Chapter 172

Chapter 172. Recovering Monta and Exploring the Tower

“We ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍will rest in Monta City tonight! All troops, hear my command. Charge with me!” Armand’s voice echoed before the formation.

At ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Viscount Armand’s order, the Winterbourne Family’s army surged toward the seemingly silent Monta City like a flood that had long been gathering strength.

“Charge—!”

“Recover ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Monta! For the Western Frontier!”

The ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍soldiers erupted in earthshaking roars and poured toward the walls like a tide.

Eli ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍did not hesitate either. He led the soldiers of Obsidian Territory close behind the main force and launched the assault.

Atop the walls, the few defenders there had already gone deathly pale with fright.

The main force inside the city, along with most of its officers, had already escorted the supplies toward Storm City.

All that had been left to them was an almost hollow shell of a city and a desperate order.

They could not organize any effective defense at all. They could not even form a proper rain of arrows.

Below the city, Wolfgang’s ferocious performance once again left Viscount Armand, who was commanding from the rear of the battlefield, shocked beyond words.

The Wolf-kin leader let out a soul-shaking roar and simply ignored the normal process of siege warfare.

With those clansmen of his, who were just as fierce and fearless, he lunged at his prey like a true wolf pack, charging straight to the base of the wall at astonishing speed.

What made everyone even more dumbstruck was that they did not wait for the allied troops behind them to set up the siege ladders.

Terrifying strength erupted from Wolfgang’s powerful hind legs, and his sharp claws dug deep into the gaps between the wall bricks.

With several explosive kicks and leaps, his burly body actually climbed up the nearly ten-meter wall before everyone’s eyes, agile as an ape.

“ROAR—!”

The moment he landed, his claws swept out like the scythe of death, carrying a shrill whistle through the air.

Several nearby defenders who tried to step forward and stop him did not even manage to scream before they were torn apart in an instant.

Severed limbs and blood sprayed in every direction.

Below the city, the soldiers—whether they belonged to the Winterbourne Family or to its subordinate lords—were left staring with their mouths wide open.

“You can... attack a city like that?”

“Gods, is that a monster?”

Immediately afterward, the soldiers of Obsidian Territory under Eli burst into cheers filled with pride and fervor.

“Lord Wolfgang! He’s up again!”

“That was too fast!”

“Quick! Keep up with Lord Wolfgang! Do not let him fight alone!”

Behind them, Viscount Armand looked at that werewolf-like figure slaughtering in every direction atop the wall like a god of war, and he could not help muttering to himself.

“Such bravery... He must be a Gold-Tier demi-human warrior...

“And I have heard that it is far harder for demi-human races to increase their strength than humans... Yet this Viscount Eli can actually subdue such a powerful warrior and use him as his own...”

With Wolfgang and his Wolf-kin warriors carving open a gap like a sharp blade, and with the terrifying intimidation they brought, the rest of the siege became extraordinarily smooth.

The soldiers quickly set up siege ladders and climbed upward with fierce courage.

The defenders on the wall had long since been frightened out of their wits by Wolfgang and the Wolf-kin who had climbed onto the battlements like phantoms. How could they still have even the slightest will to resist?

“We surrender!”

“Stop killing us! We surrender!”

They threw down their weapons in terror one after another, fell to their knees, and kowtowed desperately, seeking only to preserve their lives.

However, how could the Western Frontier soldiers, whose hearts burned with vengeance, pay any heed to those pleas?

In their eyes, these Federation soldiers kneeling and begging for mercy were living military merit, enemies who had once trampled their homeland beneath their feet.

Swords and blades still fell without mercy, and screams rose one after another.

When Captain Buck led the Black Crow Knights onto the wall, this chaotic and bloody scene was what he saw.

He frowned, somewhat disapproving of this slaughter of surrendered enemies.

But he also knew that the Western Frontier army needed revenge, and amid this fever of vengeance, he could not restrain all allied forces.

All he could do was command the Black Crow Knights beside him in a deep voice.

“Go open the city gate and receive the main force into the city. Mind your discipline. Do not kill those who have already given up resistance.”

“Yes, Captain!”

The Black Crow Knights accepted the order and swiftly charged down along the wall’s rampart road, aiming straight for the gatehouse.

Before long, the heavy gates of Monta City slowly opened amid the turning creak of the windlass.

Seeing this, Viscount Armand immediately ordered the main force into the city.

Under the protection of a squad of elite personal guards, he rode into Monta City with Eli and Soren.

The moment they entered the city, Armand’s brows knitted tightly.

On the streets, Western Frontier soldiers could be seen everywhere, chasing down scattered pockets of resistance.

Some soldiers had even begun kicking open the doors of civilian homes. From inside came women’s screams and cries, and chaos was spreading.

“Nonsense!” Viscount Armand’s face darkened, and he immediately gave a sharp order to the adjutant beside him.

“Take men at once and restrain the soldiers of every unit! Pass down my military order: Monta City has now returned to Western Frontier rule, and the residents inside the city are protected by Western Frontier law!

“All soldiers are to return to their units immediately. Looting, rape, and indiscriminate killing are strictly forbidden!

“Anyone who defies this military order, no matter their status, is to be executed on the spot without mercy!”

“Yes, Lord Viscount!” Seeing Armand’s anger, the adjutant did not dare delay.

He immediately led a squad of military enforcers on horseback into the chaotic streets, loudly passing on the order while rebuking and dispersing the soldiers whose conduct had gone too far.

