Surviving The Fourth Calamity

Chapter 996: Chapter 791: Charge! White Dragon Squad

Hill finally managed to draw a line in his mind connecting the events related to Edna’s family.

Elaströ, due to Kelben’s withdrawal from the Harpist Alliance, had been on guard about this former comrade, her sister’s husband, who was establishing his own exclusive intelligence organization... Kelben’s influence over at Silvermoon City had indeed waned significantly compared to before.

Edna’s father, the head of the Silvermoon City’s grand auction house, actually played his shrewd and opportunistic image quite well... The lover he chose was a renowned Enchantment Master and belonged to the current City Lord’s faction.

Rather than saying they had any affection, it was more accurate to say he used that simple physical relationship as a cover for their private dealings... Through this woman, Edna’s father obtained news from both the Academy and the City Lord, and he also had a technical master on hand who could help modify the Auction House’s Defensive Magic Array whenever needed, while the Dean of the Enchantment Academy could get news from Elaströ and free high-level materials.

This kind of relationship, though unethical, was hardly noteworthy in the Toril World.

Hill didn’t think their covert actions could fool the higher-ups of Silvermoon City, but most people would silently cover up this matter, leaving only Edna and her mother unaware of anything happening.

The real reason Edna’s father was actually ousted from Silvermoon City was solely because of his position... At that time, indeed the relationship between the Deity of Mages and Mystra was at its tensest, and as a Chosen of the Goddess of Magic, Elaströ couldn’t keep him by her side.

But she couldn’t harm him either... Not to mention his own father was still alive, both Elaströ and Kelben had their Chosen statuses tied to Black Eye... Especially Elaströ, who had once had a very close relationship with the former Mystra; she, even if she didn’t show it, would certainly take good care of this old friend’s son.

The same might not be said of Kelben... With his selfish nature, even if he apologized verbally, he could still ruthlessly send his master’s son to his death.

But he shouldn’t have known... Even things that only the top echelons of Silvermoon City would know about, he shouldn’t have been aware of.

Elaströ had been blocking news sources from Kelben’s side for a long time, and for this reason, she hadn’t met her own sister Laila for many years.

However, the Haber Family might have known... Not to mention their caravans frequently traveling to and from Silvermoon City, even the mounts of Elaströ’s half-elf sons used saddles from the Haber Family... Their magic saddles were indeed the most renowned luxury goods in the North.

And as a Mage Family that existed since the time of the Black Robe, they indeed might have found traces of Edna’s father’s identity, not to mention the well-informed Lady of Pain.

They nearly succeeded if not for this prematurely launched Magicplague that swapped out Edna... The reason Neverwinter got blasted to pieces was probably because when they completed the final ritual, it met with the Demon Lord’s frenzied resistance.

Hill quietly asked, ”List, is it true there are very few Kind Alignment mages among the young mages in Long Saddle Town? I remember Lynn mentioning once that most of Marko’s apprentices came from Deepwater City; there are very few from their own family.”

”Among Haber Family mages over Level 12, there are quite a few Necromancers and Scroll Mages,” List said while flipping through his notebook, ”Mr. Lynn said the current Clan Leader had once been involved with the Santalin Meeting, and now has a decent relationship with Sel. He once suspected this person was a believer of Bane, but during Alignment Detection, he was still Neutral.”

Hill was stunned for a moment and couldn’t help but laugh, ”The day they reached an agreement, did Lynn have the Undead Tribe activate the Alignment Detection Array on the road?”

”Yes, the Undead Tribe acted very quickly. So when they left, the entire carriage was glowing yellow, for which the Haber Clan Leader protested... Mr. Lynn felt there was no need for them to overreact.

But now it makes sense why he was so nervous—if he and those around him had problems, wouldn’t it be exposed!” List said seriously, ”The Undead Tribe’s Alignment Detection Array was mainly based on His Majesty William’s judgment, supposed to be quite fair. I can’t quite understand why, after doing such horrific things, this Clan Leader of the Haber Family is still Neutral.”

”Murder doesn’t require his involvement. And given the Clan Leader’s level, he’s at most just a puppet created by the Habe Elders’ Council.” Hill said dismissively, ”But he certainly knows something. But knowing that others are committing crimes without being involved himself is a moral issue in any world.”

The judgment of alignment never looked at whether morals were lacking... The kind alignment in Toril had its share of troubles.

List nodded in realization, ”I understand.

Sir, Mr. Lynn’s intelligence sources wouldn’t focus on Low-Rank Mages, let alone Mage Apprentices; this needs more detailed information... probably best to find the Harpist.”

