Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation  Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

“Lady Audrey, Blackmoon Castle is just ahead. We've already arranged for everyone to rest according to your instructions.”

A bronze-tier mage from the Mage Guild spoke respectfully to the woman in front of him.

“Very good.”

Audrey sat on a white horse; she played with her nails as she replied to him casually.

They were at the outskirts of the Misty Forest—it was also the only way to get to Blackmoon Castle from Monte Town. Horse carriages were parked around the forest, and there were armored mercenaries and mages in the carriages. They were eating and talking to each other—there were more than a hundred of them, and their bodies emitted a powerful aura.

The Mage Guild had organized an army of elites, and all the partic.i.p.ants were at least bronze-tier. Fifty bronze-tier warriors and mages, respectively, would be a destructive force if they were placed at the border.

There were also a few silver and gold-tier experts among those men, including Audrey and the North Wind mercenary group, Ron.

The North Wind mercenary group was the largest mercenary group in Monte Town. The leader of the group, Ron, was a gold-tier warrior nicknamed the Wolf of the North Wind. It was rumored that Ron is part of a demihuman bloodline, the Polar Werewolves, which allowed him to transform into a ferocious magical wolf. He could tear other gold-tier magical beasts apart with his bare hands.

At that moment, that ferocious warrior stood beside Audrey. His unruly gray hair hung over his shoulders, and his rough face had a wide grin on it. His wolf ears swayed gently as he said, “Audrey, I can't believe that you would spend so much money to eliminate a small and unknown faction at the border! We are the most famous mercenary group in Monte Town; it's not cheap to hire us. Have you thought carefully about it?”

“We hired you to protect the mages when they cast their spells. We don't need you in a real battle.” Audrey raised her head with a proud expression.

Ron's gaze swept greedily over Audrey's voluptuous body in her robe. Then, finally, he asked, “Oh, you look very confident. I heard that an elder from your guild died tragically in Blackmoon Castle. All his belongings and the mages who went with him were all detained by Blackmoon Castle.”

“They managed to defeat a mage who has mastered a gold-tier spell—it proves that Blackmoon Castle has at least the same level of combat strength. I've also heard that they are related to the border count. Are you sure it's okay to attack them?”

“Ron, don't talk so much nonsense. Just focus on your matters.”

Audrey's expression turned cold. A pitch-black aura spread along her body and swept across the ground nearby. A layer of black ice covered any gra.s.s or soil the black aura touched.

Ron's pupils contracted. He activated his ability as a gold-tier warrior to teleport and appeared more than ten steps away to avoid the black aura.

“Audrey, we've known each other for a long time. You don't have to be so ruthless to me, you know? It's only a joke. I know that the Mage Guild is hosting a hotshot from the capital. You're so confident because of that person, right?”

Ron was a mercenary, so he was well-informed. In fact, he already knew who that person was. He mentioned that to Audrey because he wanted her to introduce him.

“Who do you think this astrologer is? Do you think that you can meet so casually?” Audrey's face was filled with disdain.

At that moment…

“Audrey, you have to be courteous when talking to others. I don't have any other ident.i.ty; I'm just an ordinary mage.”

They heard a voice that sounded old as a gray figure appeared in front of them.

It was an ordinary-looking old man. His body was slightly bent, and he wore plain gray clothes. The cuffs and collar of his clothes were worn, and they had been washed until they were white. There were patches in some places too. The old man held a half-moon-shaped magic staff in his right hand, and the top of the staff was carved with the head of a giant dragon. The giant dragon's mouth had a huge sun gem, and it shone brightly.

“Lord Astrologer.”

When they saw the newcomer, Audrey and Ron lowered their heads respectfully at the same time. The guards and mages around them also did the same thing. Their eyes were filled with admiration as they peeked at the man.

The old man looked ordinary, but they knew that it was because his strength was too different from theirs, so they could not sense his aura. The old man could destroy the world easily with a single stretch of his hand.

“Lord Astrologer, you just arrived at the border yesterday. Why don't you rest in the carriage?” Audrey sounded a little anxious.

She was Monte Town's chief mage, a gold-tier elite, and former Demoness's Church's pride.

She had a natural sense of superiority toward everyone, but not the old man in front of her.

If she were a roaring tiger or a shocking dragon when she was angry, then the old man in front of her was the sky and the sea. He could tolerate everything, and there was no comparison at all.

“Audrey, there's no need to be so nervous. It's not the first time we've met. I had already spoken to you a few times when you were in the Demoness Church! Besides, when I was in the Temple of the Stars, I was always alone. I am tired of small places. The carriage you prepared for me is very comfortable, but I am still not used to it. I wanted to come down and get some fresh air.”

The old man stretched and looked upward.

“Look at how beautiful nature is; the birds and flowers smell nice, and the air is fresh. But, of course, it would be even better if there's a little rain.”

Whoos.h.!.+

As soon as he finished speaking, a few thick dark clouds floated from the sky. The rain was fragrant, and the raindrops pelted the trees and people. The faint clouds and mist reflected the surroundings; it made it look like a fairyland.

Strictly enforced words!

The warriors had special characteristics every time they reached a certain level, and it was the same with mages.

Silver-tier warriors' combat aura could transform into wings, and gold-tier warriors could teleport. The ability of silver-tier mages was to cast spells quickly, which meant it could shorten the time to do that. Gold-tier mages could master instant-cast spells, and they did not even have to chant low-level spells to cast them.

As for a platinum-tier mage, their words are always strictly enforced.

They did not need to cast a spell; they could control their surroundings with just a thought—it was a spectacle. It was not a spell, but it was more powerful than ordinary spells.

Ron and Audrey fell silent when they saw what had happened. They could feel the rain on their body; it made them stronger. The expressions of the people around them also became more respectful.

That was the platinum mages—the kingdom's mages.

The old man stood in the rain and took a few deep breaths. Then, he turned his head and said, “I've had enough rest. We can continue on our journey now! Yesterday, you told me about Blackmoon Castle. They killed one of yours, and I can help you to get rid of them. But, you have to do me a favor.”

His main purpose at the border was to meet someone. When he was in the Temple of the Stars, he sensed that someone had created a new magical element at the border. He wanted to see who did that.

When he had arrived at the Mage Guild in Monte Town the previous night, Audrey had begged him to help her destroy Blackmoon Castle. He had not cared about that, but since he was in a good mood, he had decided to agree to her request.

“Really? Thank you so much, Lord Astrologer.” Audrey could not hide her joy. She hesitated for a moment before she said, “I just sent someone to scout for information. Please wait for a moment. We will set off when my men return.”

She did not send her scout to Blackmoon Castle but the Demoness Bandit Gang. She thought that Blackmoon Castle's destruction was imminent since she had the astrologer's help. She wanted her fellow Demoness Bandit Gang members to take over Blackmoon Castle once they were destroyed.

She knew that her scout would be back soon.

Then, a man dressed as a mage flew down from the sky on a whirlwind. He reached her with a strange expression. Then, he whispered something into her ear. After she heard those words, Audrey's face changed. She exclaimed in surprise.

“What did you say? The Demoness Bandit Gang is destroyed?”