The sunset fell, and the golden splendor of the highland's dusk was scattered over the city below. Asa finally returned to Oufu again.

  Asa gazed out at the towering buildings and sprawling streets below. The city had grown more than tenfold since he first arrived, rivaling the imperial capital in size. Flames and smoke billowed from the workshops on Forge Street, filling the air with the hum of activity, as vitality pulsed through every corner. New constructions sprouted along the city's edges and streets, like a massive organism slowly crawling forward, constantly changing, growing.

  Those scattered streets are blood vessels, and the busy beastmen rushing between them are blood. The heart is undoubtedly the new city hall in the center of the city. Its huge and eye-catching volume can be seen from the air at a glance. People and beastmen coming and going from all directions bring vitality and vitality here, spreading to every corner of the city.

  Although most of the buildings in Oufu are still rough houses built with giant stones, occasionally there are some that are more refined and unique. The new city hall is one such example. Its massive volume can rival any building on the mainland, yet it is still made entirely of stone, but the details are no longer as rough. Simple and clear architectural lines, a flat exterior wall with occasional simple but grand and majestic patterns, paired with its massive volume and rugged materials, exude an aura that matches this city.

  In front of the City Hall, those three giant stone tablets engraved with laws and gallows still stand upright with a unique temperament, together with the City Hall to illustrate the city's unique style and majesty.

  Asa knew he would have to stay here for at least a year, and from a certain perspective, this place would be his temporary home. Compared to the Imperial Capital or Cardento Basin, he preferred this rough but vibrant city, where there was no oppression, no sorrow, and no political intrigue. Although returning here was fulfilling his promise and a task, it somehow gave him a sense of relaxation and liberation.

  The two-legged flying dragon circled above the city government hall for a few weeks, called out three times, making sure that the people below would report this situation to the city master, and then flew towards the outside of the city. Asa was still the number one wanted criminal on the mainland, so he couldn't land with a big fanfare.

  On the outskirts of Oufu, a pair of dragons with two feet landed on the flattened mountain peak, flapping their wings. Before long, two fast horses galloped out of Oufu and rushed here.

  When the big head of Boruqan just appeared from the edge of the mountain, he looked at Asa and shouted: "Well done! It seems that our risk investment has not been wasted in vain. You finally came back."

  Asa smiled and said: "Because I've never liked owing people favors. And apart from here, I couldn't think of anywhere else to go for the time being."

  "Oh. Wasn't it because General Gulu's escort that you didn't run away?" This dwarf agilely flipped over and climbed to the top of the mountain.

  "Absolutely not." Asa smiled wryly. If he had really run away quietly by himself, the ones who would be most delighted might be those three dead spirit masters who had somehow managed to track him down.

  "Alright. Haha." Lord Borukan pointed at him with his finger, shouting loudly. "From now on for a year, your head which is worth 5,000 gold coins will be worth approximately 13 gold coins, 69 silver coins and 86 copper coins per day. The hourly wage would be around 57 silver coins, including the time spent sleeping and shitting. You are absolutely the most expensive mercenary on the continent. Please remember your worth and work with a quality that matches it."

  Asa smiled, he liked the dwarf's straightforward personality. He asked with a smile: "You won't catch me on the last day and then sell me for five thousand gold coins, will you?"

  "Don't worry." Gru said calmly. "That guy Roland will absolutely not pay for this. Because he also knows you're not worth the price. Even if someone really takes you to collect the reward, he and your Chancellor lover will definitely think of a way to welch on the deal and help you escape."

  Cedric strode up the mountain, his pace still light and brisk, his waist straight and his expression sharp and keen, not a whit weaker than that of a young man. The golden sunset dyed his hair and beard with a reddish-yellow hue, as if he were even more spirited. He looked at Asa and Gru and smiled: "You've finally come back. I thought you must have brought me some good news. How's the Empire of Ainefasuto?"

  As he listened to Asa's account, the expression of Sedros, the lord of the city, also fluctuated unpredictably. Although he had also guessed various possibilities, he never expected that the development of things would be like this. The situation turned and changed so greatly that not only did the scene change in an instant, but the culprit was beheaded, and even the arrangements for the aftermath were already properly arranged so quickly.

  "Getting old." Sedros sighed with a bitter smile, but the sparkle in his eyes remained undiminished. "If I had really stopped you back then, I would have wished for the first time in my life that there was a regret medicine for sale."

  "You have your considerations. Being cautious isn't wrong, that's the judgment you made after considering all factors. And I insist on going, to be honest it's just being reckless and selfish."

  "What a reckless and arrogant thing to do." Lord Borukin seemed to want to pat Asa on the shoulder, but his hand only reached his back, so he patted him firmly instead. "I just wanted to help you out, you reckless kid, that's why I strongly persuaded the city lord and General Gru to help him. In fact, I also know that from a rational analysis of interests, this plan is very risky."