Hill was silent for a few seconds before saying, ”Sometimes, I’m not sure what to choose... Let Lynn go purchase the information... As for whether they’ll realize the issues with the Haber Family, that’ll be up to them.”

”Why not ask me?” Celene suddenly questioned, ”Silvermoon Church is the most informed in Sword Bay when it comes to whispers! Especially such non-confidential news; no one can escape the eyes of the laundry maids! The Harpist gets their news from them too.”

Celene only mentioned the laundry maids... But in reality, many of the working lower-class women on the Ferun Great Land were introduced to their jobs by the Silvermoon Church, essentially having the Church vouch for these women striving to survive.

Although the private tasks wouldn’t be given to them, for some peripheral chores, these women trained by the Silvermoon Church were rather cost-effective.

As Celene mentioned, the mages of the Haber Family, especially those of lower level, couldn’t afford any maids. They had to entrust their daily chores to these women who took on odd jobs.

Hill thought for a moment and said solemnly, ”It’s one thing for these women to choose to sell information to the Harpists, but for the Silvermoon Church that employs them to actively seek out information about their employers is another matter entirely.

Celene, you should refrain from meddling in such affairs... I think your Archbishop Naneze Sariel in Deepwater City is handling it quite well.”

The Silvermoon Church has managed to become what it is today thanks to these shrewd and capable followers... Regardless of how power-driven they might be, Celene’s followers are very patient people. Hill can now understand how they’ve nurtured such patience—having to work diligently while also ensuring their Main God doesn’t hold them back.

Celene absent-mindedly muttered, ”Oh,” and after a while said, ”Did I make a mistake again!

No worries, even if you hadn’t reminded me, my Archbishops would have prayed all night hoping I’d change my mind.

I’m much better than Lansendel. I never ask them to do things beyond their capability.”

Hill shook his head helplessly and turned to List: ”Notify Lynn about this, and let him handle all communications with the Harpists.”

List, who left in response, quickly returned, looking a bit odd as he said, ”Mr. Lynn said he would handle the matter... but he asked me if we could temporarily release the White Dragon from the mountain.”

”Are there that many goblins?” Hill quickly realized Lynn’s intention, ”Could it be that the Zholar have already been cleared out?”

”The Zholar have launched several assaults, and after losing at least two-thirds of their family members, they’ve been hiding behind Heart Lake, refusing to approach the walls... It’s evident that unless Sir intends to send aid to Deepwater City, they won’t charge up again.

However, the goblins scattered all over the place are a bit troublesome; they’re nibbling on our food leaves and have uprooted quite a few... The Elven City Guards don’t have much in the way of group attack skills.

You know those mages in the academy... they are at best lying on the walls casting low-level spells, lacking the courage to use high-level spells.”

List glanced hesitantly at Hill: ”Mr. Lynn doesn’t want you and Mr. Fran to make a move... It’s just goblins! No matter the quantity, they’re still just goblins...”

Before Hill could respond, Celene burst into hearty laughter, ”Hahaha~ hiccup~ hahahaha!”

The little fairies, who had been squatting obediently on the big tree, were frightened by this unrestrained goddess. They flew around the tree and then dived into the blossoming windmill jasmine flowers on the other side of the garden under the moonlight.

Hill sighed. Lynn’s concerns were also valid... He couldn’t go from being a dragon-slaying mage to a goblin-killer overnight, as even if he killed many, it would only make him Toril’s laughingstock.

Rose came up with a rather good method to limit him... If it were Agleya City he was dealing with, Hill being a goblin-killer would be understandable... But for Deepwater City, which he never wanted to deal with, it indeed seemed unworthy.

Moreover, if Hill made a move, the recently planted crops outside the city would surely be entirely ruined... The damage Fran would cause would be even greater than his.

Besides, Hill couldn’t want such a reputation for himself and have his grandfather bear it!

Lynn’s idea is the best solution for now, and it can even change up the White Dragon’s nocturnal diet.

Hill slowly closed his eyes, tapping a few times on the deep green bracelet on his left hand: ”I’ve already arranged with the Murderous Vine, Lynn can go to the entrance to receive the dragon... Apart from him, the White Dragon won’t obey anyone else’s command, so it’ll just have to be him putting in a bit more effort.”

This was agreed upon with the White Dragon from the start, and the Murderous Vine on their claws won’t listen to anyone else either. This magical plant, the highest-level around Hill, has a rather haughty personality, only grudgingly engaging with friends Hill acknowledges.

Not long after List left, the excited howling of the White Dragon reached Hill’s ears... It seemed they were quite eager to taste goblins.