At the tail end of the winter June month, the snow across the land had not yet fully melted. The chill of the season lingered stubbornly, and although the winds of spring had not begun their gentle return, the entire Golden Rock Province was already subtly stirring. Something unseen, something heavy and momentous, seemed to ripple beneath the surface of everyday life.
Two major events had swept across the province in recent weeks, igniting the noble circles like boiling water and filling every manor and hall with murmurs, speculation, and sleepless nights.
The first event centered around the long-troubled Storm Territory.
After lingering in a coma for more than half a year, the Storm Earl was finally declared dead. The announcement was made with the solemnity befitting a noble of his rank, yet the shock of it still reverberated among the aristocracy. His youngest son unexpectedly inherited the title, a twist that few had anticipated, for most assumed one of the elder children would rise to the position.
At the succession ceremony, the Gold Rock Marquis personally attended, offering his blessing and symbolic support. This display of formality solidified the legitimacy of the new Earl, though whispers continued to circulate regarding internal disputes within Storm Territory.
The second event unfolded far more dramatically: the Shimmer Baron title changed hands once again.
Truthfully, most nobles had mentally prepared themselves for this outcome long ago. Owen's downfall had been swift and merciless, and although politically foreseeable, the manner in which events unfolded exceeded all expectations.
Blackstone City captured Shining City with astonishing ease—almost without bloodshed.
The battle report shocked every noble who read it: as soon as the Blackstone army appeared outside Shining City's gates, the massive doors inexplicably shattered, and several prominent generals were torn apart on the spot by unknown forces before the horrified eyes of their own men.
Panic spread instantly through the defenders. Before any real resistance could be organized, chaos had already consumed the city. Seizing the opportunity, the Blackstone forces advanced without opposition and occupied Shining City in a swift, near-effortless campaign.
The ease of victory left even seasoned knights speechless.
But for the more perceptive nobles, one detail stood out sharply:
the unmistakable traces of a magus at work.
And in Golden Rock Province, only one magus was associated with Blackstone City—the newly risen figure whose name had recently been spoken with both surprise and fear: the magus.
After the fall of Shining City, many nobles waited anxiously for Gold Rock Marquis's response. Everyone understood that Owen had once enjoyed the Marquis's favor and support. Now that Owen had been executed and the Shimmer Baron title passed into the hands of Key Anest, many expected the Marquis to take decisive action to maintain his authority and reputation.
Yet time passed—slowly, then steadily—and still the Marquis made no move.
He allowed Key Anest to consolidate his power in Shanguang Territory without interference, establishing himself smoothly and strengthening his new baronial rule.
This baffled many nobles.
Only a small handful—Earl Winter Frost, Viscount Blackmarsh, Viscount Feathered Serpent, and a few other confidants close to the Marquis—understood what he was truly wary of.
Inside Melbourne City's Inner Keep, two cloaked men followed the butler quietly through a broad courtyard. Their footsteps echoed lightly in the tranquil space before they entered a long, sunlit corridor.
The corridor walls were lined with exquisite oil paintings. Their gilded frames glowed warmly under the sunlight streaming in from the windows. Each painting was clearly an item of great craftsmanship and value.
Kasper, walking a step behind, let his eyes drift across the paintings. His lips twitched slightly in restrained surprise.
He recognized one piece instantly: an oil painting of Princess Thornflower. Only a short while ago, it had appeared at a major auction and sold for an astonishing thirty-eight hundred gold coins. It was a piece collectors across the duchy had desired. Yet now, this rare treasure hung casually in a corridor—as though it were nothing more than ordinary decoration.
And this corridor contained dozens of paintings no less valuable than Princess Thornflower. If one were to estimate their worth collectively, the sum would be staggering.
Kasper could not help but sigh inwardly.
They said Gold Rock Marquis was as wealthy as a nation. Seeing this today, he finally understood that the rumor was no exaggeration. In this world, wealth equated to strength, and strength paved the road to ambition. It was no wonder the Marquis was never content with ruling only a single province; he possessed both the power and means to reach far beyond.
As Kasper's thoughts wandered, the butler stopped at the end of the corridor. He raised a hand and knocked softly on the door.
"My Lord, the two distinguished guests have arrived."
"Enter," came the deep, steady voice from within.
The butler pushed the door open and stepped aside, inviting the two men inside.
