Chapter 60 - 58: Night Banquet

Amidst the chanting of the Ancient Iolaian Demon Language—which Master Laurie had heard enough times to grow calluses on his ears—and beneath the majestic, solemn phantom of King Yama, the "Desolate Wind" Grand Commander Harrison Mustafa pulled off a stunning revival. He sat bolt upright like a dying man startled awake, though he hardly awoke to glorious dreams of battle.

A swift, cold strike from a crowbar knocked the mercenary corps leader, who had just been resurrected as an undead zombie, flat onto the ground.

For a split second, a vicious glare surged in Mustafa’s bloodshot eyes. But just as quickly, he lay motionless on the ground, as if transforming from a bloodthirsty thug of the wilderness into a model citizen of absolute docility.

Of course, this wasn’t because Grand Commander Mustafa had a sudden change of heart.

Rather, it was the gray Netherworld Magic Power enveloping Xiahou Yan’s hand that left him with no choice but to bow in submission.

A Necromancer possessed absolute control over the Undead Creatures he resurrected!

Naturally, the Lord’s reason for resurrecting this mercenary corps leader wasn’t out of some twisted desire to torture a captive, nor was it to add a powerful thug to his ranks. If he had allowed this thoroughly evil mercenary bandit to cling to life merely for personal gain, it would undoubtedly clash with the Lord’s moral compass.

All he wanted was to ask Mustafa one crucial question!

"Tell me!" Xiahou Yan demanded, pressing down on Mustafa’s freezing shoulder armor. His eyes were locked dead onto Mustafa, while the Netherworld Magic Power on his hand shimmered with a mysterious gray light. "How do you open the Magic Lock on the Magic Safe?"

"Magic... Safe?" Mustafa’s eyes looked somewhat dazed.

Clearly, having just been resurrected, the newly minted living dead’s memory was still a bit foggy.

Experiences from his past life told Xiahou Yan that the easiest way to fix something was to give it a few good whacks.

So, he ruthlessly rewarded Mustafa with another heavy blow from the crowbar.

"Tell me!" Xiahou Yan roared through gritted teeth. "The Magic Safe holding the ’Flower of Abundance’! How exactly do you open its Magic Lock?"

"Urgh... I... I’ve never opened it myself..." Mustafa’s gaze shifted erratically, but ultimately, he showed obedience to his new master. "But the Duke told me that... all you have to do is... say a password..."

"What password?!" Xiahou Yan felt his heart pounding wildly and hastily pressed for the answer.

"Urgh..." Mustafa frowned in thought for a moment before muttering, "...’May Duke Houston enjoy boundless longevity’..."

"..." Xiahou Yan was rendered speechless.

He took the saber from Lawrence’s hand, aimed at Mustafa’s neck, and slashed down. The spray of blood from the severed stump seemed as if it could dye even the bright moon overhead a deep crimson.

Harrison Mustafa’s headless corpse slumped heavily to the ground.

This mercenary corps leader, who had dominated the southern Wilderness for decades only to fall into a trap due to his overconfidence in pursuing the enemy alone, thereby ended his sinful life.

The Igor Family party naturally had no idea what earth-shattering changes Mustafa’s death would bring to the southern Wilderness in the days to come. Nor did they know what fates awaited the hundreds of members of the "Desolate Wind" Mercenary Corps, who scattered in all directions across the cruel Wilderness after the successive deaths of their two leaders.

In the southern Wilderness, the ways of the world were wildly unpredictable.

So, how exactly should one describe the empire’s southern Wilderness?

Solomos, a generation’s imperial literary giant who was born in Yanxi City and raised in Red River Castle, provided the most precise description in his masterpiece, "Dark Mountain Revenge":

"...The Wilderness, the Wilderness is like a chaotic vortex. It swallows and sweeps up the destiny of every inhabitant, forcing them, amidst the eternal winds and sands, to meet their inevitable deaths, to suffer unforgettable agony, or to achieve unparalleled and everlasting glory..."

Leaving Mustafa’s corpse behind, the Igor party joyously embarked on their return journey with the Magic Safe in tow. However, their understanding of this Wilderness would soon deepen profoundly—

—in all sorts of unexpected ways.

