Galthor was in his room when Brakthar ran inside, nearly taking the door off the frame. "Chief! Chief! We have a situation!"

It was the second time that day that he had seen Brakthar running around like that, and his curiosity hadn't lowered one bit. He nearly rolled his eyes. "What is it this time?"

"First, we did not manage to secure the enchanter! But we got ourselves a blacksmith that turns out to be a spy?"

Galthor blinked. He didn't know what he was expecting per se, but it absolutely wasn't what he was hearing. "Tell me everything."

And he did. Brakthar started from the very beginning and began narrating what happened, from the bidding of the blacksmith to the bidding battles between the banner masters for the enchanter, and then to the lady—Lady Pelica.

Galthor listened to everything. "She said she's one of my father's backers. I wonder how true that is and what her relationship is exactly with my father. At the same time, I wonder what she's doing here, right here and now."

"Chief, I believe she's part of the Howling. And as you know, the Howling is made up of different organizations and such. We really don't want their troubles. There must be something that attracted her here...

"I believe she's much more powerful than she let on," Brakthar said as he gave more backstories about the Howling.

Galthor listened carefully. In truth, he had also been thinking of a backer. No matter how strong someone is, they still need a large shadow to grow from.

But who would support him without trying to take advantage? He was the "Apostle" of a god to them, a messenger. They absolutely would find a way to take advantage.

"It doesn't matter. I'll talk with this lady and take her measure. New orders will be given after."

The only thing they could do after that was wait. Galthor and Brakthar went to sit outside in the dining area they had been using for meetings.

"This is going to be my first guest," Galthor mused.

Since he became Chief, no outside forces had come to visit, not even members of the other banners.

"Chief, please don't forget to be wary of this... Lady!"

Galthor only smiled. Months ago, Brakthar wouldn't have been so worried about him, but now he was almost like a troubled mother. "Tell the other masters to scatter themselves throughout this building and be ready for battle.

"And you, Brakthar, get yourself some buckets of water. We might need to dump our guest into a cold sea."

Brakthar bowed and left the room. Soon, the sound of people moving throughout the building reached Galthor's ears, and he nodded in satisfaction.

It didn't take long for their guest to arrive. Galthor could sense the lady as she set foot into his village. She wasn't even doing anything to conceal her energy. The power she gave off wasn't divine, and yet she had increased her powers above that of the masters.

He also found it curious that she was human, as well as her assistant who tagged along behind her.

Karathra led the way, and soon they entered the wooden "castle" of Galthor Stronghide of the Stronghide tribe.

Karathra bowed. "I am back, Chief Galthor, and I brought with me Lady Pelica. I hope Brakthar explained the situation to you."

Galthor kept sitting as his gaze shifted from Karathra to Lady Pelica.

She was a tall lady with a dignified face and a calm expression.

The two of them stared at each other... and then almost at the same time, they clashed. Their auras swelled and flared like bonfires.

The air around them cracked and shivered. Karathra and the blacksmith grunted as the space around them seemed to gain weight, the pressure increasing around them and making them stagger.

It became a push and pull.

But Galthor pulled through. His aura—his Divine aura—overpowered her own.

And just as they clashed, they both withdrew their auras.

Lady Pelica bowed her head. "Chief Galthor Stronghide."

He watched her flatly. "I welcome you, Lady Pelica."

The two stared at each other again before he continued. "I did not know humans threw their weight around like that. You are the first human I'm meeting like this."

Lady Pelica smiled slowly. "Likewise. In my entire life, this is the first time I'm seeing a barbarian that's higher than a master. I guess things are changing."

Galthor shrugged. "Naturally. It is the nature of the world for it to change."

"Oh? But there are those, numerous, who will resist change."

"Those who believe in change are not harmless."

"No. I don't believe they are."

They stood in silence once more, looking at each other. Galthor watched her intently. "Lady, what do you want?"

"It's always refreshing to speak with barbarians. They're always as blunt as anything. You do not even ask who I am."

"Then, lady, who are you?"

"I am one of the leaders of the Luminous Critic."

Galthor blinked carefully. "I don't know what that is."

"The Luminous Critic is one of the five leading enchanting organizations called the Five Fallen Stars here in the Thirteenth Region."

"Oh? Then why do I draw the attention of someone like you? I'm sure you're not here just to admire my village." Galthor gestured for Karathra to offer her a seat.

Lady Pelica smiled as she sat. "Your village is most impressive, I assure you. It's a little different from how your father left it."

"My father..." Galthor said.

"Yes, your father. I met him lots of times when this village was established, when the whole of the Revolutionary Base was set up after the Abyssal Land was found here. Even before then, I knew your father when he was still hiding and training his essence users somewhere else in these tunnels."

Galthor frowned. "You said you are one of my father's backers."

Lady Pelica smiled and nodded. "Indeed, I am. Your father also had dealings with others, most especially the Black Market, to move the young barbarians filled with potential."

As she said this, she looked up at Karathra.

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