Inside the central blockhouse of the fortress wall.
It wasn't as spacious as imagined, but rather somewhat narrow and cramped. Along both sides of the hard stone floor and walls, at regular intervals,
were placed wall lamps imbued with "Perpetual Light" magic. Even so, the interior remained oppressive and dim.
Minori, Guild President Bertin, and Pabel descended the steps of the spiral staircase.
Each footstep echoed faintly between the walls.
And at this moment.
Minori finally learned the identity of the second "Adamantite" commissioned tasker.
"'War King' Go Gin?"
Minori's voice was surprised, and he looked at Guild President Bertin, who had deliberately lagged behind, with astonishment:
"Does the Adventurers Guild also accept the commissions of demi-humans? I mean… in this place, the Holy Kingdom."
Pabel remained silent, seemingly unconcerned by Minori's description.
"Normally, it's impossible. Not to mention the Holy Kingdom, even in other countries, it… well, such a thing probably wouldn't happen."
Guild President Bertin's expression was somewhat complicated as he slowly opened his mouth:
"This matter is indeed a special case. We don't know the specific situation and terrain of the Abelion Hills, and we need the assistance of demi-humans in this matter."
Minori waved his hand.
"That's not what I meant. My relationship with that 'War King' Go Gin isn't as good as you all imagine," Minori responded.
"But that 'War King' Go Gin specifically requested to see you." Pabel suddenly spoke, his pace slowing slightly, his tone worried:
"Demi-humans don't trust us humans, and likewise, we humans don't trust demi-humans."
"And this 'War King' Go Gin took the initiative to cut a bloody path out of the hills to seek help and brought detailed information—worthy of admiration."
"We need the assistance of demi-humans, otherwise, that vast hilly area will be a death zone for us."
"He has been in the Bajas Empire for 10 years. Perhaps the Empire has someone that 'War King' Go Gin trusts more, but there is no longer that time."
"Now, only you and Go Gin have known each other for a long time, and only the two of you can barely maintain this fragile cooperative relationship between humans and demi-humans in the upcoming situation."
After learning it was Go Gin, Minori already understood the cause and effect, and showed a thoughtful expression in response to these words.
His eyes, however, were very calm.
From the beginning, Go Gin was a card that Minori used to contact the "Free Will" adventurer team.
"Such a big matter shouldn't be something you can decide," Minori looked at Pabel beside him.
"Yes."
Pabel nodded slightly, replying seriously: "This is the strategy determined by Her Majesty the Holy Queen."
"Otherwise, even with the identity of 'Nine Colors,' one wouldn't have the ability to bear the impact and consequences of humans cooperating with demi-humans."
"I see," Minori sighed, "Your Majesty is indeed as gentle and kind as the rumors say."
Pabel glanced at Minori with his narrow eyes, opened his mouth as if to say something, but ultimately swallowed it back.
Using "gentle" and "kind" to praise a king was hardly a good description. He knew Minori didn't mean it that way, and coupled with such rumors in their own country,
Pabel couldn't help but have a headache.
"If you said those words just now in front of Her Majesty's admirers, you would definitely be challenged,"
Pabel still chose to remind him.
Minori smiled lightly.
The direction the three were heading was the prison where Go Gin was being held, or rather, Go Gin had voluntarily allowed himself to be imprisoned.
This was a way to show sincerity, although it was a bit clumsy.
Minori didn't think that using this method would quickly gain the Holy Kingdom's attention. The reason they mobilized the elite so quickly was probably due to a reminder from the Slane Theocracy.
Before they even reached the location of the prison cage,
Minori heard faint arguing echoing in the air.
"Your Excellency Orlando, you can leave the supervision to me next. You've been sitting here for a whole day and night, you need to rest properly."
A steady voice sounded.
"—Hey, I've already said it, I'll personally watch over this demi-human!"
A rough voice followed closely, with a strong tone of impatience:
"Or are you planning to do something? Don't think I don't know what you're thinking, that hateful look towards the demi-human, you can't even hide it!"
