The Imminent Arrival of the Third Master

"Calm down!" The burly, bearded mercenary beside Adams gripped his arm. "We have more important matters to attend to!"

Adams violently shook off the mercenary's hand, a sinister grin spreading across his face. "For me, slaying Brockman is the paramount task! Don't fret, it won't take long; I won't delay retrieving the Star of Turaam!"

"Damn it all, you haven't seen Brockman in over seven years! Do you even know his current standing?" The bearded mercenary gestured furiously towards the distant, dimly visible podium. "Hear me? Brockman is now a close confidant of this city's lord. He just donated a colossal sum for disaster relief! If we charge out now, the city guards and the Holy Church will surely rise to his defense!"

"Then we'll just butcher them all! I have no qualms about spilling more blood!" Adams strode towards the door. "We possess the strength!"

"Stop right there! Our scouts just returned, reporting that Francis, the Lord of Newin Port, bears a striking resemblance to Cheers, whom we encountered that day. There might be something amiss here!"

"Oh? Are you certain Francis is Cheers?"

"It's... merely a strong resemblance. To soothe the populace, the Holy Church deployed a spiritual amplification Secret Technique near the podium. Those present couldn't see clearly, but their build and outline were quite similar!" This was the very 'trouble' Du Chen had secretly gloated about avoiding when he took the stage.

"Isn't that enough then? It's just a resemblance!" Adams opened the door. "Even if there *is* something peculiar, why not just kill them all?" He lightly drew a finger across his throat, a chilling smile playing on his lips. "When everyone's dead, aren't all troubles resolved?"

With a creak, he pulled open the door.

The bearded mercenary urgently pressed, "Adams, you may ignore *us*, but what about the Third Master's words? Don't forget, it was the Third Master who saved your life back then! Is this how you repay his grace?!"

Adams halted, his expression flickering between shadows and light. After a long moment, he stated coolly, "This life of mine belongs to the Third Master. If he were here, a single word from him, and I would do anything. But he is not here now! Rest assured, I will retrieve the Star of Turaam that the Third Master desires!"

The bearded mercenary pleaded earnestly, "Can't we just wait two more days? Since Brockman has already revealed himself, there's no fear of him escaping! We currently possess half of the Star of Turaam. While we search for the other half, we must also guard against others who might try to kill us!"

He stepped forward and once again seized Adams. "The Third Master desperately needs the Star of Turaam; we mustn't cause him any trouble... Besides, the Third Master himself is nearing this location!"

Adams paid no heed, dragging the bearded mercenary along as he pressed forward. Brockman truly knew his younger brother well—all brawn and no brains, acting purely on impulse!

The bearded mercenary, exasperated, stomped his foot. "Adams, if you are truly so resolute, can you at least wait another half-day? Tonight, we will accompany you to slay Brockman—right now, we are in broad daylight. If there were no mission, pillaging this city would be nothing, but now... it's truly impossible! Think of the Third Master; his standing absolutely forbids us from causing him any complications!"

Adams' footsteps finally stilled. He let out a heavy grunt. "Alright, then we'll hunt down Brockman tonight. First, send men to watch him; he absolutely mustn't escape!" He shrugged grudgingly. "The Third Master is truly something else. He's a supreme Battle God, renowned across the Three Continents, yet he acts with such secrecy..."

"Enough, Adams! Can you not consider who the Third Master's enemies are?! His name is likely known to every Battle God, and he has no shortage of acquaintances. Can he truly show himself so casually?"

The bearded mercenary sighed helplessly, then wondered aloud, "By the way, when I received news this morning that the Third Master was coming personally, I was puzzled for a long time. Why did he rush here himself the moment he heard Francis had returned to the city? Previously, to conceal his identity, he didn't even personally intervene in the retrieval of the Star of Turaam!"

Adams and the others exchanged glances. No one had any idea what connection "Third Master" had with Francis...

At this moment, Du Chen's speech was drawing to a close. After Brockman publicly offered a few words of praise for Du Chen, he "declared openly" that he had urgent matters requiring his immediate departure from Newin Port. He requested that His Excellency Francis not host a banquet nor see him off, as official duties were paramount—*Damn it all, is Adams not in the port, or has his temperament changed? Why hasn't he burst out yet? Hmph, he may not come now, but I've already publicly stated my imminent departure from Newin Port; I dare you not to be anxious!*

"Finally, I shall speak no more grand pronouncements. Let everyone remember one phrase: No matter when or where, I, Francis, stand with the Newin River territory! Your suffering is my suffering, your enemies are my enemies. Those damned Merfolk... must pay the price! Blood debts shall be repaid in blood!" Du Chen concluded his speech with these resounding words. Amidst thunderous cheers, he returned to the Lord's Manor.

It was long after his figure vanished that some of the Holy Church's spiritual measures gradually faded. The attending commoners, their faces flushed with excitement, eagerly discussed the Lord's recent pronouncements, lingering long before dispersing.

