Chapter 45: Falling Body

The sky was dimly lit, the thin mist not yet fully dispersed, and a strongly formed unit assembled on the plaza before the castle.

The sound of hooves was faint, and the armor glimmered with a cold, hard sheen in the dim light.

Five Great Knights stood at the front of the formation, upright and radiating powerful aura, each face bearing the hardened resolve and sternness of battle‑hardened veterans.

Leading them, Lord Valentin's gaze burned like a torch as he scanned the whole unit, ensuring no detail erred. His cloak fluttered in the morning wind, like a banner, bolstering everyone's morale.

Fourteen elite Knights followed closely, equally well‑armed, their eyes reflecting confidence and decisiveness.

Damia Great Knight and the Kaiyin brothers were in the unit, waving at the Malizi Knight.

"If all goes well, when I return, you'll buy us a drink," Kaien shouted at the Malizi Knight.

The Malizi Knight nodded, "When you return, we won't leave until we're drunk."

At Lord Valentin's command, "Advance!", the unit stepped out in unison, heading toward the target.

The hooves shattered the morning's silence, kicking up dust along the way.

Robin stood silently in place, his gaze fixed on the departing convoy, his thoughts drifting with it into the distance; no one could guess what he was thinking.

At that moment, Leimeng, like a phantom, had silently appeared beside Robin.

He tilted his head slightly, a chillingly grim smile on his face, and whispered, "In the wizard‑hunting squads, the Malizi Knight Captain is always present, yet this time he unusually did not join the chase. Have you noticed that the knights remaining in the territory all specialize in the Earth Dragon Breathing Method?"

The words made Robin's heart jolt, his pupils involuntarily constricting slightly.

He knew clearly that Leimeng's remark was not without purpose; it surely concealed some hidden clue.

The Earth Dragon Breathing Method is the breathing technique practiced by most knights in the territory, used for the perilous task of hunting Wizards.

The veteran Malizi Knight Captain's absence from the chase, and the fact that these knights specialize in the Earth Dragon Breathing Method, seem to hint at some unspeakable connection.

Nevertheless, Robin quickly forced composure, feigning confusion, "What do you mean?" He strained to make his tone sound calm and puzzled, trying to mask his inner turbulence.

Leimeng, seeing this, gave a meaning‑laden smile but did not answer.

He turned and walked away slowly, his silhouette exuding endless mystery and unpredictability, leaving Robin standing still, his mind clouded with doubts, thoughts tangled like knotted yarn.

In the following days, Robin worked feverishly to craft a Pulley Composite Bow. This compound bow's construction was intricate and complex; each component's polishing and every joint's assembly demanded extreme focus and masterful skill.

Robin immersed himself, as if forgetting everything around him, only the tools in his hands and the gradually forming bow.

Finally, Robin completed the bow's assembly. He gently lifted it, eyes full of anticipation, eager to test the power of the weapon that embodied his countless efforts.

Yet at that moment, the bells of Winston City boomed.

The sound was heavy and mournful, as if bearing endless sorrow, slowly spreading through the air.

This time, the bells tolled nine times, pausing ten seconds after every three tolls.

Robin's heart sank; he knew this was the territory's highest‑grade mourning bell.

In the whole territory, only two could hear the nine‑strike mourning bell: Lord Bloet and the Damia Great Knight Leader.

A foreboding feeling surged instantly; he set the bow aside, sprinted toward the source of the bells, silently praying that his suspicion was wrong.

As Robin stepped out of the barracks, he saw the Malizi Knight rush out from the opposite side, face full of panic.

The Malizi Knight's expression was frantic, his steps stumbling, a stark contrast to his usual composed demeanor.

He only cast a hurried glance at Robin, then fled recklessly toward the city gate.

Robin clearly captured the unmasked terror in the Malizi Knight's eyes, a gaze as if he had witnessed something extremely frightening, leaving him completely disoriented.

Filled with doubt and unease, Robin hurried along the street.

Before he could go far, a carriage slowly approached. Around it stood knights under Lord Valentin's command, their expressions solemn, the atmosphere so oppressive it was suffocating.

The bodies of Damia Great Knight Leader and the Kaiyin brothers were covered with white cloth, lying quietly on the carriage.

A gentle breeze made the white cloth flutter, as if trying to reveal the heartbreaking truth.

Robin stared at the corpses, his heart struck as if by a heavy hammer, a wave of sharp pain hitting him.

The usual authority and teachings of the Damia Great Knight Leader, and the Kaiyin brothers' cheerful camaraderie in battle, flashed through his mind one by one.

He could never have imagined that those who had just recently plotted together to protect the territory were now separated between life and death.

As the carriage passed slowly, Robin clenched his teeth, his eyes reddening, a surge of fierce grief and doubt rising: what exactly had happened?

Why had such a heavy loss occurred?

Was all this merely an accidental encounter with a Wizard, or was a deeper conspiracy hidden behind it?

Leimeng reappeared behind Robin like a phantom, his tone tinged with schadenfreude: "With the Damia Great Knight Leader fallen, the territory lacks a Great Knight to sit in command; the lord must be in a panic."

These words cut like a sharp blade straight into Robin's heart. He spun around abruptly, but only had time to see Leimeng's receding silhouette.

Robin's brows were tightly furrowed.

It was clear someone was scheming against Lord Bloet in secret; what exactly they wanted him to do remained unknown.

A foreboding feeling cloaked Robin like a dark cloud; he strongly sensed that Winston City was about to plunge into massive chaos.

Robin returned to the camp, worry heavy on his mind; the top priority was ensuring the safety of those around him. He immediately summoned Eric and Tomson, his expression solemn, and said, "You two must stay honestly in the camp during this time, do not go out to cause trouble. The situation is too chaotic now; a misstep could lead to danger."

However, Lily's death was already a wound that would not easily heal, and the fall of the Damia Great Knight Leader was undoubtedly another salt on that wound, pushing Eric's spirit to the brink of collapse.

His eyes reddened, and he roared in anger, "Why stay in the camp? It must be that damned Valentin who killed the Great Knight Leader! I will definitely take revenge!"

Eric's body trembled slightly from anger, his clenched fists' knuckles turning white, as if he would rush out the next second to confront Lord Valentin desperately.

(End of Chapter)