Lord of Rot

The bad news didn’t affect Leech’s appetite. Perhaps it was due to his flesh-and-blood Extraordinary power, but he single-handedly devoured a five-pound roasted chicken, a whole fish, two large slabs of fried pork chops, and three mugs of beer.

The others stared, dumbfounded.

Sir Quick Blade muttered to himself, ”A human-shaped... Giant Dragon.”

’Indeed,’ he thought, ’the Lord really is a human-shaped Giant Dragon!’

He finished it all off with ice cream for dessert.

Leech intended to improve the efficiency of the town hall—mostly so he could slack off himself. He had Gelan report to him every seven or eight days, though major incidents and emergencies, of course, required immediate notification.

Leech was very concerned about the two white-haired individuals.

One by one, birds flew out from the castle, circling high above Porcupine Territory and the surrounding areas, searching for uninvited outsiders.

Outside Maitian Village.

After a stern lecture, the drunkards who had started the fight had sobered up.

”Yes, yes, yes! We’ll never do it again!”

Only after repeated assurances did the patrol let them go.

The moment they turned away, the farmers’ expressions changed from smiles to scowls. ”Hmph! He was the one who insulted the Lord first, and they punish us? Those patrol wastes, they only know how to follow the rules!”

The craftsman next to him clamped a hand over his mouth, glancing back worriedly. After making sure the patrol couldn’t hear them, he whispered, ”Keep your voice down! You want to get left behind? The Lord said before, no matter the reason, whoever throws the first punch gets punished. Any problems are to be handed over to the patrol.”

”But that damn bastard slandered our Lord! We were fighting for our Lord, just like a Knight—” The alcohol likely hadn’t worn off completely, as he was actually comparing himself to a Knight.

Fortunately, no one else was on the road at the moment. Only the silent moonlight was there to listen to their drunken ranting.

On the roadside, the two white-haired men in black robes were like air. The staggering farmers nearly bumped into them as they passed, but the white-haired men actively stepped aside to avoid them.

”What was that noise?” one of the farmers asked, turning to look back in confusion.

It was completely empty.

”Just a bug, probably,” the other said. ”Let’s hurry back and get some rest. We’ve got work tomorrow.”

”Isn’t he a bricklayer? We’ll teach him a lesson tomorrow!”

”Good point.”

Only after the group had left did the two men in black robes and white hair resume their advance.

CAW~

A bird flew overhead. The brawny, white-haired man, Elo, looked up, his gaze like a bolt of lightning. The bird suddenly flapped its wings in a panic, shedding a feather as it fled into the distance.

”We’ve been discovered,” said the slender, white-haired man.

”So much for a covert investigation. Let’s just go straight to the castle.”

”I was planning on going to the castle anyway,” the brawny Elo grinned, baring his big, white teeth. ”We’ll just ask the local Lord directly! A noble. It’s not like I haven’t killed one before.”

”This noble is different,” the slender man said. ”Elo, rein it in.”

Elo shrugged and gave a perfunctory reply. ”I know.”

A gust of wind blew past, and it seemed as if something had vanished from them. The dogs along the road seemed to notice them as well and began to bark furiously.

WOOF WOOF WOOF. The night had grown rather noisy.

「Meanwhile, at Porcupine Castle.」

Leech sat up straight.

Just like the first time he had tried to use Eagle Eye Magic to follow the raven to Green Forest Castle, the Magic had been severed.

The difference was, back then, the connection had been broken passively. This time, he had broken it actively. His Spiritual Power was many times stronger than before; he wouldn’t be defeated by a single glare.

’Both of them must be Transcendent.’

Leech picked up the bell on his desk and rang it.

Since he often worked late in his study and his bedtime was unpredictable, Leech had considerately allowed his male servants to rest first, instructing them to only come when they heard the bell.

After a flurry of hurried footsteps, the voice of a man named Cha Cha came from outside the door. ”My Lord, it’s Cha Cha.”

