Chapter 118: Following

In the vast, dimly lit hall, oil lamps hung on the walls, their blue flames casting an air of mystery throughout the chamber. The paintings adorning the walls seemed almost alive under the flickering light.

“Master!” A figure wearing a fox mask, his voice neutral, knelt at the center of the hall and looked up at the seated man.

“Phantom, do you know why I summoned you?” The man wrapped in a swirling black mist sat motionless, his form obscured entirely.

“I do not know, my lord,” Phantom replied, reluctant to engage much with the shadowed figure.

“Help me accomplish something,” Nirok said from his seat, showing little interest in further conversation.

Phantom remained silent, neither agreeing nor refusing. The hall fell into an oppressive silence.

“If you succeed, I will grant you freedom. I guarantee it—I can even sign a contract with you. How does that sound?” Nirok’s mist shifted as he moved closer to Phantom, sensing his thoughts.

“Not enough,” Phantom murmured, lips barely moving.

“Heh, what do you want? I said if you agree to help me, I’ll set you free. If I weren’t trapped in this cursed place, do you think I’d need you?” Nirok’s tone was sharp, eager to avoid idle talk—he only desired what he sought.

“Tell me what I must do,” Phantom finally relented after a moment’s silence.

“That’s better!” Nirok’s demeanor softened.

“The teleportation array in the Shadow River Valley was activated. It connects to Yarkley. I want you to bring back whoever comes through it,” Nirok said, grinding his teeth as he spoke.

He had been imprisoned in this palace for over ten thousand years. His captors could not kill him, so they built this place to torment him instead. The palace continuously drained his power, and he feared that if he did not escape within a century, he would dissipate entirely.

Over the millennia, he had lured many into servitude with the promise of power. Among them, Phantom was the strongest, but his keen insight had led him to discover the palace’s effect on Nirok’s strength. That was why he dared resist—he knew Nirok feared using his true power, as it would hasten his demise.

If it weren’t for the leverage Nirok held over him, Phantom might have left this hellhole long ago.

Through relentless effort and study, Nirok had uncovered a secret: by sacrificing a being with the Blood of the Abyss within the great hall, he could finally break free.

Nirok’s schemes reached every corner; whenever a creature bearing the Abyssal bloodline appeared, he would know. Now, hope flickered within him.

“Bring me such a person, and I will free you and help you ascend. What do you say?” Nirok knew Phantom’s relentless pursuit of power—otherwise, he wouldn’t have been tempted by this offer.

“Let us sign the contract,” Phantom said calmly.

“Hahaha! Excellent!” Nirok laughed heartily, already envisioning his return to the world.

The contract was signed smoothly after Phantom meticulously examined it with no objections.

“How do you want me to find this person?” Phantom only wished to complete the task and leave this cursed place.

“Just remember—my target has a pair of beautiful little eyes,” Nirok said before erupting into loud, raucous laughter throughout the palace.

Phantom vanished into the shadows, leaving only Nirok’s echoing laughter behind.

“This valley is truly treacherous to traverse,” Huse muttered, gazing at the scattered stones littering the ground.

“Huh? Someone’s here,” he heard voices nearby and hurried towards them.

“Stop! Who are you?” A soldier blocked Huse’s path as he approached.

“This is a place for important people. If you’re here to beg, you’d better leave now, or don’t blame me for being rude!” The soldier was initially startled by Huse’s sudden appearance but then looked at him with disdain.

Huse glanced down at his tattered, dust-covered clothes. No wonder the soldier looked at him with such contempt—he resembled nothing but a beggar. He couldn’t help but bitterly chuckle at his own appearance.

“Brother, isn’t that the wizard we saw last night? What’s he doing here?” Hisse recognized Huse immediately as the lightning-wielding wizard from the night before.

“I don’t know, but we should go talk to him,” Chad said, surprised to see a wizard here—mages rarely appeared before ordinary folk.

“I—” Huse started to speak.

“Enough! Leave quickly. I’m just warning you: if you upset the people here, neither of us will have a good outcome!” The soldier shooed Huse away like a pesky fly.

Huse’s temper flared at the soldier’s persistent hostility.

“You’re wrong. True nobles are kind and merciful!” Hisse and Chad stepped forward to mediate.

They had already reprimanded the soldier countless times in their minds. They knew Huse’s power—if angered, he could unleash devastation.

“My lord, miss,” the soldier quickly saluted upon hearing the siblings’ voices.

“Enough! You should be doing your duty, not hassling others!” Hisse shot a reproachful glance at the soldier.

“I—” The soldier hesitated, glanced between Huse and the siblings, then swallowed his words and walked away, bewildered as to why chasing off a beggar would anger the young master so greatly.

“Well said,” Huse remarked calmly to the two. He sensed they knew his identity; otherwise, they wouldn’t be so fearful.

“Our father taught us that,” Hisse smiled warmly.

“Honored wizard, allow me to introduce my sister, Hisse Gale, and myself, Chad Gale,” Chad said.

“Hmm,” Huse replied tersely. Having just lost his belongings and faced the soldier’s aggression, he was in a foul mood. Without these two, he might have truly lost his temper.

“Where is this place?” Huse had no knowledge of Gekarlei and had to inquire step by step.

“This is the Shadow River Valley,” the siblings said in unison after exchanging a glance.

“Shadow River Valley...” Huse searched his chip but found no relevant data.

“My lord, there used to be a river here, but it dried up long ago. The name remained,” Chad quietly explained, assuming Huse wanted to know the valley’s history.

“Who are you?” Huse examined their attire and the soldiers nearby; they were clearly no ordinary nobles.

“Our father is a prince of the Starry Night Empire,” Hisse said, watching Huse’s reaction carefully.

“Starry Night Empire... where is that?” Huse wondered, feeling a headache coming on.

Chad and Hisse exchanged surprised looks, sensing Huse was unfamiliar with this place—he neither knew Shadow River Valley nor the Starry Night Empire.