Chapter 16: Departure

"Farewell, Brother Noctis! If you ever visit the capital, I'll treat you to a feast! Hahaha!" – Hao Trinh ran over and gave Darius Noctis a bear hug.

The embrace made Darius Noctis's spine crack audibly, contorting his face in pain. This guy wasn't just fat—he was strong.

Once Hao Trinh finally let go, Darius Noctis clutched his aching back and forced a wry smile. At that moment, Zentharis Lam also approached to bid him farewell.

"Brother Noctis, this is where we part ways. I don't know when we'll meet again, but if you ever travel to the capital, please let me know. I'd love to introduce someone with your exceptional cooking skills to all my acquaintances. I wish you a safe journey."

Unlike Hao Trinh, Zentharis Lam maintained his usual refined demeanor, bowing respectfully. Seeing this, Darius Noctis clasped his hands together and returned the gesture.

There was no reason to strike a man who greeted him with a smile. Truth be told, Darius Noctis had no ill feelings toward Zentharis Lam—on the contrary, he found him rather polite. However, his life experiences had honed his instincts, and those instincts told him that Zentharis Lam always had a purpose for approaching him.

Just as Darius Noctis was about to leave, Zentharis Lam seemed to remember something. He hurried over and handed him a large piece of oxhide.

"Wait, Brother Noctis. I received a more accurate map yesterday—one that even includes the empire's territory. If you don't mind, please accept it as a gift from me."

"Your Highness, why would you give a military map to Mr. Noctis?"

A royal guard hurried over and whispered into Zentharis Lam's ear.

Zentharis Lam didn't answer aloud. Instead, he transmitted his thoughts telepathically: "Don't worry, I've already erased all military information about our kingdom. Only the empire's military locations remain—but even that map is incomplete."

Hearing this, the royal guard bowed and withdrew.

Little did Zentharis Lam know that this very decision would one day save his life.

Darius Noctis found their behavior odd—one person asked a question, the other didn't respond aloud, yet the first still seemed satisfied. However, he didn't dwell on it.

The map he had just received from Zentharis Lam, to put it bluntly, was almost useless—completely different from the modern maps he was familiar with. It was as crude as a child's drawing.

But his system could analyze the information from these maps, making them far more useful to him. This alone was a significant favor. Regardless of Zentharis Lam's motives, the man had helped him on multiple occasions. Darius Noctis wasn't someone who forgot favors—if given the chance, he would repay them.

"In that case, thank you. Next time we meet, I'll treat you to a few bowls of noodle soup. Until we meet again." – Darius Noctis smiled.

He placed the oxhide map on the dashboard before closing the vehicle door.

"Where are Woof and Meow? Get into your house already… Woof, you little troublemaker! Where the hell did you run off to get covered in mud like that? Bath—bath, now!"

Darius Noctis didn't leave immediately. Instead, he released water from the truck's storage and gave Woof a thorough rinse before drying him off. Only then did he prepare to depart.

"Brother Noctis seems to have a cleanliness obsession," Hao Trinh laughed.

"I appreciate people who are clean," Zentharis Lam said with a chuckle, lightly flicking open his folding fan.

"Brother Noctis, wait for me!!!"

From a distance, the blacksmith came running, lugging a large iron chest. With every step, it clattered noisily—undoubtedly filled with his blacksmithing tools.

"Take care, Brother! Make sure to listen to Uncle Noctis! If I hear you got kicked out and sent back, you're dead!"

The blacksmith's little sister waved at him while casually resting a cleaver on her shoulder.

When she noticed Darius Noctis looking at her, she enthusiastically waved at him too—this time with the hand not holding the knife.

"Fat Luu really lucked out. If I had been as shameless as him, maybe I could've joined Brother Noctis too," Hao Trinh mumbled, rubbing his round belly.

By then, Darius Noctis had already started the engine and driven away. Zentharis Lam had also disappeared at some point.

"Mr. Noctis, come visit us again!"

"Thank you for the meals, Mr. Noctis!"

"Safe travels, Mr. Noctis!"

"Mr. Noctis, wait! I have a bag of vegetable seeds for you!"

Darius Noctis reached out to accept the gift from a villager. Their warmth and generosity reminded him of his old neighborhood—a place where, despite their poverty, people had been just as kind-hearted.

But after his parents passed away, he had avoided returning, unable to face the memories.

From the highest vantage point in Phucloc Town, Zentharis Lam stood silently, watching Darius Noctis's truck disappear into the distance, deep in thought.

