Your Majesty's money, why don't you engrave my name on it?

"You'd better call me Barty. It will save a lot of trouble." Angelita smiled reservedly. "As for the specific reason... I'm sorry, I don't intend to disclose it."

"Then I won't ask any more questions," the paladin waved his hand. "I rejected your invitation before, but now it seems that my decision was a bit hasty. At least this time, we should be able to continue fighting side by side."

"You mean those druid things?"

"Yes," Patrick nodded. "After we parted ways last time, I decided to search for answers in the classics. I had been planning to find a druid society to stay in, but I didn't expect to meet someone from the Quiet Creek Society along the way."

"When I learned that there were returnees causing trouble here, I naturally couldn't just ignore them, so I just followed them along."

Reslaufer didn't question the paladin's intentions, but he looked around and still couldn't see a single person. "Didn't you say earlier that the Archdruid was coming along? But there's still no sign of him—what's going on?"

"I don't know about that..." The paladin was about to shake his head when he suddenly raised his head and pointed his finger into the air. "Ah, look, isn't he coming?"

Chapter 132 Archdruid

Overhead, the originally clear sky suddenly darkened. Strong winds blew up sand and dust on the ground, forming a whirlwind around them. At this moment, a giant eagle flapped its wings and swooped down, looking down upon all living beings with its height of more than two meters, like a tyrant descending from the sky.

However, the brief illusion was quickly broken by itself. Waves of sounds like trees sprouting came from this creature, and the emerald green light soon enveloped it and quickly changed and shrank, and finally turned into a hunched old man with a white beard.

"This is Master Rufo," Patrick introduced him to Leslaufer and Angarita, "the Archdruid of the Quiet Creek Society."

"And these two are Leslaufer and Ann...ah, Miss Barty Antichi. They saved Xinmu City not long ago. They are both, uh, brave men who acted bravely for justice."

Paladins don't want to pretend they're all "good guys" in the conventional sense, so they adopt a different narrative.

"I know you. Bella mentioned you in her letter." Rufo, the archdruid Bella often mentioned, seemed even more amiable than she described. He narrowed his eyes slightly and looked up at the two of them, revealing a smile without any malice. "Fighting against the evil from the abyss is a very admirable cause."

"But I don't seem to see Bella. Why isn't she with you?"

Patrick recounted what had just happened. The Archdruid listened and nodded from time to time, his eyes occasionally following the Paladin's gaze on Leslaufer or Angarita.

"I see. I thought this knight had a hermit friend, but I didn't dare offend him. I hovered in the air for a while before finding a way in." Rufo surveyed his surroundings. He reached out, took out a dead yew branch, and waved it around. As the branch visibly sprouted new life, the barrier spell surrounding the knight's manor dissipated.

"You seem to be injured. Thank you for taking care of that reckless Bella. I'd like to give you a little return." The archdruid turned his gaze to Reslauf and the other two, pointed the branch again, and the dead branch returned to its original shape, while the fatigue and pain on Reslauf and Angarita disappeared at the same time.

Such power made Leslaufer serious: Druids focus on balance. If this old man can show such healing power, then he can definitely strike a blow to any offender with such ease.

"Don't look at me like that, sir. My aggressive life left me sixty or seventy years ago." Rufo seemed to see what Leslaufer was thinking. He smiled and waved his hand. "Don't be fooled by my previous giant eagle form. It was just the product of my youthful recklessness."

"Old Lei! Annie!" Just as they were greeting each other, they heard hurried footsteps and the other companions and the knight Peter were quickly coming. Among them, the bard was the most anxious. His voice was heard before he even showed up.

"We're fine!" Angelita also raised her voice in response, and soon everyone reunited.

"What on earth happened here?" Daisy looked at the bloodstains on the ground that had not yet dried. "You were attacked—by those assassins!"

As a former victim, she saw the broken black arrow on the ground at a glance.

"Don't worry, I've already sent them away!" Angelita raised the Shouzhi Long Poem in her hand, "Look at my new weapon!"

"This isn't... Ah, Mr. Patrick, I didn't see you just now," Daisy finally noticed the paladin and apologized quickly, "Then who is this old man...?"

"This is our society's Archdruid, Rufo," Bella said. "Old man, what brings you here?"

"Of course I heard about the returnees. When we set out, we only heard that they were active in this area. On the way, we learned that they had destroyed the monastery of Evandra. When we arrived here two days ago, we heard that they had started to intervene in the war and hurt people." Rufo sighed. "Ever since His Majesty ascended the throne, they have been restless. I didn't expect them to be so rampant now. This is called the "First Society" The gods have heard it, alas..."

