Chapter 451: New Citizen, Drizzling Rain

"The Archbishop of the Church of Night, Wang Yu, should be in Alastair right now. I will help you track him down, and all you have to do is try to kill him."

The white-haired youth named the person Ethan was tasked to eliminate, promising to assist in pinpointing Wang Yu’s location.

"……Very well."

Ethan fell silent for a moment before agreeing decisively. He then began to wipe down an object he had retrieved from a box—a longsword housed in a scabbard, its appearance and aura betraying nothing of its true, extraordinary nature.

"If even you cannot kill him, we have no better way to deal with him. So, please, give it your all. You used to only fight with full force when facing an equal, but that is a poor habit."

The white-haired youth urged him not to hold back, instructing him to unleash his full power the moment the target was confirmed.

"I will try."

Ethan’s reply was brief and somewhat perfunctory. He drew the sword from its scabbard, stroking the blade with fingers coated in battle aura as if caressing a beloved pet.

"Sigh, if only your answers were more decisive, I could rest easy. Wait a moment; I need to confirm his general location, and then I will take you there."

The white-haired youth smiled helplessly and said no more, instead communing with the void and his magic to locate their destination.

"You would spend such a promise to have me kill him, even without knowing his exact location?"

Returning the wiped blade to its scabbard, Ethan picked up a photograph from the cabinet, placed it carefully into a drawer, stood up, and asked the youth casually.

"Sometimes, you don't need to find someone's exact location; you only need to know how to draw them out. For instance, if I were to strike at Glorila, what would you do? Exactly. That is what I hope you will do when you face this target."

As the white-haired youth spoke, the moment he mentioned that name, the sound of countless raindrops hitting the ground intensified. He could sense innumerable sharp objects locking onto him from every direction; should he continue, they would fall without hesitation.

"……"

Ethan remained silent. He did not even turn around, his sword kept firmly within its scabbard, though the battle aura within him, driven by his aura seed, surged throughout his body.

"Very well, this range should suffice. Collecting the traces left by the God of Night in the material world is not difficult. Once you arrive, simply destroy everything you see in the vicinity, and you will surely find him."

The white-haired youth did not risk further provocation by repeating the names that had angered the other. Instead, he wove magic and void energy to construct a gateway before Ethan, signaling him to pass through.

"And if he is not there?"

"Then we shall try again. As for any collateral damage, I can only offer an apology."

"……"

Without a word, Ethan stepped through the portal, traversing a vast distance to reach his destination. Gazing out at the plains ahead, he drew his blade, gripped it firmly, and let his battle aura surge.

"Pitter-patter..."

Rain fell from the firmament, growing heavier and more urgent with every passing moment.

……

"The release is fine; just send me a message via the prayer communication network."

At the gates of the royal capital of Alastair, a platform had been erected days prior. Several city guards and members of the Night’s Edge sat behind it, facing a long queue of people.

The identities of those in line were remarkably diverse, a chaotic mix of races—dark elves, dwarves, goblins, flower fairies, and even a few rare magical beasts that had attained the stage of sapience.

It was currently the turn of a large brown bear, a magical beast, to register and verify its identity. Their goal was unanimous: to choose Alastair as their new home and obtain legal citizenship.

For those with this special status, the testing process was exactly as the guard had described.

For members of the Church of Night, obtaining Alastair citizenship was simple: pray to the Lady of Night, cast a Night spell, and send a message to the guard via the prayer network.

For others without this affiliation, the process was more cumbersome, though they rarely reached the capital, usually being turned away at the borders.

They were required to provide extensive proof of identity, undergoing tedious checks to receive a temporary permit that required a probationary period before full citizenship could be granted.

Alastair was currently absorbing foreign populations to bolster its national strength in a relatively short time—a plan devised by Shael. However, Alastair wanted "citizens," not troublemakers, so identity verification remained strict.

Members of the Church of Night were an excellent choice. Faith in the Lady of Night meant integration into a special network. The saying "Heaven watches what men do" was apt here; the Night Sky Tree, optimized by Wang Yu and Avia, could glimpse much of what the believers did.

While Alastair could not guarantee that every member of the Church of Night was law-abiding or kind, if they tried to cause trouble, they would likely be surrounded and beaten by their fellow church members before they were even halfway through. This was far better than accepting those whose identities could not be confirmed.

