小婕子的第一次好紧

Chapter 107

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Kane, having returned to the family estate, immediately grabbed a Mana stone.

“Are you going to craft again?” Blata asked, and Kane nodded in response.

“There’s nothing better to improve my skills. Plus, it makes money. What’s not to like?”

“Hmph, Blata’s not amused,” Blata grumbled, sprawling out on the bed.

Then, he casually remarked to Kane, “But a two-star Mana Stone stone won’t be enough to get stronger~”

“There’s no time to go hunting for more stones. The second wave of mutant monsters is about to begin.”

“Who said anything about hunting for stones? There’s that Blood Mana Stone mine you snatched from that fool. Whether you craft there or strengthen your cute little tiger, it would be a better time spent~”

Blata’s tail swayed gently as if casting a spell, “Come on, Kane, you’re going to give in.”

But Kane hadn’t considered this; his mind was preoccupied with other thoughts.

“I was just thinking I’d go after the second wave arrives.”

“Hehe, I convinced you, didn’t I?”

“Yeah, you did well,” Kane said, suddenly lifting Blata off the bed.

“Whoa!”

“Let’s go immediately.”

“Did that fool reveal the location?”

“I already know,” Kane replied as he exited the building.

They dashed straight through the south gate, running in a straight line for half a day.

At the end of the trade route, they reached the entrance to Philaec’s trade route.

“This is it,” Kane declared.

“This isn’t a mountain.”

“From here to that mountain range, it’s all a Blood Mana Stone mine,” Kane pointed to the ground beneath them.

“I don’t feel anything,” Blata tilted his head in confusion.

Kane merged his BloodSky Blades into a spear and thrust it deep into the ground.

The spear penetrated the earth, going deeper until it hit something solid.

“It’s deep.”

He channeled powerful mana into the Bloodsky.

Boom!

The ground exploded, sending rocks and dirt flying in all directions, revealing a reddish, transparent crystal embedded in the earth.

“I knew it would be protected by a barrier. Kane, I was expecting this, you know?” Blata said with a smug tone.

“If even you couldn’t find it, there’s no way the merchants who passed by would have noticed the Blood mana stone mine.”

Especially since it’s protected by a barrier. Who would have known there was a Blood Mana Stone Mine beneath this spot?

“But how did that fool manage to find it?” Blata asked.

“He must have stumbled upon it while dealing in stolen goods. Maybe it caught his eye by accident.”

“That guy sure is lucky.”

“He was born with it,” Kane acknowledged. After all, Gillip had survived countless bloodbaths and lived grandly until his death. Kane suspected Gillip might have been one of the people most pleased with his own survival.

“But Kane, you’re not going to craft here, right?”

“No, it’s in the middle of a trade route, so we can’t.”

“Then we’ll have to move to another location, won’t we?”

“That’s right.”

“Then hurry up and cover the dirt. At this rate, we’ll be broadcasting to everyone that there’s Blood Mana Stone here.”

“You’re right,” Kane agreed.

Together with Blata, Kane quickly started covering the exposed dirt again. To ensure it looked natural, he even used water mana to moisten the area. After finishing the job and soaking the surroundings with water, there was no sign that the ground had been disturbed.

“We need to go to the ‘hidden territory: Cave of species’ where you were born.”

“Why there?”

“Why else? The place where you were born is a Blood Mana Stone mine.”

“Huh?”

“Are you an idiot?”

The Cave of Species was located to the west of Rehinar, beneath the Atlum mountain range. The reason so many mutant monsters with blood runes were found there was because the Blood Mana Stone Mine was buried deep beneath the earth.

Blata, surprisingly innocent, seemed completely unaware that his birthplace was a Blood Mana Stone mine.

“Whaaat!?”

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Meanwhile, Dirk Hatzfeld was being trained in spear techniques by Bishop Gregor of Lycera Theocracy.

“No! Your thrust needs to be more concise. You must control your mana precisely, then unleash it explosively in an instant,” Bishop Gregor instructed.

As the Lord of a Hundred Spears, Bishop Gregor’s skill was exceptional. His teaching abilities were beyond professional. Even though it had only been a fortnight, Dirk’s spear techniques were improving day by day.

Whoosh!

Each time Dirk thrust his spear into the air, the force was so intense that the air couldn’t withstand it and burst apart. Yet, Bishop Gregor still scolded him.

“You’re wrong again! How many times must I tell you?”

“Haa… haah…” Dirk panted heavily, his body drenched in sweat. He had been swinging the spear with such intensity that his arms were trembling.

“Your spear is shaking. At this rate, how do you expect to earn the title of ‘Star of the Spear’?”

Bishop Gregor deliberately provoked Dirk’s competitive spirit. The title “Star of the Spear” was a dream for anyone who wielded a spear, signifying a person who stood at the pinnacle of the spear arts. This was Dirk’s ultimate goal.

“Again!”

At the stern command of Bishop Gregor, Dirk swung his spear once more.

Whoosh—Boom!

Still, something about Dirk’s form wasn’t satisfactory to the Bishop. With a swift motion, Bishop Gregor struck Dirk’s spear.

“Ugh,” Dirk groaned as the shock traveled through his palm.

Bishop Gregor sighed deeply.

“Prince Dirk.”

“Haa… Yes… Teacher…,” Dirk responded, still gasping for breath.

