Lords of the Heavens

Chapter 160 The Witch Hathaway

In the early morning, a light drizzle began to fall again, but it could no longer affect Li Wei.

Because the main structure of the road he wanted had been basically completed, with only a final 20-meter section left. This was intentionally left as a prank by Li Wei to surprise the others.

“Clyde, in a little while you, Liu Zhongyuan, and Coras will take two wheelbarrows, along with some food, and escort these fifty farmers back to Vidor Town. Also, please pass on a message to Sir Tuk, saying that we have opened a trade route and welcome Vidor Town caravans to come and purchase goods at any time. In addition, if possible, we would like to buy another 2000 kilograms of wheat.”

"Yes, sir!" Clyde respectfully accepted the order. This month, all of them had lost a lot of weight, including Li Wei himself, who had lost more than ten kilograms. He could finally understand Thomas's feelings that day: doubt, understanding, becoming... sigh!
This is the twenty-seventh day of the month.

He also had to go back and hand in his mission.

Next, after seeing off the fifty farmers, Li Wei, Charles, and Pang Wu each pushed a wheelbarrow, covered with a tarpaulin, and then pushed the remaining salt and two hundred catties of wheat back to their family camp along the newly built road.

I've missed it a little after almost a month apart.

At the family campsite, the lime kiln and charcoal kiln were constantly emitting black smoke, and the surrounding vegetation was growing more and more lush. Even a small flower by the roadside looked particularly pleasing to the eye.

When Li Wei walked onto the path by the stream, he made a point of checking that it was passable by carriage without any problems.

When they were still ten miles from the camp, Li Wei and his two companions encountered Fila fishing. After a meaningless exchange, he saw numbness and despair in Fila's eyes.

There's no way around it; the pressure from advanced players is terrifying, and this is still before they can use item cards. After the family meeting at the end of this month, they will be free from all constraints.

Under such circumstances, how could Fila not be worried?

She couldn't beat them, she simply couldn't beat them. Besides, even more advanced players would be joining next month. She was no longer the ambitious, radiant, and confident noblewoman she had been five months ago.

Li Wei didn't say much. This was just the beginning; the real despair was yet to come!

More than an hour later, they arrived at the camp safely. Fila also returned with them. As the warehouse manager, she had to hand over the supplies that Li Wei brought back.

You have successfully brought back 44 kilograms of salt and 100 kilograms of wheat. You have completed your task of purchasing salt, but the total amount of grain is still somewhat insufficient. You still have 13 days to purchase more.

[The main quest cannot be rewarded, but the extra salt will be settled according to the standard. You have received 290 family contribution points and a subsidy of 29 standard gold coins. Based on your previous debts, you have been deducted 16 gold coins, and you have a balance of 13 standard gold coins. These will be settled when the quest ends.]

[You have successfully brought back the head of a two-star wolf king. This is a rare trophy that can be displayed in the hall of the soon-to-be-completed one-star fortress.]

-

At this point, Li Wei's total family contribution has accumulated to 804 points (214 from hunting the wolf king, 150 from scales, 50 from skinning, 50 from donations, 50 from subsequent hunting contributions, and 290 from extra salt).

With a slight smile, Li Wei surveyed the family camp he had been away from for nearly a month, while the clanging of metalworking still echoed from the industrial area.

Meanwhile, in the residential area, a three-story stone fortress was almost complete. Four mercenaries, under Leon's command, were finishing the internal structure and didn't even have time to come over and say hello.

As for Penny, she was gazing into the distance from the second floor of the tavern, looking sickly and melancholy.

If I say I have to rest, I have to rest. I can't do any other work. If I do, it will be a no-go, or I'll have to accept the impeachment at the end of the month. It's a choice between two options.

But Hathaway is definitely not at the camp, so if Li Wei doesn't impeach her by the end of this month, he'll be letting her down.

Just as I was thinking this, suddenly, several more lines of special, purplish-gold information flooded in like a tide.

[Hathaway, a family member, disobeyed the head of the family's orders and secretly left the family camp. She lay in wait in the snowy mountains of Rose Emil for twenty days, and recently found her opportunity to successfully assassinate Hathaway, one of the three witches of the snow mountain!]

[Global Announcement: One of the final bosses of this mission, the White-Robed Blood Witch Hathaway, has been successfully defeated. Three final bosses remain! Once all final bosses are defeated, the mission will officially end and the results will be displayed immediately!]

[Family member Hathaway has earned 1000 family contribution points!]

[A family member named Hathaway received a special codename—Hathaway the Witch. From then on, she was Hathaway the Witch, and this codename could be carried out of this world.]

[Warning: The questline has been accelerated! Luna, the Grey Witch, leader of the three witches of the Snow Mountain who has lost her beloved daughter, vows revenge!]

[Warning: Side questline accelerated. Baron Mark, the lord of Kahe City, imprisoned Secondary Priest Joseph. The bloodline shackles binding him have completely collapsed. He is extremely disgusted by the Vido caravan's attempt to rescue Secondary Priest Joseph. He killed most of the caravan members and hanged Sir Tuk's captain of the guard, Judd! Rumor has it that Baron Mark will attempt to mobilize his legions to attack the town of Vido.]

