One Unnoticed Defeat

In the end, Cien accepted Legia's offer. Although he felt something was off, upon further thinking, allowing them to hunt for him was not a bad idea.

Cien could save time. He wouldn't have to hunt and skin those troublesome monsters by himself, enabling him to study and work faster in his shop.

Moreover, by engaging in these transactions, he could put the money he currently had to good use.

Besides, Cien didn't really know what to do with all the money he earned. Buying seeds, tea, and other items in Wynteria didn't even make a dent of five percent of his profits in the Polaris Festival.

From now on, Cien would purchase every material his guests brought.

He didn't know the price of each material he would receive, but with his phone and the data from the camera, at least he could assess the quality of each material. So, Cien could adjust accordingly based on the available data.

Cien also made it clear that he was buying materials, not corpses. Therefore, Legia had to skin and gather every material from their hunts.

This way, Cien truly no longer had to deal with bothersome tasks like skinning and cleaning all those materials.

Lastly, Cien instructed Legia or Jamie not to hunt monsters beyond their capabilities. If they encountered such monsters, it was better to run and inform him.

Thinking of the buying and selling system in Death Valley, there is one issue that needed attention: the departure of Legia and Jamie in the future.

Both of them will not stay in Death Valley. Afterall, both of them are members of the Ethyria Garrison.

"When will you both leave?"

Legia was somewhat surprised to hear that question. She had just realized that her departure was inevitable.

Perhaps it was because she felt comfortable and there seemed to be no conflicts to think about in Cien's place, causing Legia to forget about the outside world.

Initially, Legia's plan was to pick up Jamie. And if the man was healthy, she would leave for Farnodt the next day, which meant today.

Legia then turned to Jamie, who had just been beaten up by her. She laughed dryly in her heart.

"Maybe... in two or three days."

"Oh, in that case, can I ask for your help?"

"What kind of help?"

Cien then talked about the buying and selling system he had been thinking about earlier.

After Legia and Jamie left, the situation in Death Valley would return to its usual state. Quiet. The newly established circulation of money would come to a halt again.

To keep the circulation of money and the business of his shop alive, Cien asked Legia to inform Reiss and Princess Sravati about his new rules regarding the purchase of monster materials.

Cien even hoped that Reiss and Sravati could introduce him to other merchants who were willing to come here.

If those merchants brought in a lot of goods and materials from the outside, Cien would be very happy to buy them.

"I will convey Lord Millard's message to them. Not only that, I will also recommend this shop to my superiors in Ethyria. I think they will be very interested, especially when they see Rupture."

"Thank you then. Ah, Sravati is a royal princess, so if it's difficult to reach her, don't force it."

With that, the future of his shop might be brighter. Hopefully.

After discussing that, Cien intended to return to his shop. Legia would only sell the materials from the rat later in the afternoon. Because she needed to skin and clean it.

When Cien returned to the chairs on the terrace and wanted to enjoy one cup of tea. Legia, who was in the middle of untying Jamie and the rat monster, immediately called Cien again.

"Lord Millard!"

"What is it, Legia?"

"Well... I was just thinking. What if, hypothetically... if there are people who want to stay here, for example, those who no longer have a home. And they want to live under your protection in Death Valley, would you accept them, sir?"

This time, Cien was truly taken aback by Legia's question.

People who want to stay here. In Death Valley? The first thing that came to Cien's mind was that those people must be crazy.

If not, they were desperate individuals who had reached a dead end in their lives.

Accepting them under Cien's protection?

"In this place? Hmm, interesting!"

Such thoughts had never crossed Cien's mind before.

Cien immediately pondered for a moment, weighing the pros and cons of the matter raised or suggested by Legia.

In the end, Cien couldn't imagine it. It was too abstract. Cien needed to know the people who would be staying before he could see the consequences. Positive or negatively.

But at least, for now Cien could give an answer to Legia.

"I will accept them. They have no home, right? If they are desperate enough to stay in Death Valley, if I reject them, where else will they go?"

That was Cien's answer that brought a wide smile to Legia's face. Although Cien's true reason for accepting them was not as generous.

Cien's main reason was because he was curious about the developments that would occur in Death Valley if those people really came.

Cien wanted to know whether the presence of those people would have a positive or negative impact on his shop.

For now, his thoughts leaned towards the positive, as having other people around would bring about a circulation of money.