”Have Carrot go outside the castle to greet our two white-haired guests...”

Carrot was clever and knew how to adapt to a situation. If he sent Little Joel, a fight might break out.

Leech paused, then added, ”And have Sir Quick Blade get ready. With Soldiers.”

”Yes!”

’It’s unclear whether the newcomers are friend or foe, but they’re Transcendent. As the Lord, I should show them the proper courtesy.’

When the two white-haired men reached the castle, they saw a knight’s attendant waiting for them at the gate.

He wore a small set of leather armor and had a decent Longsword at his waist. He looked much like the other young nobles they’d seen around minor lords; probably the son of some petty aristocrat.

”Our two guests,” Carrot said. ”Please, follow me. The Lord is waiting for you.”

The two men nodded slightly, their expressions growing grave.

’So the bird really was from the castle.’

’There’s a Caster skilled in Magic inside.’

They followed the attendant through the castle’s front courtyard and into the main keep. Soldiers were visible everywhere, standing silent guard at their posts.

The castle’s defenses were airtight.

After a short walk through the sparsely decorated, rustic-style castle, the attendant leading them stopped. He pushed open a door, turned, and said to the two men, ”The Lord is waiting for you inside.”

The two men walked in.

And froze.

The flames of beeswax candles flickered.

Dozens of elite Soldiers in heavy armor were lined up in two rows, standing on either side of the door. Even after the two men entered, they remained as still as statues, their gazes fixed forward.

But the sense of pressure they exuded was immense.

Their bodies were encased in full plate, the metal reflecting the dazzling light.

’Are these Soldiers from the same unit as the ones we saw in the tavern?’

’The difference is night and day.’

’They had heard of the renown of the ”Porcupine Soldiers” back in the East Gorge, but there shouldn’t be this many of them, right?’

Directly visible from the doorway was a handsome, black-haired young noble, seated on the sole high-backed Lord’s chair.

The slender, white-haired man led his companion a few steps further inside.

The sound of the door closing came from behind them.

’The conversation hasn’t even started. Why is this Lord acting like he’s trapping a dog to beat it?’

Elo’s breathing grew heavy at his side. The slender, white-haired man glanced at his companion, knowing his old friend was becoming agitated. Elo always had a habit of drawing his sword at the slightest provocation, a result of his early life experiences.

’A rough estimate... fifty to sixty fully-armed elites.’

’In such a confined space, the two of them could probably fight their way out, but they would definitely be injured.’

’There are more Soldiers outside, and the Caster hidden in the shadows still hasn’t shown themself.’

He gently nudged his old friend Elo with his elbow, warning him not to overreact.

They had initially come to the castle with a somewhat contemptuous attitude, not even planning to use the main gate. Their idea was to sneak directly into the Baron’s chambers, skip all the boring red tape, and directly ask about the matter that concerned them.

But after being targeted by the hidden Caster and seeing this display of force, the two were absolutely certain of one thing: all they had left now was goodwill.

Really!

”Yarrn, my Lord,”

The slender, white-haired man bowed, his posture elegant. The brawny man beside him followed suit, though his movements were stiff and awkward.

”We apologize for disturbing your evening rest.”

Leech was reasonably satisfied with their posture. The accusations he’d been prepared to level against them were now unnecessary.

He nodded without rising from his chair. ”Yarrn.”

”And how should I address you two?”

”I am Wind Falcon Ma Wei,” the slender, white-haired man introduced himself. ”And he is Poisonous Snake Elo.”

After the introductions, they fell silent and watched Leech.

’Never heard of them,’ Leech thought. ’But judging by their expressions, they must be famous?’

Ma Wei was equally puzzled. ’The Caster doesn’t recognize us?’ he wondered. ’That shouldn’t be possible.’

What he feared most was the Caster who remained hidden in the shadows.

’No one ever knows what abilities any given Caster possesses, but a Caster hiding in the dark is always the hardest to deal with. Good thing I’m full of nothing but goodwill!’