Mist Empire’s Rise: Fake Noble to Fog Queen

Chapter 361 Mist Empire’s Rise- 360: Thanks to Koi-Loving Kun Dragon King's Divine Certification

Mist Empire's Rise-Chapter 360: Thanks to Koi-Loving Kun Dragon King's Divine Certification

"I have a new assignment for you," Luo Wei stepped back and to the side, revealing the dark elf. "For the next three months, you'll stay with Loren and help him deliver messages."

The raven looked at the dark elf, feeling uneasy.

The last black brother had broken its heart. Now here was another one. It was a bit scared to get close.

The raven didn't answer immediately. Just as Luo Wei was about to ask, the dark elf suddenly spoke: "This bird—I think I've seen it somewhere before."

"Seen it?" Luo Wei turned back in surprise.

The dark elf said with certainty, "A few months ago, I saw it outside Spice City. It was carrying a piece of bark on its back, mixing in with a flock of Rainbow Phantasm Birds, stealing their feathers."

Because the bird's behavior was so strange, it had caught his attention. He'd observed it several times.

"The last time I saw it, it was plucking the tail feathers of the Rainbow Phantasm Bird King. It pecked the king's butt so hard that the whole flock beat it up badly and chased it out of their habitat."

After the dark elf finished recalling, the raven suddenly started crying out sharply.

"Caw caw! Caw caw caw! Caw caw caw caw!"

I didn't steal feathers! You're lying! I was borrowing—borrowing isn't stealing!

The raven was frantic and angry, its beak open as it cried nonstop.

Luo Wei's expression was subtle. "You borrowed their feathers. Did they agree?"

"Caw—" The raven's cry caught mid-sound. Its tone weakened, guilt flashing in its beady eyes. "Coo coo..."

They shed feathers anyway...

Luo Wei: "They shed during molting—natural loss, not plucking."

The raven whooshed its head into its wings and shut down.

"Sigh." Luo Wei picked it up and stroked its back soothingly. "Your feathers are so beautiful. Why steal others' feathers?"

The raven sobbed: "Coo coo, caw caw..."

I'm not beautiful at all. They all say I'm black.

"You're iridescent black—vibrantly black, different from ordinary black," Luo Wei coaxed patiently. "Birds who call you black are just jealous. Don't believe them. Confident birds are the most beautiful."

The raven looked up tearfully: "Caw caw caw caw..."

But everyone who sees me says I'm black. Those bird-people even said I'm black and ugly, wah wah wah...

Luo Wei's stroking hand paused. "Bird-people? Where did you meet bird-people?"

The raven said between sobs: "Caw, caw coo caw caw caw..."

The bird-people from the Eastern Sea. They said I wasn't their brother, wouldn't let me live there, and kicked me out of home.

Luo Wei frowned and asked the dark elf, "Are there bird beastfolk in the Misty Plains' Eastern Sea?"

"No," the dark elf shook his head, thought for a moment, then answered. "It's probably talking about Sirens. Several hundred kilometers offshore from the Eastern Sea, there's an island reef area. A thousand years ago, Sirens moved there."

As his words fell, both froze and looked at the raven simultaneously.

Could Luke be a Siren descendant?

The dark elf looked completely puzzled. Though he'd never seen Sirens, they were sea monsters with human heads and bird bodies, possessing the most beautiful singing voices in the world. The raven didn't seem to share a single trait with them.

Luo Wei asked tentatively, "Luke, those bird-people you mentioned—did they have human heads and bird bodies, and could they sing?"

The raven cried sadly: "Caw caw caw..."

I can sing too! I just don't have a human head or pretty wings, so they called me a monster, wah wah wah~

Luo Wei: "Ah, well..."

Indeed, everyone at Star Luo Residence could testify that the raven could sing, but its songs were a bit ear-piercing—that was also true.

As for not having a human head or pretty wings, she couldn't comfort it about that.

But from her aesthetic perspective, birds with human heads were slightly horrifying. The raven's current form was cuter.

Watching the raven cry endlessly, Luo Wei didn't feel right asking about its background, afraid of touching more painful spots.

The hoarse crying continued for over ten minutes before stopping. Everyone present was mentally exhausted from the ordeal.

After five in the afternoon, Roman and Tom returned from school. Rosie also came back to Star Luo Residence with Bella from the mulberry orchard.

