NOVEL WEB Chapter 17: Substitute (2)
Richie's encampment in Manggis was an ancient castle that had been abandoned over a century ago. It was only after the battle of Salted Fish Port, when Gray decided to launch a northern expedition, that it was again repaired and utilized.
To call it repaired was actually just to say it had been slightly tidied up. After all, the undead, including their commanders, didn't have high demands for their quarters.
The black castle standing on the hillside looked like an ancient giant. Towers, walls, everywhere had countless damages. In some places, entire sections of walls had collapsed and were only minimally restored with wood.
However, even so, its former glory could still be seen from its silhouette.
On the mountainside, at the foot of the mountain, was a vast Sea of Undead. An area so large that the castle looked like a lone island in the middle of an ocean.
When not in combat and without orders, these undead either stood motionless or sat motionless, resembling sculptures. Thus, it was also an ocean of silence.
On one side, the wind stirred the forest, while on the other side, the Sea of Undead seemed frozen in place. This scene was eerily strange.
At dawn, Yilin, dressed in military attire, arrived at the Sea of Undead with Abi Robbs on horseback. From a distance, she saw other lords gathered on the hill opposite the castle. Benedict II was among them.
Not only Benedict II, but also Allen King Barnett III, King Fides Arthur, Duke Bert Jean II, Camilla's father, and many other southern lords, a massive crowd. They were all members of the Southern Alliance.
Turning her horse around, Yilin rode up the hill.
Sensing Yilin's arrival, several lords hurried over, disregarding any formality, and grabbed her reins. Among them was Allen King Barnett III, and he bluntly asked, "Have you seen the Lord of Lich King?"
*Yilin was somewhat puzzled* "Wh... what's going on?"
"Have you seen him?" The obese Barnett III ran a few steps, already out of breath, but he still frowned and continued to ask.
"Not yet, has something happened?" *Yilin dismounted her horse.*
Benedict II also walked over, held his sword hilt, and said worriedly, "They won't let us in. This has never happened before. When Lord of Lich King arrived last night, I immediately requested an audience and was refused. Today, we came directly and still are not allowed in."
"This has never happened before." Jean II interjected.
Arthur, with a somber expression, said, "According to the previous plan, they were supposed to arrive here at least ten days later. But now they have arrived early, without notifying us. Previously, these undead armies were stationed elsewhere, keeping pressure on Gustav. Now they've all been withdrawn here. I think something must have happened."
Barnett III muttered under his breath, "Lord of Lich King must not have an accident. He hasn't turned me into a lich yet."
*Surveying the anxious lords around her, Benedict II looked at Yilin.*
To be precise, at that moment, all the lords were looking at Yilin.
In terms of power, the Beishier Duchy was not strong in the south, but Yilin was the only human directly sworn allegiance by Gray. That oath was still effective. Not even Benedict II, the president of the Southern Alliance, could compare.
Besides Gray's wife Shelley, Yilin was probably the closest human to Gray.
However, at that moment, *Yilin was completely bewildered, more so than the many lords present.*
"Do you have any news?" Benedict II asked.
"No... no." *Yilin could only stammer* "I found out this morning that Gray had already arrived in Manggis."
"He didn't even notify you?"
"Maybe he just changed his mind suddenly? Or he negotiated smoothly with the Golden Dragon Clan and made strategic adjustments? You don't need to worry so much. This kind of thing is quite normal, isn't it? Gray didn't notify everyone because he didn't think it necessary to notify us so early. Not meeting us is surely because he has more important things to do. The Lich King has many things to handle, he doesn't wait around every day to meet us, right?"
Despite her words, the lords still looked at Yilin anxiously.
Awkwardly smiling, *Yilin mounted her horse again* and said softly, "Let me take you into the castle, let's wait inside. When Gray is done, he will meet us. Don't stay here, there's not even a place to sit."
"That's really great." Barnett III approached specifically, held Yilin's hand, kissed the back of her hand, and said seriously, "You know, the events of the past few years have been so wonderful. Our ancestors never experienced it. Fortunately, you are here, you are the best link between us and the Lich King."
Other lords also breathed a sigh of relief.
With a group of lords and their attendants, Yilin rode her horse along the winding road slowly toward the castle.
Soon, they arrived at the outermost sentry post of the Undead Army.
Two ghosts floated out from the sentry post. Judging by their "uniforms," it seemed they were human soldiers in their previous lives.