Chapter: Chapter 2: New Century (Epilogue)
The green light did not kill the black-robed person.
As the light gradually dissipated, the black-robed person stood there unharmed, covering her face and emitting a strange cackling sound.
A stench of rot and swamp spread throughout the room.
This situation lasted for a long time.
The other black-robed people looked at each other, becoming uneasy.
The black-robed person who was communicating with the divine leader was Nawi, the leader of the Truth Council and one of the Truth Witches. The Truth Witch Jing was also one of them, but Jing could no longer return.
“Lord Nawi, you…”
The scene before them was too bizarre.
One of the Truth Witches, who was closer, stood up and walked to Nawi’s side. The closer she got, the stronger the stench of rot and swamp, becoming so concentrated that it was almost unbearable. However, they had already been transformed into magic energy bodies and were less sensitive to smells.
“Lord Nawi,” she patted the black-robed person’s shoulder, who was covering her face. “Are you alright?”
The cackling sound abruptly stopped.
Nawi lowered her hands and slowly turned her head.
Everyone’s breath hitched, and their eyes widened.
Nawi, who was once beautiful, had transformed into a toad-like monster. She had gelatinous, translucent skin covered in warts, hair, and pustules. Her greenish skin was stretched over a large mouth and a pair of huge eyes. The “cackling” sound was coming from Nawi’s throat.
“Lord Nawi… you?”
“What do you see on my face?”
Nawi grinned widely, her lips stretching to her ears, revealing a sinister smile. Her forked tongue protruded by half an inch, and the “cackling” sound grew more rapid, merging into one continuous sound.
“You see the Truth!!”
Before her subordinate Truth Witches could speak, she let out a hoarse roar.
This sentence seemed to possess magical power.
The expressions on the faces of every Truth Witch shifted from astonishment and panic to fervent zeal.
“That’s right, this is the Truth!”
“Yes, the Truth!”
They shouted aloud, dancing and gesticulating like demons.
Then, strange cackling sounds began to emanate from their throats as well.
Finally, the shouting turned into faint whispers.
In the end, the entire hall of the Truth Council was filled only with the dense sound of cackling.
***
The Orc Royal Court received a group of special guests at night.
They were a group of mages from the South Continent.
“Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Layton. My father is Rexxar, the Vice Principal of the Yakins Academy of Magic in the Saint Lodia Empire, and a Legendary Mage of the Lightning Element.”
This identity was a pretense; his actual identity was much nobler, but there was no need to reveal it to these orcs.
Layton bowed to the Orc King on the throne.
Compared to the grand ambitions and thoughts of manipulating the Orc King in the palm of his hand during the journey, all of that had now vanished. He had to admit that the Orc King was indeed the Orc King.
On the dragon bone throne sat a colossal orc with his legs spread wide. If not for his crimson skin, Layton might have thought he was looking at a mythical giant.
Simply by sitting there, he made Layton feel as small as an infant.
If this Orc King were to stand up, wouldn’t he be at least ten meters tall?
Kulkul Dragonheart quietly observed the young mage.
He had a head that resembled a dragon’s, but his body was closer to that of a troll.
This was thanks to his father, Sotan Trik, an ancient red dragon, and his troll mother.
Regrettably, he had lost both parents at a young age.
His father had disappeared, and his mother had died exhaustedly after giving birth to him. He was already larger than his mother at birth.
Around him were Orc Shamans clad in ceremonial robes of various colors. These shamans hailed from different clans, their distinct faces signifying their diverse origins. They braided their hair into strands, some of which were coiled around their long horns. They wore various bone necklaces on their necks and waists, inscribed with ancestral totems. Despite the burden of wearing these heavy necklaces, weighing over ten pounds daily, the shamans did so with pleasure, believing their ancestors would bless them.
“Human mage, I do not know your father’s name, but a Legendary Mage is not something for you to boast about. However, you have already attained Archmage status at such a young age. That is worthy of a small amount of respect from me.” Kulkul ordered his subordinate orcs to bring a chair for the mage. After the mage sat down, he continued, “What brings you here from afar, or what do you wish to obtain from me? If you are merely here for a visit, you may take your Magic energy shuttle and leave now. Orcs do not welcome uninvited guests.”
This was already an outright dismissal.
However, Layton paid no mind to it.
He smiled and said, “I’ve heard that orcs are very willing to make friends. I’ve come with friendliness and enthusiasm. What happened in the Whirlwind Dunes, I believe you are already aware of. That person deliberately framed my people, and that has angered me.”
The mage spread his hands, continuing with apparent sincerity, “Now we have a common enemy, and that is the opportunity for our cooperation!”
“Oh?” Kulkul raised an eyebrow and asked, “What can you offer as a bargaining chip for cooperation with the orcs?”
“That depends on what you need,” Layton replied. “I come from the holy nation of mages, Saint Lodia. My entire family’s resources are centered around me. I can provide you with magic-infused equipment, far more powerful than the standard equipment from Winter City, and various Magic Potions. Aren’t you preparing for war? I heard you’re going to war with those crawling creatures from the sea, so our potions can make your orc soldiers stronger, and even give them a chance to survive if injured.”
Kulkul couldn’t help but be moved by this.
Orcs possessed great physical strength, but their drawback was their lack of any talent for forging.
This could be seen from the shamans around him. Despite their esteemed positions, they were still wrapped in rags.
In human kingdoms, such attire would befit the lowest scavengers.
Therefore, orcs had always relied on smuggling to obtain equipment from human empires.
However, the equipment obtained through this method was scarce and insufficient to equip the entire army. Moreover, they often had to modify the ill-fitting equipment before their orc soldiers could wear it properly.
It could be said that a fully equipped orc soldier and an unequipped orc soldier presented a vastly different level of threat to the enemy.
Most of the compensation they had recently received from the Andor Empire was standard equipment. However, the first batch of resources was intercepted by an unknown force, and they still had not identified the perpetrator.
Therefore, the orcs were still experiencing a severe shortage of equipment.
And they would continue to lack various equipment in the future.
“Your proposal is excellent.”
Kulkul nodded. “Then, what do you wish to obtain from the orcs?”
“I want to know who framed us mages of the South Continent. Of course, I also wish to gain the friendship of the orcs.” Layton smiled elegantly and bowed again.
“Now you have gained the friendship of the orcs.”
Kulkul’s tone softened.
He waved his hand, ordering the orc guards to bring some milk wine and roasted meat.
Although simple, this was the food they used to entertain distinguished guests.
Then, he turned to a lynx-faced shaman beside him and said,
“Lord Harthul, I request that you use your powers of retrospection to ascertain who has insulted us orcs and framed our friends from the South!”