By comparison, the soldiers of Obsidian Territory under Eli appeared orderly and disciplined under Buck’s command.

They swiftly took over the key defensive positions in the city, controlled the main streets, and did not participate in looting.

Under Buck’s direction, they simply carried out the handover and occupation tasks.

Soon, the wheat-ear banner of the Winterbourne Family rose at the highest point of Monta City’s walls, snapping loudly in the evening wind.

The afterglow of sunset dyed the sky orange-red, spilling across this city that had just been baptized by war.

If one ignored the glaring bloodstains and scattered flames,

the scene before them had a desolate yet majestic beauty of its own.

“Viscount Armand,” Eli said as he rode over to Armand’s side.

“I will take men to secure Monta City’s warehouses, granaries, and other important locations. I will have to trouble you with calming the city and restoring order.”

Viscount Armand looked at this young yet exceptionally steady and sensible viscount, and a trace of approval and slight embarrassment appeared on his face.

After all, it was his troops whose discipline had slackened just now. With the marquess absent, the soldiers had indulged themselves far too much.

He smiled and nodded. “Very well, Eli. Then I will trouble you with that.

“It is already late. Once your task is complete, come directly to the City Lord’s Residence. I will hold a simple victory banquet there later.”

“Yes.” Eli nodded in acknowledgment, then called Buck and a squad of soldiers over.

With several panic-stricken prisoners leading the way, he headed toward the warehouse district inside the city.

However, the results of the inspection were disappointing.

Whether it was the warehouse storing military equipment or the granaries storing food, almost all of them were empty.

Only a few poor-quality grains and miscellaneous items remained, and their quantity was pitifully small.

Seeing this, a prisoner whom Buck had dragged over was so frightened that he wept bitterly and kept kowtowing.

“My lord! We did not hide anything. There really is nothing left!

“Our lord, Lord Bigg, took most of the valuables and grain in the city several days ago and rushed to Storm City to rendezvous!

“This little bit was all that was left for us... Please, spare us!

“We are just poor wretches who were left behind to wait for death!”

The other prisoners were also ashen-faced, kowtowing desperately along with him.

As the few survivors captured by the soldiers of Obsidian Territory, they had just witnessed with their own eyes how the other Western Frontier soldiers treated those who surrendered.

Eli looked at the empty warehouse, his brows slightly furrowed.

They had advanced swiftly with light equipment this time and had not brought a large amount of army rations. He had originally hoped to obtain some replenishment in Monta City.

Now it seemed that hope had fallen through. They could only hope that the supply line from Thorne City could be established as soon as possible.

“How many men did your Lord Bigg take with him?” Eli asked in a deep voice.

“My lord... roughly, roughly around eight hundred men... They were all the city’s elites,” the prisoner answered shakily.

“As for us... those of us who were left behind had little fighting strength. We were responsible for... covering the rear...”

His voice grew lower and lower, full of despair.

“Eight hundred men...” Eli repeated silently in his heart. That was indeed a piece of intelligence worth noting.

He waved a hand, signaling the soldiers to take the prisoners away and keep them under temporary guard.

Afterward, Eli and Buck arranged for the soldiers they had brought out to settle in a temporary barracks that had been cleared inside the city.

There, they regrouped with the resting soldiers, as well as Wolfgang and the Wolf-kin warriors.

Before long, cooking smoke rose from the barracks. The soldiers set up large pots and began cooking the rations they carried with them, while the feverish atmosphere gradually calmed.

Eli made a brief inspection around the camp and confirmed that there were no problems. Although the soldiers were exhausted, their morale was high.

He walked over to Buck and Wolfgang, who was wiping the blood from his claws.

Then he raised his head and looked toward the black tower in the city, which seemed even more mysterious and towering in the twilight.

“Buck,” Eli said, “how about accompanying me to take a look at that tower?”

The corner of Buck’s mouth curled slightly in a knowing smile.

Naturally, he understood that his lord’s irrepressible desire to explore had probably been itching unbearably from the moment he saw that peculiar giant tower.

“Yes, my lord,” he answered steadily. “For the sake of your safety, Wolfgang and I will remain close and protect you.”

Wolfgang also gave a low growl in agreement, his golden pupils gleaming in the dusk.

Eli naturally had no objection.

With the two strongest combatants in Obsidian Territory at his side, he left the noisy barracks and walked toward the most conspicuous black tower at the center of the city.

The closer they drew to the tower, the quieter and stranger the surroundings became.

It was clearly located in the city center, yet there were unusually few houses and buildings nearby, as though people had intentionally or unintentionally avoided this area.

The tower was built from some unknown black stone. Its surface was smooth, and almost no seams could be seen.

It had endured long years, yet there were no traces of weathering or damage. Even during the Federation army’s occupation, it seemed that no harm had been done to it.

“It seems this tower has avoided every conflict...” Eli murmured thoughtfully.

Before long, the group reached the base of the tower.

The tower foundation stood at the center of a rather empty square. On its front was a huge black door made from the same material as the tower itself.

There were no decorations, crests, or keyholes on the door. It was as smooth as a mirror.

Eli swept his gaze around and confirmed that there was no one nearby. The silence was so deep that only the sound of the wind could be heard.

He drew a deep breath, stepped forward, and placed both hands steadily upon the cold black door.

Then, he exerted a little force...