With both young knights present, Luo Wei called them over to meet the dark elf.

Roman and Rosie had heard this morning that another important person had arrived at the house—someone of even higher status than Troy, specifically here to help Miss manage finances.

They obediently called out "Lord Hill," their attitudes very respectful.

The dark elf produced two sealed small ceramic jars from somewhere. The jars contained honey dew that flower elves had collected from the Tree of Life a thousand years ago.

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The Tree of Life had withered. These were the last two jars of honey dew the flower elf clan had left. Supposedly, humans who drank it could gain a hundred years of life.

The dark elf gave the honey dew to the two children as a greeting gift.

Luo Wei looked away, struggling to maintain a calm expression.

Damn it, she wanted some too!

Roman and Rosie wanted to offer the honey dew to her, but in front of the dark elf, Luo Wei couldn't bring herself to take the children's things.

She forced herself through the heartache to refuse: "I don't need it. Be good, you two drink it."

Since Miss said she didn't need it, Roman and Rosie carefully put away the honey dew, patted their bags—they'd save it for later!

Perhaps because of the gifts, the two children had a good first impression of the dark elf. Within ten minutes of meeting, they spoke to him more warmly than to Troy.

Turning away, Roman and Rosie discussed Troy.

"Lord Hill speaks better than Troy and has better people skills. If he stays here permanently, Troy's position beside Miss will probably be taken," Rosie said sympathetically.

Though objectively, Lord Hill was better than Troy in every way, she'd spent more time with Troy. Plus, if Troy hadn't insisted on rescuing her back then, she might not have been saved. Privately, she still favored Troy.

"He's done for. Once Lord Hill arrived, he has to step aside from Miss's side," Roman gloated.

He and Troy had clashed from the start. They couldn't stand each other. Now that the dark elf had outshone Troy, he nearly applauded.

However, fortunes change. Within two days, Roman became the object of sympathy himself.

It started when Luo Wei promised Troy she'd bring his good brother Matt over, so she picked a time to visit Demon Island.

After arriving, she first went to the underground lava cavern to retrieve the two divine swords.

She'd promised Roman and Rosie she'd return their swords once they were on vacation.

Seeing she still had time, she summoned Patrick and had him take her to see Wordsworth.

Wordsworth had maintained living habits all these years. He had psychological trauma about small, dark basements and didn't like living in the undead cemetery. Patrick had arranged for him to live across from the tavern.

McAuley's Malt Tavern's Demon Town branch was lively. Many undead and humans came and went daily. Timid Wordsworth crouched behind the curtains observing for ages before he couldn't resist wandering over.

The undead who patronized here were generally lazy and pleasure-loving. They'd rather kick heads like soccer balls than cultivate. Their levels weren't high, which gave Wordsworth a sense of security.

After spending half a day at the tavern, he not only made many undead friends but also met Yage, who ran the establishment.

Learning Wordsworth could craft puppets, Yage enthusiastically invited him to hang out at the shop and requested he craft a puppet that could automatically wipe tables and sweep floors.

When Luo Wei went to see Wordsworth, he was wiping tables and sweeping floors in the shop. Since he had no materials for crafting puppets, he could only substitute for the puppet himself temporarily.

Yage was truly talented. What a waste for such a person to be stuck here as a bartender.

After watching for a few minutes, she removed her invisibility and silently walked in.

When she came out, a seven-year-old boy followed at her right hand—Yage Augustnaya.

Rather than leave him here to exploit Wordsworth, better to bring him to Siria to help with business.

Demon Island had more and more people anyway. One or two less made no difference.

Luo Wei instructed Patrick to have Steward Grey send someone else to manage the tavern. The new person would also be responsible for purchasing items Wordsworth needed and satisfying all his reasonable requests.

Wordsworth was technical talent recruited to Demon Island. They had to create a good environment for him to conduct research properly on the island.

Before sunset, Luo Wei returned to Star Luo Residence with Yage and Matt.

Matt really hadn't suffered on Demon Island—you could tell from his plump physique.

The heavy, tiring work was done by those mercenaries. He only supervised. When he occasionally needed to do something, undead would help him.

Still, when he and Troy reunited, the two embraced and cried.

So people really do flock together. Troy was an honest man whose brain didn't turn corners. His friend Matt was just as simple and sincere.