"Those gods are probably explaining to Evandra right now that this was a personal act and shouldn't be taken personally," Daisy shrugged. "Grandpa Rufo, you didn't come here alone, did you? Are you planning to overthrow them all by yourself?"

"You must be the poet lady who's eager to help others—that's what Bella called you in her letter to me," Rufo said with a smile. "I know the bards wouldn't mind incorporating stories like this into their poems—'an octogenarian rips open his shirt to reveal his 32-pack abs,' or something like that. But unfortunately, I'm just the leader. The real task of fighting those returnees still falls on my brothers and sisters, and you."

"The most I can do is clean up the mess."

"This is my dear dwarf friend. You, I presume, are the lord knight. Could you please have a word with me? Although we are here to help, I understand that some lords do not like druids interfering in their affairs."

"Unfortunately, the druids have already intervened—if the returnees can be considered one. Regardless, I accept your generous help," Peter said with a wry smile, motioning for everyone to follow him. Seeing the Archdruid, he couldn't help but ask the same question from before. "I understand the differences between you, but why don't you just eliminate the returnees? I don't deny your efforts, but it seems like they're always going to be delayed."

"From a religious perspective, the returnees are also carrying out the will of the God of Nature, and the god they worship is also a member of the First Society," Rufo quickly answered. "Even for this reason alone, we can't do this."

"As for the question of wolves and lions, you have to understand that wolves are wolves, lions are lions, humans are humans... and black panthers are black panthers." When giving the last example, Rufo obviously glanced at Bella, and the young druid quickly lowered his head, indicating that he had realized his mistake.

"Due to various factors, some creatures have limited knowledge and limited disagreements. This is natural. And because humans have a wider range of activities and know more, they obviously have more disagreements. This is also natural. Therefore, within these disagreements, some disagreements are not accepted by the vast majority. This is also natural."

"And it's natural for us to try to curb unpleasant disagreements because of these differences. As lords, knights, and nobles, this may be difficult for you to accept, but to us, it's no more special than the rising and setting of the sun, or the deer eating grass and the wolves devouring meat."

"But if that's all, there shouldn't be a need for you to show up, right?" Bella asked.

The druids of the Quiet Creek Society have five ranks: Sprout, Spring Leaf, Summer Flower, Autumn Fruit, and Winter Branch. All druids periodically rotate through rank to prevent a loss of balance between power and responsibility, which could lead to a loss of reverence and respect for nature. Archdruids also adhere to this rule, but their wills have been tested by time and events, allowing them to consistently retain decision-making and even leadership within their own society and even other societies. They generally remain out of the spotlight. Rufo last left the Quiet Creek Society's headquarters long ago, during the conflict between Xinmu City and the dryads.

"Yes, this time's returnees are somewhat different from those we're familiar with," the Archdruid nodded, twirling his beard. "They are the 'conservatives' among the returnees. I was initially skeptical, but based on what I've seen along the way, I'm certain of this."

"They are the branch that feels the other returnees are too conservative."

Chapter 133 The Returner's Intention

As the knights led everyone to the table and they took their seats, Rufo raised his hand, and a ball of light and shadow kept changing on the table, finally showing the general terrain of Karochuk and several surrounding areas.

"According to our recent conclusion, the recent attacks by these returnees in the vicinity were merely a deception. Although they dispatched an Archdruid to attack the knights, including Mr. Traki, there was actually another Archdruid heading further west at the same time."

"Further west?" The knight was surprised. "There are no towns further west... the Kolin Otto Mountains!"

"I heard there's a temple of Eldath there!" Bella's expression suddenly changed. "Rufo, could that be their target?!"

"Misfortune befalls any priest who attacks Eldath. Are they planning to attack her temple directly?"

"There is indeed a temple there, and I've heard there's an artifact left behind by the Eldath in the mortal realm." The Archdruid adjusted the 3D map on his desk, revealing a waterfall and lake hidden in the dense forest on the east side of the mountain. "I've been there before. They don't have any escorting monks, only scholars and priests who aren't good at fighting. If those who want to return the land resort to violence, they're likely to succeed."

"And this, I have to suspect, is the best-case scenario."

"Is there anything worse than them getting the artifact?" Daisy's eyes widened. "Do you know what that artifact can do? Something like firing a sun ray every day? It could burn us to ashes in an instant!"

"Eldath is not Aston. She doesn't possess the power of light or fire, and her nature makes her almost incapable of combat. Although Bella claims to believe in her, she isn't really a follower at all." Rufo glanced at the young druid. "I haven't seen that artifact, and I don't know its power, but Eldath's priests have always been adept at letting their enemies defeat themselves. We can make an assumption based on this."