  Cedros chuckled: "You know adventure and yet you make such a suggestion. As my assistant and advisor, you are derelict in your duty."

  Baron Porukan nodded. Fortunately, his neck was thick and short enough to support the swaying of that big head. He said: "However, fortunately, the consequences of this dereliction of duty are not bad at all. The Duke is dead, the Empire has not fallen into **** after all, your lover has also got the position of Prime Minister, everything is ideal." He looked at Asa and smiled. "Except for your crime name and scapegoat."

  "It doesn't matter, I don't care about it anyway." Asa looked towards the east where the Empire was, and let out a sigh. The sky in that direction had already begun to twinkle with stars. Under that sky, he had abandoned and discarded too many things. He nodded to himself, muttering: "Yeah, everything over there is already over."

  "Right," said Gru. "We met three flies on our way back..."

  "Flies?" Sedros hesitated.

  Asa smiled and said: "It's just a bit of trouble, but it has already been driven away by us."

  As he listened to Asa's words, Sedros' originally relaxed face completely darkened, replaced by an unprecedented solemnity and worry. He slowly shook his head and said, "No, that would never be a small trouble."

  "It was originally a big trouble." Lord Borukai.

  "Your meaning is that the Death Spirit Association will come to avenge?" Asa nodded. "A group of top-level mages, it seems like they'll be quite a big trouble."

  "I wish they were just magicians." Sedros smiled wryly and shook his head. "What's coming next can't be summed up with the word 'trouble'. It's a problem, and it's the biggest one." He gazed southward, sighing as he said: "This was a problem that we would have to face sooner or later, looks like it's going to start ahead of schedule."

  "I just hope we can be faster than them." Gulu said calmly.

  Cedros nodded, looking down at the sunset-lit Euphor. The golden city's vibrant vitality was so beautiful, so grand and majestic. But the next question was whether it could continue to exist from now on.

  In the conference room of Delia's Valley. Two death spirit mages were telling the deputy guild leader about that battle. The skull masks had been taken off, revealing the faces of Bishop Adela and Master Eaden.

  Although this was already the sacred Deya Valley, an absolute paradise and home for necromancers, Adra still couldn't shake off that fearful feeling whenever he carefully recalled the events of that day. The crushing power disparity and the face-to-face fear of death had left a terrifying mark on his soul, one that would forever be etched in his memory.

  The marquis closed his eyes, thought for a moment, and then opened them with a sigh: "Too careless. In fact, as long as we keep a distance of over 100 meters from them, two people cover each other, and one person uses the big curse, they will have no room to struggle."

  Adler and Aiden both nodded slightly. Indeed, that's right. No matter how powerful the person is, after all, it's just one person. If they had used this tactic of fully exerting their advantages from the start, perhaps the battle would have been much easier. And maybe what was originally an easy task ended up being a mess, with both of them looking rather unsightly.

  "I apologize. This is my responsibility. For the failure of this operation and the death of respected Nimbasa, I, as the acting Guildmaster, am to blame." The Marquess's expression turned gloomy, and he lowered his head.

  The two of them were stunned, and it seemed that no matter what, this thing couldn't be blamed on him.

  "As the proxy guild leader, I didn't thoroughly investigate their information before the three respected members went into action, nor did I provide you with suitable suggestions. This is my dereliction of duty." The marquis bowed to the two death spirit mages, his tone filled with extreme apology and self-reproach. "I'm sorry."

  "Now the respected Nimbas has passed away. This is a huge loss for the guild. Apart from him, only Vedrina and Master Shante can use the Puppet Eagle Eye technique. It's impossible for Lady Vedrina... and Master Shante's body is too weak, we really can't give him more burdens, let him make the eagle eye puppet. So I decided that from now on, I will study the Puppet Eagle Eye technique myself."

  "This... doesn't seem quite suitable for you, does it?" Adela hesitated. Puppet Hawk Eye was indeed a very useful magic. However, mastering this magic was exceptionally difficult, and if one's magical abilities and talent were not at the peak, it would have an adverse effect on the magician's own magical level. Nimbas had become the weakest fighter in the guild due to practicing this magic. The guild was filled with talented people, so it seemed that there was no need for the deputy guild leader to do this task.

  "No, this is what I should do." However, the young agent insisted on doing so.

  Adela nodded and looked at Marquis with more approval and admiration.

  Master Aiden also nodded indifferently, but the light in his eyes was somewhat different from Adela's.

  If there is only one person in the guild who masters Puppet Hawk Eye, then this person is undoubtedly the only eye of the guild. Some things he can let everyone see, and some things he can make everyone not see. Although there are some doubts and discomfort in his heart, Master Aiden is clear that no one in the guild is willing to study this spell voluntarily, and he himself is even more impossible.

  "Aiden Master spoke up, coldly saying to the Marquis: 'This person has already killed two members, Aisley and Nimbas. This is an unprecedented shame in the history of Deya Valley. I'd like to ask you, what do you plan to do from now on.'"

