Chapter 34: Utterly Unconcerned
The foot of Mount Moders was a stretch of undulating hills, but the winter blizzard had filled in the depressions, making it look instead like a plain of white snow.
It was deep night, and icy winds howled in the darkness, but even with the swirling snow obscuring vision, people could still see a golden light in the vast night.
In the Moldavia Territory, the camp of the Scarlet Family was set up in a pine forest on the hillside at the mountain's base. This was originally the lair of a pack of ice wolves, but now it belonged to humans. Within the camp, the lights of Glowstone Lamps twinkled, but the most dazzling sight was the massive hexagonal symbol releasing golden light, suspended above the center of the camp.
The Scarlet Family had chosen this location for their camp after careful consideration. This hill was high and commanding; if a powerful mage were stationed here, they could dominate the entire foot of Mount Moders from a position of height. Besides the terrain, the view to the south was open, allowing coordination with a squad of elite heavy cavalry from the Scarlet Family stationed near the shores of Lake Baniel not far away.
Inside the most central tent of the camp, Brandon was frowning as he listened to a ranger's report. Seeing that the man had been traveling through the blizzard for a long time, he had the ranger sit down, drink some hot tea, and speak slowly.
Then, as the ranger narrated with a grateful tone, the blonde swordsman couldn't help but clench his fist.
"These damned, persistent cultists!"
Brandon erupted in anger, slamming his fist heavily against the wooden table in front of him. The fragile table collapsed on the spot, shattering the teacups on top of it as well.
"It's nothing, just lost control for a moment. Continue." Coming back to his senses and calming the stiff-faced ranger, Brandon took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. He asked quietly, "You just said that the Witherer, He Er La Si, is following the forest along the edge of the Magellan Non-Freezing River, heading south... Your habit of leaving survivors is too easy." Randall nodded to the black-robed figures, signaling them to go check other houses for any survivors, then said in a tone of admonition, "This is quite disadvantageous for our order..."
Mid-sentence, Randall's voice grew softer and softer until he fell silent, because the man was staring at him with an utterly flat gaze, devoid of any emotion.
"The plan has changed." Hera Mos's voice echoed through the street, as cold as ice and snow: "Give a detailed account, no need to omit anything."
"Very well..." For this High Priest who was like a machine, Randall dared not show the slightest hesitation or delay. Although he knew the man would never attack a comrade, an instinctive fear was impossible to suppress. This priest immediately began to recount the various setbacks the Plague Order had encountered in the Northern Lands, emphasizing the loss of another priest, Xi Na, in Moldavia.
"Priest Xi Na is not dead." Hera Mos closed his eyes, sensing for a moment, then concluded: "She is imprisoned in a place isolated from the outside world, but she is not dead."
"Is that so!" Randall felt a surge of joy upon hearing this. He knew the man before him possessed this ability. Randall had originally thought his friend had already died at the hands of the Northern Count or under the jaws of his dragon, but he didn't expect her to still be alive. However, this did not change his mind. But just as the gray-robed priest was about to speak, he immediately shut his mouth.
Shaking his head to signal the man to be silent, the man with dark green hair turned his head to look west, towards the Moldavia Territory, and said flatly, "I can see your emotions, Priest Randall. You want me to take revenge on the force that captured Priest Xi Na. This aligns with the order's doctrine. I accept."
"Once the ruins excavation plan is complete, I will go to Moldavia, rescue Priest Xi Na, destroy its main city, and kill its inhabitants."
Hera Mos's tone was straightforward and matter-of-fact, as if he wasn't describing an evil massacre plan, but simply saying he would eat bread tomorrow.
A deep light flowed in his eyes: "But for now, the ruins excavation plan takes top priority."
"Yes!"
Completely seen through, Randall was secretly alarmed, but he was already used to Hera Mos's ability to read minds. This gray-robed priest stood up, hesitating slightly as he said, "But High Priest, the lord of Moldavia is that dragon slayer, Joshua. He also has the strength of Ultimate-rank Mid or even High-rank. Should we perhaps prepare a little more..."
But at this moment, Hera Mos had already started walking again, moving forward. He showed no reaction to Randall's words, as if utterly unconcerned.
The howling of the blizzard only became clear and forceful again after this man had left. From White Leaf Town came intermittent screams and pleas for mercy, as the scattered cultists thoroughly purged all survivors.
Left behind, Randall was silent for a long time, until the man disappeared into the curtain of snow, before letting out a long sigh.
"Perhaps..." he said with a bitter smile, "he truly is utterly unconcerned."