259: Is His Majesty still alive?

The blood-stained long blade vibrated slightly, shaking off all the foul blood on its surface.

Ross glanced at the headless corpse not far away, his eyes showing no emotion.

"Collect all the corpses and burn them. It's hot now, so make sure they are burned thoroughly to prevent any plague from breaking out!"

"Yes, General!"

After finishing the cleanup of the battlefield, Ross led the legion back to the Iron Wall Fortress.

He had been at the Iron Wall Fortress for over three months. Three months ago, when Reyn Derrick left the territory to go north to the Verdant Holy Land, he had Ross come to the Iron Wall Fortress to take command.

For a long time before, Ross had focused most of his energy on expanding the army and training soldiers. Now that the pace of large-scale military expansion in the Red River Territory had slowed down, the burden on Ross's shoulders had lightened, so Reyn let him come to the Iron Wall Fortress for some experience.

As a Warrior Class, how could one improve without experiencing battle?

Moreover, as the military commander of the Red River Territory second only to Reyn, Ross also needed extensive experience in leading troops in combat, and the Iron Wall Fortress was an excellent training ground.

Furthermore, before Reyn left, he was also somewhat concerned about the defense of the Iron Wall Fortress, so having Ross come over could also strengthen its defensive forces.

It turned out that Reyn's decision was very correct. There was no shortage of combat at the Iron Wall Fortress. While large-scale Fel Orcs invasions were not very frequent, small-scale harassment by Fel Orcs had never ceased.

When Earl Sena was there, the response to small-scale Fel Orcs harassment was mainly based on defending the fortress. After Reyn took control of the Iron Wall Fortress, the rules changed. Now, the Border Defense Army would frequently head north to clear out the small groups of Fel Orcs occupying outposts in the canyon.

In the months since Ross's arrival, dozens of battles, both large and small, had been fought.

These numerous battles not only improved Ross's experience in leading troops but also greatly enhanced his personal combat experience.

During these three months, he had already slain four Gold Rank Fel Orcs and fought even more of the same rank. Although he didn't manage to kill those others, his own strength had been tempered.

In other places, one would simply not encounter so many Gold Rank enemies in such a short period; only in a place like the Iron Wall Fortress would one receive such treatment.

A few days ago, Ross broke through to the Gold Peak during a battle, which was the best reward for his continuous fighting over the past few months.

His Gold-rank Peak strength and the continuous victories in dozens of battles quickly earned Ross the awe and respect of the entire Border Defense Army.

Ross could clearly feel that this emotion was entirely different from what the new recruits felt for him when he was training them before, and he preferred his current state.

After cleaning up the battlefield, Ross led the army back to the Iron Wall Fortress.

The victorious troops marched through the tall city gates into the fortress with high spirits, while their comrades around them cast envious looks.

Inside the Mage Tower at the center of the fortress, Alman, standing on the top floor, quietly watched the returning victorious troops and Ross, who was leading them.

Ross, not far away, seemed to sense something and looked up at the Mage Tower, then nodded toward it from a distance. Alman waved his hand in acknowledgement before returning inside the Mage Tower.

"Such powerful talent indeed. These geniuses under the Lord's command are truly astonishing!"

Alman couldn't help but mutter as he thought of Ross's spirited appearance just now.

Ross's strength had already far surpassed that of Sena from back then. Alman even felt that Ross's aura was no weaker than that of the deceased Old Grand Duke Karl.

"Has he already touched the threshold of the Legendary rank?"

"That is the Legendary rank, after all!"

After following Reyn, Alman's strength had also increased by a level. In the past, he wouldn't even have dared to think about the Legendary Realm, but now he felt that he might actually reach it.

As Alman gradually integrated into the Red River Territory, he saw things he had never imagined before. The top-tier resources that once belonged exclusively to the high nobility could be obtained as rewards from Reyn in the Red River Territory as long as one's contribution was sufficient.

And those powerful inheritances and various kinds of knowledge and secret methods, which were regarded as treasures by the Mage Academy, were things Alman could never have accessed elsewhere. But in the Red River Territory, as long as Alman was willing to put in the effort and prove his loyalty to Reyn, he could obtain them.

gold-grade potions and Legendary-grade Meditation Methods—these were the foundations of Alman's hope to glimpse the Legendary rank. Through Alman's tireless efforts, Reyn had recognized his loyalty and dedication, and his future had undergone a complete transformation.

At this moment, the Mage Tower of the Iron Wall Fortress beneath his feet had completed its expansion. The once nine-story Mage Tower was now twelve stories high, and its interior had been strengthened in every aspect.

The Magic Array of the Iron Wall Fortress had also been better maintained and enhanced. This series of upgrades greatly increased the power of both the Mage Tower and the Magic Array.

Coupled with the overall improvements Reyn had made to the Iron Wall Fortress over the years, the current fortress could easily withstand a normal Fel Orcs invasion. An army of Fel Orcs led by one or two Early Legendary Rank powerhouses could no longer threaten the current Iron Wall Fortress.

Thinking of these changes, Alman couldn't help but think of that existence whom he admired, respected, and somewhat feared: the absolute ruler of the Red River Territory, the guardian of the north of the Rage Bear Territory, the White Wolf Earl, Reyn Derrick.

Alman wasn't the only one missing Reyn. Far away in the Red River Fortress, Alistair and Cecilia's longing for Reyn was growing stronger.

"Sister Alistair, Brother Reyn has been gone for over three months without any news. Could something have gone wrong?"

"I'm so worried about him!"

Cecilia rested her face on her hands on the table. She had become increasingly distracted over the past few days, lacking energy for anything and constantly thinking about Reyn.

"He'll be fine. The matter of purifying the Evil God is extremely difficult, so it's normal for it to take some time. Didn't Reyn say so before he left?"

"Cecilia, we must work hard to do our own jobs to share Reyn's burdens. Only when the territory is strong will Reyn have less to worry about with these messy matters. Let's do our work well and develop the territory; he will surely be very happy when he returns."

Alistair was also worried in her heart, but she didn't voice it. Instead, she spoke to comfort Cecilia. Alistair had been using high-intensity work to keep herself from thinking about other things.

"You're right, Sister Alistair!"

"I'll go back and continue working hard to refine more gold-grade potions. Brother Reyn has always hoped the territory could be stronger, so I must work hard to help him!"

Cecilia was also a smart girl, but her strong emotions had made it difficult for her to cope for a moment. After pouring her heart out to Alistair, she recovered.

Various affairs throughout the Red River Territory were proceeding in an orderly fashion, and everything was flourishing.

However, outside the Red River Territory, the world was becoming increasingly turbulent.

In Saint Stratos, the core Royal Capital of the Kingdom of Asriel, rumors had suddenly begun to fly in recent days.

The kingdom's pillar of stability, the peerless king who suppressed all directions, Golden King Bjorn, was dead, and he had died at the hands of the Dwarf King.

This rumor of the Golden King's death appeared overnight in every street and alley, and it was told with great detail. The rumors described every detail clearly, from when the Golden King left the capital for the Eight Peaks Mountain to how the Dwarf King led the powerhouses of the Dwarven Race to ambush and kill the Golden King.

These elaborate details left many people skeptical. Could it be that His Majesty the invincible Golden King had really met with an accident?

A single voice soon began to appear more and more throughout the capital, gradually affecting the entire city.

Is His Majesty still there?