Chapter 128: Wind Orchid City

Alice remained expressionless. She even turned her face away, revealing a look of open disdain.

Phield raised an eyebrow at her expression.

Oh? Pretty arrogant, aren’t you.

Let’s see how arrogant you are after I beat you into kneeling later.

As for Adrian, Phield only wanted to send him to hell as soon as possible. Saying even one extra word to him felt like a personal insult.

"Zzzzt—"

The air rippled as a dazzling spatial gate opened. A girl about five foot three leapt out. She wore the classic black pointed hat of a mage and carried a lazy, indifferent air. Beside her stood a towering, giant-like brute of a man.

"Yo, hello there, my two dear brothers."

The girl dragged out the final syllables lazily as she greeted them.

"Canaan?"

Phield called her name instinctively. She was his half-sister.

All five children of the Ross family were half-siblings. Phield sometimes suspected the old count possessed some sort of "wife-killing" trait—his wives usually died shortly after giving birth.

Only the current stepmother had survived the longest—and she had practically drained the old count dry instead.

Canaan adjusted the brim of her hat and puffed out her rather flat chest. Tilting her head curiously, she said,

"Brother Phield, I’m surprised you actually participated in the war. You used to be too scared to even kill an insect. It seems adulthood has brought you quite a bit of growth. Very gratifying."

"The tone you’re using is kind of cute."

Phield couldn’t help laughing.

This younger sister was one of the few people in the family who had treated him relatively well.

"Please don’t describe me as cute."

The girl stomped her foot, then turned to Adrian and said in a completely emotionless tone,

"Anyway, Adrian, your territory has exploded."

"Huh?"

Adrian clearly didn’t understand what she meant. He sneered.

"You’re the one who exploded, you annoying little brat."

"See? This is exactly why I can’t be bothered to talk to you."

Canaan rolled her eyes in annoyance and idly flipped through the magic book in her hands.

"Let Quirion, the knight from the Wind Orchid territory, explain it to you himself."

Phield immediately remembered.

"Quirion? That fifth-tier knight?"

Although the Ross family granted territories to its heirs, it also stationed powerful forces there. One reason was to defend the lands; the other was to maintain the old count’s control over his children.

Though Quirion was stationed in Wind Orchid City, he didn’t answer to Adrian. It was an incredibly suffocating arrangement.

"Good morning, my lord."

Quirion’s expression was grave.

"While we were away from the territory, it was attacked by mobs."

"What? What the hell did I just hear?"

"The Wind Orchid territory is burning. Aside from Wind Orchid City itself, the rest of the land has fallen into chaos and war."

Adrian’s eyes instantly turned bloodshot, as if a rage buff had stacked to the maximum. He roared,

"I came here because I was worried the rebels might break through Itavon and spill into my territory! And it still happened? Then it’s your fault!"

"My life’s work... destroyed."

Alice’s pupils trembled violently as well. The prosperity of a territory was closely tied to the Divine Chosen. If the land was ruined, the Divine Chosen might be even more heartbroken than the lord himself.

"It isn’t just the rebels," Quirion continued. "There are multiple factions—rioting demi-humans, escaped prisoners, and unknown forces. You should see it for yourself."

His tone softened slightly, but possessing fifth-tier strength meant he had no reason to fear Adrian.

"I was summoned by the family to scout the movements of the elves. The elves from the northwest are eyeing the Empire’s lands with great greed."

The Ross family had always considered the elves their mortal enemies. Every generation joined the imperial army to fight them actively.

"Damn it! Damn it!"

Adrian fell into a furious rage, grinding his teeth as his chest heaved violently.

"Relax. Just use my teleportation magic to return and defend it. It won’t take long."

Canaan lifted her gray-purple spellbook, which was covered in countless intricate runes.

Watching the scene, Phield sighed quietly.

With Adrian’s fifth-tier knight returning to defend the territory—and their sister present as well—his plan to permanently eliminate Adrian would have to be delayed again.

Plans never kept up with reality. Annoying.

Originally, he had intended to bring Rosalia and coordinate with Ashina from inside and outside—killing Adrian outright and then finishing off Alice as well.

Now things were different.

"I’ll come help as well," Phield said helplessly. "I happen to be heading back to my own territory anyway."

Adrian showed no gratitude at all and barked angrily,

"You’re just coming to watch the show!"

You guessed it.

"Ahem. I’ve had professional training. I usually don’t laugh. It’s mainly just because I’m passing by."

Phield smiled teasingly.

"Brother Phield, you’re still as kind as ever. If we weren’t family, I wouldn’t even bother teleporting here."

Canaan shook her head helplessly.

"Go prepare. We’ll depart as soon as possible."

Everyone began dismantling tents and packing their belongings.

At that moment, Phield spotted a familiar figure.

"Knight Laurent, why do you look so lost? Did something happen?"

Seeing Laurent’s hollow expression, Phield had already guessed the answer.

"It’s about the war merits, isn’t it?"

"Yes."

Laurent nodded bitterly.

"I handed over my family’s divine artifact—the only one we had, the one my father gave me before he died. But the governor didn’t keep his promise. All I wanted was a decent town."

A first-tier divine artifact was worth over a million gold coins. In theory, buying a town with it would have been no problem.

The reason Phield never bought one was simple. First, the surrounding nobles were too powerful, and his secrets wouldn’t stay hidden. Second, the development potential of Nightfall Domain wasn’t inferior to other places—especially since it allowed him to capture corrupted Divine Chosen.

"What?"

Phield was stunned and momentarily at a loss for words.

"That’s... unbelievably shameless."

Laurent had technically offered it as "spoils of war." Without any powerful backing, there was nothing he could do if someone simply took it.

"Come to Nightfall Domain," Phield said. "There will definitely be a place for you."

"Thank you for your generosity, my lord. But I cannot risk my entire family."

Laurent looked so moved he was nearly in tears, but he still shook his head.

"I’ll return to my homeland and make my own way. Perhaps in three years, you’ll hear my name."

"I look forward to that day."

Phield gave him a thumbs-up.

After bidding Laurent farewell, the army of Nightfall Domain finished its preparations as well.

"Fortunately, Wind Orchid City hasn’t fallen, and the teleportation anchor is still intact. Let’s go!"

Canaan pulled a magic core from her satchel. As she recited a complex incantation, a massive sea-blue magic circle enveloped everyone.

"Magic—Teleport."

The world twisted for a moment.

When Phield opened his eyes again, they had already arrived in Wind Orchid City.

The first thing he heard was loud arguing, shouting, and crying everywhere.

Phield led the soldiers of Nightfall Domain out of the teleportation circle.

The streets of Wind Orchid City were packed with refugees who had fled inside. They had built crude shelters along the roads. Piles of waste and garbage had accumulated everywhere.

In the distance, someone was even robbing others before being dragged away like a dead dog by the arriving city guards.

"By the Goddess... what has happened to Wind Orchid City?"