...

Yanxi City’s castle.

For the servants of Duke Houston, this was destined to be a special night.

Because, in a long-abandoned and dusty small dining room within the castle, the Duke had broken his usual reclusive habit of refusing guests to host an intimate banquet.

The Duke had announced to his servants that he had important matters to discuss with several "distinguished guests" during the banquet.

Therefore, once the footmen had served all the dishes, the Duke dismissed all the attending servants. He left only himself and his three guests in the room, tightly shutting the dining room’s red oak doors behind them.

However, in the split second before leaving the dining room, the astute head butler—who had the portraits of the empire’s high-ranking officials memorized by heart—had already recognized the identities of the three guests.

The man in the Pure White military uniform, his silver hair impeccably groomed, with a resolutely chiseled face and an aura of breathtaking elegance and nobility, was none other than the premier Great Lord of the Eastern Empire and a figure of immensely high public prestige: the "Blood Splendor," Duke Grimm Rosario!

The short, middle-aged man with a black mustache, black eyes as cunning as a forest fox’s, and a modest demeanor was Chief of Staff Quentin of the Imperial Military Department!

As for the bald, grotesquely fat old man in the Holy Robe who waddled as he walked, he was all too familiar to the servants of Yanxi Castle. This man was the Cardinal Pope of the Holy Light Church’s southern diocese, Delicht III, who was tasked with spreading the Holy Spirit’s universal glory across the Wilderness!

Two Great Lords, one Chief of Staff, and one Cardinal Pope of the southern diocese.

Even with only four people in attendance, the guest list for this private banquet was undeniably luxurious!

It was just that the servants, having been shooed far away by the Duke, were destined never to eavesdrop on their conversation, no matter how much they burned with curiosity...

Inside the dining room.

Duke Houston, nearing sixty with a visibly aging face, leaned forward slightly. Using his knife and fork, he picked up a piece of beef dripping with pink juices and carefully placed it onto the silver plate of Duke Rosario beside him.

This overly attentive, borderline inappropriate gesture caused Duke Rosario to slightly furrow his brows.

"Grimm, it’s rare for you to visit our remote backwater, so you absolutely must try Yanxi City’s specialty!" Duke Houston grinned, acting as if he hadn’t noticed Duke Rosario’s displeasure. "This ’Hundred Flowers Beef’ of Yanxi City is raised on lilacs and iced wine from the time it’s a calf. As a result, the meat is tender and naturally carries a floral and wine aroma!"

Duke Rosario looked down at the beef on his plate in silence.

On the side, Chief of Staff Quentin pierced a piece of beef with his silver fork, tossed it into his mouth, and chewed vigorously, full of praise.

"Your Highness, Duke Houston, Yanxi City truly is a wonderful place. Our Eastern Territory, plagued by constant warfare, cannot compare! Once the fighting finally stops, I’ll definitely have to bring Grimm to this treasured land of yours for our retirement..."

"You are more than welcome!" Duke Houston immediately beamed with smiles.

Yet, amidst this harmonious and convivial atmosphere, Duke Grimm Rosario spoke up with a frosty tone.

"Houston, the military situation in the east is critical. We made this special trip here to discuss serious business."

Beside them, the southern Cardinal Pope Delicht III couldn’t help but shrink his fat-laden neck, his eyes filled with fear.

Chief of Staff Quentin, who had traveled to Yanxi City alongside Duke Rosario, kept his smile unchanged. He continued chewing his beef while playfully scrutinizing Duke Houston’s expression.

For a fleeting moment, Duke Houston’s expression stiffened, but he quickly laughed aloud.

"My dear little Grimm Rosario, no matter what it is, please don’t hesitate to tell me! Even if just for the sake of my friendship with your father, I will absolutely do everything in my power to help!"

"Excellent." Duke Rosario didn’t touch the beef on his plate. He simply stared at Duke Houston with his cold, gray eyes. "We came here this time for the ’Flower of Abundance’."

The hand Duke Houston used to hold his fork trembled slightly.