The old steward began to divulge the information he possessed.
He was the one who had introduced the cult organization to Baron Quentin.
The old man had failed in his external investments, accumulating a massive debt to the cult. He was even forced to secretly sell household items to repay it.
Yet, these efforts were akin to bailing out a sinking ship with a thimble. The old steward dared not inform the Baron, knowing full well that the Baron would never settle his debts and would most likely cast him out.
As the repayment deadline loomed, the old steward found himself unable to fill this bottomless pit of debt. He feared defaulting on the cult’s money, for their organization possessed immense power, making it terrifyingly simple for them to deal with a mere steward like him.
Just as the old steward was at his wit’s end, the organization, having somehow learned of the Baron’s desire to build a sky garden, offered to cancel his debt if he would facilitate their connection with Quentin.
Though the old steward knew these people were not benevolent, he disregarded the consequences to save his own life, effectively pushing his master into a pit of fire.
The old steward’s fear of the organization stemmed from their interrogation methods. When the Baron had once tried to renege on his debt and was dragged away for torture, the steward had witnessed the entire process from the adjacent room. Though the torture hadn’t been inflicted upon his own body, the visual impact had branded a clear terror into his heart.
Adair asked, “You’re saying they also lend money at exorbitant interest?”
The old steward nodded. “Yes, and not just that. They’re involved in many grey industries.”
Adair pressed on, “Do you know where they operate?”
“I know, I know…”
The old steward stammered, clearly indicating that divulging such information would also incur the cult’s wrath.
Adair scoffed. “You’re not still clinging to false hope, are you? Last night, your Baron’s transaction with those people was disrupted. Given the cult’s ruthlessness, they’ll soon eliminate anyone in the manor who knows their secrets. Do you truly believe you’ll survive?”
The old steward’s face instantly paled; he had been unaware of this development.
“Forget it, I won’t ask you anymore. This information is useless to me. The Holy Hall might find it useful. Consider this information your capital for their protection.”
Adair was too weary to question him further. The old steward was clearly just a victim of the dark industry, and hoping for useful intelligence about the cult from him was futile. He could only hope the Holy Hall would follow the clues and uncover something substantial.
Adair wasn’t worried that the Grand Holy Hall couldn’t extract information from the old steward. A religious organization with private armed forces, entrenched across the entire world, and so pragmatic, surely had its own interrogation methods. He wouldn’t believe otherwise.
However, he suspected few who underwent the Holy Hall’s interrogation would emerge unscathed, as they still needed to maintain their glorious image.
Adair stated calmly, “Ye Xi, please take this old man to the Holy Hall church in this region and inform them of the situation here. Then, we’ll rendezvous at the inn in Lord’s City.”
Each territory in the Hanluo Kingdom generally had a Holy Hall church, though common sense suggested the Holy Hall’s influence in Quentin’s domain was quite low.
But even at its lowest, it was still the Holy Hall church. The Krass Cult would not openly provoke the Grand Holy Hall unless they had lost their minds.
Ye Xi casually asked, “And what about you?”
Adair stretched. “I, of course, will continue my role as a double agent.”
Ye Xi warned, “Those people could be hiding anywhere right now.”
Adair chuckled. “I know, but what does that have to do with an insignificant person like me?”
“However,” Adair grinned mischievously, “are you worried about me?”
Ye Xi’s lips curved into a smile. “Indeed. If Yuzu, after being raised for so long, suddenly died, I would also feel it a pity.”
Adair was speechless. “Am I now on the same level as Yuzu?”
Ye Xi wagged a finger. “Of course not. How could you be?”
Just as Adair was about to breathe a sigh of relief, Ye Xi added, “On Yuzu’s level? Are you worthy?”
Adair nearly choked with indignation.
With that, Ye Xi roughly stuffed the old steward back into the burlap sack. Before leaping off the cliff, she looked back and said, “Be careful.”
Adair smiled knowingly and replied, “Mm.”
Then, Ye Xi vanished from Adair’s sight.
“What about me, Sixth Master? What about me?”
Sixth Master, seeing his enemy taken away, quickly asked Adair.
“You?” Adair glanced at Sixth Master. “What’s the rush? I’ll let you go in just one more day.”
Ignoring the dejected Sixth Master, Adair slowly climbed down the mountain.
He had no choice but to go slowly!
Adair then realized Ye Xi hadn’t undone the full body weights she had put on him! He even felt that descending the mountain with this equipment was more perilous than climbing it.
After a grueling descent, Adair collapsed onto the ground. Ye Xi, Yuzu, and her Swift Dragon had already departed.
Adair watched his Swift Dragon walk up and nudge him. He bitterly stroked its head, realizing he probably couldn’t even ride it with all this gear on.
She absolutely did it on purpose!
****
What should have been a few hours’ journey ended up taking Adair over ten hours. He finally stumbled into Jinming Mountain the next morning.
Hutou of Jinming Mountain had been waiting, growing increasingly restless. He anxiously asked Adair, “Brother, can you finally tell me where that place is?”
