If he were just a messenger, there would be no need to send Throne. He also had to be responsible for negotiations, with authority equal to Ranni.
"No problem, I'm the best at doing business."
"Hmph, Rykard has a straightforward personality. Don't scam him too badly."
Ranni clearly didn't believe him. She took out a long box and added, "Take this sword with you; it matches your armor better."
Throne took it, knowing what was inside. He thought to himself that this little rich girl really didn't blink when giving away divine artifacts. He stuffed it into his ring and smiled kindly: "Don't worry. If he's truly okay, I'll definitely negotiate properly. Remember to keep an eye on the Moonlight Altar."
This was his first time traveling with a peaceful attitude, and also his first time going somewhere openly and honestly.
"But if there is a problem, you are not allowed to push yourself."
Ranni warned him again; she was a bit afraid of this man who loved courting death.
"I'm not stupid, but with my current strength, there aren't many people in The Lands Between who can stop me if I want to run. On the contrary, if Rykard is exposed, hehe."
There was no need to say what followed. Morgott would definitely rush over like his butt was on fire to hack Rykard to pieces. Rykard wanted blasphemy, and the greatest blasphemy was taking a precious great rune and feeding it to a snake. That would be enough to make Morgott furious and the Two Fingers flip the table.
In a sense, the giant snake that could digest a great rune was even more terrifying than a Death Eater. While the two armies were at war, Caria could continue to develop in the shadows. Throne put the envelope into his ring, looked around, and shouted: "Millicent, come here!"
As his voice fell, the girl strode out from the crowd.
Her face was a bit uneasy, as if she already knew why Throne was glaring at her so fiercely, but she wasn't afraid. Embracing the resolve to die, she strode forward.
"Teacher."
"Talk to Melina less in the future; she will affect your reaction time."
Throne's eyes were helpless. Indeed, it wasn't Millicent's fault, but he patiently taught her: "Don't rush to go out for trials yet. Build a solid foundation at the Academy and learn more from others' swordsmanship. At least—"
He looked around and saw Allen whispering.
"Beat him to the ground before you leave."
Millicent turned her head, saw the bewildered Carian Knight, and her eyes turned sharp.
"Okay, I will defeat him within ten days."
Allen was relatively weak among the Carian Knights, but even so, he was a third-rate hero in The Lands Between. If he weren't as unlucky as Throne, a third-rate hero would already be enough to walk sideways.
"Hmm, remember to consult Moongrum and the others more. Darriwil's Bloodhound Step is also very interesting. There is a lot to learn here."
Throne wasn't worried about Millicent.
He stroked his ring and took out a long box.
"I have nothing to give you as your teacher. Use this sword well."
Millicent took it with both hands and opened it to see a white longsword inside. As she unsheathed three inches of it, the reflected moonlight illuminated her eyes.
"A good sword."
"The sword's name is Star-Frost. It used to be my personal sword. I hope you won't let it be disgraced."
"I understand."
The girl nodded heavily and hugged the sword tightly. She saw Throne flick his cloak, turn around, and walk a few steps before jumping onto Adula's head.
"Farewell, everyone."
The Glintstone Dragon flapped its wings, carrying the knight as it slowly rose into the sky. Raya Lucaria Academy gradually became small, and the radiance of the town outside also became faint.
Throne kept staring at Ranni, who was looking up, while showing an insidious smile. Of course, there was a purpose for the two of them doing things so grandly. Even in the middle of the night, the eyes and ears outside the town wouldn't be asleep; they would immediately send emergency intelligence to Leyndell.
The Chief Carian Knight had barely rested before mounting his dragon again, this time riding north. The destination was obvious—Mt. Gelmir, fortress of blasphemous traitors. If an alliance formed, the chessboard of power would shift. Conversely, this move also pressured Rykard.
If negotiations failed, Throne could simply walk away. Mt. Gelmir, undermanned compared to Caria, seemed easier to handle. But Throne had his own reasons. He viewed half of The Lands Between as a chessboard, and Mt. Gelmir was just one piece.
"This time, I must bring my teacher out," he muttered to himself.
Standing against the wind, fists clenched, he considered his options. An open approach to the Haligtree was impossible; Leyndell's attention needed diverting. The solution? Create enemies for them. With Rykard in the west and Caria in the south, Leyndell would have little energy left to pressure the Haligtree.
