Lord of the Myriad Worlds

Chapter 427: The Wind Rises

Right when Li Wei entered Gale Fortress, in the vicinity of that fortress several thousand li away, there were currently seven or eight Neanderthal Scouts carefully searching for and investigating the traces Li Wei had once left behind.

And this kind of investigation had already expanded from the interior of the fortress to the exterior, and would continue onward. Everything within a radius of dozens of li, or even hundreds of li around the fortress, would be heavily investigated.

This was a tedious chore, but it was also the greatest difference between the Scout profession compared to other professions. That was: even the slightest trace of a clue could lead to the ultimate truth.

Those unable to endure with patience would likely not be qualified Scouts.

These Neanderthal Scouts had already made plans to investigate for ten days or half a month.

And right at this time, the sound of horse hooves could be heard. Three Knights—two men and one woman—galloped over from afar. They weren't Neanderthals, but the Neanderthal Soldiers in the fortress did not make things difficult for them.

Simply because these were hired helpers; it was said they were some famous Samsara Travelers.

At this time, those Neanderthal Scouts all stopped their respective actions. They glanced at each other, and all saw a slight trace of helplessness in each other's gazes.

Soon, those three galloped to the forefront. Among them, a martial-looking man in his thirties shouted loudly:

"Everyone, we have received orders from the Command to thoroughly investigate this case. Now, please hand over all the intelligence and analysis results you possess for us to handle. Please believe me; in this aspect, we Samsara Travelers have more experience.""Yes, Lord Samsara Travelers. You are indeed the most outstanding."

A Neanderthal Scout worked hard to reveal a smile. "It's like this: we arrived here yesterday morning at 7:32 AM and sealed off the primary scene. Following that, we used tracking magic scrolls to lock onto the ambusher's body odor and the scent of blood carried on his body. However, the tracking magic scrolls soon lost their effectiveness, because the other party used cleansing magic to erase all body odor and scent of blood."

"At the same time, we deeply suspect the other party very likely possesses a rare Five-Star Woodcutter Card, and has obtained a Nature Particle. If this is the case, as long as the other party consistently walks through areas with dense vegetation, his aura will quickly be neutralized by the plants. Even the traces he left behind from walking will rapidly vanish. Without a doubt, this is an extremely outstanding top-tier Scout."

"However, we have already collected slightly less than half a footprint belonging to this person at the scene. Next, as long as we can complete the footprint, we will be able to deduce this person's height, weight, and approximate age."

"There's also this: based on the questioning of our soldiers, we can basically judge that this person's Agility value is very high, while his Strength is slightly lacking. However, the Fates of his Profession Cards are extremely coordinated, and the resonance effect is extremely strong. He is absolutely a Five-Star sharpshooter. He can even shoot a Sequence 3 Magic Crest to pieces with a single arrow. This is the most terrifying part."

"If the other party hides in the dark and continuously fires arrows from the shadows next, with such archery skills, it will severely interfere with our army's morale. Therefore, finding him and killing him is of paramount importance."

"However, we also have a different viewpoint. That is, what is the purpose of this ambusher? He gives me the feeling that he seems a bit greedy."

"Greedy? Explain carefully."

"Yes, Lord Samsara Traveler. A qualified Scout should have serving the war as their ultimate goal. Therefore, under normal circumstances, they should do their best to avoid embroiling themselves in an intense battle. At most, they would fire two arrows from the shadows, then immediately flee far away, choosing an opportune moment to return and harass."

"But this assailant very obviously just wanted to play a one-shot deal. He came solely for the Spoils of War. He didn't even think about destroying this Three-Star Mana Mine or those supplies in the fortress that needed to be transported to the front lines."

"So we have reason to suspect that there is a high probability this assailant will only strike this one time. At this moment, he should have at least fled thousands of li away, or even further. He won't easily strike again next."

"So? Do you mean to say that this assailant wasn't sent by Windbreath Viscount?"

"Yes."

"Then could it be a Scout sent by Duke Kaidel, or a Scout sent by the Royal Capital?"

"Both are possible. But precisely because of this, we need more time, need to expend greater effort, and expand a wider range to investigate and search for the clues left behind by this assailant. Perhaps this is very slim, but it is indeed the only method to find this mysterious assailant."

That Neanderthal Scout spoke very seriously. He was also hoping those three Samsara Travelers would investigate according to his line of thought.

This was a war between Scouts; there couldn't be the slightest bit of carelessness.

Hearing this, that martial-looking man began to laugh. "My Neanderthal friend, everything you've said makes a lot of sense. But you don't understand that a new great battle is about to arrive right now. At this time, wildly exaggerating and hyping up an enemy Scout might cause what kind of impact?"

"Rest assured. Leave this guy to us. We Samsara Travelers have our own methods. Just quietly wait for good news, alright?"

"From now on, I hope you will take your companions and return to the frontal battlefield. We will find this guy."

"Also, this is an order from the Command!"

"As you command, Milord!"

Those few Neanderthal Scouts left obediently. Although they weren't too convinced, this group of hired Samsara Traveler Mercenaries was indeed very formidable. They had already helped the Neanderthal Legion conquer several important passes. Therefore, perhaps they really did have a better method.

"What do you guys think?"

After the Neanderthal Scouts left, that martial-looking man turned to ask his two companions.

"I smell a peer." That woman gave a charming laugh, her beautiful eyes darting around. She looked extremely gentle and enchanting, as if a peer were just a small after-dinner dessert.