"So, where would you like to go? The royal capital requires certain conditions. If you have lived here before, you may stay, but if not, you must choose from these options."

Confirming that the bear, named Bell, was indeed a member of the Church of Night, the guard handed him a map. The capital was not yet fully open, except to the veterans of the Church of Night who had previously lived in the Shadow of the Royal Capital.

"I want to go to... Winter City."

The bear did not hesitate, pointing decisively to the northernmost tip of the map, indicating his desire to settle in the former capital of Seowintan.

"I didn't expect you to choose that place. As a matter of routine, I must warn you: the environment there is harsh. It is a land of bitter cold, lacking in commercial resources and materials for strengthening one's power, though the mineral deposits are decent..."

Hearing the common tongue spoken by the bear, the guard raised an eyebrow. Few chose to live in the North or the old lands of Seowintan. Rules required him to issue a warning.

The bear reached into its thick fur and pulled out a well-crafted blacksmith's hammer. The implication was clear.

"As a bear, the cold suits me better. I actually feel a bit hot right now. Cold air, a burning furnace, cake, and beer—those are my favorite things."

Surprised by this remarkable bear, the guard smiled and handed him a metal badge from a box under the desk. It was embedded with magic circuits for identification—a product of the Royal Shadow Industry, now the Royal Industry. The quality was average, but the production volume was certainly sufficient.

"Oh? You're a blacksmith? Then Winter City is perfect for you. You can go outside the city to collect basic supplies; there are carriages waiting. A residence will be prepared for you in Winter City, and it will be yours after three years of residency. Good luck."

As the bear took the badge in its mouth, the guard pointed toward the outskirts of the capital, where a camp had been set up with supplies and several carriages parked nearby.

These were for the new citizens heading to the bitter cold of the old Seowintan lands. Few residents were willing to go there, and without people, those towns could not develop, so Alastair encouraged the migration.

"Okay, thank you. By the way, may I ask, will I be able to see a dragon once I get there?"

The bear thanked him politely, then asked a question that left the guard stunned. The bear seemed very eager to see a dragon, but...

"I don't know about that. I've never seen one myself. But dragons have appeared there, and some say they are our allies. If you go, you might have a chance."

The guard didn't know how to answer, as the situation regarding the dragons of Dragon Island remained undisclosed within Alastair and the Church of Night. He lacked the authority to give this bear, who wished to see the most powerful "magical beast," a definitive answer.

"I see..."

The bear looked disappointed but happily headed to the camp to collect his supplies and wait for the carriage.

By evening, the registration at the city gates continued, and the first carriage had already departed, carrying passengers toward the old lands of Seowintan in the north. They would head east for a stretch before turning north to their destination.

Bell, the bear, was too large and had to stay in the cargo hold with the luggage. Being easygoing, he didn't mind, resting his head on his paws and sleeping soundly.

The carriage moved along the main road, eight horses rotating in teams of four, traveling without pause. By the end of the day, they had covered a great distance, reaching the plains in the east of the kingdom.

"Is it raining?"

"Seems so. Why did it start raining so suddenly? I didn't notice it before."

"We're in the carriage, so who cares? The driver must be having a hard time, though. Should we send him a raincoat?"

The drowsy bear, Bell, listened to the passengers' chatter and noticed the sound of rain. He twitched his nose, and a faint, thin scent entered his nostrils. It was too faint to identify, yet it inexplicably made him feel more alert.

"Screech!"

The carriage came to a sudden, violent halt. The locked wheels skidded across the ground, the momentum sending the passengers inside tumbling over one another.

"What's going on!"

"Why did we stop so suddenly? Go and see what is happening."

"I... what is this?!"

The passengers were no inexperienced laymen; they instantly sensed an emergency, summoning their battle aura, mana, and void energy as they cautiously stepped outside to investigate the anomaly.

"Do not step into that rain!"

The coachman’s desperate warning reached their ears, and only then did they notice him sprawled aside, his face etched with terror. The four horses that had been pulling the carriage were gone, leaving behind only severed reins that hung suspended, just before the curtain of rain...

"Drip, drop."

The rain continued, pattering incessantly,

falling upon the earth.

And Big Bear now understood exactly what that scent he had caught earlier was: the faint, almost imperceptible tang of blood—the blood of the horses.