Early the next morning, several influential figures in Emberfire City gathered in the rear hall of the hostel.
Delvin, President of the Merchant Guild; Harold, Guildmaster of the Adventurers' Guild; Thornt, Commander of the City Guard; top-tier adventurers; as well as Sevein and his butler, Morris.
Garland stood in a corner like a silent iron statue.
"That is the situation."
Sevein finished recounting the scouting party's findings in detail, replayed the images stored inside the crystal, and clearly stated his position.
"The gnoll tribe in the northern part of the Whispering Forest numbers around three hundred, with a Seventh-Tier chieftain. They are currently preparing a ritual involving an evil god."
"An evil god?!"
Delvin's face turned pale instantly, and the teacup in his hand nearly fell to the floor.
"Are... are you certain, Young Master Lawrence?"
"I am certain," Sevein said calmly, though his gaze was unusually earnest.
"The runes on that altar, the state of those gnolls, and the aura emanating from inside that tent—it could be nothing other than an evil god."
Harold's brow furrowed tightly, his expression turning solemn.
"Three hundred gnolls and a Seventh-Tier chieftain... This is no longer an ordinary subjugation mission."
"And that figure hiding out of sight," Thornt added.
"If their strength is High-Tier or above, our city's forces might not be enough."
Silence fell over the room.
The strongest fighters in Emberfire City were Harold and Thornt, who were both Sixth-Tier, along with Garland, who was Eighth-Tier.
If it were just to deal with the gnolls, this force would be sufficient.
But if there was a mastermind behind the scenes, plus the potential presence of an evil god...
Cold sweat trickled down Delvin's forehead.
"Young Master Lawrence," he spoke with a trembling voice.
"This... this is far too dangerous. An evil god is an entity capable of destroying an entire land according to legends!"
"If we act rashly and end up failing..."
He left the sentence unfinished, but everyone present understood his implication.
The room fell silent once more.
Delvin's reaction actually reflected the thoughts of most people present.
Facing a threat of this caliber, what was an ordinary person's first reaction?
To flee.
The farther and faster, the better.
Delvin was already calculating in his mind: Should he transfer the high-value goods from the Merchant Guild first? Should he send his family to another town? If the situation truly spiraled out of control, should he also...
"I know what you are all thinking."
Sevein's voice broke the silence.
He stood up, sweeping his gaze across everyone present before resting it on Delvin.
"Facing such danger, most people's first reaction is to flee. That is normal; it is human nature to seek benefits and avoid harm."
Delvin opened his mouth as if to say something, but ultimately lowered his head.
"However," Sevein's tone grew stern.
"There is something I must tell you."
"Based on our scouting report, that ritual still requires preparation. In other words, the danger is currently still within our ability to handle."
He paused before continuing:
"Three hundred gnolls and a Seventh-Tier chieftain are completely manageable for our city's forces combined with Master Garland."
"As for the so-called mastermind behind the scenes, you need not speculate. A priest who worships an evil god is merely a rat hiding in a gutter; their strength will not be as terrifying as you imagine."
"However, if the ritual is completed..."
Sevein's gaze turned sharp.
"An Evil God Descent will not simply affect trade routes."
"It will corrupt the entire land, cause nearby monsters to mutate, and make this area completely unfit for human survival."
"When that happens, not only the Whispering Forest, but all of Emberfire City and even the surrounding towns will be dragged into it."
"Will you... be able to run?"
Delvin's face grew even paler.
He was a merchant, skilled at calculation, but he was no fool.
If an evil god truly descended, even if he fled to another town, what difference would it make? A catastrophe of a kingdom-destroying level was not something one could evade simply by running to another city.
"There is one more thing I must clarify in advance."
Sevein's voice turned even harsher.
"I have already reported the situation here to the Royal Capital through my family's channels."
"Both the kingdom and the Grand Adventurers' Guild are now aware that an Evil God Descent ritual may be taking place in the northern Whispering Forest."
"If we choose to flee now or stand idly by, and when the kingdom's powerhouses arrive they find the ritual completed and the land corrupted..."
"How do you guess the kingdom will handle this matter?"
Dead silence filled the room.
Harold's expression shifted.
As the Guildmaster of the Adventurers' Guild, he knew the rules of the Grand Adventurers' Guild better than anyone: when encountering a threat of an evil god level, the local guild must report it immediately and do everything possible to prevent the situation from worsening.
If he stood idly by and allowed an evil god to descend, he, as Guildmaster, would not only be dismissed, but might also face far more severe accountability.
Thornt's expression was equally grim.
He was the Commander of the City Guard, and his duty was to defend this city. If Emberfire City were destroyed, he would be the first to bear the blame.
As for Delvin...
The Merchant Guild's interests were tied to this city. If Emberfire City were abandoned, his guild would be ruined as well.
What was more, if the kingdom pursued accountability, the Merchant Guild—being one of the largest factions in the city—could not escape responsibility either.
