Chapter 86: A Little Surprised

Grutt's figure was not hindered in the slightest. Like a human-shaped bolt of lightning, he surged through the scattered yellow sand, chasing after Shaman Timmah. However, Timmah's figure suddenly halted, and he let out a muffled groan of pain.

Just as he had used magic to retreat and turned around, Shaman Timmah felt two strange stinging sensations on his back.

The sting was cold at first, then painful, and soon it began to numb. A strange sense of weakness spread from the stinging areas throughout his entire body.

What made Shaman Timmah lose control even more than the pain was the shock and fury in his heart. He knew that the sensations on his back were the result of poison and a curse, the unique poison and curse carried on the blades of the harpies. In his rage, the shaman swung his fist backward.

Unable to pull out the two blades embedded in the shaman's back in time, Lorelei twisted her body with the agility of a fly at an extremely narrow angle in mid-air. The shaman's fist grazed her shoulder, tearing off a chunk of flesh and blood. Amid the sound of breaking bones, the harpy chieftain let out a piercing, ear-splitting scream.

At this moment, Grutt had also arrived. This time, he did not use his fist. Instead, he formed his hand into a blade, and with a swift motion, his palm and fingertips sliced across Shaman Timmah's throat. Then, he came to a stop.

Shaman Timmah was still retreating, but his steps had become unsteady. His massive body knocked over a patch of shrubs before finally coming to rest against a tree. Bright red blood gushed out from his throat like a lively fountain, quickly drenching his entire body in crimson. A gurgling sound, indistinguishable as either coming from his mouth or the wound in his throat, bubbled forth. It was unclear whether it was his own voice or the sound of the blood.

His enormous bull-like eyes seemed ready to burst from their sockets, filled with rage, resentment, and disbelief as they fixed on Theodorus, the man he had called "my friend." Suddenly, he took a breath—it was clear he had mustered every last bit of strength left in his body to draw it in. Then, his voice, mixed with the gurgling in his throat, emerged: "Back then, it was I who told Theodorus to take you out of Nigen. The price was three magical black crystals. That was your worth in his eyes..."

Grutt was slightly taken aback, while Theodorus' expression shifted faintly. Shaman Timmah's mouth foamed with blood as these words forced their way past the blood flooding his throat. With a final, blood-flecked, ferocious smile, the shaman's massive body finally collapsed with a thunderous crash.

"It seems these things didn't need me to teach them after all..." Shaman Timmah took one last glance at Lorelei, who had fallen to the ground, before his enormous bull-like eyes stared lifelessly into the void as he died.

Grutt stepped forward, quietly observing the shaman's corpse on the ground. His black eyes regained their usual depth and calm, like an ancient, undisturbed well. Suddenly, he turned and asked, "Who told you to intervene?"

Lorelei, who had been clutching her shoulder and groaning in pain, stopped her cries at Grutt's question, though cold sweat continued to pour down her forehead like rain.

"I was afraid that if Timmah really escaped, it would have been troublesome," said Theodorus, his expression now calm as well. He nodded to Lorelei. "Well done, Lady Lorelei. Rest assured, the harpy tribe will now be a true member of Orford. You understand what happened here today, don't you?"

"Yes, of course I know. A few temple knights from the church infiltrated this place. During the battle, Shaman Timmah was unfortunately killed, and we also killed one of the temple knights," Lorelei nodded repeatedly.

Theodorus smiled and nodded as well. "Good. Then I'll trouble you to relay this to your people. When the minotaurs arrive here, I'll also need you to help calm them down. I'll do my best to ensure the minotaurs accept your leadership. For now, go and tend to your injuries."

Only then did Lorelei walk over to retrieve her two blades from Shaman Timmah's body. She showed no interest in even glancing at the corpse of her former ally. Indeed, as Timmah himself had known, she was no fool. She understood that in the eyes of the minotaurs, she was merely a subordinate, just a pawn. Back in Nigen, she had no choice, and it had never been her habit or inclination to think otherwise.

And just as Shaman Timmah had thought, these things only needed a little guidance to take root. What he hadn't anticipated was that the first to offer such guidance would be someone sent by Theodorus. A harpy chieftain, isolated and in need of support, with a mind and schemes not as deep or complex, was clearly far easier to control and manipulate than a powerful and ambitious shaman like Timmah.

Lorelei flew away unsteadily, leaving only Grutt and Theodorus behind. On the ground lay the bodies of the minotaur shaman and the knight clad in radiant armor.

"Was what he said true?" Grutt asked, his gaze fixed on Shaman Timmah's corpse, his tone calm.

Theodorus let out a long sigh and replied, "Yes."

"Oh? That's a bit surprising," Grutt said with a faint smile. It was a small smile, but one that seemed oddly out of place on his face, mismatched with his usual demeanor.

Theodorus remained silent for a while before finally speaking again, his voice lacking its usual vigor and confidence. "Over the years, you've helped me so much... I've said before that Orford isn't mine... but if it truly belongs to anyone, half of it would be yours."

Grutt didn't respond, still wearing that strange smile, his eyes fixed on Shaman Timmah's corpse. The minotaur shaman's face still bore that ferocious grin, as if mocking someone, while the blood-flecked foam at the corners of his mouth had already attracted a swarm of flies from the swamp.

"Orford has come this far. Once we overcome this final hurdle, it will truly succeed. My life's greatest wish will be fulfilled. So, my half... you can take it anytime..." Theodorus said, his voice trailing off.

"Price difference... is that the term?" Grutt murmured, still staring at Timmah's body, as if speaking to himself.

Theodorus shook his head. "I'm just entrusting it to you. I have many friends, and yet few... so few that there's only you."

"Like I said, I'm just a little surprised, that's all," Grutt said calmly. He turned and began walking out of the swamp.

Theodorus let out another long sigh and followed, turning away from the scene. On the ground, flies had already begun to crawl into Shaman Timmah's nostrils and mouth.