"Easier to fish in troubled waters," he mused.
"The key now is Rykard's state."
"If he's a friend, this will be simple. If he's an enemy, this trip turns dangerous."
Rykard had once been an upright hero, but the greedy serpent now controlling him was another matter. Greed eroded his mind, making his bottom line... questionable. As the Glintstone Dragon soared hundreds of meters into the air, Raya Lucaria shrank to a mere dot below.
Throne gazed northward. Overlapping peaks rose like a wall, dividing The Lands Between. The north, high and vast, was dominated by the Altus Plateau and the Mountaintops of the Giants. Its expanse dwarfed Liurnia, Limgrave, and Caelid combined. Throne felt a pang of unfamiliarity.
For years, he'd wandered the south. This was his first venture north, but one thing he knew: as the Erdtree's core, the north's enemies were far stronger than the south's. Especially the Erdtree itself. The closer he got, the heavier its oppressive presence grew.
"Are you nervous?"
Melina's voice broke his thoughts.
She appeared beside him, taking his arm and gazing at the Erdtree. That was her mission's end, but now she hesitated.
"I forgot," Throne said. "Your business lies there too."
The towering mountains in the northeast were her destination. He forced a smile.
"I've finally approached Leyndell. You should be happy, right?"
"Hmph. So you haven't forgotten our deal."
Melina nodded hesitantly, then glanced behind her.
"I thought she'd keep me back."
"Ranni isn't so shortsighted," Throne replied with a sigh. "I wanted to stay longer, but now I'm hurrying off."
"I'm playing a game of wits with the Lunar Princess—what's it to you?"
Melina frowned.
"Your injuries haven't healed yet?"
"I nearly died twice. Healing takes time. But visiting Volcano Manor won't immediately lead to bloodshed."
"You said Praetor has a problem."
"That's speculation."
Even if there is a problem, one must be polite before resorting to force. Now, I need to get into character."
Throne pulled out the illusory mask and fitted it over his face. Light twisted, reshaping his features and aura. He stood taller, dominance radiating from him as he crossed his arms and steadied himself on the dragon's back. The majestic mountain peaks in front, like a dividing line, were passed under the dragon's wings. This way of opening the map would obviously make the Tarnished jealous. There were originally only two roads to Volcano Manor. One was to take the Grand Lift of Dectus to the Altus Plateau and then head west into the mountains, passing through heavily guarded roads on the way. The other was to use the secret teleportation array at the bottom of the Academy to enter the volcano directly. One of these two roads was too difficult, and the other was sneaky. Throne chose neither and simply rode the dragon there. The sky gradually brightened. The mirror-like Liurnia of the Lakes was gone, replaced by stretches of rugged peaks. In the distance, a volcano was spewing hot air into the sky. Looking down from the sky, one could see winding mountain roads, as well as remnants of battlefields visible everywhere on the roads. Corpses, broken weapons, and burned-out military camps. More than a decade ago, Leyndell and Mt. Gelmir fought a great battle, and the result was both sides suffering losses. It was that "blasphemous war without honor" in the mouths of bards. After so many years, no one had collected the bodies. Only countless corpses were lined up along both sides of the road, swaying in the wind.
"In the air, there is still the lingering scent of pain. Those who don't know pain won't know what peace is."
The deep words made Melina stunned, but she quickly rolled her eyes, obviously having developed a resistance.
"Speaking meaningless words again. Remember not to get too deep into character, lest I have to pull you out."
"Don't you like this feeling?"
Throne stared at her defiantly.
"I'm just more used to the usual you, but it's not bad to experience it occasionally. At least it's quite novel."
Do you treat me as an advanced version of a voice actress wife? Can you experience various styles when being intimate?
"Don't be giggling. We're almost there. Get into character quickly."
"Oh."