-

What the hell!

Awesome!
After reading the message, Li Wei didn't dare to delay any longer. He took Charles and Pang Wu and went straight to the industrial area to get three more new wheelbarrows. He pushed them and ran. No more hesitation, no more waiting, just finish the task quickly and then settle the accounts as things stand.

Under normal circumstances, the Snow Mountain Witch will definitely retaliate with a large-scale attack next month. It's nothing to worry about. With the new players and mercenaries, there are 24 people in total, so we should be able to handle it.

But this month he created a trade route that leads directly to the town of Vido. Doesn't that mean he's exposed his camp?
It's possible that Mad Baron Mark will arrive with his legion, and upon seeing this fork in the road, he'll simply charge straight in.

It can't be hidden! It can't be stopped even when attacked from both sides.

And now he finally knows that the lord of Kah City, George's uncle, is also one of the four final bosses.

Haha! I wonder what that bitch Hathaway will do when she finds out?

Over the next two days, Li Wei and his two companions worked tirelessly to transport the wheat and finally managed to bring it back.

In addition to completing the monthly main quest, I also received an extra 210 contribution points and 20 gold coins as compensation.

At this point, his total contribution reached 1014 points.

It was at this time that Clyde and Coras returned from Victoria Town, and they actually brought back a caravan consisting of a horse-drawn carriage. The twenty meters of unpaved road left by Li Wei was completely useless.

The moment the caravan from Vidor Town arrived at the camp gate, lines of purple-gold messages popped up like crazy. Everyone was fortunate enough to witness it, regardless of where they were, including Hathaway, who was still hundreds of miles away, returning under the starry night, full of confidence.

[While completing the monthly main quest, George, the head of the family, successfully opened a trade route to Victor Town and established a cooperative relationship with the lord of Victor Town. For the next three years, the family camp will have an exclusive partnership with Victor Town and will be obligated to send troops to assist Victor Town if it is attacked.]

[This event holds strategic significance for the family's future development, thus triggering a completion event and becoming the second completion event triggered in the current mission's storyline!]

The overall reward for completing this event is: 15% bonus completion rating and 900 family contribution points.

Since the head of the family almost single-handedly completed the pioneering of this trade route, he received the entire reward.

[Note: Family member Clyde joined the trading caravan as a substitute mercenary; he was simply fulfilling his assigned duties and therefore is not eligible for any rewards.]

[Note: The noble coat of arms gifted by family member Hathaway to the head of the family, George, only applies to the main trade mission and not to the expansion of trade routes; therefore, she cannot share in this reward.]

-

Comfortable!

At this point, Li Wei's extra pass rating has reached 52%, and her total family contribution has reached 1914 points.

She surpassed Hathaway in an instant, but if that bitch hunts something else along the way, or kills two more fallen guard knights, there might be even more.

Of course, she had infiltrated the area and was constantly looking for an opportunity to assassinate him. To avoid alerting the enemy, she probably wouldn't gain anything else.

Next, Li Wei will receive 240 points from the four mercenaries, bringing his total family contribution to 2154 points.

"Sir George, I have brought you a confidential letter from Sir Tucker, as well as a gift. Please accept them."

At this moment, the caravan leader sent by the town of Vido came over and respectfully handed over a letter that Li Wei did not recognize at all. However, it didn't matter, as there was a notification.

Lord Tuk, the lord of Vido, sends his greetings and requests that you send some elite soldiers to help defend Vido against the attack of Mad Baron Mark. He has also given you 100 gold coins as a gift.

[Friendly reminder: As the first territory with which your family has entered into a trade agreement, the fate of Vido Town is of paramount importance to your family. Please make a decision within five days, as delay may be too late.]

-

The caravan from Vido did not linger; they left their gifts and departed hastily.

Li Wei, on the other hand, fell into deep thought.

Being the head of the household next month won't be easy!
At this moment, Li Wei even had a mischievous impulse to immediately settle the accounts, make Hathaway the head of the family, and see how she would handle it!

However, reason also told him that this was both a crisis and an opportunity.

Although there are still three final bosses, he's willing to bet that if he kills any one of them, he'll be number one on the newbie leaderboard.

Because of the current difficulty of the storyline, it is not something that any newcomer can handle. At least two-thirds of the power needs to be given to veterans who join midway through the process.

For example, Thomas's Wall title quest, Leon's title quest, and Hathaway's title quest.

Those who receive benefits must bear the responsibility.

How can a newbie do all the dirty and hard work while the veteran can enjoy it?
In fact, if Li Wei had rushed to kill the witch Hathaway before that, that bitch Hathaway would probably have cried her eyes out...

Even Ron, he definitely needs to defeat a final boss to get the title he wants, maybe it's related to the guards of Kahe City, or even the Mad Baron Mark.

As for old John, his goal should be to hunt down the black-robed witch Missy, which is exactly what he's good at!

(End of this chapter)