Chapter 261 - 260: New Discovery?
After discussing the most sensitive issues, the conversation between Gawain and Soldrin naturally became much more relaxedâthey temporarily put aside the tense relations between Typhon and Anzu and did not discuss the decline of the Cecil Clan and the current chaotic domestic situation. The two of them talked freely like friends from seven hundred years ago.
At least, thatâs how it seemed from Soldrinâs point of view.
"Actually, when I first heard about you establishing a new land in the south, I almost believed you were really backâafter all, it sounds like something you would do," Soldrin said with a smile. "For someone out of touch with society for seven hundred years, trying to return to the aristocratic circles to scheme and plot is not your style. Opening up land in this wilderness is probably easier for you."
"The main thing is that scheming and plotting are really uninteresting, especially against a bunch of juniors," Gawain waved his hand dismissively. "Itâs too awkward to get along. Just thinking that those people are descendants of those old guys from back in the day feels weird."
Gawain casually found an excuse to stay away from the aristocratic circle in the royal capital, but Soldrin seriously pondered. He remembered the astonishing prosperity he saw along the way in the Cecil territory, the weapons and equipment of the Cecil soldiers that could be described as black tech, and the unique aura he felt when facing the Cecil Combat Corps. It was a belief and momentum entirely different from ordinary aristocratic private soldiers, immature but enough to draw attention.
If it were only a small batch of personal guards, it would be understandable, but the fact that all soldiers in the Cecil territory were equally elite was worth pondering.
As an elf, especially one in the most observant Ranger profession, Soldrin could infer a lot from observing the details.
The ancestor awakened from the grave, took a look at the domestic situation, and declared disinterest in scheming with descendants, so he ran to a remote place beyond the Kingâs reach. In less than a year, he produced a force that could crush any conventional army of the time and was crazily expanding the military...
Just thinking about it is terrifying, like a father coming home to find his living room in chaos, then watching his muddy child with a faint smile and turning to the kitchen to fetch a rolling pin!
Soldrin mumbled to himself, but Gawain didnât know what the elf Ranger fantasized about in less than half a minute. He just nonchalantly asked, "Whatâs your specific position in the Typhon army?"
Soldrinâs expression turned a bit solemn, "I canât divulge my employerâs secrets casually, not even to youâyou should know my principles."
"I wasnât asking you to reveal Typhonâs border defenses," Gawain shrugged, thinking this bald elf was as principled as he remembered, but he didnât show disappointment. It was just a casual question, "Tell me whatever you can."
"I serve under the command of Andresha Wendell, the commander of the Winterwolf Legion, but I hold no real power or rank," Soldrin said. "You know, being of another race, itâs impossible to wield significant authority in a human armyâbut Typhonâs pay is quite high and fair."
"Andresha Wendell?" Gawain frowned, "That young Wolf General?"
"You know her?" Soldrin was taken aback, then smiled, "Yes, sheâs a descendant of that Tilian fellow, a very talented girl, strong in both personal combat and command abilities, not disgracing her ancestors. But sheâs somewhat single-minded, with an obsession for revenge against Anzuâher father, Bard Wendell, vanished on the border between Anzu and Typhon, and she always believed Anzu people killed her father."
"Bard Wendell..." Gawainâs expression turned peculiar, unsure whether to tell Soldrin the truth about Bard having fallen into the Oblivion Association as an evil cult follower, but after considering, he decided to share it. After all, for the Cecil territory, the circulation of this news made no difference, "In fact, I encountered an Oblivion Association believer this year, who most likely was Bard."
Soldrin was dumbfounded, "What?!"
Gawain calmly recounted what he knew, and Soldrin grew more shocked as he listened, "To think such a thing... a former Wolf General missing for over a decade, how did he become an Oblivion Association Druid?!"
"Who knows what happened in between? Back then, I didnât believe it either, but the Mithril Vaultâs credibility is known worldwide, and their intelligence shouldnât be wrong," Gawain shook his head. "Forget it, even if this news reaches that Andreshaâs ears, she wouldnât believe itâa stubborn avenger lacks judgment. Compared to these distant matters, Iâm more interested in how many more troops from Typhon have infiltrated the Dark Mountain Range."
The topic suddenly became sensitive again, and hesitation flickered on Soldrinâs face. Seeing this, Gawain continued, "Soldrin, I know your principles, but sharing the intelligence of other infiltration squads with me is in everyoneâs best interestsâyou should know Iâve already eliminated one infiltration squad, and as long as others remain active in the Dark Mountain Range, itâs only a matter of time before I capture them. You chose a seemingly safe path, but itâs actually a path leading to deathâthe only way to save them now is for you to tell me their routes, and I promise to capture as many as possible alive."
