Lord: Stripped of My Inheritance from the Start - Chapter 394 - 368: A Narrow Escape

The fierce battle had destroyed several buildings in Black Python Castle, scattering rubble and wooden fragments across the ground.

However, no one had the mind to worry about the architectural damage now. At Negan’s summons, all members of the Knight Order stationed around the castle dispersed in all directions, trying to find the escaped Mage.

An hour passed, then two. By the time the sun set, they had found nothing.

CRACK!

A Crystal Cup was thrown heavily to the ground, shattering into a thousand pieces.

Ossen was so furious his hair seemed to stand on end. “That Miroslav was holding back! He actually mastered the Earth Travel Skill, a technique so difficult to learn!”

Traveling underground… ordinary methods are truly useless against it. It’s even incredibly difficult to track his direction of travel.

“It’s a shame the Divine Envoy isn’t here. Otherwise, with his perception, he would have definitely sensed Miroslav’s escape route the moment he fled.”

’If we had just confirmed his escape direction,’ Black Wound thought, ’I could have systematically destroyed the ground to force him out.’

’Even if that didn’t work, it would have at least narrowed the search area.’

’This city-wide manhunt is unlikely to be effective.’

After all, Black Python City was too large. Spreading the Knight Order out was like trying to put out a forest fire with a cup of water.

“Since we can’t find him, we need to think carefully about how to handle the situation.”

Miroslav’s status was not low. Not only was he on good terms with many nobles and organizations, but he was also an honorary Vassal of Wushan Castle and the dean of the Wushan Extraordinary Academy. He had mentored a considerable number of students.

Ossen and Black Wound had failed to assassinate him even by joining forces and had instead let him escape. Now, they would surely face Miroslav’s wrath.

And this was precisely what troubled Black Wound.

According to Mephisto’s plan, besides Moonlight Valley, they were also preparing to use Haid’s County as a second base, silently accumulating power while infiltrating the major factions.

Miroslav’s escape meant the situation in Black Python Castle would surely be exposed.

Ossen’s recovery and Black Wound’s existence would both be revealed. Even whether Black Python City could continue to serve as their base was now in question.

“Send a message to the Divine Envoy. We’ve botched things here. We need him to come and decide what to do.”

Ossen grunted in agreement. Although he had been transformed, he retained his original memories. It was as if he had abandoned his first personality and activated a second one.

“I know what you’re worried about,” Ossen said, “but you can rest assured, Wushan Castle doesn’t have the capability to launch an attack on us.”

Ossen had a very thorough understanding of Lurans and the overall situation in Wushan Territory.

He gave a cold laugh. “If Lurans really brings his Knight Orders here to fight me to the death, it will only make the Wushan Clan lose its grip on this land even faster.”

Ossen maintained two Knight Orders, and if he scraped together his forces, he could field three.

If Wushan Castle wanted to destroy him, they would suffer disastrous losses, even if they ultimately won.

When that time comes, what will Wushan Castle use to defend against the Polante Thief Gang or the Black Gold Brotherhood when they make their return?

“I hope you’re right.”

The Black Wound Knight nodded. It would be for the best if this problem could be resolved through negotiation rather than war.

“If we do negotiate, let’s see if we can get Lurans to show up personally. It would give us a chance to pull him into our camp. If we succeed, Wushan Territory will be ours!”

The reason they had come to Black Python City in the first place was that they had learned of Ossen’s physical condition from Jesus.

Based on Jesus’s description, Mephisto had guessed that the power plaguing Lurans and Ossen was the purest form of Witch Soul Power, which was why they had come.

Mephisto didn’t know where such pure Witch Soul Power came from, but by using the Witch Soul Pearl to combine with the Witch Soul Power inside Ossen’s body, he had easily completed the latter’s transformation.

Ossen’s situation was perfectly analogous to Lurans’s.

The Old Marquis had been tormented for decades; his body must contain even more Witch Soul Power, which would surely make Mephisto’s transformation process even easier.

Initially, after dealing with Ossen, they had wanted him to send a formal request for a visit to Wushan Castle to find an opportunity to get close to Lurans.

However, Ossen had rejected this proposal.

For one, he was incredibly petty. He could never let go of the hatred he felt for Lurans, who had made him suffer so much.

Therefore, he didn’t want Lurans to be freed from his suffering so soon. He wanted to see the man continue to be tormented and hoped Lurans wouldn’t find relief until the very end.

On the other hand, Wushan Castle was not so easy to infiltrate.

Even though Lurans’s combat abilities were limited, the castle still had plenty of Magic Energy Cannons, Magic Arrows, Knight Orders, and High-Level Knights.

If they went there rashly, a single moment of carelessness could trigger a battle like the one today. Not only would Wushan Castle be destroyed, but with any bad luck, they could get themselves wiped out as well.

’But now, to avoid even bigger trouble, perhaps pulling Lurans into our camp isn’t such a bad idea?’

After a moment of thought, Ossen said, “When Wushan Castle questions us about Miroslav, I’ll see if I can find an opportunity to lure Lurans out.”

Black Wound nodded in agreement. “That would be for the best!”

He added, “But before that, let’s thoroughly search every corner of Black Python City. For a Mage to survive such a heavy blow from my sword is already quite something. With an injury that severe, he couldn’t have escaped Black Python City in one go. He’s most likely hiding somewhere.”

And that was exactly the case.

The moon was bright and the stars were few. In a patch of weeds on a desolate hill within Black Python City, a gasping Miroslav was curled up, resting.

He had fled all the way here, his Magic Power completely depleted. A profound exhaustion assaulted his nerves, tempting him to fall into a deep sleep.

But he knew now was not the time to sleep.

He needed to use this brief respite to meditate and refine his Mana, while also remaining vigilant of his surroundings to react in time.

If he couldn’t resist falling asleep, failed to wake up, and was found, then in his current state, he would be captured without a fight even by a Silver Knight.

’Thank goodness I mastered the Earth Travel Skill, or I would’ve met my end in Black Python Castle today.’

His heart still pounded with fear. While grateful for his own escape, his thoughts turned to his Guard Officer, Bulove, whose fate was unknown, still in the enemy’s hands.

This Golden Knight had followed him for many years, and the bond between master and servant was very deep.

The moment Miroslav considered that Bulove might already be dead, the flames of rage surged within him.

“Cough!”

As his anger flared, the wound on the old dean’s chest began to tear with excruciating pain.

To avoid revealing his position, he could only endure with all his might, forcing the coughs to subside.

“Ossen!”

He growled through gritted teeth, “This isn’t over!”

Miroslav knew that Lurans had already recovered. His visit to Black Python Castle had been decided upon after discussing it with Lurans.

They had wanted Ossen to spend a huge sum on a Magic Potion, thereby indirectly weakening Black Python Castle’s power. They just never expected that Ossen had also freed himself from the corrosion of the Soul-Devouring Surge.

Lurans had been tormented by the Soul-Devouring Surge for decades and had only recently been liberated.

How had Ossen been freed?

’Could it be that the person who helped Lurans then turned around and helped Ossen?’

The old dean shook his head. That was all secondary.

He had been targeted for assassination in Ossen’s own castle. Lurans would surely step forward to demand justice for him.

Besides, Lurans was probably looking for an excuse to deal with Black Python City, which had been gradually drifting away from Wushan Castle’s influence, right?