Chapter 438: Lord Rayen

Chapter 438: Lord Rayen

"Alright, Lord Rhain, I'll go and report to Captain Tatia right away. With your current status, I believe the headquarters will take it very seriously if you decide to go."

"Also, the situation in Ferdinand Forest is still unclear. If you do decide to go, please be cautious," Olena added before leaving.

"Thank you, I will," Rhain nodded.

After Olena left, Rhain thought for a moment and immediately decided to quickly level up his Leatherworking skill to lv7, gaining 11 skill points in the process.

However, he still needed to visit Old Henry to find a new design for leather armor.

Since the Embroidered Leather Coat required a complex crafting process, the leveling speed for his Leatherworking skill had slowed down significantly after reaching lv4.

Rhain estimated that to level up from lv4 to lv5, he would need to craft over a hundred Embroidered Leather Coats, and the experience required for lv5 and beyond was even higher, making it even more challenging to level up.

So, Rhain took a carriage to Old Henry's leather workshop, spending half an hour to learn a new design for a 'Heavy Leather Chestplate'.

This chestplate also featured intricate embroidery on the front and back, but the leather was much thicker than the Embroidered Leather Coat.

The challenge in crafting this chestplate lay in its complexity.

Firstly, six layers of tanned leather were stacked using a special adhesive, requiring significant effort from an ordinary leatherworkers.

Secondly, sewing the layers together was extremely challenging, with threading the needle being particularly difficult and prone to tangles.

However, despite these challenges, the Heavy Leather Chestplate offered protection comparable to plate armor but weighed only half as much, making it highly sought-after.

These difficulties were trivial for Rhain, who effortlessly handled tasks that would be challenging for ordinary people.

As the actual crafting process only required sufficient amounts of tanned leather, glue, and thread, Rhain loaded a large pile of tanned leather onto his carriage and returned to his mansion.

Just as Rhain arrived back at his mansion and instructed his servants to move the materials to the storage room, Olena and Captain Tatia arrived together.

Tatia immediately got to the point, "Lord Rhain, I heard from Olena that you plan to visit Ferdinand Forest soon?"

"Yes, Lady Tatia, I have such intentions. I heard that the headquarters won't be sending anyone for the time being?" Rhain nodded and replied.

"Not initially, but since you've decided to go, the situation has changed. The headquarters will mobilize logistics personnel and arrange for a zeppelin for your reconnaissance mission, officially to investigate cult activities."

"Thank you, that will make things much more convenient," Rhain smiled.

"Actually, the headquarters originally planned to dispatch two to three squads of Tempered Gold-level Swordsmen to accompany you, Lord Rhain. However, due to certain special circumstances, the higher-ups have differing opinions on this plan."

"Oh? Differing opinions?" Rhain looked at Tatia with curiosity.

"Lord Rhain, let me brief you on some confidential information the headquarters has on the situation in Ferdinand Forest," Tatia explained.

"Great!" Rhain nodded.

"The situation in Ferdinand Forest is quite complex this time. A high-ranking traitor has emerged within the forest's elf population, allegedly tempted by the Mother Tree Sect and worshipping the legendary Void Mother Tree."

Tatia provided a detailed account.

"Even the elven ambassador in the Imperial Capital is currently unreachable. Although we've submitted reports on the cult's activities, as the core decision-making body of the empire, we have yet to receive a formal request for aid from the elves. Thus, we're mainly adopting a wait-and-see approach for now."

"I understand. In simple terms, while the elves are in turmoil, other cults are also taking advantage of the situation," Rhain nodded and continued, "What's the empire's plan moving forward? To intervene or continue observing?"

"There's still some debate on this, but the empire has already dispatched two Empire Guardians secretly to the provinces of Donnay and Gilent."

Rhain knew the locations of these two provinces; they were to the south and north of Ferdinand Forest, respectively.

In other words, the empire was prepared but had not yet officially intervened.

"Marshal Alfred's opinion is that due to the cult's activities, the Swordsmen should intervene, but suitable personnel have been hard to come by."

"If it's a reconnaissance mission, the number of personnel should be limited to avoid changing the nature of the mission and causing tension with the elves, potentially leading to diplomatic issues."

"However, with the multiple cults sending powerful individuals, as we understand, having too few people could pose significant safety concerns."

"So, upon hearing of your intention to go, the two adults asked me to confirm with you once more and also inform you of the confidential intelligence report."

Rhain nodded, knowing that Olena did not have access to some of the headquarters' confidential information, which was why Tatia had come in person.

However, his primary purpose this time was to check on Anna's situation, and it would be inconvenient to bring along his colleagues, especially since his subordinates, Claire and Bianca, were relatively weaker.

For ordinary tasks, it wouldn't be an issue, but given the complex situation in Ferdinand Forest, they might encounter very powerful enemies, making it inappropriate to bring them along.

"Lady Tatia, please convey to Marshal Alfred and General Augustus that I confirm my intention to go."

"Additionally, aside from the logistics personnel, I'd prefer to go alone." Rhain said.

