Naturally, Xi Wei noticed all the things Jom was doing.

His evaluation was thus: Wow, to suppose that you just reached the reply first.

It was true that Xi Wei had excessive hopes towards his believers and was satisfied that small fry just like the hill-folk would by no means win towards the Gamers. Nonetheless, the situation of the wager was whether or not the opposing aspect might occupy the Sky Horizon, previously often known as the Elven Synchronized Mind Nation (SIN).

If their opponent proved shameless and would declare that they succeeded in occupying the Elven SIN by simply having one or two believers touchdown on Gaim, even getting the Earthweaver to ‘uphold equity’, Xi Wei must endure in silence.

However because the Lord of the Peaks had a constructive public picture to uphold, he couldn’t afford to be unreasonable and immediately bully others along with his energy.

That was why even when he would resort to soiled tips, he would a minimum of have to fly his believers as much as Sky Horizon.

That manner, what Xi Wei needed to do was clear: his believers have to do what they’ll to cease the hill-folk, and forestall even certainly one of them from getting as much as the Sky Horizon!

They may even go additional and keep away from the hill-folk from studying the place the Sky Horizon even was!

***

Quickly after the Gamers actively ready themselves, the occasion began as soon as the Lord of the Peaks’ believers started to set foot throughout the borders of the Valla Empire.

And never lengthy afterwards, the envoys and provides from Lancaster had reached Crookes which was underneath reconstruction.

Nonetheless, Lancaster had not sided outrightly with the Church of Video games the second. Being a metropolis of commerce, there have been many church buildings that had a foothold inside, and the varied spiritual factions acted as a deterrent towards one another, therefore sustaining a sure stability.

Although Corinth Atherton had discreetly sided with the Church of Video games, he didn’t really change his religion. From a sure perspective, he was merely working with the Church of Video games.

Furthermore, the waters of Lancaster ran deepmany nobles and ministers have been prepared for battle at any given second, due to their start and the views instilled in them. As such, regardless that they have been conscious that their mayor was allied with the Church of Video games, they’d at greatest present goodwill and never aspect with them alongside Corinth.

Certainly, the nobles’ ideas and perspective didn’t change a lot even after the Twin Metropolis Cup and studying the power of the Church of Video games.

In fact, it didn’t matter to them who their mayor was or which church held powerwhat, is the mayor not going to want us nobles to handle his metropolis simply because your Church of Video games controls it?

Herman thought so too.

That was why he was actually reluctant to be appointed as envoy by Mayor Corinth, who hooked up him to the provision convoy heading for Crookes.

Why would Lancaster need to donate our assets with out recompense?

It will be tremendous if it was to earn good karma again when Crookes was a strong mining metropolis. However after it had been lowered to mess by pure causes (the official assertion from Crookes was {that a} mountain collapsing and destroying town), its former prosperity was now buried beneath mud and rockwho knew how lengthy it will take for them to rebuilt.

Compared, wouldn’t or not it’s higher to maintain the assets at Lancaster to reward us nobles who contributed a lot to the Twin Metropolis Cup?

It was due to this fact a pity that Gerald McCobley, captain of the Lancaster metropolis watch had been conserving a really shut eye on the convey all through the journey. Herman would have diverted half of those fifty provide carriages in order that the Lancaster nobles might be reimbursed for his or her losses!

“Welcome, envoy from Lancaster.” Mayor Meredith greeted Herman in delight when he ultimately reached Crookes. “Really, you solely know who your mates are in instances of hardship.”

Previously, a noble of Herman’s stage would by no means have the proper to fulfill outdated Meredith. However now that he noticed for himself that Crookes was only a pile of particles, Herman was shaking. He naturally couldn’t say something assuring in response to outdated Meredith’s greeting, and easily performed together with some half-hearted grunts. It was solely when he reached the tent ready for him that he turned to his aide and stated, “Since Crookes had fallen to such a state, we most likely wouldn’t get a lot in return regardless that we make investments a lot assets in them. With Lancaster’s future improvement in thoughts, let’s preserve a few of the items for ourselves.”

“Received’t Mayor Corinth accuse us if we carry it residence with us?” His aide requested fairly worriedly.

“Naturally, we gained’t carry it again to Lancaster immediately. That’s the reason you’ll wait right here till we depart Crookes, and transfer the products to a close-by metropolis, the place you’d purchase land to retailer it.”

Herman spoke with a glance of righteousness simply then. “It’s all within the title of Lancaster’s future!”

Figuring out his cue, the aide began to lick his boots.

*

*

*

Outdated Meredith was not conscious that Herman was such a short-sighted particular person. Believing that he was merely drained from the journey, he didn’t urge the handing over of provides.

And throughout the precise handover subsequent day, Herman had rapidly rushed to the scene, able to embezzle a portion of the provides on an official capability.

Or that was the way it was imagined to go.

Earlier than he might placed on airs and speak issues out with Outdated Meredith, he observed a number of acquainted Gamers strolling by from the encampment of the Crookes’ survivors.

Although the Lancaster nobles have been principally not concerned in getting ready or operating the Twin Metropolis Cup, they did watch the tourney and naturally acknowledged a few of the extra well-known and stronger Church of Video games members—in different phrases, the Gamers.

And certainly one of them was the champion who wore a pink flatfish head masks.

That was actually unforgettable… And now, not solely have been these highly effective Gamers exhibiting up in Crookes, however they have been additionally concerned in some type of secret operation.

“What’s the matter, mister envoy?” In the meantime, outdated Meredith was puzzled by the Lancaster envoy’s conduct. He might overlook Herman’s not handing over the provides instantly since he was smart sufficient after dwelling so lengthy, and knew that some individuals would all the time take into consideration getting some fee because the intermediary.

However this envoy was neither requesting something or reacting to the numbers outdated Meredith himself was placing out, which was actually puzzling.

Nonetheless, Herman’s consideration was fully drawn to the Gamers, particularly when he discovered them dragging one unconscious particular person after one other previous the encampment.

Sometimes, certainly one of them would exclaim “This one’s debuffs are all gone! He’s taking part in useless!’ After that, an entire bunch of Gamers would rush towards them, give the unfortunate fellow a wild beating till his face was all swollen. Solely then would they proceed dragging their sufferer away.

A number of the unluckier fools have been immediately crushed inside an inch of their lives. Seemingly afraid that they’d die similar to that, the Church of Video games believers would pressure feed them cola to avoid wasting them, after which beat them up once more to knock them out earlier than dragging them away…

Even bystanders would really feel that their victims have been higher off useless than alive.

There was no telling as to the place the victims have been being dragged off too. It was solely recognized that there have been no stockades or dungeons within the encampment, and that these individuals dragged away by no means got here again…

“Sir Herman?” Outdated Meredith’s voice left Herman shuddering simply then, and he promptly recovered.

“T-These individuals being dragged away…” “Don’t fear—these are components who want Crookes in poor health. You might be our variety good friend, sir, how might you damage Crookes in any manner?” The outdated man stated kindly. “Now, in regards to the provides…”

Nonetheless, the outdated man’s kindly regarded appeared unbelievably sinister in Herman’s eyes proper now.

Subsequently, he did all he might to cease himself from shaking, whereas talking significantly as if it solely made sense, “After all, there’s no drawback with the provides. Take all the things! I gained’t allow you leaving with one brief!”