Belisa could hardly believe her ears and repeated, “Really?”

  Charlot shrugged and replied, “Of course it’s true.”

  Belisa jumped up excitedly and ran out in a hurry. After all, she was still a young girl, not a seasoned politician adept at hiding her emotions. When she was happy, it was pin to see.

  Charlot gently touched the diary in his arms, feeling deeply pleased.

  Two days ago, the byrinthification of Silver Dove Castle had been completed, meaning he no longer needed to remain trapped there.

  The completion of the byrinthification also brought Charlot his well-deserved rewards. A secret passage now existed between Machubi Fortress Labyrinth and Silver Dove Castle. It wasn’t a physical corridor but more akin to an “overp” between the two cities.

  Any corner of Machubi could lead to Silver Dove Castle, and the residents of Silver Dove Castle could likewise find themselves in Machubi through any street.

  Over the past few days, Charlot had transported all of Baron Feller’s wealth—gold écus, New Flor banknotes, and extraordinary artifacts—to Machubi. He hid these treasures in the fortress’s secondary byrinth. Without his guidance or permission, no one could find them, not even if they turned every corner of Machubi upside down.

  As for Baron Feller’s luxurious belongings, Charlot didn’t move them to Machubi. Being a fortress built upon the ruins of an ancient orc kingdom, Machubi’s environment was harsh, unsuitable for such delicate items that could easily be damaged within days.

  At the same time, Charlot sent supplies to the garrison stationed in Machubi for development. To him, Machubi was perhaps the most important city in his heart, destined to be developed sooner or ter.

  Charlot also experimented with the “Mind Channel.” He discovered that it could indeed transfer supplies and even living beings into Machubi and Silver Dove Castle from the outside world. However, the channel was one-way; items and people couldn’t be retrieved unless Charlot returned to the cities himself.

  Even so, the Mind Channel was a significant ability for Charlot.

  He could purchase goods in Strasbourg without needing transport and send them directly to Machubi. Likewise, he could buy commercial products and ship them straight to Silver Dove Castle, saving considerable shipping costs.

  The most delightful surprise came with the byrinthification of Silver Dove Castle. A notification informed him that the rge number of NPCs in the castle allowed for a second stage of byrinthification. If Charlot stayed in the castle for another eighteen days, it could achieve dual byrinthification.

  However, Charlot wasn’t in a hurry to achieve this. He pnned to return to Silver Dove Castle for those eighteen days at a ter time. For now, he had other pressing matters to attend to.

  Charlot’s agreement to help rescue Duke Joseph wasn’t for the duke himself but because Grandma Saint Karen had informed him of two crucial developments.

  First, the South Seraph restorationists had gained another Saint rank combatant.

  Although Grandma Saint Karen wasn’t afraid of the two Saints working together, Charlot saw no reason to continue defending Silver Dove Castle.

  His purpose in staying had been to wait for the byrinthification.

  Now that it was complete, there was no point in foolishly holding the city.

  Charlot wasn’t worried about Hughes bringing his troops to massacre the city in his absence.

  If Charlot left, he could easily lure the South Seraph restorationists’ forces away before departing.

  Second, Charlot’s reward for commanding the West Wind Knight Order to annihite a South Seraph unit of Byron riders would arrive at Silver Dove Castle the following day.

  The Empire’s process for assessing contributions and issuing rewards was notoriously slow. Thus, while he had received his reward for his first battle, recognition for retaking Silver Dove Castle, enduring the South Seraph restorationists’ siege for nearly a month, killing Jonan, and repelling a Saint rank combatant, still required time.

  Charlot felt slightly exasperated but understood.

  Receiving his first reward during wartime rather than years ter was already a testament to influential figures working on his behalf.

  Though Grandma Saint Karen didn’t explicitly say so, Charlot suspected that Count Cir Bretagne’s influence pyed a role.

  Perhaps Menielman Soumet had also lent a hand.

  Despite being born in the Behemoth Principality, Charlot now considered himself a true citizen of the Fars Empire. He worked and lived in the capital, Strasbourg. Thus, while he could refuse the duke’s envoys or dismiss the duchess’s maid, he couldn’t ignore an imperial envoy delivering rewards. The imperial representative would undoubtedly require him to rescue the duke, and Charlot could only go along with it.

  Later, Charlot spent some time on the terrace, enjoying the breeze. Before long, another visitor arrived.

  Frederica, an orc maiden, excimed as soon as she saw him, “How did you get stronger again?”

  “Why is it that hiding in your bedroom makes you stronger? What kind of logic is that?”

  Charlot’s strength had grown rapidly due to his daily duels with Hughes in the Dreamcrafting arts. After a few days of absence, his improvement was dramatic, leaving Frederica genuinely astonished.

  Charlot smiled. “If you’re willing, you could train in your bedroom too.”

  Frederica’s eyes filled with suspicion. “Don’t get any ideas about me!”

  “I have no intention of giving up my career as an assassin.”

  Charlot shrugged and asked, “What brings you here?”

  Frederica’s expression dimmed slightly. “You probably haven’t heard yet. The southern orc tribes have joined Byron, forming an alliance with the Byron Empire, Bck Phoenix Dynasty, and South Seraph territories against the Fars Empire.”

  “As an orc, I can’t stay in the Fars Empire any longer. I came to bid you farewell.”

  Charlot felt a pang of sadness. Though their first meeting had been as enemies, and they couldn’t truly be called friends now, they had fought side by side. In a low voice, he said, “Safe travels. Here’s twenty écus as a personal gift.”

  Frederica accepted the money without hesitation and left.

  Not long after, Dolores Soumet arrived. Her retionship with Charlot was much closer, thanks to Menielman Soumet. Dolores expined that before leaving, Frederica had left her combat team under her command. Dolores sought Charlot’s instructions on handling the matter.

  Charlot didn’t hesitate. “I’ll be expanding the forces again soon. For now, take over Frederica’s team. I’ll have arrangements ter.”

  The day passed uneventfully.

  The next morning, Charlot didn’t wait for Hughes to unch another siege. Though he no longer needed Hughes to attack, a team from Strasbourg arrived instead.

  To Charlot’s surprise, merchants Louis Simy and Ross Bard were among them.

  He had nearly forgotten about the two.