Chapter 191 -192 The Eve of the Birth of a Dark Boss in Green City
Lide had specifically designated an area as the Heroic Cemetery, where only those heroes who had sacrificed themselves for Dawn City were qualified to be buried. This place was not for ordinary people.
The burial process proceeded, soil filling the graves.
After the final gravestone was erected, Lide gazed across the over forty graves on the empty land and remained silent for a long while.
None of the residents of Dawn City who came to mourn made a sound either.
But at this moment, silence was more profound than sound.
Hearts quietly united.
...
The greatest purpose of the Heroic Cemetery was just that: to bond people’s hearts and boost morale to the maximum.
Anyone who sacrificed for Dawn City, once deceased, was entitled to be buried there and revered by others.
Such a practice was quite normal on Earth.
But in Glory World, it was exceptionally rare.
The world here was not a safe place, death wasn’t a big deal.
Only those with distinguished contributions were worthy of remembrance, while ordinary warriors and civilians who died in battle hardly enjoyed such elaborate funerals.
Yet, people always yearned for beauty. Which warrior wouldn’t want his name sung after a heroic death?
The Heroic Cemetery of Dawn City compensated for that, one could imagine the intense battle strength these respected warriors would unleash in future battles.
Lide didn’t deliver another speech. After spotting Isa among the crowd, he silently left with the little girl, leaving the residents to continue honoring the deceased heroes.
Among the crowd, many even gazed at the fresh gravestones with longing eyes.
If one day they could receive such an elaborate funeral upon their death, what regrets could they possibly have?
Ultimately, the funeral of heroes concluded successfully.
The cohesion of Dawn City was enhanced once again, and Lide, the initiator, held an indescribable status in the eyes of the residents.
Even those who did not follow the Dawn Sect nearly idolized Lide as a divine figure.
Only a great Divine could achieve such acts. Meeting the great Kachar City Lord was the greatest fortune of their lives, praise the Goddess of Luck!
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The dead had passed away, but life must go on.
After the funeral, Lide returned to the City Hall and summoned all the top executives of Dawn City for a truly significant meeting.
He wanted to plan the key developmental focuses of Dawn City in the coming months.
His experiences in the battle against the Dark Contract had altered many of his views, urging him to modify the previous development directions.
This time, all the heavyweight figures of Dawn City attended.
The second-generation Bloodlines,
Frey, guardian of the sacred lands,
City Hall Chairman Harrison,
Dylan, the breeder of Magic Language Bats,
The two female Bloodlines, Ivy and Lucy,
Archer Augustine along with Audis who was in charge of plundering populations,
All seven Bloodlines who had followed Lide for a hundred years were present.
The remaining top combatants of Dawn City—Emi, Grote, and Betty—were also impressively present.
As for Koso, who had evolved into a bronze One-eyed Giant, due to his size, he could only listen to the meeting from the courtyard of the City Hall.
The huge head by the window was Koso; by leaning out of the third floor window, one could see his agile moving eye.
Lide was quite satisfied seeing this scene.
Now, Dawn City could be described as brimming with talents, a world apart from the meagerness when he first arrived among the Bloodline.
Even his mentor Spark, a 19th level Great Mage who oversaw the White Tower, Lide felt confident defeating the White Tower if it came to conflict.
This was the team he had painstakingly built.
“Grote, report on the matter concerning the Dark Contract and Viscount Bernard,”
In the large office, everyone sat around a long, oval, gray table, intricately carved chairs surrounding it, and Grote was directly named by Lide, who was seated at the head.
Although the Dark Contract had somewhat concluded, Lide’s interest had spiked elsewhere.
This former Child of the North stood up, his towering frame imposing, under everyone’s watchful eyes.
“Ancestor Crown, I arrived in Green City twenty-two years ago after leaving the North,” Grote began recounting his past.
“On the journey, I encountered a terrifying Demon Beast tide. The companions with me suffered horrendous losses; even I nearly perished.
Maybe it was the Goddess of Luck’s favor, it was during the most dangerous moment that Viscount Bernard saved me and all the Northern warriors.”
His tone paused, seemingly reflective as the memories still seemed to move him.
“Having no place to go after leaving the North, at Viscount Bernard’s invitation, I joined the Dark Contract, becoming his Guard Commander.”
Lide nodded, his eyes flickering with keenness.
“How much do you know about Viscount Bernard?”
He had always been wary of the elegant Viscount Bernard.
Although his final goal wasn’t the Crimson Mage Tower, and angering a Transcendent meant inevitably facing the wrath of Transcendents, survival was uncertain.
But for some reason, he didn’t believe Viscount Bernard would be killed by Extraordinary Hunting, his vigilance never waned.
And now, his plans were to snatch from Viscount Bernard’s mouth – it was essential to know more about his enemy.
Unexpectedly, Grote shook his head.
“Ancestor Crown, I don’t know much about Viscount Bernard.”
This response was beyond Lide’s expectations.
“How so?”
