Chapter 82: A Familiar Face

  Just over half a year after the mysterious incident where Imperial Envoys were killed by heretics in Aery, a logging team from a local timber yard stumbled upon a strange grove while searching for good timber.

  This was an ancient forest filled with massive trees, many requiring dozens of men to encircle. The most experienced logger on the team immediately chopped a few times to inspect them and discovered that the quality of these ancient trees was astonishingly good. In his decades of dismembering countless trees, he had never seen such fine timber. He reportedly praised it, saying it wasn't just wood, but as delicate and full of spirit as human flesh. Such timber could surely fetch a high price, and a forest stretching as far as the eye could see was undoubtedly worth more than a massive gold mine.

  However, the forest did feel strange. It was almost devoid of birds, beasts, insects, or ants, with an eerie silence that made everyone feel a bit timid. They dared only linger at the edges, not daring to venture into the silent depths. But spurred by the excitement of discovering such a treasure, they left a few men to camp and guard the forest's edge while the others went back to report.

  The timber yard owner, after examining the fragments brought back, immediately became excited and set off to see for himself. When they reached the forest's edge, they found no sign of the workers left behind. Even the tree they had chopped on was nowhere to be found. The dark woods remained silent no matter how they shouted. It wasn't until someone smelled the scent of blood beneath their feet and held up a torch for a closer look that traces of their colleagues were discovered. They had been crushed flat and mangled by something immense, their bodies compressed so tightly by immense pressure that stepping on them felt like solid ground.

  This horrific scene caused immediate panic. But after the initial chaos, they couldn't determine what had happened. No one was willing to venture deeper into the forest to investigate.

  Someone rode a horse around the perimeter of the forest and discovered it was enormous. People began to find it unbelievable: how could such a vast forest seemingly never have been discovered before? And the workers' corpses were particularly unsettling. The strange aura emanating from the silent forest was palpable to everyone. But regardless, the countless trees within reach, which could be exchanged for gold coins, were undeniable. Temporarily setting aside their fear, the timber yard owners began to feel immense excitement over this massive new source of timber. The vague, mysterious sense of danger seemed utterly insignificant compared to the tangible benefits within reach. Besides, they wouldn't be the ones working personally. So, under the owners' command, large numbers of workers arrived at the edge of this new virgin treasure to begin work.

  For the first few days, quite a few peripheral ancient trees were felled. Such high-quality timber immediately fetched unexpectedly high prices on the market. The powerful motivation of high prices prompted the owners to order the workers to set up camp and tools directly within the forest to work day and night. But one day, those outside the forest heard strange noises and shouts from within. By the time enough people outside gathered their courage and numbers to enter, they found everyone inside had met the same fate as the earlier guards: flattened corpses like rats run over countless times on the street.

  This news spread, drawing the attention of local elders. They said this previously undiscovered forest did indeed exist. According to ancient legends, this forest was protected by a Forest God, and those who offended its divine majesty would meet such a fate. Such legends, coming from the mouths of elders, carried more weight. Coupled with the hundreds of lives lost, no amount of urging or commanding by the timber yard owners could convince any worker to enter the forest again.

  But divine majesty, while capable of intimidating commoners, could hardly deter wealthy men driven by the lure of gold coins. The temptation of gold is rarely matched by vague legends. The owners firmly believed some strange beast was lurking in the forest. So, they gathered a team including several mages to venture deep into the forest, intending to shatter these vulgar superstitions with tangible exploration. However, this extraordinary courage did not yield the expected results. Everyone who entered the forest's depths vanished, silently swallowed by the mysterious forest.

  Such a strange place attracted the attention of some who rejected the Church and were seeking new faith. The forest's inherently intimidating quality perfectly suited the tastes of these mystics. They formed a heretical sect called "The God of Nature," mimicking the druids of ancient legends, wanting to worship nature and merge with it to transcend the mortal world. Leveraging the forest's mysterious and intimidating power, their numbers grew rapidly over time. Even smaller heretical groups, drawn by the reputation, came to alter their doctrines and pledge allegiance to this truly awe-inspiring forest.

  Such behavior was naturally unacceptable to the Church. Moreover, most of Aery's timber yards belonged to the Erney family, placing immense pressure on the local officials. Thus, conflicts between "The God of Nature" and the official forces continued.

  The turning point came just over a month ago. After nearly a thousand troops mobilized by local officials and the Church dispersed the heretics, they camped on the meadow outside the forest, preparing to thoroughly eliminate the source of heresy – the forest itself – driving out any beasts within. But the next day, scouts from "The God of Nature" who returned to investigate found only mangled corpses left by the army. Dozens of colossal stone statues, never seen before, now stood on the meadow outside the forest. These statues, spaced dozens of meters apart, knelt in a semi-circular arc facing the forest.