The rough voice roared.
"This is a strong person who defeated me, a true warrior that I acknowledge, how can I hand him over to you?"
"Heh."
"Those dirty nobles who were stripped of their territories and barely survived some time ago, are they trying to vent their anger on this strong person who is a true warrior?!"
"Your Excellency Orlando, please be careful with your words!"
"We don't have that intention, and it's not just you who insist on the so-called 'warrior spirit'!"
"We are soldiers, we obey orders, even if we have personal grudges, we won't put them on this!"
The increasingly intense arguing voices became clearer, reaching the ears of Minori and the others who were approaching.
Pabel's already sharp and dangerous gaze turned somewhat cold, and he couldn't help but quicken his pace.
Soon.
The three arrived at the location of the cage concerning Go Gin.
They saw a man wearing a horned helmet, with a strong and burly physique, sitting at the door of the cage, confronting a squad of soldiers.
With the appearance of Minori and the others, the arguing stopped.
The squad of soldiers saw Pabel, who was walking at the front, first, their faces changed in unison, and they hurriedly lowered their heads respectfully:
"Commander!"
"… … … …!"
"Commander!"
The burly man also turned his head, looked at Pabel, and a beast-like smile appeared on his face: "You're back."
While speaking.
The burly man's gaze turned to Minori, looking him up and down, his eyes full of curiosity.
"Orlando! Is this your attitude towards your superior? How many times have I told you!"
Pabel opened his mouth with a cold face, causing the squad of soldiers beside him to shrink their necks in fear.
"My apologies, Commander!"
Only then did Orlando get up from the ground, giving a salute that looked standard, but somewhat casual.
Orlando—one of the Holy Kingdom's "Nine Colors," is a powerhouse who was granted the title of "Nine Colors" by the previous Holy King based solely on his strength.
Although he belongs to the "Nine Colors" with Pabel, in the Holy Kingdom's soldier hierarchy, he is only at the level of "Squad Leader."
The reason for this situation is that Orlando doesn't like to obey orders. If you want to command him, you have to be stronger than him.
This repeatedly caused conflicts with superiors and nobles, leading to demotions dozens of times.
Throughout the entire Central Fortress, the only person who could make him obey orders was Pavel, who had once defeated him.
Orlando?"
Minori's heart stirred upon hearing the name.
In his opinion, Orlando's personality and behavior were more suited to being an adventurer than a soldier who had to follow rules and obey orders.
"You guys go back first."
Pavel said to the squad of soldiers beside him.
"Yes, Squad Leader!" The squad leader respectfully replied, leading the squad away quickly.
"Tell me, what exactly is going on?" Pavel asked with a cold face.
"Hehe."
Orlando chuckled softly, "I just felt that these young soldiers might cause unnecessary trouble."
"This cage can't hold that guy."
If any fool among these soldiers who hated demi-humans provoked Go Gin, things would become troublesome.
If anything unexpected happened, he would be the only one capable of stopping Go Gin in Pavel's absence.
"You're the adventurer that Go Gin is interested in. Our Squad Leader has mentioned you before. Looks like you're quite strong."
"Want to fight?"
After replying, Orlando immediately looked at Minori, eagerly asking.
"Alright, Orlando, leave this to us." Pavel interrupted.
"Okay, okay."
Orlando shrugged his shoulders, dusted off his pants, and yawned, "Then I'll go back and rest for a bit."
"Heh."
"You don't have much time to rest now. Prepare yourself; we'll be heading to 'Kalinsha' later." Pavel reminded him sternly.
"Oh, okay." Orland touched the stubble on his face, grinned, and turned to leave quickly.
Pavel shook his head, looked at Minori and the others, and said apologetically, "Sorry for the spectacle. Come with me."
As he spoke,
Pavel had already opened the prison door and walked inside. After walking a short distance, another prison door appeared. After opening three prison doors in succession,
A somewhat spacious prison cell appeared before them.
