"Any recent activity in the bottomless abyss?"
As Orion walked ahead, he asked Lorelia this question.
"Half a month ago, my children crawled back up from down below and reported that everything is fine," Lorelia replied.
"Oh, and there's this!"
Lorelia pulled out a Bagbird pouches and held it out to Orion.
"Master, your sister had my children bring this up for you."
Orion took the Bagbird pouches and opened it for a look. It was filled with crystal cores, including four Alpha-level ones.
Seeing these crystal cores actually put Orion's mind at ease, because this meant Clymene's power must have grown substantially. And as the balance of power shifted, fewer beasts lurking underground would mean a better chance for Clymene and her group to stay safe.
A rare smile crossed Orion's face. Then he tossed the Bagbird pouches back to Lorelia.
"Hold on to these. Evolve those four big ones around you to Alpha-level as soon as possible."
"Hehe… I can tell Master likes Lorelia best!"
Lorelia giggled, obviously knowing what lay inside that Bagbird pouches. For Lorelia, Orion bestowing so many crystal cores was the greatest show of favor and support.
"Guard the underground fissure well, and protect Blackstone City!"
With this command, Orion turned and left the entrance to the bottomless abyss. He patrolled the underground fissure once and then returned to Horde Hall.
---
In Soaring Bird City of the human kingdom.
After a long, exhausting journey, Prince Theodore and Princess Ava finally returned to the territory of the human kingdom, arriving at Soaring Bird City.
Inside a newly erected temporary tent, Torin, along with his servants Mike and Wyatt, gathered once more.
The main tent that had belonged to Torin had been requisitioned by Prince Theodore, so Torin could only have a new one set up by his two servants.
Casting a glance at his former tent now occupied by someone else, Torin felt furious and resentful inside.
He had lost control on his own turf—an exasperating sensation, to say the least.
"Master, the princess has just left the prince's tent. This is our last chance," Wyatt reported quietly, having discovered this news himself, hoping to help his master succeed.
Torin's gloom lifted at once, and he replaced it with a sincere expression.
"You two wait here. I'm going to pay my respects to Her Highness the Princess and will be back shortly."
With those words, Torin left the tent.
Watching Torin's departing figure, Mike and Wyatt whispered to each other in low voices.
"Do you think our master can secure the princess's support?"
"I don't know! Let's pray he succeeds. Only that way will we have a better life and a future."
"The prince achieved a glorious victory on this expedition; after returning, his prestige will surely soar, and he'll most likely be the kingdom's heir."
"What are you getting at?"
"I'm wondering if our master might decide to align himself with the prince. After all, we went to the giants' territory together."
"If so, that would be for the best!"
While Mike and Wyatt exchanged these quiet words, Torin had already put several plans into action.
He did not go straight to the princess. Instead, he first visited Prince Theodore, offering additional benefits from Soaring Bird City. Torin successfully warmed the prince's attitude toward him, and Theodore verbally promised to grant Torin his protection.
Having secured the outcome he wanted, Torin then went in the name of a local lord "concerned about the guests" to pay a visit to Princess Ava.
Inside another temporary tent, Princess Ava stood by the window, gazing out at the sparse scenery of Soaring Bird City.
"Your Highness, Baron Torin requests an audience!"
Guards from the Rose Knight Regiment delivered the message outside, among them Garrett and Lambert.
Garrett and Lambert had inherited Galahad's spirit, becoming members of the Rose Knight Regiment and Princess Ava's protectors.
Princess Ava turned her attention back. She had intended to refuse Torin's visit but changed her mind, recalling that Torin was the lord(master) of Soaring Bird City and also one of those who had traveled to the giants' territory to bring her home.
"Let him in."
A moment later, Torin entered the temporary tent, accompanied by a knight.
"State your reason for coming, Baron Torin."
At that moment, Princess Ava was self-assured and decisive, exuding both authority and an aloof elegance—nothing like the person she had been when Orion had raped her.
Torin kept his head down, not daring to look directly at Princess Ava's face.
After half a minute of silence, he finally spoke:
"I beg Your Highness to spare my life. Torin vows to pledge himself to you and is willing to do anything in your service."
As he spoke, Torin dropped to his knees and kissed Ava's shoes in earnest. There was no trace of fakery; he was utterly sincere.
Considering Prince Theodore is the heir apparent of the kingdom as well as a powerful Legendary level warrior, Torin's allegiance wouldn't matter much to him. Whether Torin pledged himself or not, the prince had already taken what he wanted from him—so to Prince Theodore, Torin's fate was of little concern.
That was the crushing effect of power and status. At that moment, Torin didn't dare resist, nor could he even appear to have the slightest will to defy.
Princess Ava, on the other hand, was nowhere near as powerful, and the Rose Knight Regiment currently needed people. Considering Torin had been one of those who helped bring her back, he was indeed the target of her genuine interest.
Torin's visit to the prince was simply a matter of protocol—he couldn't risk offending him. But deep down, Princess Ava was the one Torin truly wanted to serve.
"Baron Torin, are you joking with me?" she asked. "You're a noble of this kingdom, the lord of Soaring Bird City—who would dare threaten your very life?"
Princess Ava was curious yet shrewd. She sensed the situation Torin was about to face.
"Your Highness, we may have just rushed back, but you're not fully aware of what's happening," Torin explained. "Soaring Bird City is the starting point for the trade route from our human kingdom to the giants' territory.
"His Highness the Prince, and you, Your Highness, are benevolent and magnanimous; I know you wouldn't trouble me. But the moment you leave Soaring Bird City, any nobles from the kingdom who show up will carve up all my interests here."
At this, Torin finally looked up, tears welling in his eyes, his expression drenched in genuine dread.
"Princess, did you know that while we followed the prince to the giants' territory, plenty of mercenaries from our kingdom were already swarming into Soaring Bird City?
The thought of those strangers out there robs me of my sleep; I can't even close my eyes."
If the earlier words sounded like complaints, these last words were Torin's honest confession.