Within the spacious study, Gold Rock Marquis stood beside a grand window, gazing thoughtfully at the sky. His presence radiated authority, even in stillness.
Just two months earlier, the Marquis had celebrated his sixtieth birthday, yet his appearance defied age. His black hair retained its youthful sheen, and his complexion remained firm and healthy. Anyone seeing him for the first time would easily mistake him for a man in his early thirties. His vitality was the kind born of long years of disciplined training—proof that the legendary knight of Golden Rock Province had lost none of his strength.
"High Priest Yoris," the Marquis greeted with a rare smile. "It has indeed been a long time."
Yoris returned the smile and bowed slightly. "Marquis, it gladdens me greatly to find you in such good health."
When the Marquis took his seat, Yoris settled opposite him. Kasper, however, remained standing respectfully to the side. He knew he was not yet qualified to sit before men of such rank.
"As one grows older," the Marquis said mildly, "the body inevitably begins to decline. Old wounds ache more often these days. Time favors no one, not even knights."
"Marquis is too modest. Your vigor surpasses that of men half your age." Yoris chuckled lightly, though his eyes carried a deeper meaning.
After exchanging a few polite remarks, the Marquis shifted his posture, his tone turning earnest.
"You have come a long way, High Priest. Surely you did not make this journey merely to discuss the weather."
The warmth faded from Yoris's expression, replaced by one of solemn intent.
"Indeed. My primary purpose today concerns the magus."
At that name, a subtle shadow flickered across the Marquis's face. His gaze sharpened instantly. Kasper felt his body tense instinctively under the pressure radiating through the room.
In that moment, Gold Rock Marquis truly resembled the legendary warrior he was—sharp, formidable, the unshakable overlord of Golden Rock Province.
"The magus?" The Marquis's brows lifted slightly. "Has he provoked your church?"
He remembered well the one encounter between the magus and the Starfire Church: the botched assassination attempt in Blackstone City. Previously, he could not understand how the Starfire assassins had failed so completely. But after reading the Blackstone battle report—after learning that even a renowned knight like Hodge had fallen before the magus—everything became clear.
Two Primary Grand Knight assassins were nothing compared to such a man. Their failure now made perfect sense.
Still, that attempt had been carried out at Owen's request. The Church shouldn't have held a personal grudge against the magus over it.
Yoris's next words, however, dispelled all such assumptions.
"To speak frankly, Marquis," he said, eyes darkening, "two months ago our stronghold in Stone Bell City suffered catastrophic losses. Six Priests and more than a hundred believers were slain—and the perpetrator was a single wizard."
He paused, letting the weight of the revelation settle.
"The attacker also possessed a hidden beast capable of turning invisible."
A flicker of understanding passed through the Marquis's gaze.
Hidden beasts with true invisibility were so rare that the likelihood of two appearing in the same province—under the control of two unrelated wizards—was practically nonexistent. Combined with the mysterious, overwhelming display of power in Blackstone's recent campaign, the connection became undeniable.
No wonder the Starfire Church felt certain the attacker had been the magus.
"But how," the Marquis asked quietly, "did he discover your stronghold in Stone Bell City? Your people are not easy to interrogate. Fanatics like yours cannot be forced to speak, even under threat of death."
It was precisely for that reason that the Marquis had always been comfortable cooperating with the Starfire Church for covert eliminations. Their secrecy was unbreakable.
Yoris's lips twitched in displeasure. "We have not yet determined how the information was leaked…" His features hardened. "But regardless of the reason, the magus slew our Priests and disrupted our operations. We cannot allow such an offense to go unanswered."
His voice dropped into a cold, unwavering register.
"That is why I have come—to request that you join us in dealing with him. If you intend to move against Shanguang Territory, our church is prepared to support you fully."
The Marquis tapped the table lightly with his finger, a deliberate, thoughtful rhythm.
"I appreciate your offer," he replied with a faint smile, "but now is not the time to act against Shanguang Territory."
Yoris frowned. "Then when will the time come?"
He was not desperate to kill the magus immediately, but there was something far too valuable still in the man's possession—the godblood amber. Until it was recovered, the Church would remain uneasy.
The Marquis stood and walked to the window, his eyes drifting toward the distant southern horizon. His voice grew low, layered with a deeper intent.
"When the storm arrives."
He paused, allowing the meaning to sink into the silence.
"A storm that will sweep across the entire Duchy."
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