Go Gin's massive figure, over three meters tall, sat quietly in the center of the cell, with some food and water beside him, though it didn't seem to have been touched.
Whoosh!
Go Gin opened his eyes, looking at the three people standing outside the iron bars, his gaze immediately falling on the white figure.
"Your aura has become stronger since the last time we met," Go Gin said quietly.
Minori looked at Go Gin, who faintly revealed a hint of fatigue in his expression: "It seems a lot has happened during this time."
"How did you know I was in the Holy Kingdom?"
"Because of the 'Regeneration Potion'."
"I see."
After a brief exchange, the air became quiet again.
Pabel and Guild Master Bertkin exchanged glances, neither interrupting.
From their conversation alone, they realized that Minori's previous statement that "their relationship wasn't as good as they imagined" was not at all an understatement.
"We've only met once. Why do you trust me?" Minori was indeed a little curious.
"Trust?"
Go Gin shook his head: "To be honest, I don't like you using demi-human blood to refine potions, but among all the people I've come into contact with, the way you look at demi-humans is the only one that's the same as Osk."
"In your human words, you're a good person."
Suddenly receiving a "good person" card,
Minori was momentarily speechless and could only reveal a helpless expression.
"Since you can appear here, that means there are no more problems on the Holy Kingdom's side. Can we leave?" Go Gin asked.
"Of course."
Pabel first exchanged a glance with Minori, and only after seeing Minori nod in response did he speak, taking out a key from his pocket to open the prison door.
"No need!"
Go Gin stood up, a powerful aura overflowing from his body. With a casual pull of his rough hand, he tore apart the seemingly sturdy iron bars in front of him.
Guild Master Bertkin's eyelids twitched!
With the confirmation of Go Gin, this key figure among the demi-humans, the group left together.
Late at night!
The rain outside had stopped.
A half-moon appeared in the sky, obscured by a faint mist.
By the time Minori and his party emerged from the Central Fortress, the sky had already completely darkened.
Everyone boarded the carriages again, except this time, there were two carriages leaving the Central Fortress, with Pabel, Orlando, and Go Gin joining them.
The two carriages headed towards "Kalinsha" simultaneously.
Clop-clop—
Clop-clop—
The wheels of the carriages turned rapidly on the wet ground, emitting a rhythmic hum.
Minori sat by the window, occasionally looking outside, a thoughtful look in his eyes. He knew why everyone was in such a hurry.
According to the Adventurers' Guild Master, the elite Holy Knight Order and Priest Order of the Holy Kingdom would arrive in "Kalinsha" tonight.
As the Holy Kingdom's top combat forces, Pavel and the other would inevitably participate in this war to subjugate the undead.
Given the current situation,
At most, in the next day or two, they would quickly depart for the Abelion Hills… or perhaps even sooner!
In the middle of the night,
The fortress city of "Kalinsha" reappeared before the two carriage teams.
"Guild Master, next, we…" Minori leaned against the carriage's compartment, speaking to Guild Master Bertkin beside him, but he only got halfway through his sentence.
Minori suddenly reached out and pulled open the carriage curtain, looking outside!
Streaks of dazzling white light rapidly flew from the distant sky, numbering in the dozens, exceptionally conspicuous in the dark night.
"Their direction—it's here!" Guild Master Bertkin exclaimed in shock.
"Angels?"
Minori narrowed his eyes. Guild Master Bertkin couldn't see clearly, but his eyes could see it clearly.
Those streaks of white light were summons resembling angels, silver-armored celestial steeds.
"Third-Order Angel Summoning · Celestial Steed Angel." Minori knew of this type of angel summon.
Lacking offensive power but possessing the special ability to travel long distances, similar to riding monsters.
In his vision, each "Celestial Steed Angel" had two strangely dressed figures riding on its back.
That kind of attire…
"The 'Sunlight Scripture,' they're here so quickly," Minori thought to himself.