And then send them to the mountains to mineâGawain silently added the second half of the sentence in his heart.
"Itâs not that Iâm unwilling to cooperate, but you probably canât catch them now," Soldrin spread his hands, revealing the truth. "Before our departure, Andresha Wendell had already received intelligence and considered the possibility of you truly resurrecting and the infiltration squads falling into your handsâif the main team I led was in danger, or if more than two small squads lost contact, the others would immediately leave the Dark Mountain Range with the collected intelligence, retreating along the original route or circling back through the northern wilds to the border, and the retreat routes are entirely random to prevent anyone captured by you from revealing the whereabouts of others."
Soldrin added: "We confirm the location and safety of each squad every few hours using communication magic insects; by now everyone must be aware of the incident. Iâve observed your soldiers, and their speed and the condition of mountain roads make it impossible to catch up."
"...As expected of the elite Winterwolf Legion, they truly leave no gaps," Gawain shook his head helplessly, abandoning the idea of completely capturing the Typhon squad that had infiltrated the Dark Mountain Range this time. Despite the Cecil Clan soldiers having top-notch destructive capability with their high-tech weaponry, they donât really have a significant advantage in pursuing enemies in deep mountains, at least not yet.
However, he still needed to take some actionsâlike writing a letter to Duke Silas Loland of the East, advising him to pay attention to the Typhon Empireâs winter infiltration operations.
The Dark Mountain Range is indeed a good breakthrough point for infiltration battles, but Gawain believed that the Typhon Empire couldnât have conducted just a single infiltration. The entire Anzu-Typhon borderline is lengthy, with many complex terrains in between, which could easily be considered breaches by the enemy.
After a long conversation, Gawain arranged accommodation for Soldrinâgiven the complicated identity and position of this High-Ranked Ranger, Gawain had Soldrin temporarily stay in a residence not far from the feudal lordâs mansion, right next to Knight Street. In this way, it both gave the other the treatment appropriate to his powerful Order Supernatural status, and facilitated monitoring and control.
Even though he knew that this High-Ranked Ranger wouldnât cause trouble, he still had to set an example for those beneath him.
After personally sending Soldrin off, Gawain returned to the study, only to find Amber waiting at the door for him.
"Youâre still here guarding the door?" Gawain was surprised to see the half-elf, "Why are you being so obedient today?"
"Guarding the door, your granddaughter and that electricity guy are waiting for you inside," Amber rolled her eyes, "As soon as you left, they came, and have been waiting for you for a long time."
"Aunt Heidi and Kamel?" Gawain frowned, "Then you didnât have to stand at the door, they wouldnât stop you from going in."
"Donât even mention it, those two inside are so excited about a piece of stone like crazy, chattering endlessly. I just tried to have a cup of tea beside them, and they kept dragging me to lecture me about the issue of magical power field dispersionâmy head aches, itâs better to wait for you outside," Amber complained with a wave of her hand, "Go and see for yourself, Iâm going to check on Andon and those gangstersâ training status."
Saying that, Amber did a shadow travel and disappeared down the corridor, not even giving Gawain a chance to respond.
Gawain stared blankly at where Amber disappeared into the air, shook his head in confusion, and pushed open the study door.
Then he saw Aunt Heidi and Kamel excitedly discussing something, as well as the so-called "stone" placed in the center of the studyâs open space.
Amberâs ability to describe things was evidently faultyâthis wasnât just any stone, it was clearly a new and complex ancient magical device!
"Ancestor!" "Leader!"
As soon as Gawain pushed the door open and entered, Aunt Heidi and Kamel, who were in a heated discussion about a technical issue, immediately looked up and spoke in unison: "Look at this!" "An incredible property!"
"Wait a minute, calm down, you two," Gawain knew the state researchers would be in once they had a breakthrough, but he had to make Aunt Heidi and Kamel calm down to properly explain the situation to him, "Aunt Heidi, tell me, what is this device?"
He pointed at the device in the open spaceâits main body was a crystal cut into an obelisk-like shape, about a meter high, with a deep blue-purple luster. This crystal was mounted on a silver-white metal base, which was roughly triangular, with a rise upward in its center that held the crystal body steadily. Its surface had numerous magical inscriptions and reserved bolt interfaces, clearly meant to be permanently installed on some surface. The top of the crystal also had a smaller metal device, resembling a smaller version of its base, with engraved magical patterns on its surface as well.
It definitely looked impressive.
"Its main body is a Holme Crystal that has been purified and recast," Aunt Heidi said with a face glowing with excitement, "and this device will solve the energy transmission of the Magic Webâit can diffuse magic power over quite a distance in the form of a magical power field!"
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