"I understand that this is dangerous."
Sevein's tone softened slightly.
"But the danger now is not the same as the danger in the future."
"If we act now, we still have a chance of victory. If we wait until the ritual is complete, it will truly be too late for anything."
"There is also good news: I have already requested reinforcements from my family. Even if we prove no match, as long as we can disrupt or delay the ritual and hold out until reinforcements arrive, that will count as a success."
"Moreover," a faint smile appeared on Sevein's face as his tone turned encouraging.
"If you can successfully prevent the descent of an evil god, that will be a massive contribution."
"Commander Thornt, the City Guard's performance in this operation will be reported directly to the kingdom. In stopping an evil god level threat, the kingdom will not be stingy with rewards—whether wealth, equipment, or promotion opportunities."
Thornt's eyes lit up.
"Guildmaster Harold, the participating adventurers and guild staff will all receive commendations from the Grand Adventurers' Guild."
"These are tangible merits that will be of immense help to the guild's rating and individual futures."
Harold's expression visibly relaxed quite a bit.
"President Delvin," Sevein turned to him.
"You are a merchant; you know better than anyone what reputation means."
"If the Emberfire City Merchant Guild takes part in stopping an Evil God Descent, your reputation will instantly soar. Who would dare refuse to give you face when trade caravans travel this route in the future?"
Delvin froze for a moment, his eyes then widening larger and larger.
He truly was a merchant, and merchants valued profit above all else. Reputation happened to be one of a merchant's greatest assets.
He looked at everyone seated around the room.
"President Delvin, you are the President of the Merchant Guild, and the trade of this city cannot do without you."
"Guildmaster Harold, you are the Guildmaster of the Adventurers' Guild, and the adventurers will be the main force of this operation."
"Commander Thornt, you are the Commander of the City Guard, and there are still many capable soldiers in the city."
"I, Sevein Lawrence, am willing to fund this subjugation expedition and send my guard, Master Garland, to join the force."
"I hope everyone will join me in snuffing out the flames of disaster before they ignite."
Silence once again descended upon the room.
But this silence was different from before.
Delvin wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and took a deep breath.
"Lord Lawrence is right," he said, his voice still trembling slightly, though much firmer now.
"Evasion will not solve a threat of this magnitude."
"I support the subjugation! The Merchant Guild can provide funding and assist in preparing supplies."
Harold stood up and gave a solemn nod.
"The guild will fully cooperate. I will rally all capable Mid-Tier adventurers in the city."
"The City Guard can dispatch thirty elites," Thornt declared as well.
"I will lead the team personally."
Sevein looked at them, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly.
"Very good."
He pulled a document he had prepared in advance from his robe and spread it on the table.
"This is the outline of the subjugation plan. We set out in three days, with the objective of destroying that altar and wiping out the gnoll tribe before the ritual is completed."
"We will finalize the specific tactical arrangements today."
The crowd gathered around and began studying the document.
Inside the rear hall, the atmosphere turned tense yet orderly.
...
The meeting lasted for an entire morning.
After everyone dispersed, Sevein stood alone by the window, gazing at the distant outline of the Whispering Forest.
"Young master," Morris walked over to his side and spoke softly.
"Were you... perhaps a bit too firm back there?"
Sevein shook his head.
"Morris, do you think they are truly willing to take risks?"
"...No."
"Therefore, I must make them understand that the cost of fleeing is far greater than fighting."
Sevein turned around, a hint of exhaustion touching his face.
"The carrot and the stick; neither can be omitted."
"Telling them the danger is still controllable is the carrot."
"Telling them that fleeing will incur accountability is the stick."
"Only when the two are combined will they truly take action."
Watching the young master, Morris felt a secret sense of admiration in his heart.
Back in the Royal Capital, Sevein was merely an ordinary noble youth—neither outstanding nor mediocre.
Yet upon arriving at the border, when faced with a real crisis, he demonstrated a composure and decisiveness beyond his years.
"Young master," Morris bowed slightly.
"This old servant admires you."
"Stop flattering me," Sevein remarked dryly before turning to head back to his room.
As he reached the doorway, he suddenly paused.
"Morris, double-check with Master Garland. He is the key to this operation."
"Understood."
...
In the corner of the rear hall, Garland was still standing there.
He had heard the entire conversation, but hadn't uttered a single word.
This was his duty: protect the young master, execute orders, and become the blade at the critical moment.
As for anything else, it was not his concern.
But his eyes narrowed slightly.
The northern Whispering Forest, a Seventh-Tier gnoll chieftain, a priest, and... an evil god.
This would be a tough battle.
Ever since retiring from the Royal Guard, he hadn't encountered a real fight in a very long time.
Garland's hand gently rested on the hilt of the sword at his waist.
That plain, unadorned standard-issue longsword had accompanied him for over thirty years.
It, too, was due to taste blood.
Rate on N.U.
