Chapter 36

  { Day Five 2 (The Wink) }

  "Stand still," Ian ordered and dismounted from his horse.

  Raaaaaaaaaaaar…

  The White Tiger roared angrily as if saying… Won’t you bow to the Lord.

  This powerful aura… he is equally close to the second level, thought the Chief.

  "Greetings, Lord," the Chief clasped her hands. "May I have your name?"

  "Lord Ian," Ian said firmly and entered the village without concern.

  The tiger and the royal horse followed him, with Yaseen and the others behind.

  The Chief frowned.

  "Hey, you… how dare you storm the village," Bali shouted, drawing his sword.

  Ian looked at him and halted his steps.

  Chris and the others stopped, even the beasts…

  It was a small gesture, but it left a deep impression on the Chief.

  "Who are you?" Ian asked.

  "General Bali… commander of the forces of this village," Bali said firmly.

  "Commander of the forces," Ian looked down at him. "Then… why are you so weak!?"

  Shock…

  Bali’s expression tightened. "You… dare to look at me with contempt… do you think you would live if the Chief hadn’t left you alive?"

  Ian remained unbothered by the sword pointed at him and said calmly with a chilling tone, "Your leader doesn’t dare give this order because she knows the consequences, but… fine… you said you are the commander… commander of the forces… then why don’t you fight one of my soldiers, Commander!, and see your strength… no… not you alone… but your entire army."

  "What did you say?" Bali shouted.

  The Chief frowned and looked toward Yaseen… but Liu stepped forward.

  This… what is happening…

  If a second-level had intervened, I would understand, but… first level… only Bali will handle it.

  Although Bali is hasty, he has an Ancient rank… and his training is already in the fifth stage of the first level… he is not someone easily defeated, especially by someone of lower training.

  Liu smiled and stepped forward with his hands in his pockets.

  Bali frowned. "Are you looking at me with disdain?"

  "Defeat him and then speak," Ian gestured behind him. "Or do you want to fight my general?"

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  Bali frowned while looking at Yaseen… he gave a sense of danger… but at the same time clarity… as if gazing into a vast horizon.

  Second level… how did I not notice this?

  Bali was surprised, then his expression tightened… he became nervous for a moment, then said coldly, "Fine… one on one, I won’t benefit from my troops."

  Inside Liu’s pocket…

  There was a small rune.

  This rune had appeared with him the moment he was first summoned.

  Ian did not understand its function at first, but when Yaseen appeared, he understood… He understood the value of this special stone and wished he could have copies of it, but unfortunately… doing so would cost raising the Science and Studies building, as well as Aliano a few levels, to obtain this unique item.

  It was also a copying stone, but…

  A special stone… it could permanently copy a skill and release it forever…

  Meaning… Liu could lend this stone to anyone to use the skill stored within it easily… all that was needed was a burst of energy.

  And it had another feature.

  Liu could not copy Yaseen because he was of a higher rank… but this stone could copy any skill from Yaseen…

  And the skill he chose was…

  The Magic Missile.

  In front of Liu, dozens of magical symbols formed and began launching an endless barrage of missiles at Bali.

  Bali was surprised and waved his sword…

  Slice after slice…

  Fast and strong, but it was lacking against Liu…

  Clang…

  His sword flew to the side, pierced by dozens of shots in an instant, blood appearing on it.

  Liu controlled the skill with precision, making it hit Bali only and not kill him, otherwise he would have died instantly.

  "Will you be quiet now?" Ian said indifferently. "The wounds are on you for brandishing your sword at my face… the second time, I will kill you."

  "I apologize for this, Lord Ian," said the Chief, "Would you honor my humble home for a drink and a talk?"

  "Lead the way," Ian said as if she were his servant.

  The performance… another skill added to you, Lord. Chris sighed, and his respect for Ian grew.

  Inside the Chief’s house.

  Ian, the Chief, and the old man entered… the others remained outside. But before entering, Ian winked at Yaseen.

  "I wonder what the reason for your visit is, Lord?" asked the Chief.

  "You already know?" Ian replied calmly, sipping his tea without caring to check for poison.

  "We are not clear on the matter, Lord," the Chief winked at the old man.

  "Submit," Ian said without concern.

  As expected, the Chief thought for a moment and replied, “My lord… no one likes to submit to others.”

  “You have no choice… either live under my shadow or die beneath my sword,” Ian said.

  The Chief frowned.

  The old man replied, “Lord Ian… we are grateful for your words, but we are not weak.”

  “Really?? Then what about the weekly tribute?… You even offered your husband!… Are you truly strong!?… Then why do you serve a filthy group of orcs!!” Ian said calmly.

  The Chief’s expression stiffened — how does he know this information?

  “It seems you have been watching for some time, my lord,” the old man said.

  “You are not worth all this time… and I am not one who likes repeating himself… submit or die,” Ian said calmly.

  The two frowned and paused for a moment when they heard a strange collection of sounds outside.

  “Go see what’s happening,” the Chief said, suspecting that something was wrong.

  “No need… my men are playing with your men a little,” Ian said calmly.

  The Chief gestured to the old man, who hurried outside, then returned pale and whispered into her ear.

  “What did you say?” the Chief could not believe it.

  All her men had been crushed…

  And they were crushed by a group of level one soldiers… Not a group… just four.

  The Tiger… the General (Yaseen) at level two did not move…

  And even stranger, her men had moved together.

  The Chief looked at Ian in shock…

  And now she faced a difficult choice.

  Should she agree and lose her freedom…

  Or refuse and fight until the last man.

  “Do you want revenge for your husband?” Ian suddenly said.

  The Chief looked at him and did not answer.

  “What if I told you he is alive?” Ian said suddenly.

  “Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?” She had lived on that hope… but was now shocked by his confirmation.

  As for how Ian knew… thanks to Yora’s skill and that captive orc.

  “Orcs do not like playing with men… they only uproot your good seedlings before they grow to the level that threatens them,” Ian said calmly. “Think… your salvation, your husband’s salvation… and your entire village lie in following me!”

  “How… how can I trust you?”

  “My power is enough for that.” Ian smiled and released his aura…

  Booooom

  The two shook and almost fell to the ground…

  The Legendary tier was not something to toy with…

  A terrifying power pressed down on the two and slammed them to the ground.

  “I… I… I submit!”

  **Congratulations to the lord on obtaining the loyalty of Nobu Village**