"It might not necessarily be a peer. But this method and style of doing things truly resembles a peer. Anyway, this guy won't be easy to find," the other man laughed.

"Yes, I also have this feeling. Even the judgment of that Neanderthal just now wasn't wrong. I'm afraid this assailant won't strike again anytime soon. And this is also the reason the Neanderthal Command sent us out. Taking people's money and averting disaster for them is perfectly justified."

"So, whether we find this assailant or not actually isn't important. In this war, a single individual is insignificant and incapable of changing the overall situation. One must find the patterns within the ever-changing situation, then leverage it, propel it, and accumulate potential energy little by little, until it ultimately influences the entire overall situation. This is what we Samsara Travelers are most skilled at, and what we must master."

That martial-looking man smiled, actually brimming with confidence.

——

In Windbreath City, Windbreath Viscount sighed. During this period, he was about to turn into Sighing Viscount.

For his entire life of over two hundred years, he had been free and leisurely. He didn't have any ambitions and only wanted to be a minor rural Lord. Could this also be wrong?

Motherf*cker! As a result, he was invaded by the Neanderthals. So just because you Barbarians suffered a loss in Weir Province, you absolutely had to make up for it here in Cadel Province?

"Lord Special Envoy, please be sure to point out a clear path. At worst, I'll offer up my family fortune and go back to being an old Mercenary again."

Windbreath Viscount looked as if he was about to just let everything rot. Opposite him was a very fair and clean middle-aged fat man, a trace of a smile constantly worn on his face, looking entirely amiable.

This person was His Majesty the King's Special Envoy. Since it had already come to this, he might as well reveal his bottom line. If he continued to stand by and watch, this Territory he had managed for two hundred years would truly go bankrupt.

"The problem actually isn't considered serious, nor is it as complicated as you think."

The fat Special Envoy smiled faintly. "The Neanderthal Barbarians have been acting up so fiercely recently because they truly suffered a loss. After a period of time, they will adapt to it. As for Duke Kaidel, he is overly conservative. You, Windbreath Viscount, don't you want to become Windbreath Count, or even Windbreath Duke? The Kingdom is not harsh. His Majesty the King is determined to forge ahead; the various major provinces should also enthusiastically follow."

"You need to understand that, in terms of scale, the Locke Kingdom is still too small. How could three provinces be enough? There must be at least five, or eight. In short, this is a clear path. Don't play dumb when you understand perfectly well."

The words of the fat Special Envoy could similarly be considered a showdown.

At this moment, Windbreath Viscount's old face almost wrinkled into old tree bark.

Motherf*cker. This day had finally arrived after all.

How could upgrading to a province be that easy!

But if they didn't upgrade, how could His Majesty the King, that great Six-Star Lord, advance to a Seven-Star Lord?

"Lord Special Envoy, I will only ask one question right now. Has the top-tier hunting squad from the Royal Capital truly set out?"

"Naturally. They set out three days ago. Of course, I don't have evidence to give you for this, because they all used Five-Star Heaven-Veiling Item Cards right before departing. You understand this kind of Item Card. It's like garbled code in the magical world. After activation, within three days, even if you bring the Tax Department here, they would have absolutely no way. Even the Royal Capital's Tax Bureau can only mandate that the selling price of this kind of Item Card cannot be lower than ten thousand gold, collecting taxes at the source through this method!"

"So you see, although I don't know where they are right now, what actions they are taking, or how much they've harvested, isn't the effect instantaneous?!"

"Moreover, this hunting squad has truly dealt with Samsara Travelers before. Everything is nothing to fear. Furthermore, even if they are Samsara Travelers, they still have to follow the rule of 'when in Rome, do as the Romans do'! They won't be able to stir up trouble!"

Hearing the fat Special Envoy's words, Windbreath Viscount finally convinced himself. He had previously pleaded with Duke Kaidel, but aside from dispatching a legion to help garrison a barony, the Duke had not provided any further assistance.

After all, Lord Duke also had many things to keep him busy.

Forget It. Then he would try to take one more step forward and upgrade to a Five-Star Territory. At this moment, Windbreath Viscount sighed and opened his private treasury. In over two hundred years, the wealth and resources he had accumulated were naturally extremely vast.

He hadn't wanted to continue upgrading, on one hand, because he had seen through the competitive relationship between the King and the Duke and didn't want to become a pawn crossing the river. On the other hand, he truly enjoyed the cozy life of a minor rural Lord. As a result, facts proved that not cultivating a truly elite core main force meant he would be subject to the control of others!

At this moment, the Gale Knights within the Windbreath Territory were continuously enhanced six times in a single breath. The number of Gale Knights also increased from twelve to eighteen.

This was a core force sufficient to overturn a mid-sized war!

It was also a core force sufficient to stimulate Duke Kaidel.

It was even more so the most crucial step to upgrading to Windbreath Province.

Because upon reaching this step, the Gale Knights would be upgraded as a whole once again and could be granted the prefix "Holy." From this point onward, they would be called the Holy Gale Knights, and the members of the order could be Resurrected a cumulative total of eighteen times.

At the same time, although the order's title could no longer be continuously enhanced, it could add another 18 Holy Gale Knights. A total of 36 war machines whose Comprehensive Strength was comparable to Five-Star Professionals—no, was comparable to All-Attribute Level 3 Awakening! This was practically the prerequisite for the Royal Capital's Holy Guardian Knights!

(End of Chapter)