"Alright, Lord Rhain, I'll report your decision immediately.

At this moment, Tatiya took out a map from the document bag beside her and spread it out on the table.

"Lord Rhain, this is a copy of the map of Ferdinand Forest. Although this map was drawn centuries ago, the locations are generally accurate, and according to the elves' habits, they won't change arbitrarily."

"This is Ferdinand City, and these green dots here represent the elven villages." Tatiya pointed to the location in the middle of Ferdinand Forest, slightly south, and explained.

"As for the small red dots around the edge of the forest, those are the elven sentinels and defensive fortifications. But according to the intelligence we've received, more than ten defensive sentinels in the south have already been breached."

"Oh? Did the cult enter from the south?" Rayen asked.

"Yes, but the situation now is that this breach has spread, and quite a few elven sentinels in the southwest and southeast have also been broken through."

Rayen nodded, indicating that the situation was worse than he had imagined.

"By the way, Lord Rayen, if you go there, in addition to the cult and the elven rebels, there's another force you should be aware of, and that's the slave-catching teams."

"The human slave-catching teams that hover around Ferdinand Forest are very strong. The strength of some of the team leaders has reached the legendary level, and they are experienced and familiar with the terrain."

"Many members of the slave-catching teams are also not simple. Quite a few of them are skilled hands secretly raised by the Empire's great nobles, and even some wanted individuals and those who lick the blood of the knife have been absorbed into the slave-catching teams."

Rayen had heard of this situation before. It was common for the great nobles of the Empire to raise these wanted criminals, as the great nobles often needed them to do some shady work, and they could quickly disassociate themselves from any trouble if things went wrong.

"These slave-catching teams rarely had any big catches due to the tight defense of the elven sentinels. They could only capture individual elves occasionally. This time, with such a good opportunity, they will definitely come to get a share of the spoils."

"These people are all fierce wolves. According to our understanding, the destruction of some elven border sentinels was not the work of the cult, but their doing. This also means that when you enter, there's a high chance that the elves will mistake you for an invader, just like these slave-catching teams."

"I understand the situation." Rayen nodded and said,

"In other words, the enemies are roughly divided into three groups: the various cult teams, the elven rebels, and a considerable number of human slave-catching teams. Even the official elven forces might mistake me for an invader, right?"

"That's right, Lord Rayen. The great nobles behind the slave-catching teams have had some influence on the Empire's decision-making regarding this matter."

"Also, the existence of the elven rebels has made the situation in Ferdinand Forest quite complex, which is why the Empire has been hesitant to take major action."

"Hmm, I understand. By the way, Lady Tatiya, I plan to depart at noon tomorrow." Rayen said as he collected the copy of the Ferdinand Forest map.

"No problem, Lord Rayen. Lady Olenna and I will arrange everything, so please rest assured."

"Also, this map is for you. Lord Rayen, I will go back and report now." Tatiya bowed slightly to Rayen.

"Lord Rayen, Lady Olenna and I will return to headquarters first." Olenna, who was standing beside Rayen, quickly spoke up.

"Okay, thank you both." Rayen smiled and nodded at the two of them.

After the two of them left, Rayen began to ponder the situation that Tatiya had just described.

"Indeed, it's a bit complicated, but to break through these obstacles, it's quite simple. The most crucial factor is our own combat strength."

"Also, we need accurate intelligence."

"This time, we can bring along Cookie and Blood Feather."

Although the combat power of the spirit hound Cookie might seem a bit outdated, its keen sense of smell in the forest, especially in the field of tracking, could play a unique role. As for the aerial reconnaissance of the blood-feathered eagle beast, its importance was self-evident.

"It seems I need to pack and prepare some things."

Just as Rayen was pondering, suddenly, he looked up towards the courtyard of the mansion.

There, a rare flying sea ray landed, and on its back stood a man with his arms crossed and a double-handed greatsword on his back—Lambert.

Minutes later.

In the study.

"Lord Rayen, I'm here to bid you farewell. After our match, I had some insights, and I plan to travel around for a while before returning to Tidal Bay." Lambert smiled and explained his purpose for the visit.

"Traveling? That's a great idea." Rayen nodded.

He could see that the Lambert before him was emanating a sharp aura. This was because the sudden burst of Sword Belief had caused his willpower to spike, and it would take some time for him to rein in this mental edge.

"Oh? Lord Rayen, are you going out?" Lambert had originally come to say goodbye, but seeing Rayen's packed luggage beside him, he couldn't help but ask.

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After all, both of us just returned from the Secret Realm, and now you're going out on a mission again. The frequency is a bit high."

Or are all the Empire's Tempered Gold Swordmasters this diligent?

"It's like this. I'm going to Ferdinand Forest this time because a friend of mine is there. It's not an official mission yet." Rayen smiled and explained.

The man before him, Lambert, the top disciple of the Tidal Sword Saint, had a bit of an 'unfamiliar acquaintance' vibe. Previously, when he came to cause trouble, it was because of a certain agreement between the Delram Family and him.

