NOVEL WEB Chapter 9: Arnold the Fourth
Heavenly Gate Empire, Northern Region, Anos Mountain Range:
Two mages of unknown rank traveled through the mountains in a carriage, the wheels creaking softly against the paved road. A thin fog curled around them, dampening the air and obscuring their view. The endless stretch of road ahead ensured they had no concern about losing their way, but the silence that accompanied the mist carried an eerie weight.
Then, as if by unseen command, the fog thinned. The air lightened, and their surroundings cleared up.
As they advanced a little further, the towering mountain peaks loomed closer. The two mages were left speechless upon crossing the mountain, captivated and a bit nervous by the breathtaking view outside the carriage window.
Despite their vast experience, which had sharpened their skills and broadened their horizons far beyond those of ordinary mages and humans, it was still difficult to feel at ease in such a place. After all, some of the strongest demons—ranging from 7th to 6th rank—were imprisoned within the very mountains surrounding them, including the one they now traversed.
At the foot of the mountain, the land stretched open, sloping gently and covered in patches of vibrant greenery. Not far from the forest, the mountain range extended to both sides, its peaks rising and falling like an unbroken spine.
In essence, this basin was encircled by mountains—a natural sanctuary shaped by Mount Range Anos and guarded by a fort that protected the sole road, providing easy access to it.
"As expected of one of the few important bases in the Heavenly Gate Empire Northern Region, its defense is as sturdy as gold." One of the mages commented with glowing eyes.
The two mages could see the basin inside the forest, but what attracted their attention instead was the giant city fused with the forest.
At the center of the basin stood a tall tower, and the city sprawled outward in a pattern that seemed to revolve around it. The buildings did not displace the trees but were built into them as if merging into the forest. What lay before them was a strange and unique architectural style, completely different from what they are used to in Western regions.
The culture here was way different from theirs by miles!
If Arnold had been with the mages at this moment, he would have been utterly terrified by the mountain range encircling the basin. After all, anyone with sufficiently advanced cultivation—mages or martial artists—would sense the presence of ancient seals embedded in every fiber of the mountains.
However, what would shock him even more was that even he, as a grandmaster martial artist, would be unable to break these seals, even if he had all the time in the world to undo them!
After several hours of going through tens of checkpoints and getting access through each one of them, the mage duo reached the tall tower in the middle of the basin.
After climbing the stairs and opening the door at the end, they were met by a smiling 40-year-old man in a black robe decorated with several gems on his chest. The man had black hair, black eyes, perfectly aligned jaws, and a well-teamed beard that perfectly complemented his six-foot-tall build.
When both mages met the man's gaze, they immediately knelt on their knees, their breaths controlled and their mana contained in case they accidentally disturbed the mana flow around the man.
"Sam and Dean, there is no need to act in such a formal way; just tell me the urgent matter that made you leave the Arnold Household and speed to the northern border," Arnold the Fourth, the current patriarch of the Arnold household, gently said.
Hearing his words, Sam and Dean dared not be fooled by this man's gentle tone. Instead, they slightly raised their heads and spoke in unison:" Patriarch, we have received an urgent letter from Duke Brand Salamon asking you to immediately call your son back from the hidden cave in the southern region!"
Hearing their words, Arnold's brows furrowed,' For that battle maniac to urgently send a letter to me asking me to recall my son, there is no way the message is that simple,'
"Is that all?" He obviously knew there was more to it, but seeing the hesitation in his guardians' eyes and their shaking bodies, he felt he should give them a push." You don't have to be afraid. It's not like you wrote these letters yourself." A smile adorned his face after he said that.
Dean and Sam couldn't help but roll their eyes inwardly at his words. They weren't afraid of their patriarch because they knew how good he was as a person, especially when it came to treating those close to him.
However, they were careful from the moment they stepped on the top of this tower because the letter was sent from Duke Brand, whom Arnold despises openly and covertly. Hence, they were careful not to mess up his mood, or else their patriarch might disobey their Duke's orders, leave the northern border before his time was up, and head directly to Duke Brand.
***
It should be known that although a Knights's Households are ranked at the bottom of the noble hierarchy, there is a reason each serves one of the highest-ranking nobles in their region.
It is none other than their sheer strength and profound cultivation base!
For instance, Arnold the Fourth is said to be just one step behind Levi, the patriarch of the Dukish household he serves.
Such strength was found only in the patriarch of the Knights' Household and his left and right guardians. The rest were extremely weak, befitting their ranks of bottom nobles.
***
Yet, upon hearing his words, they respectfully proceeded with Duke Brand's letter without missing a single word.
"I have received some information about a potential 6th-ranked demon roaming inside of Hidden's Cave Forest; I have already notified the royal family and several other families of this matter to send backup as soon as possible. After all, we all understand the implications of such a demon appearing in this forest."
Hearing the rest of the letter, Arnold the Fourth felt a bit irritated that he was obliged to send strong people to help out Brand, but he couldn't refuse such a request since the consequences of such a demon in that forest are by no means good news to anyone in the Heavenly Gate's Empire.
Rubbing his beard in thought, Arnold the Fourth took a few minutes to consider who to send and for how long. After much hesitation, he let out a heavy sigh and declared," Sam, given your affinity with fire, you will be liked by Brand. You help with his request to track the demon inside the hidden cave's forest. As for you, Dean..."
Arnold paused for several minutes before reluctantly uttering...