Melina didn't say much either. A moment later, her smile dissipated, and she returned to her expressionless state, looking very cold at first glance. You're simple; just pretending to be a wooden person is enough. One trick is all you need. Melina in a sluggish state was already the best disguise. The huge volcano was approaching, and the air became hot accordingly. At this time, Throne saw a castle with high walls and towers outside the volcano. It wasn't as majestic as the Academy; it looked simple overall, just a fairly large medieval castle. There was a crowd of people standing at the entrance, mostly knights in neat armor, and no shortage of powerful Tarnished. Recusants were different from Bloody Fingers; they were few in number but all powerful, and preferred to act alone. One had to know that to become a Recusant, one had to kill a hero alone. Coupled with the fact that the attraction wasn't strong to begin with, they were naturally powerful and rare.
"Why don't I see Rykard?"
Throne scanned the area. He had a portrait of Rykard in his hand. Not seeing the demigod who looked somewhat like Radahn, he felt something was wrong.
"Melina, are you ready?"
"Don't worry."
"Adula, land."
Roar—Not knowing if it had obtained liberation, the Glintstone Dragon roared, and this throat-shaking sound stirred up emotions. The people at the entrance of the manor all raised their heads. Seeing a flying dragon slowly descending, their eyes were all attracted by the man standing on the dragon's head. Thick and gorgeous armor, black hair and a scarlet cloak fluttering in the wind, he stood with his arms crossed, coldly overlooking everything. This group of Gelmir Knights and Recusants had only one thought. So strong!
"Is this the Chief Carian Knight?"
"Hmm, a big shot who rose like a comet. Regardless of whether he's strong or not, at least this aura is enough."
Amidst the whispering of the crowd, the woman in the front with a good figure but wearing an iron mask had a smile appear in her eyes.
"Strong is very good. Rya, go receive him later."
"Yes, Lady Tanith."
A young, somewhat immature girl walked out. She tilted her head and looked at the knight descending from the sky, revealing some yearning. This was just like a hero in a legend. The fierce wind pressure came from overhead. The Glintstone Dragon's spread wings blocked the sunlight, and finally, it landed on the ground with a 'thud'. The residual wind ruffled hair and clothing. The knight on the dragon's head overlooked the crowd, not saying a word, bringing only heavy pressure. Fortunately, the Glintstone Dragon slowly lowered its head. Throne took a step and landed lightly on the ground, seemingly heavy yet making no sound. He scanned his surroundings and slowly walked toward the woman in the front.
"Greetings. I am the Chief Carian Knight. My name need not be mentioned; it has no meaning."
He was very arrogant, and the maid who followed him was also very silent, practically writing the words 'not to be trifled with' on her forehead. But this didn't cause any displeasure. Or rather, for the Recusants, a gentle gentleman would make people feel weak; only Bernahl in the crowd frowned slightly. Why wasn't it him? He had just returned from Sellia and believed that the Flowing Swordsman was the Chief Carian Knight, but now it seemed his prediction was wrong? One was gentle as water, the other was arrogant and domineering. They didn't look like the same type of person at all. Besides, there was a reasonable explanation for this. The God of Rot was sealed by a group of people, and the Carian forces were among the coalition back then. It was reasonable for them to be able to command a powerful Flowing Swordsman. 'Was it him who stopped the dragon Greyoll in the north of Sellia back then?' Bernahl recalled another matter. There was another battlefield in the north back then. If that were really the case, the strength of Caria was unfathomable. Throne was also glancing at the others from the corner of his eye. As a result, he saw the hunched-over girl, and his expression darkened for a moment. Although she looked younger than in his impression—just a young girl—it was indeed Rya. This girl would only appear after Rykard had fed himself to the snake. Looking at the absence of Rykard, the answer was already obvious. His hanging hands quietly clenched into fists, but he didn't turn around to run, nor did he start a massacre. The presence of so many Gelmir Knights proved that Rykard hadn't reached the point of devouring everything yet. Even if Rykard had problems, the team he left behind still had value.
"My lord, I am Tanith, the mistress of Volcano Manor."
The woman wearing an iron mask performed a curtsy. Her figure was graceful, and she had a unique charm. As expected of the woman who captivated Rykard. Wait, where did the Crucible Knight behind her go? Throne knew the woman's background; she wasn't of noble birth either, but just a dancer in the past who climbed to her position entirely on her beauty.
"Where is Lord Rykard?"
"He is feeling a bit unwell. Please come with me."
Tanith's voice sounded soft, but in reality, she was quite decisive.
"I see. Lead the way."
Throne looked completely normal.
"Please."