Ascension from Dual Professions

Chapter 139: Chapter 138: A Single Move Affects the Whole Situation

Jon’s party departed from the United Commerce Association’s building, rendezvoused with the Lord’s Mansion troops at the town gate, and then left the town. An operation of this scale was impossible to hide from anyone.

Those who had been monitoring the two factions in Birch Town from the very beginning reacted immediately.

Inside a hidden residence, the lookouts of the Blood Eye Association quickly gathered.

"Lord Damien, it looks like they’re heading toward Meis Town."

"Hmph..."

The tall, bald man snorted, having clearly anticipated this.

"Let them go. Let them go fight to the death with those brain-frozen lunatics."

"Splitting their forces at such a critical time... They must have lost their minds."

A member dressed as a wealthy merchant stroked his beard and chuckled softly.

"My lord, they have no idea the Governor is on his way. How else could they dare to make such a decision?"

"Indeed,"

another old man chimed in.

"But what if they did know? It wouldn’t change the outcome in the slightest..."

The others immediately broke into laughter.

Indeed, in the face of absolute power, all struggle was futile.

Even if they managed to rescue Paris Manola and consolidate the forces in Birch Town, it wouldn’t change a thing...

After all, the Governor who was soon to arrive was a true Archmage—a legendary figure!

Damien knew this, of course, but as their leader, he couldn’t afford to show any emotion. He simply gave his orders with a calm demeanor.

"They may have split their forces, but our objective remains unchanged."

"Go. Continue with your missions."

"Once we’ve taken this town, you will receive your rewards in full."

Hearing this, a glint of delight flashed in their eyes.

"Yes, my lord. We will take our leave..."

Though they were all fighting for an ideal and shouldn’t be seeking rewards, a little something extra was always welcome.

After they had gone, Damien sat alone for a moment before walking to his desk and opening a notebook.

The only text inside was still the two lines issued by the Elder Council; there were no new "instructions."

"..."

He stared at the two lines in silence, as if trying to discern the true face of the mysterious "Elder Council" that pulled the strings from behind the curtain.

But in the end, he could only recite them softly.

"Our long-cherished dream will finally be realized..."

...

Meanwhile, in the Eternal Frost Sect stronghold that Damien had once visited, the ever-mysterious Midia was in the middle of a "divination."

He knelt before a translucent ice sphere. Around him, dried herbs burned with an eerie blue flame, and the hazy smoke that filled the air completely shrouded him.

West, who had delivered the report, saw this and did not dare to disturb him, instead standing respectfully to the side to wait.

Midia did not keep his companion waiting for long.

He took a deep breath, and the surrounding smoke, as if alive, surged into his body. His expression grew even more vacant.

Then, the ice sphere before Midia began to glow, illuminating his pale face. As if he were seeing a vision, he began to mutter.

"Ah... My lord’s revelation has come..."

"I know now... I know now..."

In that instant, it was as if his muttering was composed of multiple voices. They overlapped and echoed ceaselessly throughout the stronghold, creating an exceptionally bizarre atmosphere.

"I have seen... I have seen..."

"I have arrived... I have arrived..."

The taciturn West immediately crossed his arms, knelt, and bowed his head in prayer.

A moment later, Midia’s "divination" concluded. However, the murmuring echoes within the stronghold did not fade. Instead, they conjured a cold, white mist from which several ghostly, pale figures emerged.

These "people" were wrapped head to toe in white cloth strips and wore plain masks painted with abstract Runes. Their movements were so perfectly synchronized they seemed to move as one.

After these figures appeared, the blue-robed Priest stood up, the confusion in his eyes clearing.

"Let’s go, West. It’s time to welcome back our Holy Son."

"As you command, my lord..."

The white mist grew denser, filling the stronghold before beginning to spill outside...

...

After the group left the town, Jon, riding on Big Mimi’s back, couldn’t help but glance back at Birch Town.

The wind and snow continued to fall. After just a few miles, the sprawling town had already become a hazy silhouette.

The gesture did not go unnoticed by the sisters Xia and Xina, who rode beside him. To them, it hinted at some feeling that made them curious.

Xia, the more outspoken of the two, asked directly.

"Mr. Jon, are you worried about Reya?"

"Worried?"

Jon looked away, his tone of voice even.

"Of course I’m worried, but that’s not what’s on my mind now that we’re on the move."

"Then what are you thinking about, Mr. Jon?"

Jon didn’t answer right away. Instead, he scanned his surroundings.

To maximize their speed, the party heading to Meis Town was made up entirely of hand-picked elites. Everyone was mounted, and to avoid the need for a supply train, even combat necessities had been distributed to each individual.

According to the brief meeting before their departure, they should receive a report from their light cavalry scouts, Yadri and Hank, in about forty minutes. An hour from now, they would reach the outskirts of Meis Town.

Such efficiency was something ordinary armies could never match; it was only possible for well-funded noble forces like those of the Lord of Birch and the Noble United Commerce Association.

Not to mention, there were a full seven other Official Level Professionals in the group besides himself.

In a place like Heta County, a force of this caliber could be considered truly formidable.

"I was thinking about what kind of reception the Eternal Frost Sect has in store for us."

Everyone within earshot immediately perked up.

This was the very question on everyone’s mind.

"When Viscount Paris went looking for his daughter, he surely brought Knight Level combatants with him, yet he still got trapped in Meis Town."

"But I find it unlikely that the Eternal Frost Sect possesses the power to easily kill or control the Viscount and his Knights."

"If they were capable of that, our current situation would be far more dire."

He knew Paris hadn’t died in the incident, but he couldn’t come right out and say it. So, he chose another way to remind the others.

"They may have used unconventional means to trap Viscount Paris, like Magic, or perhaps a ritual, praying to the Evil God they worship."

"That’s what we need to be most wary of on this mission."

Jon didn’t lower his voice as he began explaining some useful little tricks—summarized by "players"—for dealing with unknown forces.

In a way, he was giving his teammates a sort of "pre-battle briefing" from a unique perspective.

The guards, who already held him in high regard, listened intently.

The Official Level Professionals weren’t taking it too seriously at first, but the more they listened, the more solemn their expressions became.

Even Ivory’s expression turned to one of intense focus.

’This kid... where in the world did he learn all this...?’