Chapter 625: The Lord's Decision
Chapter 625: The Lord's Decision
"So, that Lord considers those bugs his subordinates?"
"Can we trust that?"
"What a joke! Those monsters look no less terrifying than the Deviators. If we stay here, we're as good as dead!"
"Calm down!"
"At least we're alive, well-fed, and staying in a place like this."
"If that Lord had ill intentions towards us, none of this would be possible!"
"What if he has other motives?"
"Look at his territory; does he really need to scheme against us?"
"..."
High above, in a treehouse.
Five young people from the Underground Kingdom were discussing their future.
The night had deepened, and the residents of Forest Capital had long since retired to their beds, with occasional snores drifting through the windows.
Throughout the entire city.
Aside from the night guards and workers, only these newcomers remained awake, each with their reasons for being unable to sleep.
Lord Lindsey had been quite hospitable to them.
They were accommodated in treehouses and treated to a sumptuous dinner.
However, what troubled them now was the series of dangers they had encountered in the Wildlands after escaping the Underground Kingdom.
Among the five, Levi, the calmest one during the day, sat by the window, his gaze a mix of seriousness and apprehension as he looked outside.
Forest Capital boasted an excellent environment.
In the midst of their debate, Levi could sense that some of his companions were deeply tempted, even considering the idea of staying there permanently.
Levi shared this desire.
But whenever he thought of his fellow Underground Kingdom citizens still trapped below, constantly at risk of being captured by Deviators and raised as livestock, a sense of guilt arose within him.
Levi addressed his companions, "Do you think this Lord is any different from the others?"
"..."
Levi's question was met with silence.
After escaping from the Underground Kingdom and reaching the surface, they had experienced a brief period filled with hope.
They had set out with a sense of being the lucky ones.
But the reality they encountered in the Wildlands was harsh.
The people there struggled to see beyond their immediate survival in such a harsh environment.
Levi and his companions had tried to warn others about the Deviators.
The best outcome they could hope for was a polite invitation to join a territory, but more often, they faced hostility and countless schemes.
Now, having traveled from the northern to the eastern regions of the world, they had to admit that Lord Lindsey's Banyan Forest was their greatest and perhaps last hope.
Continuing south was not an option.
They had already learned from refugees about the infamous Green Swamp and its reputation across the Wildlands.
"Let's end the discussion here and get some rest."
"Regardless of the Lord's final decision, at least we won't have to flee in the middle of the night this time."
As Levi made his decision, one of his companions immediately asked, "But if we fail again, what then? Should we continue south?"
Levi shook his head, "No, the Green Swamp cannot be our source of aid."
His companion's despair was evident, "Then what should we do?"
After a brief silence, Levi shared his plan, "If we fail again, I intend to return alone and find a way to rescue the others from the Underground Kingdom..."
Before Levi could finish, a companion exclaimed, "You're crazy! Alone? And back to the Underground Kingdom?"
Levi was resolute, "Yes, we managed to escape..."
This time, as Levi spoke, someone interrupted him, "Don't be naive!"
"Our escape was a stroke of luck; how could we possibly succeed twice?"
In the corner, someone chimed in:
"This is beyond our capabilities."
Levi immediately voiced his thoughts:
"Some things are worth attempting, even if they seem impossible!"
"My friends, if any of you wish to stay here, I won't stand in your way. After all, not everyone has the privilege of choosing their own destiny."
"But for me, there's no question about it!"
The other three fell silent.
At that moment, the impatient man from earlier took a firm stand beside Levi:
"Alright, count me in when we return!"
"..."
The five of them spent a restless night in the Forest Capital, each with their own thoughts.
Early the next morning, a guard knocked on their door, conveying Lord Lindsey's summons.
This time, the five of them did not return to the reception room from the previous day.
Instead, they were led by soldiers to the ground floor and eventually arrived at Lord Lindsey's plant shop.
"Go on in, the Lord is right behind you."
"..."
As the five entered, the scene before them was once again awe-inspiring.
In the small garden, dozens of plants were cultivated, some of which emitted an extraordinary aura, clearly not ordinary.
And there, tending to the plants and inspecting their growth, was Lord Lindsey, who had hosted them the day before.
"Hmm?"
Lord Lindsey turned at the sound of their approach.
"You're here?"
Levi stepped forward and bowed:
"Yes, my Lord!"
"Thank you for your hospitality yesterday, we had a wonderful rest."
A smile graced Lord Lindsey's face:
"Other lords might have kept you waiting for days, just to assert their authority."
"But I'm a straightforward person."
"Regarding the information you've provided, my decision is—the Deviators must be dealt with!"
"..."
Upon hearing Lord Lindsey's decision, even the usually composed Levi couldn't hide his excitement:
"You, you're willing to help us! Send out the troops to eliminate them?!"
Lord Lindsey nodded and then shook his head:
"Yes, but I believe this shouldn't be our only course of action. We should also spread the word to others, to everyone on the Wildlands. They all need to be aware of this threat."
Hearing these words, Levi's eyes dimmed.
He recalled their journey from the northern world to the east, a journey filled with heart-wrenching scenes:
"We've tried."
"But on this land, our words carry little weight."
Lord Lindsey spoke:
"Without strength or reputation, it's difficult to convince others with words alone."
At that moment, Lord Lindsey clapped his hands.
Having finished his work in the garden, he stepped out and stood before the young people:
"There's still a month until the Games."
"By then, many foreign envoys will arrive, and during the opening ceremony of this grand event, I will share this intelligence with everyone."
Levi didn't quite understand Lord Lindsey's intention.
But he felt a sense of awe as he looked at the man before him, feeling his stature and tone to be quite compelling:
"My Lord! What, what can we do?"
Levi almost instinctively spoke up.
Lord Lindsey responded:
"Impressive strength and success will earn the recognition of others."
"What you need to do is pledge your loyalty to me, undergo training to enhance your abilities, and shine during the Games in a month's time."
"As the ones who provided this crucial information."
"Your exceptional abilities will be the greatest asset in convincing others!"
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