“I might be the Guard Commander for Viscount Bernard, but Viscount Bernard has never trusted me. He only valued me for my battle prowess as a Northern Warrior.
For over twenty years by his side, I never knew his true identity, not even his race or profession.”
Grot’s tone carried an unmistakable sense of astonishment, “Viscount Bernard is the most cautious person I have ever met.
He has never mentioned anything to me besides the Dark Contract, so as for him, perhaps I don’t know any more than anyone else.”
Everyone in the room exchanged glances.
It was unexpected for Grot to respond this way, being a Guard Commander who had served by his side for over twenty years and yet knew nothing of his real identity.
It was truly astonishing.
After hearing this, Lide fell silent for a long while, aware that Viscount Bernard was difficult to handle, but not to such an extent.
But once he made a decision about something he intended to do, he never entertained any thoughts of retreating.
A trace of a cold light flashed in his eyes.
“I don’t care about his real origins; I just want to know if Viscount Bernard doesn’t return soon,
do we have a chance to swallow up the Dark Contract!”
Hiss~
Emi and Grot exchanged glances upon hearing this, both showing some surprise. Swallow the Dark Contract?
This plan had never crossed their minds before, and although their top combat strength was not inferior to the Dark Contract, was it not too risky to act while the whereabouts of Viscount Bernard were unknown?
“Ancestor Crown, now is not a good time to swallow the Dark Contract.”
Lide’s gaze was piercing as he looked at Emi, who had just spoken.
“How so?”
Emi stood up and after a moment of contemplation said, “Although the Dark Contract is loosely managed, it has always been controlled by Viscount Bernard.
No one else knows the secrets hidden within the Dark Contract.
The true identities of those few masked figures in black robes who attend meetings are also known only to Viscount Bernard.
Even the various forces operated by the Dark Contract can only be mobilized by Viscount Bernard.”
Emi took a deep breath, “So it’s not an exaggeration to say that the Dark Contract is a force established by Viscount Bernard alone.
We vice presidents are merely pulled in randomly by him.
No one knows what purpose Viscount Bernard had in establishing the Dark Contract. I’ve once incidentally studied the origin of the Dark Contract.
Its emergence in Green City forty years ago was sudden and it wasn’t a local power,
so at a time when Viscount Bernard’s whereabouts are unknown, I believe it’s not a good time to strike at the Dark Contract.”
Lide understood the unspoken implications in Emi’s words—there were too many uncertainties.
But he did not back down, shaking his head with a determined tone.
“That’s not an issue. It doesn’t matter how Viscount Bernard controls the Dark Contract.
I don’t even plan to completely inherit the power of the Dark Contract.
I need a Dark Contract that I can fully control, even if it’s weaker than before.”
A resolute unshakeable determination shone in his deep dark eyes on that handsome face; once he was set on something, he was committed to accomplishing it without any excuses or rationale.
The time was right now, with the heavens, the terrain, and the people all on his side.
The timing, as Viscount Bernard had provoked an Extraordinary Existence for some reason and was now untraceable, but being marked by an Extraordinary, it could be imagined that he would not have an easy time soon.
The terrain, Green City was right under his eyes and the Dark Contract was within his reach.
The human element, the most crucial part, the Dark Contract’s Vice President Emi was his Bloodline, Viscount Bernard’s Guard Commander Grot was also his Bloodline,
an important member of the Dark Contract, the bishop of the Late Bell Church—Stanley, would become his Bloodline in a month.
Additionally, the Undead Mage Withered Bone had been captured by him; the current power of the Dark Contract was unprecedentedly weak without Viscount Bernard.
If he did not seize this opportunity to swallow the Dark Contract, then he would not be Lide.
And regardless of how powerful the Dark Contract had been before and how many forces it had hidden, those belonged to Viscount Bernard, not him.
He sought a force that was absolutely obedient; if those hidden forces couldn’t be attained, he would let them go.
It was no big deal.
Even just having the facade was enough for Lide to reap immense benefits.
Although previously loosely managed in Green City, the Dark Contract’s status and influence among the underground forces were absolutely top-ranking.
Without an owner, the Dark Contract was like a piece of honey-smeared bread to him, oozing an alluring sweet scent.
For all these reasons, after careful thought, Lide decided to make the move.
“Ancestor Crown, the Dark Contract is probably being besieged by the military of Green City at this moment. If we act now, will it be…?” Grot voiced his doubt with some hesitation.
Lide shook his head.
“No, I want to act while the Dark Contract is in chaos. If it weren’t for a crisis within the Dark Contract, how could we subdue them?”
A glimmer of deep meaning flashed in his eyes.
“A crisis for the Dark Contract might just be an opportunity for us.”
“Grot, Emi, secretly return to Green City and go undercover. Remember, during this time some Extraordinary might intervene to cleanse Green City, so be sure to prioritize your safety first.”
“While ensuring safety, secretly take control of the forces of the Dark Contract.”
“I want to see a new Dark Contract emerge in a month.”
“By then, the Dark Contract will have a new master.”