Novel Full Chapter 718: How To Gain A Territory I
CH718 How To Gain A Territory I
**[A.N: Mass Release Chapter: 6/10]**
Another two weeks passed in a flash.
Alex stood outside the fortified outpost where Eleanore’s makeshift Berserk Human treatment and research facility was located, loosely holding Dread’s reins in one hand.
He looked up towards the sky before shaking his head lightly.
’Time is moving far too quickly... and it increasingly feels as though I have very little to show for it,’ he thought inwardly.
Dread snorted impatiently before nudging Alex with his head.
"I am not sulking. I was merely thinking," Alex argued defensively.
Dread nudged him once more. Clearly, his equine companion did not believe him in the slightest.
Alex could only shake his head wryly.
Turning around, he glanced at the modest force assembled behind him.
The group consisted of Saul Redwald, Dalton Asheton, Sinia—a female Captain of the BattleBane Guild—the seven Fury Rune Knights, Havel, Silver, Mogal, Udara, and Alex himself.
Alex nodded faintly at the sight of the assembled squad.
He believed this force was strong enough to handle nearly any threat they might encounter during the expedition to obtain the opportunity Saul claimed could grant them entry into the Celahan Empire as nobles—provided they did not run into a Legendary-ranked existence.
Before Alex could reflect further upon the conversation he had shared with Saul two weeks earlier—the discussion that had led to the formation of this expeditionary group—a hulking figure suddenly approached him.
"Boss, can you please let me come with you? Please, Boss," Kavakan pleaded earnestly.
"I already told you, Kavakan. I need you here to keep the troops in line. You are the only person I can trust with that responsibility," Alex said as he patted the large man’s shoulder. "And if you become bored, you can always take missions from the Adventurer Association or the Mercenary Union."
"Those missions have become boring. Only following you around is never boring. You always end up going to interesting places," Kavakan argued stubbornly.
"You mean dangerous places," Alex corrected with a smile.
"Exactly!" Kavakan’s eyes sparkled excitedly.
"Forget it, big guy. I need you here, and that decision is final," Alex said firmly.
Kavakan’s expression immediately fell in disappointment.
Alex chuckled softly before patting the man’s arm again.
"Do not worry. Once we finally begin making our move properly, you will have more excitement than you can handle," Alex said, a sharp glint flashing through his eyes.
Seeing this, a similarly predatory grin spread across Kavakan’s face.
"Good, Boss. I will hold you to that promise. My babies and I shall fast for now in anticipation," Kavakan declared, patting the twin axes hanging at either side of his thick, tiger-like waist.
Alex merely waved the large man away before suddenly overhearing Zora speaking to Udara nearby.
"Do not forget to keep a close eye on him. There is no telling what he might do if you leave him to his devices in that place," Zora warned.
"Do not worry, Big Sister. I will either stop him from getting into trouble... or protect him if he does," Udara vowed earnestly.
"Damn girl," Zora laughed, playfully smacking Udara’s arm. "I am not worried about him getting into trouble. I am worried about him causing the trouble."
"You do realise I can hear the two of you, right?" Alex said with a deadpan expression. "And shouldn’t you stop teasing me already? I am your husband, not a child that needs constant supervision."
"I will stop once you stop behaving like a child and begin acting like a proper adult," Zora replied without hesitation.
"When exactly have I—?" Alex instinctively tried to argue before abruptly cutting himself off midway.
There were, admittedly, quite a few recent incidents Zora could easily bring up. He knew better than to hand her the opportunity to publicly embarrass him further.
Massaging the bridge of his nose to stave off the headache threatening to form, Alex eventually sighed before speaking more seriously.
"I am leaving things in your hands, Zora. Watch over the kids and keep everyone safe until I return, alright?"
"Just focus on the journey ahead and make sure you stay safe. I will keep everything running smoothly here until you come back," Zora replied with a smile.
"Alright," Alex smiled back.
His gaze shifted towards the entrance of the fort.
"Looks like Eleanore will not be coming after all," Zora commented.
"No problem," Alex nodded. "Make sure she receives whatever support she requires. Her success could become extremely important for our overall campaign on this plane."
One thing Alex and his wives had deliberately left unspoken during their earlier discussions regarding Eleanore’s Berserk Human treatment was the impact it could have upon Gu Mo’s long-term plans.
After all, a cure for Berserk Transformation would effectively slow—and perhaps even reverse—the spread of Gu Mo’s divinity and influence across the plane entirely.
This was something that could eventually become a major trump card in the struggle for the Heaven’s Mandate.
"I know what needs to be done. I kept the Enclave running, remember?" Zora replied. "Now stop wasting time and go already. The sooner you secure a territory, the sooner we can truly begin this campaign of ours, right?"
"Mm..." Alex nodded.
He suddenly stepped forward, pulling Zora into an embrace before kissing her briefly.
"I will return soon," he promised softly.
Then he gave Udara a nod before the two of them walked back towards Dread. Alex took hold of the reins once more.
His gaze drifted towards the sturdy defensive walls surrounding BloodIron City.
The city had housed him for several months now, and over time, he had developed a certain attachment to the chaotic settlement. Even so, BloodIron was merely a stop along his journey—not his final destination.
Alex mounted Dread smoothly.
"Let’s move," he ordered.
The others quickly mounted their own horses, and soon the entire group galloped off towards the distant horizon.
The journey to their destination lasted close to a month.
They travelled across vast stretches of the Wildlands, battling numerous beasts and the occasional foolish bandit groups foolish enough to target them along the way.
Eventually, they left behind the dry and arid territories of the Wildlands, crossing instead into the ever-shifting border regions disputed between multiple empires. However, such matters meant little to the group, as they passed through the unstable territories quickly and without issue.
As they travelled further northward across the continent, the landscape gradually transformed.
The harsh deserts slowly gave way to sprawling savannah grasslands. They passed through territories blessed with rich farmlands—lands so fertile that any native of the Wildlands would likely stare upon them with eyes green from envy and red from greed.
And eventually, their destination finally began drawing near.
The further north they travelled, the denser the vegetation became. Human settlements grew increasingly scarce, while the number of roaming beasts steadily increased.
By the time evening approached, the group found a relatively secure location and established camp shortly before sunset fully descended.
"We are only a day away from our destination now, Young Master Alex," Saul Redwald informed him.
With his curse now completely cured, the man no longer needed to conceal himself behind his armour. He removed his helmet, revealing the rugged face of a middle-aged warrior instead.
He was a man in his late fifties who carried an air of detachment around him—something that reminded Alex somewhat of Jared.
However, unlike the Dark Knight, Saul’s detached demeanour was not born from stoicism or genuine indifference, but rather from years of suffering and lingering melancholy.
Merely three months of peace and relief was never going to erase the countless years of torment he had silently endured due to his curse while hiding within his suit of armour.
Still, much like the helmet he could now finally remove without endangering everyone around him, Saul himself was gradually beginning to emerge from the shell he had hidden inside for so long.
"Young Master Alex, we can still withdraw from this..." Saul began cautiously.
***