"The number of returnees is large, but it's pitifully small compared to the countless buildings in the vast empire. If they are ambitious to turn the entire empire back into a primeval forest, what's the easiest way to do that?"

"Control it, let the Imperials do it themselves..." Angelita shuddered, "What's the difference between this and the devil!"

"And this might be for the better," Rufo repeated, emphasizing his words. "You all know that the Kolin Otto Mountains are vast, but do any of you know if there's anything more dangerous there besides the Temple of Eldath?"

Everyone couldn't help but look at each other in confusion at Rufo's suspense. People like Leslaufer and Patrick had traveled back and forth between the two sides of the mountain many times and knew many legends about the mountains, but none of those stories were true, and they had no idea which one Rufo was referring to.

At this moment, Knight Peter Traky suddenly remembered something. He couldn't help but feel cold all over, and even his voice began to tremble: "You mean...you don't mean...?!"

"It seems you know that it is true. Unfortunately, that is not the case," Rufo said with a serious expression, "Esmir, or better known by his other name: Kolin Otto's Bite."

The whole place was shocked.

"What... is that?" Daisy didn't know why everyone around her, including Leslough, had such an expression, but she had to be politely surprised. However, after that, she still couldn't help asking.

"You haven't heard of it?" Patrick raised an eyebrow. "Rumors of the green dragon Esmir have existed since before the establishment of the Matt Dynasty. The former emperor of the empire once led an army of 30,000, attempting to expand the territory westward across the Golinoto Mountains, but was devoured by Esmir overnight. This is how it got the nickname 'Golinoto's Bite'. Of course, in Western Inassus, it is also known as the 'Protective Dragon of the Nation'."

"Considering that 'Golin Otto' means 'triumph' in Elvish, the dragon's name is quite ironic," said Reslaufer, leaning back in his chair. "But Mr. Rufo, are you really sure that this could be related to that dragon? I have met people from many races and regions, and everyone can agree on at least one point:"

"Don't put dragons in the story."

Even someone as warlike as Rathlough didn't want to deal with a dragon without a reason—let alone a dragon older than the Matt Dynasty!

"In Haidong, the saying goes, 'Let the sleeping dragon lie still,'" added Vondar Banqiu, scratching his beard, which was better than Rufo's.

"But I'm afraid those who returned want to reawaken that sleeping dragon," Rufo said seriously. "How much effort would it take to destroy their own empire relying on the Imperials? What if a giant dragon were to be added?"

"But they can't command a dragon," Angelita stood up involuntarily. "Edward the Confessor didn't lead an army of 30,000 on the expedition. Instead, he only had 12,000 men. He pretended to have 50,000 in the hope of inducing some of the lords of Western Inassus to surrender without a fight. But among these over 10,000 men, there were no farmers or mercenaries! They were all the empire's most formidable knights, priests, and spellcasters!"

"And yet, such a team vanished overnight in the Golinoto Mountains. Ultimately, the successor, Harold the Disloyal, was hanged by the nobles, led by the Matt family, just three months after ascending the throne. Two and a half years later, the empire completed its dynastic transition!"

"Now, you say, how many druids will be able to control such a dragon?"

"Of course they can't do it, but if the artifact I've heard about really exists and has the power to deceive everyone, then this could happen!" The Archdruid said seriously, "We must eliminate this possibility. This is why I came here in person!"

"What do you need us to do?" Knight Peter responded quickly. His territory was not far from the Golinoto Mountains, and he had recently swallowed up the jurisdictions of his neighbors - now he was asked to hand it all over?

Even a legendary dragon!

Rufo glanced at the country noble with admiration. "Those returnees shouldn't cause any more trouble around here, but that doesn't mean we're safe. Lord Karochuk needs to know about this, and even Xinmu City needs to be aware of it. We need to take strict measures to prevent the returnees from infiltrating. We'll do our best to stop their delusions, but even if we succeed, these guys won't give up and will definitely continue trying to stir up trouble."

"And if we fail, if you allow the Returnees to infiltrate the perimeter of the city..."

"Citizens will be able to see a giant dragon wreaking havoc in the city center."

Chapter 134: Kolin Otto Mountains

"As for you, to be honest, I didn't expect to meet you here." Rufo smiled at Leslaufer and the others, and finally looked at Bella. "Didn't you claim in your previous letter that you wanted to make a pilgrimage to the Temple of Eddas in Kolin Otto? Now you can fulfill your wish."