Behind him, his royal guard called out several times, but he didn't respond.

Finally, the guard raised his voice:

"Your Highness!"

"Hmm?!" – Zentharis Lam snapped out of his daze and turned around.

"Your Highness, we've gathered information on Darius Noctis." – The royal guard respectfully presented a small scroll with both hands.

"Have you read the contents yet? Tell me your thoughts." – Zentharis Lam smiled as he received the document.

"I have read it…" – The royal guard hesitated.

"What is it?" – Zentharis Lam rarely saw his guard being so indecisive.

"Your Highness will understand after reading it." – The guard bowed his head, not daring to say more.

"Very well. Before that, tell me—what is your opinion of Darius Noctis?"

Zentharis Lam has not spent much time with Darius Noctis, so he realizes that he cannot fully grasp the essence of this man.

"I believe Darius Noctis is far from simple… On the surface, he seems easygoing, but his actions are cautious. It is difficult to extract any information from him. He acts as if he knows nothing about this world, yet his knowledge is precise and detailed."

"He is hard to read—whether genuine or deceptive, I cannot say. However, his kindness appears to be real… I don't think he's pretending, unlike so many others."

"He does things without seeking personal gain. He treats Your Highness the same way he treats those of low status. I believe he deliberately acts this way to draw Your Highness's attention. I dare say that he has succeeded."

The guard voiced his thoughts, then immediately bowed deeply. His words carried an implication that could be seen as disrespectful to the prince.

"Well said! Hahaha! I never expected a warrior like you to think so profoundly. You should have been a scholar… No, no—better yet, a general leading troops to war! Your wisdom surpasses that of those decrepit old men clinging to power. Not bad at all!"

Zentharis Lam clapped his guard on the shoulder, full of praise. Then he added:

"But you missed one thing—he doesn't want my attention. It's difficult to explain, but I don't believe he's from the empire. In fact, I don't think he's from anywhere at all. I have a feeling he truly ended up here by accident, just as he claimed."

"What do you mean, Your Highness?"

"Have you ever heard of summoning rituals?" Zentharis Lam asked. "I once read about them in an ancient text—one that predates our era…"

He trailed off, saying no more.

Sensing his master's unease, the royal guard dared not press further and fell silent.

At that moment, Zentharis Lam changed the subject:

"Do you know why my father named me Zentharis?"

Hearing this, the guard immediately straightened, puffing out his chest. His voice carried the weight of absolute pride.

"It was to entrust Your Highness with the task of restoring Lupterna, to elevate our kingdom into a great power like the Eastern Great South Empire, and to revive the glory of Lupterna's golden age. I believe in Your Highness, just as His Majesty does!"

"You are correct. That is why I seek talent for Lupterna's future. Darius Noctis… I feel that he is no ordinary man—or at least, he will not be in the future. But I know I cannot recruit him. Somehow, I have this strange premonition that one day, he will become someone I can only look up to. And I don't understand why I feel that way." – Zentharis Lam sighed.

"Your Highness, should I…?" – The guard asked, a glint of murderous intent flashing in his eyes.

"Don't be foolish! Have you forgotten who we encountered the first time we met him?" – Zentharis Lam's sharp glare silenced him.

The guard instantly recalled the lifeless gaze of the woman in black.

A cold shiver ran down his spine, making his hair stand on end. Even the thought of her sent a wave of dread through him.

Zentharis Lam was a man of vast knowledge. Though young, he understood well what should and should not be done. Especially when it concerned a man who could dine side by side with the Shadowed Lady.

Holding the paper in his hands, Zentharis Lam did not read it. Instead, he let it slip from his fingers.

The moment the wind carried it away, the paper burst into flames and turned to ash.

"Your Highness, you're not going to read it?" – The royal guard was taken aback.

"I don't think I need to do reading. It would only pique my curiosity and cause unnecessary frustration. The only thing I admire is that fat blacksmith. I originally came here to recruit him, but he willingly followed Darius Noctis instead." 

"Fat Luu's little sister—go bring her to me. Tell her who I am." – Zentharis Lam cast a glance at his guard and issued his command.

With that, he turned and walked away.

In the shadowed corners where no light reached, numerous figures moved in silence, disappearing into the darkness.

The royal guard let out a long sigh.

He had no idea what his master was thinking.

Nor did he dare to find out.

For he knew—one of the gravest sins was for a servant to understand their ruler too well.