Viscount Rudolf gazed at the ornate box before him, a look of intoxicated satisfaction on his face.
Inside were five bottles of blue potion, Knight Potions, rare and potent. He had received them from Lord Gloden, in exchange for a deadly favor, Kill Aaron, the newly appointed Lord of Green Fort.
That offer, and the potions, were enough to seal the deal.
Rudolf muttered to himself, "I have only a few knights under my command. Most are stationed with the Black Guards. The rest remain in town. If I must choose someone to receive this potion, it should be Fodo. If he reaches Peak Knight strength, and two more follow, our monster hunts will flourish. More gold from sales... and more favor from Lord Alaric."
His eyes gleamed with ambition.
"Domizo has already won Miss Alice’s hand. In three years, they’ll marry. By then, aligning with Lord Alaric and backing the Second Prince from the shadows... might be my best move."
Green Fort. Follow current novᴇls on ɴovelfire.net
Inside a dimly lit tent, three figures sat in quiet contemplation.
The oldest, a man in his sixties, exuded a mysterious aura. He sat cross-legged, eyes closed, surrounded by shells and feathers. His face was painted in red and black patterns, his neck adorned with animal teeth jewelry, and his robe stitched from animal skins.
Smoke curled from the pipe in his hand, calming the minds of those around him.
He opened his eyes slowly and spoke in a deep, sonorous tone, "When three ships dock the shore, the gears of fate will begin to turn."
He paused, then added with uncertainty, "I do not know if fate will change for better or worse. But what could be worse than the life we now endure?"
Rumba, a burly man with bows and arrows strapped to his back, scratched his head, "Chief, I don’t understand. Your words are too profound."
Beside him, Jumba nodded with a knowing look, "Chief... are you worried that strangers from afar will return?"
The Chief replied, "Perhaps. What are your thoughts?"
Rumba scowled, "Last time, those strangers were rude. They even killed some of our people. Should we strike first this time?"
Jumba added quietly, "Chief, although those strangers killed some of our people, we couldn’t retaliate. They were too strong. Fortunately, when they entered the forest to explore, most of them were killed. Only a few survived."
The Chief nodded solemnly, "Don’t worry. This time, we’ll observe their attitude first. If they come with the same arrogance... Rumba, be prepared, just in case."
Then he closed his eyes, his voice dropping to a whisper only the spirits might hear, "This time, the fate of our entire tribe rests on these strangers. If they are good... we will prosper. If they are evil... it may be the end of us."
Aaron had just returned when Torvald stopped him, disbelief etched across his face.
"Aaron... did you really kill the Black Guards of Viscount Rudolf?"
Aaron nodded calmly, his voice steady and confident.
"Don’t worry about it. I’ve taken care of the problem. I doubt Viscount Rudolf will hear of it anytime soon."
Torvald exhaled in relief, "That’s good. Also... what’s your current strength now? And where did you get that cloak? It looks great on you."
Aaron smiled, "My strength is a secret. But I can tell you this, Knights no longer pose a threat to me."
He paused, then added, "As for the cloak, I found it inside the cave.
It’s made of fine material, so I kept it."
Torvald chuckled, envy flickering in his eyes, "You’re lucky."
Aaron grinned, "Let’s eat first. We’ll talk more later."
Despite everything, Aaron still treated them the same as before. That simple gesture filled everyone’s hearts with relief.
Soon, the group gathered around bowls of meat stew, steam rising into the cool evening air.
While eating, Aaron casually asked, "Captain Monga, how did you know the route to Green Fort? We’ve barely seen any other ships since we started."
His question drew the attention of the crowd.
Jack and Blake leaned in, remembering how Monga had been gravely injured when he was first brought to the Slave Village.
Captain Monga’s expression turned melancholic.
He took a deep breath and began:
"Lord Aaron, you might not know this, but my father was a fisherman from the Slave Village. As his son, I often went fishing with him."
"One day, during a violent thunderstorm, our small boat was swept deep into the Blue Sea. We thought it was our chance to escape... but the waves overturned our boat. I was washed ashore near the Blackwater River, where it meets the sea."
"I was fifteen, For weeks, I searched for my father, living off fish and wild fruit. Eventually, I accepted that he was gone. So I built a raft. It took me a month, but I sailed along the shore and, after three weeks, reached a human settlement."
"That place was Green Fort."
He paused to eat, then continued, his voice heavy with memory, "Just when I thought I was free, monsters attacked the settlement. Many were killed. I learned the forest beyond was infested with beasts."
"I had no ties to that place, so I turned back. But halfway through, I was captured by slave traders. I fought back... but was seriously injured. Eventually, they dragged me back to the Slave Village."
Aaron sighed softly and said, "Captain Monga, your story is full of hardship... but that’s going to change. And it’ll happen soon."
Captain Monga simply nodded, his expression calm but thoughtful.
Nearby, Jack and Blake exchanged glances. Their respect for the captain had grown, surviving alone in the wild for weeks was something neither of them could imagine doing.
Captain Monga then added, "Lord Aaron, if I remember correctly, we’ll pass the place where the Blackwater River meets the sea tomorrow. And within the next four days, we should reach our destination."
He paused, then continued with a hint of concern, "But once we arrive... we might have trouble locating the people of Green Fort. After the last monster attack, they may have relocated."