  "The God of Nature" naturally viewed this as a divine miracle. Those massive stone statues were undoubtedly manifestations of their deity's power, created to guard the forest. They used this as irrefutable proof that their god was real and far more powerful than the Church's. Living facts are always far more persuasive than profound theological theories or philosophical arguments. From that moment on, the numbers and power of "The God of Nature" began to explode. They now numbered nearly forty to fifty thousand, becoming the Empire's most severe heretical scourge.

  "Forty to fifty thousand?" After hearing the local official's account, Ethan was instantly dumbfounded. Rodhart was also taken aback. Although they had sensed something was wrong upon arriving in the city, they hadn't imagined it would be this bad. After all, the entire population of the Aery region was only seventy to eighty thousand. It could almost be said that the entire Aery region had become the domain of "The God of Nature."

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  The local official, looking miserable, wailed: "There's nothing I could do! When I sent the urgent report to the capital, there weren't nearly so many. In the last month alone, these heretics have multiplied faster than cockroaches. It's not just local villagers; it seems many have come from other regions to join."

  This successor to the unfortunate fat pig Lord Dott was a thin man, a rare exception among officials. His gaunt face was already contorted into a bitter gourd by worry. "My Lords, I truly have done my best. As you can see, this magnificent cathedral was built at great expense, yet those ruffians show no reverence for our Lord. Initially, I could still crack down on those showing heretical tendencies, but later, when the heretics outnumbered our garrison by dozens of times, they even threatened me to release them. In the end, I could only deploy all my forces to city defense. Fortunately, those heretics are obsessed with their own nonsense and haven't thought to attack the city. But they first destroyed the timber yards, then occupied many villages, and when they threatened me, they also razed the City Hall. Now, almost all production and work in Aery have ground to a halt." Probably thinking his career was likely doomed by this misfortune, his gourd-like face turned green, looking even more bitter. "My Lords, please think of a solution! I truly have done my best."

  The situation was far worse than imagined. The two men walked out of the cathedral with grim expressions. The troops were stationed outside the city. For convenience and because some things couldn't be said with an audience, they brought no attendants.

  This cathedral was the one that the unlucky Lord Dott had forcibly taxed to build. When Ethan was last here, it was only half-finished. The later construction was completed under the current bitter gourd's hand. It was a magnificent cathedral almost rivaling the Magic Academy's, its solemn and imposing aura undiminished. But it clearly had no practical effect now, having become the de facto office for the bitter-faced local official who had lost his City Hall.

  Ethan shook his head and sighed: "Instead of spending so much money building such a useless thing, it would be better to save the money and give everyone a few silver coins to boost their spirits. I believe the followers of 'The God of Nature' wouldn't be nearly so numerous then."

  Rodhart asked: "Bishop Ronis said you should be very familiar with the situation in that forest. Why on earth have so many heretics gathered there?"

  "I don't know what's going on either," Ethan shook his head. From the official's account, the workers who died in the Whispering Woods were likely the work of The Withered Wood Warden. But that was all he could deduce. As for why the once awe-inspiring power of the Sunwell barrier, enough to make one dare not look up, had weakened and disappeared, and what those bizarre statues were about – he couldn't figure those out either. After thinking for a moment, Ethan decided: "Let's go find those who witnessed it firsthand and ask."

  The timber yards outside the city had been dismantled into fragments by "The God of Nature" heretics. The two went to the timber yard's office in the city. Several timber yard owners, hearing that the Imperial Envoys had arrived, immediately came out to greet them. Rodhart asked the owners to summon the workers who had experienced those strange events and were still in the city for questioning.

  The timber yard owners naturally complied immediately, adding that their behind-the-scenes big boss had also just arrived from the capital and wanted to meet the two Imperial Envoys.

  "Aren't these guys the bosses?" Ethan whispered to Rodhart.

  Rodhart replied: "These are just minor underlings. Almost all of Aery's timber industry belongs to the Erney family."

  Amidst the cluster of timber yard owners, this behind-the-scenes figure walked out. Ethan and Rodhart were both startled, exchanging a glance.

  This big boss behind the scenes showed none of the affability typical of merchants. His cold, stern face seemed to carry a hint of killing intent. His tall, straight posture exuded an innate sense of superiority and pressure, making even the timber yard owners beside him uncomfortable. He looked coldly at the two Imperial Envoys, showing not a shred of respect or surprise.

