39: Chapter 39 Viscount Gladstone Returns! An Audience Summoned!

The next day, the first light of dawn appeared.

Thin sunlight pierced through the thick fog above the Mist Forest, casting blurred, distorted patches of light among the trees.

A group stumbled out from the edge of the forest.

It was Viscount Gladstone and his party.

The murderous aura from when they left had been replaced by undisguised disarray and dejection.

Of the nearly thirty elite Black Armored Guards, fewer than twenty could walk back on their own.

Every one of them was injured, their armor damaged, their faces smeared with blood and lingering terror.

The air was thick with the scent of blood and medicinal herbs.

Viscount Gladstone, walking at the very front of the group, no longer possessed his usual majestic air.

His expensive enchanted knight armor bore three terrifying claw marks that reached deep to the bone.

The edges were curled, faintly revealing flesh that had been corroded.

Even after applying the finest hemostatic agents, it still throbbed with pain.

His well-maintained face was now filled with gloom and a trace of... unbelievable horror.

"Peak Knight-level magical beasts... and more than one..."

Viscount Gladstone's voice was hoarse, echoing through the silent group, sounding more like he was talking to himself.

"A Black-Striped Blade Leopard, a Rotten Poison Forest Python, and that damned Razor Lynx... How could they be in the border area..."

That Razor Lynx that killed his son was even larger than rumored, seemingly having undergone some terrifying mutation.

Its fur was harder than fine steel, and its claws and teeth carried corrosive shadow energy.

He and Knight Derek had joined forces, paying the price of three Black Armored Guards' lives to heavily wound it and force it back.

However, before they could even catch their breath, they were attacked by a Black-Striped Blade Leopard that had appeared from nowhere.

Following that was a flight for their lives...

If he hadn't made a decisive choice and relied on his strength as a Peak Knight to force a breakthrough, the entire group would likely have been wiped out.

Why?

How could several Peak Knight-level magical beasts appear in the outer region of the Mist Forest at the same time?

Had some drastic change occurred deep in the forest, driving these overlords to the edge?

Or... was there something attracting them?

He did not know, but he dared not investigate further.

Peak Knight-level magical beasts had intelligence not inferior to humans; such an abnormal gathering must signify a major change!

Frustration, anger, lingering fear, and the embers of grief for his lost son burned within his chest.

But he forcibly suppressed the urge to kill everything in sight.

As a lord, he needed to be rational.

"I must report this to the Count's estate."

Viscount Gladstone's eyes were gloomy as he made his decision.

An anomaly of this scale was beyond what he, a mere Viscount, could handle, and it severely impacted the safety and revenue of his territory.

Count Farrell was a powerful Great Knight with enough strength to conduct a thorough investigation.

Perhaps some incredible treasure had truly appeared in the outer reaches of the Mist Forest, triggering the mutation of these magical beasts.

If he could borrow the Count's power to get a share of the spoils...

Or, at the very least, have the Count resolve this threat.

As for his son's revenge... he didn't want to deal with it anymore.

He could only blame Jette for having bad luck.

For him, what was more important right now was to recover from his injuries as quickly as possible and stabilize his territory.

Then... find a way to break through the bottleneck of a Great Knight!

Once he became a Great Knight, his lifespan would increase significantly, and his status would be vastly different.

By then, having as many sons as he wanted would be effortless.

Look at Count Farrell; he had over twenty heirs, both legitimate and illegitimate—that was true power!

Thinking of this, the gloom in his heart dissipated slightly, and his desire for power was reignited.

He looked back at the silently following Knight Derek, then scanned the demoralized Black Armored Guards behind him, and said in a deep voice: "Pick up the pace, back to the castle!"

When the blood-stained group finally arrived beneath the towering gray walls of Mist Castle, the sky was already bright.

The drawbridge was lowered, and the guards left behind, seeing the wretched state of the party, all wore expressions of shock.

Viscount Gladstone ignored those gazes, his face gloomy as he walked straight through the gate and into the main keep.

He did not immediately call for a meeting, nor did he go to inspect the castle's defenses.

Those could be handled later.

He needed to treat his own injuries first and change his clothes.

More importantly, he needed to think quietly about how to report to Count Farrell in a way that would maximize his benefits and minimize any potential reprimands.

He climbed the stone steps leading to the top-floor room and pushed open the heavy oak door.

The familiar furnishings of the room came into view: the large desk, the fireplace burning calming incense, and the ancestor portraits and hunting trophies hanging on the walls.

This was the core of his power as a lord and nobleman, making him feel a sense of control and security once again.

After changing into a clean, deep purple velvet robe, Viscount Gladstone walked to the window and looked at the town in the distance.

His son's face flashed through his mind, only to be immediately replaced by the scarlet eyes of those terrifying magical beasts in the forest.

He had to act as soon as possible.

"Someone, come here."

He said in a deep voice toward the door.

A personal attendant guarding outside immediately bowed and entered.

"Go and fetch Knight Daniel."

Viscount Gladstone paused, then added, "Immediately."

"Yes, my lord."

The attendant acknowledged and withdrew.

In the quiet room, Rowan, wearing the appearance of Knight Daniel, was leaning lazily in a chair, toying with a high-quality ruby he had found in Knight Daniel's private collection.

The morning light slanted in through the high window, quiet and beautiful.

He appeared relaxed, but his [Insight] trait and the absolute perception brought by the [Frost Heart Realm] constantly shrouded the entire room and even the corridor outside.

When the attendant's footsteps approached from afar and finally stopped outside the door, and a respectful voice rang out, a glimmer flashed in the depths of Rowan's eyes.

"Knight Daniel, the master has returned from the forest and is currently in the top-floor study. He summons you to come immediately."

Finally.

The corners of Rowan's mouth curled into an inexplicable arc, almost imperceptibly.

The prey he had been waiting for had returned to the nest.

He had just heard the guards outside discussing it—it seemed he was injured?

He put down the ruby, stood up, straightened the velvet coat embroidered with the Gladstone Family vine motif, and called out: "Understood. I am going now."

Rowan opened the door to the quiet room, nodded slightly to the attendant, and then walked toward the top floor of the castle with a steady, unhurried pace.

Along the way, the servants and low-level guards he encountered all bowed and saluted, calling out "Knight Daniel."

No one noticed anything unusual.

The door to the top-floor study was ajar.

Rowan paused slightly in front of the door, took a deep breath, and reviewed every detail in his mind.

Then he raised his hand and knocked gently.

"Come in."

Viscount Gladstone's slightly weary voice came from inside.

Rowan pushed the door open and closed it behind him.

The study was well-lit, and the leaping flames in the fireplace dispelled the morning chill.

Viscount Gladstone stood with his back to him, facing the window and looking outside.

His back was broad.

But Rowan's [Insight] instantly captured the unnatural tension of the muscles beneath that seemingly upright posture, as well as the faint scent of corrosion emanating from the wound on his chest.

"My lord, you summoned me."