“What is it… that drives you to be in such a hurry?” Bishop Gregor’s question caused Dirk’s eyes to waver.

“Is it because of the First Prince? Or is it the hidden spear of Hatzfeld?”

At the mention of the “hidden spear,” a muscle in Dirk’s eye twitched. Bishop Gregor noticed this immediately.

“He is the king’s illegitimate son, but you, Prince Dirk, are of the pure bloodline of the Red Dragon. There is no need for you to be in such a rush,” Bishop Gregor advised.

“…Teacher….”

Gregor gently reassured Dirk. His voice carried an almost hypnotic power, perhaps due to his position as a bishop or his integrity as a pure and righteous clergyman. Dirk found himself deeply influenced by him.

In response to Gregor’s selfless comfort, Dirk revealed his true feelings.

“…Father’s gaze towards that vermin is becoming more and more unsettling.”

Bishop Gregor patted Dirk on the shoulder.

“Nonsense. His Majesty the King sees him as nothing more than Hatzfeld’s hunting dog.”

“Do you really think so?”

“A hunting dog only works when it\'s fed. And what of humans? The lower their status, the greedier and more vile they become. To handle such people, sometimes you have to pretend to favor them, even if you don’t. Do you understand?”

Dirk was thoroughly captivated by Gregor’s words, a look of realization dawning on his face. His wavering heart, shaken by Rey Hatzfeld, was now solidified.

“Your words, teacher, have made me reflect on my own shortcomings.”

“You are of the pure bloodline of the Red Dragon. A dragon’s wings must not be broken by a mere snake crawling on the ground.”

“Teacher….”

Just as Dirk was being moved by Gregor’s wisdom, a servant, seemingly in a panic, came rushing into the training grounds.

“Prince! Something terrible has happened!”

“Did I not instruct you never to interrupt me during my training with Master Gregor?”

“It’s urgent!”

“If it’s not, I will severely punish you. Now, report.”

“We’ve lost contact with the Red Spear Knights.”

“That’s hardly a first. They’re probably drinking somewhere on their way back. Contact Harald. It’s absurd to make such a fuss over nothing!”

Dirk raised his hand to strike the servant.

“Prince Dirk,” Bishop Gregor’s voice stopped him mid-motion.

“You are the future leader of Hatzfeld. Punishing subordinates over trivial matters is beneath someone of your stature.”

“Ah, I nearly showed poor manners in front of you, teacher. I apologize.”

“It’s nothing. Just think before you act from now on.”

In just two weeks, Dirk had become completely entranced by Bishop Gregor. He would even pretend to die if Gregor commanded it.

“Um…” The servant hesitated, then spoke again, his tone still cautious.

“Speak,” Dirk’s voice was noticeably calmer.

“Commander Harald has also gone silent.”

“Have you checked Harald’s Red Dragon emblem?”

“I was about to say it… The magical emblem has gone out.”

“…Are you sure you didn’t make a mistake?”

The Red Dragon emblem of Hatzfeld was an item that allowed them to confirm the life and death of any family member or retainer by the flame within it. The Hatzfeld family had used these emblems for generations to monitor their followers.

“It’s not just Commander Harald. All the Red Dragon emblems of the Red Spear Knights have gone out.”

“What nonsense is this!” Dirk trembled, his face flushing with anger.

Losing the Red Spear Knights right after the Red Dragon Legion was too much. He finally lost control.

Dirk grabbed the servant by the throat and screamed in fury.

“Say it again. What? Harald is dead?”

The servant struggled to breathe, only managing a choked sound.

“I said, say it again!”

With a snap, the servant\'s neck broke. But that wasn’t enough for Dirk. He ripped the head clean off and threw it aside, then began stomping on the body with crazed rage. He didn’t stop there, continuing to mutilate the corpse with his spear until his anger was spent.

Even after all that, Dirk was still seething, his breath ragged. His rage wasn’t just because he lost the Red Spear Knights, his right arm of power.

It was because he failed to secure the ‘Fire Star,\' the most precious elixir in the world. He had boasted to his father, the king, promising he would obtain it. Now, it was lost. What would his father think?

His anger had reached a boiling point, clouding his thoughts completely.

“Prince Dirk, calm yourself,” came Gregor\'s soothing voice.

Under normal circumstances, Dirk might have lashed out, but now he was as docile as a lamb.

“What should I do, teacher?” Dirk’s eyes were desperate for a solution.

“One of the priests who accompanied me is a master tracker. We’ll find the culprit through him.”

“Would you really do that for me?”

“Your concerns are mine as well. We’ll solve this together.”

“Thank you! I’m so fortunate to have you by my side, teacher.”

“As your mentor and protector, I vow that no one will disturb your peace. I swear this as the Lord of a Hundred Spears and a servant of the Sun.”

Dirk\'s anger vanished, replaced by a look of complete admiration for Gregor.

Then, Gregor delivered the final blow to solidify his control over Dirk.

“And if you’ve lost your right and left arms, simply make new ones. I’ll help you create an even stronger force than the Red Spear Knights.”

“Truly?”

“The priests of a Hundred Spears were all trained by me. Trust me.”

“It must be the will of the Sun that you became my mentor. I’m endlessly grateful.”

Without realizing it, Dirk was being completely brainwashed by Bishop Gregor.