Chapter 43: 15, I'm out, I'm out

Chapter 43: 15. I'm Out, I'm Out

The auction took place as scheduled that evening. Dakus flipped through the auction list handed to him by Steward Dia, shook his head, and handed it back.

The list was filled with the relatives he had brought back, categorized and organized, but he had no interest in them.

Maranual needed to represent the House of Hellfire at this auction to socialize with the Druchi nobility in the city. Maranual didn't even call for Dakus after returning to change his clothes, because he knew his cousin disliked dealing with those nobles.

Dakus sent a servant to summon the three siblings of the Takaya family. The dwarf slave construction crew had already moved in and was currently renovating the interior of the ancestral home; winter in Karak Kadrin was not suitable for external construction. All expenses were being covered by Young Master Nuker.

The painting by the court painter, Rain, was finished. Rain had also drawn a sketch of a Cold Lizard Fear Knight clashing with a Batonian Knight. Dakus was very satisfied after seeing it and planned to take it wherever he went. Although he didn't have a "System," he possessed a heart driven by the desire for achievement.

In the evening, a small welcoming ceremony was held at Night Watch Castle to welcome the arrival of Bayne, the former Tower Master.

After getting the full picture of the situation, Nuker also came down. He chatted with Bayne for a few moments, drank half a glass of wine, and then left.

Several Druchi nobles and two members of the House of Hellfire accompanied Dakus. Bayne remained expressionless throughout the entire process, making the banquet extremely tedious. However, out of etiquette, it had to proceed. By the second half, Bayne was constantly covering his mouth to yawn, relying entirely on Rain and Wote to maintain the atmosphere.

The next day, Dakus took a stroll through the family warehouse. He wanted to find some stones that could make a head glow green; as a "fun-loving" Druchi, he wanted to pull off a truly bottomless stunt.

After a circuit, Dakus found what he needed: a dimensional stone sealed in a special box. He stood far away and had a servant open it to confirm.

The moment the box opened, the warehouse was flooded with green light. Dakus immediately bolted; God only knew how much radiation that thing emitted.

He also found a set of trestles for Triceratops, but the stands were quite old and had not been maintained at all. The upturned Lucian decorations had turned black, and the wooden frame was nearly rotting.

Dakus also saw a secret vault containing a large number of Cold Lizard chariots. He looked toward Steward Dia, who said helplessly, "His Majesty the Witch King's black dragon, Sulekh, had its heart pierced by a spear. He is using a Cold Lizard chariot now, so His Majesty ordered the destruction of all Cold Lizard chariots. In all of Naggaroth, only he is permitted to use them."

Dakus truly hadn't known this and said in surprise, "What? That's fucking ridiculous!"

Steward Dia said nervously, "Young Master, watch your words!"

In the evening, Maranual found Dakus and told him that he had become famous in Karak Kadrin, becoming a subject of discussion among the city's nobility—though he had been quite famous before. Today, the nobles would push the revelry to its climax. The priests of the Temple of Khaine were particularly happy because they had exceeded their KPIs for the year.

Maranual also mentioned that Furlan Barre had failed. Dakus advised Maranual to find an opportunity to slaughter that useless piece of iron scrap, but after thinking for a long time, Maranual refused, saying there was no opportunity and that it might trigger a war.

Dakus couldn't be bothered with him. He told Maranual to have Cowell's brother find a way to lure her out of the city—perhaps by suggesting the Morgal family was dissatisfied with the House of Hellfire's long-term rule over Karak Kadrin, or by offering new ways to please the God of Love and Art, or even by finding amusement through those relatives. Regardless of the method, as long as she left the city, it would work.

Dakus had everything prepared; he was ready to invite her to ride a "dirt plane" at any time. Even if she rode a Dark Manticore, he wouldn't worry; Dakus's bow and Alisha's Amber Spear could kill her.