  The marquis sighed and said: "Anyone who can threaten the lives of our noble members will naturally be killed."

  "So what do you plan to do?"

  "Three people can't kill him, then four will." Adela took a deep breath, and the originally kind and gentle face had been stirred up with a fierce aura, as if the warm and gentle eyes of the Virgin Mary had turned into a fierce light. She said slowly, word by word, "I must kill this guy with my own hands."

  "Why?" The marquis looked at him and asked.

  "Because he is an enemy of the guild, and the only one who can threaten us. He naturally cannot be let off."

  "No, it's because you're afraid." The marquis' voice was very gentle and even, so much so that even the most sensitive person wouldn't think there was any sarcasm in it. "You encountered someone far stronger than you. He not only destroyed your long-held confidence but also made you deeply feel the terror of death, so you use anger to cover up your fear and want to overcome your own fear by killing him with your own hands."

  Adela didn't say a word. Because she was being told off, her eyes were slightly softened but also somewhat confused.

  The Marquis continued, "Compared to beasts, humans are neither physically strong nor have sharp claws and teeth. Even when seeing those ferocious beasts, people would be frightened and tremble. Yet it is humans who rule the world. Do you say that humans are powerful or that beasts are powerful?"

  Adela thought for a moment and nodded her head, roughly understanding what the marquis meant.

  "No one is not afraid. A true strong person is not an ignorant fearless person, but someone who knows how to deal with their own weaknesses. Our organization is the most noble and powerful on the continent. Every member is elegant and refined, standing at the top of the world. Why must we waste our energy and spirit, risking our lives to compete with a beast, comparing whose claws are sharper, who is more savage? We should know that our strength does not lie in direct violent power." The marquis smiled slightly, his relaxed smile full of calm and unshakeable confidence.

  As the marquis finished speaking, Adra nodded his head and his expression completely calmed down. His confidence reappeared on his face. He smiled and nodded at the marquis: "Thank you. I understand."

  "So what are you planning to do with this person?" Master Aiden asked calmly.

  "In our plans, he's just a small sesame seed. Killing him is merely a matter of lifting one's hand, effortless. No need to deliberate." The Marquis replied calmly. He walked up to the conference table and pointed at a sandboard on it for the two to see. The sandboard displayed a miniature terrain of the Barbaric Highlands, with Eufu City being just a small protrusion like a building block. "Actually, I've been studying that beastman city during this time. I found out that it's an area where our power can't reach, and is hard to control. There's no religion there, nor is authority or wealth worshipped, and the vitality of development and innovation fills the place, so we have nowhere to start. But compared to its speed of development and potential, its influence is too great."

  "I think everyone remembers that the leader of this place is Sedros, one of the few people on the continent who has the qualifications to sit with our extraordinary members as equals. And he's a friend of old man Ronis, who has never been very friendly towards us. If we really let this city develop into a country with enormous scale and strength under his leadership, it would be enough to turn the entire continent's situation upside down. A huge power that is completely beyond our control, this is what truly threatens us. So I have a suggestion..." The Marquis' hand stretched out, lightly pressing on the marker representing Eufor on the sand table. "Erase it from this continent." His fingers withdrew, and the model of Eufor had already turned to dust and scattered onto the wasteland model.

  "Of course, the perpetrator who killed our two members will also be dealt with. The threat he poses to us can be seen as a projection of the true threat that the Beastman City-State poses to us. But no matter how formidable an individual is, in the war between nations, they are nothing more than a drop in the ocean, at most stirring up a small ripple, and ultimately being submerged in the turbulent giant waves."

  "I see, my vision was indeed too narrow." Adela nodded in admiration. "I wholeheartedly agree with your suggestion."

  "I immediately notified all members and put forward my proposal. If everyone agrees, from now on, please ask each other to work hard in their respective fields and cooperate with each other. I believe that nothing can withstand the power of our true strength."

  Adler nodded and smiled. His smile was as confident and handsome as ever, full of the brilliance of sunlight and the softness of moonlight. "Right. Heh heh. I'm looking forward to the spectacular sight of hundreds of thousands of troops besieging that barbarian beastman's lair."

  Marquis looked at Master Aiden. "I wonder how Master Aiden views my suggestion."

  "Alright then." Master Aidan glanced at Marquis and Bishop Adela indifferently.

  "As for that kid with a 5,000 gold bounty on his head, what's to be done about him? Looks like he's gotten mixed up with the Beastman City-State. Should we spread some rumors and give old Sedelos a black pot to carry?"

  "This baseless rumor won't have much effect. Probably even the Empire of Aynfarst will help him out." The marquis sighed and said, "I'm extremely surprised by that kid's tenacity for life and his good luck. However, there's no need to worry too much, whether he hides in the Beastman Union or anywhere else, he can't escape our grasp."