  "Captain Clovis, I didn't expect to meet you here." Rodhart smiled and nodded at him. "May I ask what brings you here?"

  Clovis sat down in the opposite chair and replied coldly: "This is my family's business. I don't need the two of you to trouble yourselves with overseeing it. Do what you need to do."

  "Understood." Rodhart still smiled amiably. He made a very natural gesture to Ethan, signaling him to stay calm.

  Vast industrial holdings certainly didn't require the personal attention of a Paladin Order captain, the Duke's right-hand man. Undoubtedly, Clovis had another purpose here. What that purpose was, though unclear, it was certainly not to help them.

  The timber yard owners had brought all the workers still in the city who had experienced those strange events – barely a dozen of them. They lined up, and one timber yard owner said: "Listen up! These two Lord Imperial Envoys want to know about what happened in that damned forest those days. Tell them every detail, leave nothing out."

  A chorus of "Yes" and "Understood" answered, but one voice stood out sharply: "Eh?" The speaker was clearly very surprised.

  Everyone looked at the one who exclaimed. He was a short, wiry man, seemingly without an ounce of fat on him, as if iron could be wrung from his muscles. His skin was dark, his hair tied back strangely in a cloth band, and he wore a small goatee. He ignored the stares directed at him, staring intently at the two Lord Imperial Envoys, his eyes as if he were seeing the strangest creature in the world.

  Ethan took one look and found the man very familiar. Recalling, he remembered this was Levin, the leader of Rodhart's surviving villagers. He just hadn't expected him to be back in Aery, working in the Erney family's timber yard.

  Rodhart's expression had surely shown surprise, but by the time Ethan looked back at him, he was already standing up, walking over to grasp the hand of this long-lost fellow villager. He said: "This worker brother looks very familiar. Oh, right, we're from the same hometown."

  "How could you two..." Hunter Levin was still staring, dumbfounded. He was even more surprised than Rodhart to have encountered them here, especially since they had become Imperial Envoys.

  "We have many things we want to ask you. Please tell us everything." Rodhart tightened his grip on Hunter Levin's hand, his smile unchanged.

  "Ah. Ah. Oh. Alright, alright." Hunter seemed to finally understand Rodhart's hint.

  Clovis remained cold-faced and expressionless, only a glint flashing in his eyes. Ethan saw it.

  After listening to the workers' accounts, Rodhart signaled to Ethan that they were preparing to leave. As if suddenly remembering something, he turned to the hunter Levin and said: "This fellow villager, please come back with us. I have many more things I want to ask you alone."

  "No." Clovis, who had been silent as a statue until now, suddenly spoke. His voice was even colder and harder than his expression. "While his employment contract is valid, he belongs to our timber yard."

  "I just wanted to..." Rodhart still smiled, his voice amiable.

  "Whatever you want is out of the question. If I say no, it's no." Clovis's attitude remained as hard as stone.

  Ethan suddenly said coldly: "We are Imperial Envoys. We have the authority to decide all matters in Aery."

  "I am a captain of the Paladin Order. In emergencies, I have absolute command over the local military." Clovis stood up, his voice and expression turning sharp.

  Ethan snorted: "What kind of emergency is this..." Rodhart raised a hand to stop Ethan, turning back to Clovis with only a faint smile. "In that case, there's nothing to be done. We'll have to try another time."

  Walking out of the timber yard, Ethan immediately asked Rodhart: "Why didn't you forcefully take him away? That guy is definitely up to no good."

  "Of course he's up to no good. He's likely here to watch or deal with us on the Duke's behalf." Rodhart's expression turned grim the moment they were out of the timber yard. "And he also discovered that there must be some secret connection between Hunter Levin and the two of us. I was far too careless, making such an obvious hint."

  "Then why did you stop me from forcefully taking him away?" Ethan asked again.

  "I wasn't stopping you from taking him; I was stopping you from revealing how badly we needed to take him. Levin won't have come back alone. Even if we forcibly took just him, Clovis, knowing there must be something very important involved, would definitely go find the others related to him." Rodhart walked quickly towards the city gate. "We'll go back immediately with troops to take them all away. For now, we can only hope my brother-in-law hasn't gotten anything useful out of him during this time."

  The moment Rodhart and Ethan left, Clovis immediately took Hunter Levin to a separate room.

  "Now I'm going to ask some questions, about your fellow villager and his friend. What did he hint to you just now? And why do they want to take you away so badly?" Clovis forcefully commanded the lowly commoner before him. "Answer quickly."