Chapter 2020 - 544: Things More Terrifying Than Humans

In mid-June in Roland City, the morning sun carried a bit of moist coolness, unlike the midday when it made people sweat profusely.

Beneath the towering dome of Saint Roland Cathedral, the air was filled with the old scents of incense and the greasy smell of burning candles.

This place is a sacred and quiet realm, its grandeur not much inferior to that of Saint Clement Cathedral, yet even so, it didn't catch the Imperial people's glance.

A thousand years ago, there was no obvious distinction between Imperial people and Ryan people; in fact, during the Isaac Dynasty, the Ryan people were more civilized than the Imperial people, as the sewers of Thunder City were built during that era.

But it's unclear from which year the Ryan people became regarded as barbarians of Aus Continent, and Holy Light unwittingly neglected this land.

Prayer Hall.

King Theoden sat alone on an inconspicuous bench, like an ordinary old man seeking redemption.

He was not holding the scepter in his hand but casually fiddling with a gold coin, rubbing the worn patterns with his fingertip as if to sort out his thoughts.

Beside him, an ascetic in coarse cloth and linen kept his head down, wiping the dust from the candlestick with a gray-black cloth.

His movements were slow and light, like a servant attending to the Divine. Yet from his mouth came intelligence about the nation's darkest corners.

His name was Marinus, the sharpest dagger under the king's robe, and also the leader of the "Tomb Guardian."

"I hear the south has been quite lively lately."

"Indeed, Your Majesty."

The monk wiping the candlestick spoke slowly, his gentle voice resembling the rustle of a robe brushing against stone steps.

"The Campbell Duchy is constructing a new thing called 'railroad'; it's said to be two parallel iron rails with a steel giant beast spewing white smoke running on it. Its speed doesn't match that of a warhorse, but its endurance excels, crossing mountains and ridges seems like flat ground, and the goods it transports at once can equal several flat-bottomed cargo ships."

The gold coin flipping in Theoden's hand came to a halt.

He slightly turned his head, a hint of surprise flashed in his cloudy pupils, but soon turned into a playful cold chuckle.

"My old friend's child always manages to create some peculiar gadgets..."

Marinus spoke softly.

"I hear it's no minor gadget, he has reduced the travel time from Thunder City to Glanton Castle to one-fifth of what it used to be... even less."

"How far have they reached?"

"Glanton Castle."

"The territory of the Derek family?"

"Yes."

The ascetic paused wiping the candlestick, turned to face the esteemed Majesty, and continued in a soothing tone.

"They've completed the railroad spanning north and south. According to their plan, the next step is to extend the railroad northeastward. The terminus is Spinor Earl's Domain, or maybe the undeveloped lands further east."

"Spinor..."

Theoden softly chewed on this place name, displaying a pensive expression.

"If I recall correctly, it seems to be near the Ten Thousand Ridges Mountain Range, also a backyard for some… dirty things?"

"Yes, Your Majesty." Marinus nodded slightly, speaking softly, "Beyond the Spinor Earl's Domain to the east lie undeveloped wastelands, to the north is the territory of the Rot Clan, although the sacrificial activities in Twilight Province have depleted their numbers, many remain."

Rot Clan.

While chewing this nostalgic name, Theoden fell into contemplation, gently rubbing his aging forefinger on the armrest of the bench.

They are a ratmen clan dwelling in underground and shadows, greedy, filthy, and perpetually hungry.

These little creatures infest the kingdom's borders like a plague, making goblins seem amiable by comparison... They are every lord's nightmare.

However, they are not the king's nightmare.

On the contrary, they serve well as gardeners in the king's backyard, consuming the fallen leaves that the nobles of Roland City disregard, pruning those that absorb the kingdom's nutrients yet produce no worthwhile value.

On the other hand, they can balance the southern Campbell people, preventing them from acquiring minerals from the Ten Thousand Ridges Mountain Range or forming excessive connections with the dwarven High Mountain Kingdom.

This is why the Lion Heart Knight Order could eliminate them swiftly but chooses not to.

As for supply difficulties, being too tall to enter, and concerns about relations with the dwarves, those are excuses that old farmers in Ryan use to comfort themselves. If humans want to fight ratmen, dwarves would be overjoyed, as their mighty old friends at last remembered them.

The dwarves of the Ten Thousand Ridges Mountain Range even wish to be the vanguard!

Guarding the "small" Brass Pass does not showcase the dwarves' full might!

The church fell into momentary silence, only the sunlight through the stained glass quietly moving, until Theoden's face was divided into light and dark halves.

Moments later, the aging king sighed softly, his voice tinged with helplessness unique to a benevolent elder.

"Saint Sis above... The Spinor people have likely been having a difficult time lately."

That tone was gentle, as if discussing today's weather or the evening meal.

Marinus, understanding the implicit message, let a slight smile form on his serious face.

"Since life forces us, accidents are inevitable."

Theoden did not respond, but resumed spinning the gold coin with his fingers. That coin, turning in the twilight, seemed like the ever-changing fate on a gambling board.