to two years, but the darkness of the previous Fire Plague overshadowed these, hands down.
It was such a pity they didn’t exist back then.
He looked at his own body regrettably. Unfortunately, for his body, it is too late.
Unconsciously, he believed Alterra managed to create a cure for those afflicted, but didn’t even think they could repair those who had been destroyed decades prior.
He shook his head and began to chat with the couple. "I heard that you are planning to go to the Orc Zone? We can help you until our side of the Orcspine Mountains."
The Orcspine Mountain is the long and tall mountain range that separates a portion of the far East from the rest of the eastern areas.
It was only until here that humans could see. Beyond that seemed out of bounds already.
"My brother knows a lot of the territories east of here. He would’ve been of great help.
"It is just that he is currently in isolation," he said. "He should be emerging in a few days. If you can wait, perhaps you can consider waiting for his emergence."
Virion was the Lord’s only blood relative left. Speaking of which, the large palace seemed quite empty except for a minimal number of servants.
Only the Lord and his assistants were there. It was rumored that after his illness, he did not expand his harem for respect for the women.
They heard that the man had adopted children and were fond of them, though Virion still hopped his brother lived a full life.
At this, Althea stepped forward.
"We are also here to deliver these," she said, handing over a few vials.
She looked over the man, and she could indeed feel some death energy around him.
"This is...?"
"The cure."
"What?" Valhalla asked again, unsure how to decipher her words.
Althea wordlessly looked at his semi-paralyzed arm.
"Your cure."
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