Chapter 46: Preparations For The Rift

The door opened, and Berlic Draveon entered the room with five knights following closely behind him.

All six men wore newly issued, high-grade armor that looked considerably more expensive than the equipment normally given to ordinary soldiers, and the two knights walking directly behind Berlic carried the distinctive sigil of the Draveon Marchional Clan upon their chests.

The symbol was a hippocampus, a mythical sea creature that had become inseparable from the Draveon name.

According to the claims of Herhald Draveon, the founder of the Draveon Marchional Clan, he had once encountered a hippocampus in the western sea four hundred years ago, which inspired him to establish his clan along the western coast. Whether the story was true or merely an embellished tale passed down through generations, the result remained the same, because the Draveons had grown into the rulers of the western ports and controlled nearly every major trade route passing through them.

Berlic walked into the room with a pleasant smile on his face, but the moment his gaze landed on Elias, a faint trace of disgust flashed through his eyes. It disappeared almost immediately, however, as he turned toward Priest Mekah and bowed his head.

"It is an honor to finally meet you, Your Greatness," Berlic said respectfully.

Mekah smiled warmly.

"The honor is mine, Sire Berlic," he replied before gesturing toward the empty chairs. "Take a seat."

Berlic nodded and moved toward the chairs with his knights.

He took the seat closest to the desk, while the two knights who had entered behind him remained standing directly behind his chair. The other three knights, meanwhile, moved toward the remaining seats and sat down.

Once everyone had settled, Mekah folded his hands over the desk and looked toward Berlic.

"The rift is not far from the city’s east," he said, his voice carrying the calmness of someone accustomed to dealing with such situations. "As for its grade, however, I cannot determine that from here."

"You do not have to trouble yourself with that, Your Greatness," Berlic replied with a reassuring smile. "We will send a team of rangers into the rift, and they will find out everything that we need to know."

One of the three knights sitting nearby nodded before speaking.

"The City Lord is right," he said. "We cannot have you go anywhere near the rift, Your Greatness. You are the pillar keeping Kilmir safe from such dangers."

Mekah’s eyes shifted toward the knight.

The man was broad-shouldered and muscular, with a stern face that carried the marks of many battles, and although he appeared considerably younger than Mekah, there was a certain respect in his voice whenever he addressed the old priest.

"The church would simply send a new, younger Priest after my death," Mekah said calmly. "So you do not have to worry."

"You are right," Berlic agreed before smiling. "But he would not be as wise as you, nor as loving as you. So we will not allow you to go near it. I will force you to stay here if I must."

Mekah laughed quietly and waved one hand.

"You think too highly of this old man."

"I would argue that you think too little of yourself," Berlic replied.

Mekah smiled and nodded, apparently amused by the answer.

"Have you decided on the swordsmen for the teams of rangers?" he asked.

"I have," Berlic answered.

His gaze shifted toward Elias, and a faintly cruel glint appeared in his eyes.

"Lord Elias is one of them."

Elias’s expression darkened slightly.

He had already expected Berlic to cause trouble for him, but hearing his name assigned to the ranger team still made his thoughts turn cold.

A ranger team was made up of ordinary warriors whose primary purpose was to enter a spatial rift, gather information about its environment and guardian, and return alive.

Of course, survival was not guaranteed.

If they discovered a dangerous guardian, their task was to report what they had seen, but if they were unable to escape before the rift became too unstable, then there was little they could do except fight and die.

Elias knew exactly what Berlic was trying to accomplish.

He wanted him dead. Yet Elias couldn’t openly reject the order.

He had already agreed to join the Kilmir Relief Order, and refusing to participate now would give Berlic an excuse to accuse him of violating his responsibilities.

Elias looked directly at Berlic and spoke calmly.

"I will return with everything we need to know."

"I know you would," Berlic said with a smile.

The words sounded friendly, but Elias could see the satisfaction hidden behind that smile.

Berlic wasn’t expecting him to return.

He was hoping that the spatial rift would kill him before he ever had the chance.

"I believe Sire Elias is not the only ranger?" Mekah asked, his gaze moving between the two men.

Berlic turned toward him.

"Of course not. Six more warriors will be joining him, and once the rift is wide enough, all seven of them will enter it immediately."

"Good," Mekah said with a small nod.

He paused for a moment before continuing.

"Then you should also prepare a raid team to close the rift."

"I will do so," Berlic replied.

Mekah nodded before his attention shifted toward one of the knights sitting nearby.

For the first time since entering the room, the old priest’s expression changed noticeably.

"I did not think that I would see you here, Sire Belthon."

The knight looked up.

Belthon was a slender but muscular man with sharp amber eyes, deep black hair, and a neatly trimmed beard. A bastard sword rested at his side, its handle worn from years of use.

He smiled faintly.

"I am surprised to see you here as well, Your Greatness. The last time we met was during the rift near Drivmark."

Mekah’s eyes softened with nostalgia.

"Haha... I still remember that day as if it were yesterday," he said.

Belthon chuckled.

"It was difficult to forget."

"You nearly lost your arm that day."

"And you nearly lost your life protecting the civilians."

Mekah waved his hand dismissively.

"That was nothing."

Belthon shook his head.

"Perhaps to you."

Their brief exchange carried a familiarity that made it obvious they had fought together before, and Elias quietly observed them without interrupting.

Berlic, however, soon rose from his chair.

"I believe I should take my leave," he said.

Mekah looked toward him and smiled.

"May the Sun shine on you forever."

"And upon you as well, Your Greatness," Berlic replied before turning toward the door.

His two knights immediately followed him.

The remaining three knights stood a moment later, and one after another, they offered their farewells before leaving the room as well.

The door finally closed behind the last knight, leaving Mekah and Elias alone.

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100 Power Stone = 1 Extra Chapter

100 Golden Ticket = 1 Extra Chapter

1 Magic Castle = 3 Extra Chapters