Chapter 322

"Sir Raymond, do you think my lord can get that female lizard to help us?"

"I'm not sure, but since my lord chose this path, I believe he has some confidence in it!"

"But I'm somewhat worried—we've signed a contract with the young lizard and can sense it slightly."

"Yet my lord hasn't signed any contract with the female lizard; even with Yueyue's communication, we can't be certain she understands my lord's intentions!"

"What if the female lizard realizes we've signed a contract with the young lizard? Do you think she might go mad?!"

Outside the forest, Lei Meng and Mi Gen waited.

Yet the two were clearly not at ease—after all, that was a fourth-rank beast.

"Should we sneak back quietly to check?" Mi Gen suggested.

Lei Meng frowned—he had been ordered by his lord to retreat beyond the forest.

Now, returning for any reason would be outright disobedience.

But Mi Gen's words had stirred a flicker of concern in him.

Whoosh!

Fortunately, at that moment, a voice sounded behind them, and a red figure stepped out from between the trees.

"L-Lord?!"

The red figure was naturally the female lizard—but what shocked them most wasn't the lizard herself, but the person on her back.

Wasn't that their own lord?!

Yet any beast, any magical beast, before being tamed, fiercely resists being ridden on its back.

So the fact that their lord sat atop this female lizard was obvious enough.

"My lord, did she agree?" the two asked in astonishment.

"Correct. The female lizard has agreed," Gervas nodded calmly.

"How did you manage it? Did you use a contract scroll?" Mi Gen and Lei Meng stared wide-eyed—could their lord truly have succeeded?

"Not a contract scroll. I simply reasoned with the female lizard. She was convinced by my logic and has pledged to help us defend Stormhold from now on!"

What?

Reasoned… with reason?

Can you reason with a magical beast?

"Let's go! We'll take the Ironclad Fire Lizards to the vicinity of Tianehu!" Gervas didn't elaborate further—there truly was no good way to explain it.

Immediately, Gervas led Mi Gen and Lei Meng, who exchanged bewildered glances, on their return journey.

…

"Baron Mil, are we nearly there?"

"Commandant Marshall, Director Branden, we're still about five or six li away. Once we crest that hill in the distance, we'll reach Wheatfield Town!"

On the dirt roads within Stormhold, a force of over two hundred marched forward.

At the front were Mil and several neighboring lords around Gervas's domain.

Not far behind, on a carriage, rode the Ironwolf City civil administrator and the Church members.

Though the Ironwolf City civil administrator had visited many southern territories, this remote domain was his first.

He had assumed that after crossing Stormhold's boundary marker, the castle would appear soon.

Yet after half an hour of travel, the surroundings remained wilderness.

Had the road not been wide and smooth—clearly well-maintained—he might have doubted whether he'd even left the kingdom's borders.

"This place is so remote!" Marshall muttered after Mil's reply, then turned to the Church director beside him with eager concern. "Director Branden, we're still five or six li away. Are you tired? Shall we rest for a while?"

"Commandant Marshall, no need to rest. We have ample time. I wish to reach Stormhold Castle, explain our purpose, and immediately begin selecting a site!"

"The sooner the temple is built, the sooner this land will be bathed in divine light, deterring evil dark creatures!"

Director Branden's expression was serene as he declined Marshall's suggestion outright.

As the Church's appointed leader for its presence in the southern region, he wore a simple linen robe—the kind nobles considered fit only for commoners.

Over it he wore a hooded cloak.

This was the Church's rule: except during special occasions, all clergy must wear plain linen attire when traveling.

It was meant to foster closeness with commoners and serfs.

Nobles despised this practice, yet its effect was undeniably real.

Marshall, seeing his suggestion rejected, showed no irritation. "Understood, Director Branden!"

He immediately turned to the Ironwolf City guards beside him. "Did you hear that? Move faster! Don't delay Director Branden's mission!"

"That guy, acting so proud!"

"Shh, quiet, you lot! He's obnoxious, but we can't offend Director Branden!"

"Mil's right—hopefully Gervas's luck matches ours, and the temple isn't built on his land!"

"Shh, Eyn, let's go! When we meet Lord Gervas, find a chance to warn him quietly!"

After whispering among themselves, Mil and the other neighboring lords fell silent and resumed their march.

Over twenty minutes later, the castle came into view.

The castle guards had already noticed them and immediately sent a Swiftwing Falcon to investigate.

After confirming the situation, the Swiftwing Falcon returned to the castle to report.

"Stormhold even has a flight unit?" Marshall the civil administrator stared in surprise at the departing Swiftwing Falcon.

"Commandant Marshall, Lord Gervas said that recently, several Swiftwing Falcons fled from Death Mountains in fright and lingered along the coast in the Red Mangrove Forest!"

"Lord Gervas discovered them and luckily captured them!"

"He got so lucky!" Marshall couldn't help but envy—it was like picking up coins.

And not just a few coins—hundreds of gold coins at once.

"Commandant Marshall, this would be rare elsewhere, but here, on the edge of Death Mountains, the probability is still quite high," Mil and the others explained.

Marshall knew Stormhold's situation well. "True. In Stormhold, a few beasts wandering in isn't unusual."

Soon, the procession reached the gentle slope below the castle.

Gervas, having received word, was already waiting.

"Gervas, let me introduce you—this is the Ironwolf City civil administrator, and this is the Church director!" Mil stepped forward to make the formal introduction.

"Ironwolf City civil administrator? Church director? Welcome, welcome! Your arrival truly honors Stormhold Castle!" Gervas displayed just the right amount of surprise and delight as he warmly greeted them.

Marshall, seeing Gervas's reaction—no different from his expectation of a backwater noble—paid him little mind.

He merely nodded, offering a perfunctory reply: "Lord Gervas, our sudden visit is indeed an intrusion."

"But I carry royal edicts. I trust you'll understand."

"By the way, Lord Gervas, Director Branden has traveled far and must be weary. Shall we enter the castle to discuss matters?"

"Of course—it was my oversight! My lords, please enter!" Gervas remained composed, then warmly invited everyone toward the castle.

Mil and the others exchanged glances, all casting disdainful looks at Marshall.

Simultaneously, they subtly signaled Gervas with their eyes.