Stepping inside the manor gates, Du Chen gestured, summoning the Bishop of the Newin Diocese. He chuckled, "You all performed exceptionally this time, hehe, no need for modesty. I have another matter to entrust to you. As you know, my territory is currently sorely lacking in talent. Can the Holy Church assist me in recruiting some? The requirements are simple: not greedy, willing to work hard, and more capable of governing a region than those former imperial officials who merely filled their positions without merit!"

Du Chen mused inwardly, *Porter's words before the speech held some truth. I have no ambition to vie for kingship or dominance; my sole aim in governing this territory is to do good. As long as I can bring peace and prosperity to the people, even if it means my Butt Blossoms, then what's wrong with the Holy Church seizing the opportunity to embed its personnel?*

*As long as the good deeds are attributed to me, who cares how many people the Holy Church sends?!* He then elaborated on the specific qualities he desired in recruits.

"'Not greedy, willing to work hard, and more capable of governing a region than those former imperial officials who merely filled their positions without merit'?! Are there even such talents? You call *these* requirements simple?!" The Bishop's mouth twitched, but he nodded. "Your Esteemed White-Robed Archbishop, as you wish, I will attend to this matter with the utmost speed. Er, however, there is one thing I must first inform you of..."

"Speak!"

"According to our intelligence, the Merfolk to the south have been unusually active these past few days. Their actions suggest... they are brewing another uprising. However, I've found it difficult to rally many The Masters from nearby dioceses recently, and those from further afield wouldn't arrive in time. You must prepare yourself early!"

*The Merfolk are coming again?! My new army has only just been recruited, their equipment is incomplete, and their training insufficient!* Du Chen frowned. "Where are the Holy Church's The Masters in the vicinity? Why can't they be summoned?"

The Bishop glanced left and right. Given his position, he happened to know the full story. "Your Excellency, some matters are truly inconvenient to speak of openly..." He lowered his voice. "You are already aware of the dispute between the Holy Church and the Dragon Race, aren't you?"

Du Chen nodded. "I know. I heard the Dragon Race is accusing His Holiness the Pontiff of harboring the rebellious dragon Constantine, demanding that His Holiness hand him over! Because of this, my teacher, Dean Zigurd, has also gone to participate in the negotiations!"

The Bishop's voice dropped even further. "Indeed, the matter has escalated significantly. His Holiness recently issued a strict order: all The Masters from the major dioceses along the Grand Delta Sea have been recalled to the Papal Curia's divine temple, to guard against any unforeseen circumstances! Damn it all, when has His Holiness ever harbored Constantine? Hand him over? We don't even know where to find Constantine!"

"The situation has escalated to such a degree?" Du Chen felt a mix of surprise and delight. He was delighted that a conflict was brewing, promising many opportunities for good deeds. He was surprised, however, that he couldn't possibly intervene in a battle between powers on the level of the Pontiff and the Dragon God! And would his teacher be in danger? After all, the dragons of Mount Miglio were not to be trifled with!

*Forget it, I should focus on managing my own territory first!*

Du Chen dismissed the Bishop and returned inside the manor. Gazing at the mountain of official documents, he once again felt the crunch of insufficient manpower. *Damn it, these are merely the documents Porter has organized, requiring my signature and seal of approval. I can't even imagine how many documents there are that he hasn't gotten to yet!*

He remained busy until dinner time. Biting into a piece of bread, Du Chen tossed aside his pen and seal, stretching and sighing. "What are those who vie for kingship and dominance even thinking? A mere eight hundred li of land is enough to give someone a splitting headache, yet they actually find tens of thousands of li insufficient!"

"Hehehe, how can those common folk compare to your distinguished enlightenment, Master!?"

Harry entered, flattering him. "Master, my task of scent-monitoring the fake Brockman has encountered a slight issue; I require your sagacious guidance!" Deboning couldn't spare a clone, and the real Brockman still held the Tyran Beast, making direct surveillance impossible. Thus, Du Chen had only been able to task Harry with remotely monitoring the fake one using scent.

Du Chen chuckled. "Harry, your flattery grows more melodious by the day!" He smiled. "Just now, Brockman said he was leaving immediately. After he truly departed, did the fake Brockman make any unusual moves?"

"Oh, my sagacious Master, truly nothing can escape your keen perception!" Harry's eyes widened in astonishment as he gazed at Du Chen. "Then your wise mind must have already deduced it: less than twenty minutes after the *real* Brockman left, the *fake* Brockman departed as well, accompanied by several The Masters. Their direction was... the East Gate!"

Du Chen shot upright. Information he'd gathered over the past few days flashed through his mind like flowing water. The two Brockmans had no known connection, yet they were both leaving the city almost simultaneously. What did this imply!?

He immediately commanded, "Take my Wyvern Carriage and detour three hundred li north. Deboning should currently be at the aristocratic resort there; create reasons for those Eminence Project to be unable to return... Tell Deboning to rush back with the utmost speed, then, starting from the East Gate, you and he are to follow my scent trail and catch up with me!"

Harry mentally calculated the time, then glanced at the sky. He said seriously, "Master, with the speed of the Wyvern Carriage and Mr. Deboning, he can be back in the city within two hours and quickly rendezvous with you. Are you planning to take Andy to track them by scent?"

"Mm, summon Andy for me immediately!"