Way of the Knights

Chapter 823: Lonely

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The Divine Land is a place filled with all sorts of opportunities and miracles, it is considered as humanity's greatest treasure. 

As the ones guarding this place, the Dawn Council made sure to implement a strict set of rules for those who will be visiting the Divine Land. 

Having a success rate 100% for at least 100 S-ranked Missions is the base requirement for someone to apply for a ticket. This in itself is already strict but it doesn't end here…

Once the application for the ticket was sent and approved, there will be a schedule for the visitors. They have to show up early or on time. If they don't, then it will ne rescheduled for another date or the applicant can set up a date for themselves. The council will only reschedule the visit three times only, once the applicants chances are used up, the ticket will be denied. 

It doesn't stop there either…

Once inside the Divine Land, they have to follow the lead of the Supervisor in-charge. The Dawn Council understands that the Divine Land can incite the underlying greed of humans so they give everybody three chances. If they fail to contain their greed and refuse to follow orders, they will be punished based on the severity of their actions. 

The Dawn Council has the right to take their lives right then and there should the situation calls for it. 

As the first to batch of people to apply for this chance, the Black Iron Mercenaries were lucky. 

The group hasn't garnered much attention despite their clean records. That's understandable since they don't they prefer to keep a low profile. That being said, the mercenaries were capable people. They have to considering the steep requirements needed to earn this chance. 

Laughing Dragon gave them a briefing three times. He repeatedly warned them about the risks and the strict rules that some of them felt slightly annoyed by it. They can't be blamed, after all it sounded like the Dawn Council couldn't trust them well enough to behave. Laughing Dragon can't be blamed either since he's doing his job. 

Well, someone from their group embarrassed themselves after all. That person already received warnings from the group yet deep down, the rest couldn't blame the guy either. It wasn't just him who felt the allure of bountiful treasures around the Divine Land, everyone else did. 

Needless to say, they still managed to keep their act together. At least they only used up one of their chances before arriving to their destination. 

The group is now at the summit of a lone mountain. The peak was flat and there were numerous mats on the ground which glittered with runes. Luna and Laughing Dragon made them sit on the mats and start meditating. 

The mats were actually a formation. It is created by Raven in order to ȧssist the visitors on searching for their lucky chances and guide them to the correct direction. 

The mercenaries were already inside the formation and were starting their journey. Luna and Laughing Dragon was observing them in silence. 

After a hour, someone from the mercenaries opened their eyes and a glittering road of sparkles appeared before him like a trail asking him to follow it. He was confused, he looked at Luna and tilted his head:

"Follow. That road will lead you to your fated treasure. Once you've taken it, you'll be transported back to the Great Hall of the Council. Aside from the one fated to you, you are not allowed to take anything else. Ignore this order and I'll execute you where you stand. I hope I made myself clear." 

The guy clasped his hands and followed Luna's orders. 

Shortly after he woke up, the rest started ending their meditations one by one. Luna's instructions were clear and precise. They walked separate ways and started searching for their fated treasures. Once everyone was gone, Laughing Dragon murmured:

"Going by the direction they were heading…I guess we won't make too much of a loss here." He said. 

"We're not losing out anything from this Laughing Dragon." Luna chuckled, "The treasures they are claiming are, at most, rare. The Divine Land will give birth to those in a matter of months and our stocks will be replenished."

"I guess you're right." 

"I just hope that they can keep their hands to themselves." 

"I'm hoping for that as well." Laughing Dragon nodded, "Well, based on their performance and out records of them, we can ȧssume that they're a disciplined group. They have good intentions at least. The mishap earlier wasn't entirely their fault." 

"I'm aware." Luna nodded, "I don't like suspecting them either but we have to remain strict. This place it too important for Humanity after all." 

"I whole-heartedly agree." Laughing Dragon nodded once more. 

Time passed and eventually, it's been a day since the Black Iron Mercenaries paid a visit to the Divine Land. 

There are still some of them out there, following the road to their fated treasures. The rest have already claimed theirs and was already transported outside of the Divine Land. 

The treasures the mercenaries claimed weren't really that rare. Well, everything that's been produced by the Divine Land is a rare treasure to begin with but some of them are really rare – the kind that would take eons to grow. 

Thankfully, the ones that were taken today were fairly common, the Divine Land can replenish its stocks pretty fast if its just those. 

Some more time passed and eventually everybody finished claiming what's theirs. Laughing Dragon turned to Luna and said:

"Thank you for supervising the visit Madam, I shall return and send our guests away." 

"You're welcome. Go get some rest, Laughing Dragon. You deserve it." 

The fat man just chuckled and disappeared from Luna's view. Once he's gone, the Divine Land regained its sanctity and peace. Only Luna was there. 

Luna really didn't feel tired so she decided to go back to the spot where she planted the Dream Blossom Mother Tree Seed. 

She looked down and saw that the seed was already cracked. This means that it's already close to sprouting already. Luna nodded to herself, at least she didn't mess this one up, after all planting this seed was a bit challenging. 

Now that it's done though, the Divine Land already claimed it as its own. It will nurture the seed whole-heartedly. Luna should be able to see some developments within a week. 

"I should leave too. I've got nothing better to do here." Luna sighed and disappeared from the Divine Land. 

She returned directly at her office – the Sky Island. Here she let her guard down and decided to take a brief rest. She hopped onto the bath and sighed as she left the warmth enveloped her strained body. 

She remained silent for a bit before raising her hand and summoning the Sigil of Fated Love. The crimson sigil blossomed and appeared before her, Luna smiled and began drawing pattern using her delicate fingers. 

Once she's done, a screen of light appeared before her. The light re-arranged itself and showed the image of her beloved husband. 

"Hey." Luna called out. 

She watched as the man startles, looked around and stared right through her. A smile formed on Raven's lips, one that never failed to make Luna's heart flutter. 

"Hey there, Gorgeous. I missed you." Raven paused whatever he's doing to give his full attention to her. It's a small gesture but enough to make Luna's heart swell on her ċhėst. 

"I missed you more." She said softly. "It's been years since we slept on the same bed. When are you coming back?" 

"Soon, Darling." Raven bit his lips, his gaze roamed on Luna's face. "Soon. Just a little bit more and I'm done here. I promise I'll return to you right away."

"You better do, Mister." Luna snorted causing Raven to chuckle, "How's work there?" 

"Oh, same old. Same old." Raven dismissed with a wave of his hand, "It's just a time consuming project, I'm trying to get over it already since I'm very eager to return to your side." 

"You can do it. I believe in you." Luna encouraged him.

Luna then proceeded to tell Raven what happened to Anne and Ellen. She even told him about the first batch of visitors on the Divine Land. 

But then, Luna discovered that Raven wasn't really listening to her anymore. She frowned and was about to tell him but when she paid attention to where he was looking, she can't help but feel hear rising to her cheeks. Her skin reddened because of Raven's heated gaze and the latter caught on to this. 

Luna watched as her husband took a couple of deep breaths in, bit his lips and looked at Luna with a very complicated gaze. 

"You're being very mean to me, my dear Wife." Raven lips quirked into a smirk. "You're doing this on purpose aren't you." 

Luna blushed even further but she didn't hide from his gaze. He had seen everything already, what's there to hide? 

"So what if I am? I'm lonely you know! You better finish that project as soon as possible or else I'll sleep with your Avatars instead!" 

"Do that and I'll make sure you won't be able to walk properly for a whole-year when I return." 

"Wha-! Hmph! I'm done talking to you! Bye!"

Luna disconnected the link before she succumbs into doing something incredibly embarrassing.