Adair was breathless and wanted to sit down to explain slowly. However, the moment his backside touched the wooden stool, it warped and shattered.
Adair landed hard on the ground. “…”
Adair: “…”
Hutou watched the scene awkwardly. He apologized to Adair, “My apologies, brother, I didn’t realize this chair was broken.”
Then, Hutou yelled outside, “Hurry up and get me a sturdier chair!”
“No, don’t bother if there isn’t a stone chair.”
Adair resigned himself, sitting directly on the ground. “Let’s just talk like this!”
Hutou, seeing this, didn’t fuss and also sat on the ground; bandits were less particular about such things.
Adair took a large gulp of water before speaking. “The plan is almost complete. The nobles on that side are ready to capture the Baron in one fell swoop. Now, we just await our move. Hutou, how are your preparations?”
Hutou patted his chest. “Don’t worry, I’ve secretly gathered my trusted men and even acquired dozens of dragon carts. Watch me empty that treasury!”
As he spoke, the burly demon man grew excited.
Adair, of course, couldn’t dampen this enthusiasm. The more excited Hutou was, the easier it would be for him to fall into the trap.
Adair cupped his hands. “Congratulations, Hutou! From this day forward, may the eagle soar high and the dragon emerge from the shallows!”
Hutou casually grabbed a jar of wine from nearby. “Haha, you’re too kind. Once the plan succeeds, you’ll be my brother, and we’ll conquer a dominion together!”
Hutou filled two large cups, one for Adair and one for himself, then asked, “Brother, it’s come to this, so don’t keep me in suspense any longer. Tell me the final location of the treasure.”
“Alright!” Adair readily pulled out a map of Quentin’s territory, spreading it on the ground. “Hutou, please look, our target is right here.”
Adair pointed to a spot on the map. Hutou looked, then frowned. “This is a plain rift valley. Did he hide his things nearby?”
“No, no, no. Not hidden nearby, but hidden *inside* it!”
Hutou was stunned, then laughed. “Brother, you truly jest. This rift valley has no means of transporting goods whatsoever. Even if a master could descend, how could such a vast amount of treasure be moved without a proper valley path?”
Adair chuckled. “This is what Hutou doesn’t know, is it? This isn’t an impassable valley; there’s just a secret passage you haven’t discovered.”
Adair’s finger slid across the map, finally stopping at an abandoned mine not far from the rift valley.
“I doubt Hutou ever imagined that a mine shaft several hundred meters away would connect to the depths of this rift valley.”
Hutou’s eyes widened. “Who would have thought? That fat pig is quite cunning, hiding things in there. Others would likely rack their brains and still never find it.”
“Hehe, exactly.” Adair watched Hutou’s astonished expression. If not for the information from his previous life, he wouldn’t have believed it either. The commotion caused when massive amounts of wealth were transported out of that mine back then was truly extraordinary.
Adair continued, “I plan to set an ambush here to wipe out the Baron’s men. This mine is easy to defend but difficult to attack, yet that fat pig only assigned a small number of men here to cover his tracks. I will lead the way and take you, Hutou, inside for the ambush. Afterward, we’ll lure that fat pig Baron in and capture them all, allowing you to vent your anger.”
“Hahaha, brother, excellent! That suits my taste perfectly. Come, let’s drink!”
Hutou raised his wine cup and clinked it with Adair’s, then drained it in one gulp. Adair only took a small sip, apologizing, “I still have to return to the Baron’s manor later, so I can’t fully enjoy myself with you, Hutou. It’s truly disrespectful.”
“Ay, you two brothers shouldn’t talk like that; it spoils the mood. Business comes first. Besides, once the plan succeeds, we’ll have plenty of time to drink our fill.”
Adair bowed respectfully. “Thank you for your understanding, Big Brother! Oh, Big Brother, I also have an impertinent request.”
Hutou waved his hand. “Speak freely!”
Adair smiled, then stated his request.
****
Adair, having left Jinming Mountain, now lay leisurely in a dragon carriage pulled by several Swift Dragons. Finally, he didn’t have to run on the ground despite having a dragon. The carriage was even driven by a coachman Hutou had found for him, leaving Adair completely carefree.
Only then did Adair have the leisure to ponder the situation at the Baron’s manor. Given that there had been no report of death from the manor yesterday, Quentin must have returned alive.
If what the old steward said was true, Quentin was likely on the verge of a mental breakdown. Having personally endured the cult’s torment, he would naturally understand the consequences of botching things up.
Was there no time even to see Rod and the others off? Adair wondered if the Baron still had the presence of mind to cooperate with him in eradicating the bandits.
He needed to find a way to redirect the Baron’s hatred, making the bandits a target for his frustration. This would more easily incite Quentin to personally lead the encirclement.
Without Quentin holding down the territory, Rod and his group would be able to act more freely.
However, there was one thing Adair hadn’t figured out: why the cult had left Quentin alive. He would only know once he met Quentin.