Chapter 1000: Chapter 58 The Down-and-Out Merchant
Xiphil raised his cup of water and said with a chuckle, "Alcohol is not permitted in the military camp, so today, I replace wine with water to apologize for the offense our Tiger Army of Light has caused to the elder." Nearly all the senior officers of the Tiger Army of Light, including Siri, the Mage Group leader who seldom interacted with the military, stood up and raised their cups in unison.
Ah Dai quickly stood up as well and said awkwardly, "I understand you all have your difficulties; how can I blame you?"
The senior officers of the Tiger Army of Light held nothing back in their lavish praise of Ah Dai’s formidable strength, and a banquet in his honor lasted two joyous hours before it came to an end.
Xiphil personally accompanied Ah Dai and his two companions to the border. "Elder, if you encounter any danger in the Empire of Sunset City, please come back right away. As long as you are here with us, we can ensure your safety. However, I believe all my concerns are unnecessary, given your immense strength, those despicable folks of the Empire couldn’t possibly harm you."
Siri said, "Elder Ah Dai, you are the most powerful magician I have ever seen. To maintain your summoned creature for over an hour is something I have not even read about in magic books!"
Yan Shi, who was already tired of these people’s praises, said impatiently, "Alright, there’s no need for a send-off, we must get on our way. Ah Dai, let’s go."
Xiphil and the others watched as the silhouettes of Ah Dai and his companions disappeared before returning to the military camp, their hearts tumultuous as they began to write a report to Aldos.
Finally entering the territory of the Empire of Sunset City, Ah Dai took the Elf Bracelet out of the Dragon’s Blood and said, "Those generals were really enthusiastic; my head is so dizzy!" Socializing was Ah Dai’s least proficient skill, and he had spoken more words today at the military camp than he usually did in ten days.
Yan Li laughed heartily, "Who can blame them when you can summon such a powerful Silver Dragon? No wonder they were continuously flattering you. Brother Ah Dai, next time we encounter an enemy, just summon the dragon, and who will be our match? Those Nobles of the Empire of Sunset City are nothing in comparison."
Ah Dai shook his head and said, "Actually, Sheng Xie is just a young dragon, and its strength is quite limited; it was just exaggerated by Commander Xiphil and the others. Although the dragon is powerful, it is not invincible." He was well aware of Sheng Xie’s real strength—if he used Life Life Transformation along with the Xuan Iron Bow, Sheng Xie would have no chance of resisting. The main reason for the strong impact in the military camp was the deterrence of the dragon, a powerful and mysterious creature.
Yan Shi added, "Ah Dai is right. No matter what we do, only our own sufficient strength can provide security. The dragon cannot be summoned every time either. While searching for the Elves, we too must practice diligently." The three of them kept talking as they entered the Dark Province of the Empire of Sunset City. Unlike the large military presence in the Province of Light, the Dark Province was very calm. They traversed a hilly region and entered the plains, advancing cautiously with the help of the Elf Bracelet’s abilities to scout for the presence of any Elves in the vicinity.
Lord Mansion of Dark City in the Dark Province of the Empire of Sunset City.
Five Dark Magicians and four Assassins, who had attempted to attack the remnants of the Mage Guild, sat scattered in a dark, large room.
The door opened, a ray of light shone in from outside, and a well-dressed middle-aged man approached the room. He closed the door behind him, and the darkness resettled. The Assassins remained scattered at the periphery while the five Dark Magicians stood up.
The middle-aged man asked indifferently, "What was the result of the mission? Why did Aldos concentrate all the troops at the border in the Province of Light? Did you guys leak the purpose of your trip?"
The leading Dark Magician, hands behind his back, spoke in a hoarse voice, "The Mage Guild proved to be stronger than we anticipated. The surprise attack was unsuccessful."
The middle-aged man frowned, "Unsuccessful? To what extent? Was it because of you that Aldos assembled the Tiger Army of Light?"
The Dark Magician snorted coldly, "Don’t speak to me with the tone you use for questioning subordinates. Indeed, the mission was a complete failure, not a single member of the Mage Guild died at our hands. It was only during the pursuit by the forces in the Province of Light that we killed a few hundred regular soldiers."
The middle-aged man’s eyes emitted a cold glint, even visible in the dimness, "A complete failure? The plan was so thorough; how could it fail completely? With such a loss of manpower, how do you expect me to explain this to the Duke? Give me a detailed account of what happened."
"Hmph, you don’t need to explain; I will personally report to the Duke. No need to justify anything to you. Get the carriage ready; we need to return to Sunset City," the Dark Magician retorted with disdain.
The middle-aged man exuded a chilly air from his body, his voice as cold as ice without a hint of emotion, "Why can’t you explain it to me? Don’t forget, I am the mastermind behind this operation."
The Black Robed Magician was not at all intimidated, "Because you are not worthy of my explanation. And don’t forget who I am. Not to speak of a mere Viscount like you, even the Duke himself treats me with great respect. I have no time to argue with you, so hurry up and prepare the carriage; I must return and report to the Sect Hierarch."