Luo Wei had thought after spending months on Demon Island, Matt would harbor some resentment toward Troy. Instead, not only did he not resent Troy, he felt sorry that Troy had suffered abuse while serving at her side.

What kind of logic was this?

God as her witness, Troy ate two baskets of bread, three pounds of beef, one pound of chicken, ten sugar pastries, and five apples from her every day!

If that counted as abuse, she had nothing to say.

Ignoring the two guys with questionable brains, Luo Wei led Yage before Roman and Rosie.

"Roman, Rosie, this is Yage."

"Yage just arrived in Siria and isn't familiar yet. As seniors, you should help him out. He'll study and improve with you from now on. You three need to get along well!"

"Come, get to know each other."

Roman and Rosie were still hesitating when Yage stepped forward proactively, showing them a lively smile.

"Roman, Rosie, pleased to meet you. I'm Yage Augustnaya, from the Northlands."

"The Northlands is an interesting place. I've raised snow buntings, hunted ice wolves, seen undead and lava, and know many mysterious stories from the Northlands. If you want to know them too, I'm happy to tell you."

Alarm bells rang in Roman's heart. They were all sharp—who couldn't see through whom?

This Yage was smart, articulate, and good at playing innocent and cute. Damn, he was coming for his position!

Just then Troy finished catching up with Matt and walked over. Yage's eyes lit up when he saw him: "Knight Commander, long time no see! Do you remember me? We met at Ice Plains Stone Fort half a year ago!"

"Ice Plains Stone Fort..." Troy recalled. He still had some memory of events from half a year ago. "You're that Augustnaya kid?"

Yage immediately nodded. "Yes, that's me! Yage Augustnaya. Can I learn swordsmanship from you? You're the most skilled knight I've ever seen!"

Luo Wei had said that overwhelming force trumped cleverness. Being smart was useless unless he defeated Troy—otherwise he wasn't qualified to stay by her side.

Though he'd come here now, this was just Luo Wei's charity.

He'd learn all of Troy's swordsmanship. When Troy got old and his body failed, he'd use what Troy taught him to defeat him and prove wisdom was more useful than strength!

Regarding Yage's request, Troy glanced at Luo Wei. Seeing she didn't object, he nodded in agreement.

Teaching two people versus three made no difference to him. As long as Her Highness agreed, he'd teach ten if needed.

Luo Wei's expectations for Yage weren't high. If he wanted to learn, fine. If not, also fine—completely up to his personal preference.

She wouldn't strictly require him like she did Roman and Rosie, nor would she show him the same favoritism.

His treatment here depended entirely on his own value. After all, he worshipped the God of Wisdom and hadn't pledged loyalty to her.

Before dinner, Troy would lead Roman and Rosie in sword practice for two quarters of an hour—their daily fixed task.

Yage picked up a small wooden stick and followed behind them, gesturing along, consciously integrating into the trio.

Unlike the two young knights who'd practiced swords for half a year and moved nimbly, Yage's sword movements were quite clumsy.

Fortunately, he was teachable. When Troy corrected his movements, he not only quickly fixed them but earnestly thanked Troy.

What teacher wouldn't like such a student?

Yage was even younger than Roman, but more respectful of his elders.

Roman always competed secretly with Troy. If Troy pointed out incorrect movements, he'd immediately counter: "Why do you say I'm wrong? What's so good about your way?"

He'd only accept after Troy gave him a reason.

Though Rosie didn't talk back, her personality was extremely competitive.

Whenever she didn't do something well, she'd grit her teeth and practice endlessly, almost self-abusively repeating it thousands of times until she'd never make the mistake again.

In comparison, Yage's personality was very normal—intelligent, studious, diligent, and hardworking. This greatly increased Troy's fondness for him after being tortured long-term by Roman and Rosie. He taught Yage swordsmanship more gently and patiently.

After practice, Roman pulled Rosie aside and said huffily, "Damn, that guy's too good at acting. Is Troy an idiot? Can't he see how scheming he is!"

Rosie crossed her arms. "Don't you also like putting on an act in front of Miss?"

Roman: "But I only act in front of Miss, not like him! Fake!"

"That's the difference," Rosie shrugged. "You only act for Miss, so everyone except Miss hates you. He's different—willing to play nice to fool everyone, so everyone except you likes him."

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