But he didn't need to think about that now. What Legia said was still just speculation.

With that, Cien went back into the shop to start learning how to make new weapons.

What Legia mentioned had caught his attention for a moment. But for now, he kept that thought in the corner of his mind.

Cien was still unaware at the moment. That the answer he gave would change his life in Death Valley in the future.

***

While all eyes and ears of the people were focused on the dire situation in the northern part of the continent of Kastia.

Unbeknownst to them all. Far away from the conflict in Huntara.

In the southern part of Kastia, where one kingdom stood in the Land of Sand, the Kingdom of Mandora. A significant change had taken place.

A change that even the people and leaders of the Kingdom of Mandora themselves were unaware of.

A change that had successfully become the first trace of Abyss's invasion to terrorize the world.

In the private chamber of King Mandora, the King lay soundly asleep, surrounded by five women who were draped around him.

The scent of sweat and bodily fluids from their nocturnal activities still lingered heavily in the air of the room.

At that moment, around three in the morning, a fleeting shadow entered through the window.

The shadow approached the sleeping king and the five women who still appeared to be in deep slumber.

The shadow examined the group of people asleep there before suddenly kneeling beside the large bed of the king.

"What brings you here at such an hour?" a male voice instantly sounded as the shadow had just knelt.

The voice belonged to the person in the bed. King Mandora, who had previously seemed peacefully asleep, now widened his eyes and raised his upper body.

He glanced at the shadow, which turned out to be a demon with small horns on its forehead and a pair of bat wings behind it.

"News from Blackwinter has just arrived. But..."

The messenger demon glanced at the five women on the bed. Although they appeared to be sleeping, he was still concerned about revealing information in front of them.

King Mandora knew what the demon was thinking. Without hesitation and without showing any emotion, he pointed his index finger at each of the women's necks.

Causing the women who had just been comforting him to wake up startled, groan, and then instantly perish.

"No need to hesitate. They were just humans."

"But... won't this be troublesome later?"

"What's troublesome about it? I am the king here! I decide the life and death of all beings. Especially mere lowly humans!" The King retorted arrogantly.

"Then, what news do you want to deliver?"

The demon immediately conveyed the outcome of the conflict between Abyss and Huntara. The result could be considered a defeat for Abyss.

However, surprisingly, whether it was the messenger demon or King Mandora, they didn't have much of a reaction at all.

King Mandora had even predicted that the Abyss invasion plan would fail. So the news didn't surprise him. He just felt a little regretful about A'wan's death.

King Mandora turned to look at the night sky, appearing as someone deep in thought, reminiscing about something.

"I never thought A'wan would die. What's even more impressive is that it wasn't Signa Wayde who killed him. Hehehe, how embarrassing for A'wan, being killed by someone who isn't a Champion. Kuhehehe... Ahh~ that demon is truly foolish~"

King Mandora immediately recalled A'wan's words at the Castle of the Demon King, when the Demon General and his forces were about to depart to carry out the plan to isolate Huntara.

King Mandora vividly remembered A'wan arrogantly stating that he would proceed with the isolation plan and turn it into an invasion, presenting the heads of King Huntara and Signa Wayde to the Demon King.

"So foolish. Does he really think invading a great kingdom would be that easy? Huntara is not a small kingdom like Farnodt. Kuhehehe, His Majesty will be furious when he hears this news."

King Mandora then glanced at the top of the cabinet in his room. There, like a statue, a human head was displayed. A head that resembled his own face.

When the five women entered and found the severed head, they screamed in fear. But when King Mandora said it was just a statue, they immediately calmed down without any further suspicion.

Far from the women's thoughts, the displayed head was indeed a genuine human head.

Upon seeing the head, King Mandora showed a wide smile. It was so wide that his white teeth were visible, and his eyes began to curve like a crescent moon.

'It seems that it is time for me to give His Majesty a surprise gift to appease his anger.'

Without looking at the demon messenger, King Mandora ordered him.

"You!"

"Ready, General Asmodeus!"

"Tell the others that we will return to the Abyss momentarily. Prepare quickly! Oh, one more thing, when I assume this form, don't call me Asmodeus, but call me the King of Mandora, named Abayomi Bes Tahoma!"

.

.

With this, the curtains of darkness from the Abyss began to open, providing an introduction to the beginning of a chaotic era.