Dakus needed to go into hiding. Since he had chosen to go to the forest camp, he certainly had to depart before the Twilight Tide. He needed to make ample preparations; he didn't want to lose his life there, and he certainly didn't want to deal with beasts like the Slide-Scorpion Manticore.

The Twilight Tide, also known as the Night of Mystery, is the most inauspicious night of the year. It is one of only two inauspicious nights, the other being the Cursed Night of Chaos. But for the followers of the Four Gods, it is a night of celebration. Chaos worshippers gather to praise their four gods, while the orderly hide in their homes, lighting candles and praying in fear, hoping for the dawn to arrive quickly.

During the Twilight Tide, the evil moon Morsleeb will move to the point on its elliptical orbit closest to the ground. The magical winds of the mortal realm become intense and unpredictable, weakening the boundary between reality and the Warp. The rift between reality and the Warp gradually expands, allowing Chaos demons to descend and walk among mortals to spend this night of chaos and destruction, while necromancers and vampires can raise undead armies.

This night has many names: the Empire calls it the Night of Witches, the Dwarfs call it the Night of the Living Dead, the Elves call it the Twilight Tide, and Batonia calls it the Eve Before Winter.

In the Empire's Sylvania and Batonia's Mousillon, peasants abandon their homes to hide in castles and crowded places. In the Ogre Kingdoms, they sacrifice great pots filled with flesh to appease the Great Eater and gain its protection. Beneath the Dwarf Pass of the Torrent, dangerous caves are strictly sealed by Rune Smiths, their exits guarded by Ironbreakers and Butchers.

In Ulthuan and Essoele, cousins whisper prayers to Asuryan and Isha. The orderly races of the mortal world, whether nobles or poor, children or elderly, all hope that the misfortune brought by this night will not fall upon them, and everyone hopes this evil night will not bring its malice to their doorstep.

What "Medieval Halloween" nonsense.

It is no exception for the Druchi living in Naggaroth; there are beastmen in the Black Spine Mountains near Karak Kadrin, though these beastmen have a somewhat unique style.

Dakus took another stroll through the underground breeding chambers with the two Takaya brothers to select Cold Lizards. Pachacoco was still sleeping, and the Triceratops and Ankylosaurs were still listless. He played with a Great Horned Cold Lizard for a while.

After chatting with Jaeger, he instructed him to arrange for a set of black steel with copper trim armor to be forged for the dinosaurs as soon as possible—the kind with an inner layer so that a Sorcerer could heat the lining, allowing them to tuck plates inside during the summer.

Additionally, Dakus had Kalien bring beastmasters along with him, just in case something big charged out of the Black Spine Mountains during the Eve Before Winter.

Jaeger complied with all of Dakus's requests. He was also waiting for Dakus to get him a few Tyrannosaurs so he could crush the competition in the next Claw Tournament, unless Rakas could invite a Lema Beast.

For this week, Dakus did not leave Night Watch Castle. He and several retainers trained in martial arts every day under Bayne's guidance. When Keisley had free time, he would also seek instruction from Bayne. After several sessions, he could go toe-to-toe with Bayne, and could even faintly suppress him.

There was no helping it; Karak Kadrin was not like Nagtalon, where everything revolved around water and beasts; there were no great martial arts masters here. Keisley had nowhere to improve, as he couldn't run to the arena every day to deal with the Sisters of Slaughter.

In the morning, Centurion Edmund arrived with a replenished century, two squads of Reaper Ballistae, four Disaster Chariots, a wild Ankylosaur, a wild Triceratops, a low-level female Sorcerer officer, three half-step Warlords, and half a Tower Master. Slaves pulled four wagons filled with luggage and supplies. Later, two more centuries from the Venom Woods would be sent to reinforce the forest camp.

Under the watchful eyes of Maranual and Steward Dia, Dakus set off in a grand procession.

Maranual waved goodbye to Dakus and shouted loudly, "I will find time to visit you, my dear brother!"

Dakus shook his head in disdain, ignored him, and simply raised a hand in a dismissive wave.