From this perspective, he was a man who kept his word.

"Oh? A change of plans? Lord Rhain, is there a battle?"

Lambert smiled and said, "I mean, if there's a fight, I'd be happy to join in."

After his previous battle with Lord Rhain, Lambert gained new insights and now planned to travel to seek out various powerful opponents, further refining his sword beliefs and striving for the title of Sword Saint.

"Hmm, it might be a little dangerous, but there should be plenty of battles," Lord Rhain replied with a chuckle.

"Haha, as long as there's a fight, that's good. However, Lord Rhain, if I were to accompany you, I might not have many opportunities to showcase my skills," Lambert said, his brows furrowing slightly as if he had thought of something.

"Lord Rhain, for this mission, do you need someone to scout ahead?" Lambert asked after a moment's thought.

After some consideration, Lord Rhain decided it would be best to let Lambert go ahead and assess the situation. He also took into account Lambert's incredible speed and near-legendary combat prowess, ensuring that even if they encountered overwhelming enemies, escape would not be an issue.

"My primary purpose for this trip is to check on the safety of a friend named Anna," Lord Rhain explained.

"If you don't mind, Lord Lambert, could you go ahead and check on her situation? She is in the southeast corner of Ferdinand Forest, in a small town called Bashalan."

"Also, Lord Lambert, please be cautious of the Cult, Elf rebels, slave hunters, and even the official forces of the Elf race. If you find her, ensure her safety, and I will come to you."

"So many enemies? Interesting. Lord Rhain, I'll set off now. By the way, is there any proof I can show to Miss Anna?"

Far from being afraid, Lambert was excited by the situation Lord Rhain described.

At that moment, Lord Rhain took out a green leaf from a nearby drawer and handed it to Lambert. The leaf emanated a faint green glow and resembled a maple leaf.

"Hmm, this seems to be a leaf from the Wisdom Ancient Tree. Lord Rhain, your friend must hold a high position among the Elf race."

"This leaf was given to me by an Elf lady. It contains the Nature Sorcery 'Life Bloom'. Anna will recognize it and know that you are a friend."

"Understood, Lord Rhain. I'll set off now."

Minutes later, the efficient Lambert mounted his flying mount and swiftly took to the skies, leaving Lord Rhain's mansion and heading towards Ferdinand Forest.

Lord Rhain felt a sense of relief as he watched Lambert depart.

He then focused his attention on crafting a Heavy Leather Chestplate.

After a quarter of an hour, when the finished product was ready, the system notifications rang out:

[You have crafted a Heavy Leather Chestplate, and your understanding has improved!]



[You have learned a new skill - Crafting Heavy Leather Chestplate]



[Your skill in crafting Heavy Leather Chestplates has improved. Experience gained: +31]



[You have crafted one Heavy Leather Chestplate. Leatherworker profession experience gained: +27]



"As expected, the experience gained is almost double!"

After several hours, Lord Rhain finally upgraded his Leatherworker profession level from Lv.4 to Lv.7, and he finally accumulated 11 skill points.

At this point, he had 12 remaining attribute points, which was enough to support two moderate-intensity battles in the fourth form. This preparation would be useful for the upcoming trip to Ferdinand Forest.

Of course, having more attribute points would be even better.

The golden skill points remained at 203, a sufficient amount for the short term.

Without hesitation, Lord Rhain invested 11 skill points and an additional 8 golden skill points into the new Metal Sorcery 'Sawtooth Ring' at the third level.

As the 'Sawtooth Ring' Sorcery reached Lv.20, a flood of memories about the spell rushed into Lord Rhain's mind.

In an instant, Lord Rhain felt as if he were in a mysterious space, practicing the 'Sawtooth Ring' Sorcery at the third level for over a hundred years. Various insights poured in, and casting the spell became second nature!

After a few seconds, just as Lord Rhain was about to test his newfound knowledge, he heard Matteo's excited voice from outside the door:

"Lord Rhain, a squad of Inner Ring guards has arrived, led by Marquis Javier. They say they're here to bestow a count title upon you."

"Please ask Marquis Javier and his entourage to wait in the reception hall. I'll be down shortly," Lord Rhain replied.

Lady Olenna had informed him about this matter previously, and the report for the count title had been submitted months ago, so Lord Rhain remained calm.

Perhaps after his return from the Dragon Valley Secret Realm, he might even be promoted to a marquis.

However, for the others in the mansion, the significance was entirely different.

Take Matteo, for example. His heart was pounding with excitement, and his face flushed slightly.

Although it wasn't his own promotion, Matteo was thrilled that his master was ascending.

"A count!"

This was something Matteo never dared to imagine back in Shangjin Town.

Reception Hall.

Lord Rhain met with Marquis Javier and several accompanying individuals, all of them beaming.

"Lord Rhain, I come on behalf of His Majesty the Emperor and the Senate to bestow upon you the title of Imperial Count. Among those who inherited their titles, you are the youngest in this round of promotions!"

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end