"Ah, this..." Bella knew that her little thoughts had been seen through, so she scratched her head without trying to hide it. "I have to ask my companions for their opinions, you know..."

"We're going to cross the mountains anyway," Angelita said. "It's still on the way, isn't it?"

"We were 'originally' going to cross the Golinoto Mountains," Reslaufer corrected. "I need to confirm this first: if we can stop those cultists in time, won't we have to face a giant dragon?"

There is nothing shameful about dying in a battle to slay a dragon, but he still has five or six hundred gold coins waiting for him!

"If we can do it in time," Rufo nodded. "Believe me, no one wants to face a dragon, whether it's an adult, a young dragon, a baby dragon, or a dragon egg. We will try our best to keep things within the scope of 'mortals'."

"But I have to remind you that the returnees are not considered cultists. They are actually like us..."

The mercenary rolled his eyes upwards. "You can think whatever you want, but don't bring me into this. The cultists don't even consider themselves cultists, so don't flatter them."

Although Rufo tried his best to distinguish the differences between the returnees, most druids and cultists, and even wanted to clarify the factional divisions within the returnees, his words had little effect without exception. Except for Bella and Patrick who humbly accepted the teachings, everyone else found an opportunity to slip away and prepare their luggage and equipment first.

Leslaufer finally put on his Broken Halberd again. His previous robe had been destroyed at the fox man's altar, so the mercenary casually grabbed a new one from the knight.

Although bare metal armor is often depicted by painters and bards, in reality, a wide robe that reaches down to the ankles is required over the armor. Protecting the armor from the sun and shade is one aspect, but covering the gaps between the armor and preventing projectiles from splashing is also only part of its function. As for embroidering a coat of arms to identify the armor, it is even more of a detail.

For warriors, armor is actually their skin, so wearing armor without a robe... is basically the same as running naked.

However, while this theory prevailed in Central and Eastern Inassus, it was less applicable to the warriors of Western Inassus: in the past, there was an emperor who briefly ruled the entire Western Inassus. Under his command, there was a brave and skilled knight who was so famous for not wearing clothes that many knights there still follow this practice. However, they are not completely naked, but just do not wear a robe over their armor.

Rufo and Peter talked until very late. In order to make the people in the city take it seriously, the Archdruid even turned into a giant eagle and flew to Karochuk to meet the lord and explain the pros and cons. Perhaps it was because the Archdruid's identity was indeed respected, or perhaps it was because the possibility of a dragon wreaking havoc in the city was too chilling, the nobleman complied with all of Rufo's requests, and even went beyond them.

In this way, at least as long as the dragon is not successfully awakened, the residents here can sleep well.

However, Reslaufer and his companions were not so lucky. When the Archdruid flew over the manor from Karochuk, accompanied by a clear eagle cry, the team immediately set off and headed straight for the Golinoto Mountains that were faintly visible on the horizon.

"We are going to slay the dragon... We are going to slay the dragon..."

Along the way, the poet held her zither and kept muttering, and the squirrel jumped away from her. The sounds that were vague to humans were extremely clear and loud to her.

Daisy didn't notice this at all. In the few hours since leaving the knight's manor, her body had been shaking from time to time, and she didn't know whether it was excitement or fear.

In the view of Reslaufer and others, there should be more fear.

"Miss Daisy, please stop reading..." Bella helplessly placed her hand on her companion's shoulder, trying to calm her down. "We're not going to 'slay the dragon', we're just trying to prevent anyone from waking him up."

They, slay a dragon? Slay a giant dragon that's at least three to five hundred years old? No kidding!

"But it's still a dragon!" Daisy turned around, and Bella saw her eyes sparkling. "I've never seen a real dragon before! This will be one of my most legendary experiences!"

"Don't doubt it, this will probably be the most legendary experience for all of us," Reslaufer, who was walking in front, responded casually. "Not many people have seen a real dragon. To be more precise, not many people can survive after seeing a dragon and still live to this day."

"But I'd rather not make such a legend: if Kolin Otto's Bite is awake, we can only pray not to meet him; and if he is asleep, we'd better not provoke him in the dragon's lair."

"If he's still in the Kolin Otto Mountains, he might have been asleep for over three centuries," Angelita said, recalling the lessons she learned in the palace. "I don't think it's such a coincidence that we'll just happen to see him awake. In other words, we should only need to kill some of the Returnees this time."

"That would be perfect. Brother Rufo is giving me the creeps," Vondar complained. Although Rufo was a long-lived human, he was still a younger brother to the dwarf. "Dragons, giants... those creatures once ruled the world. From humans to elves to dwarves, all races were trembling pitiful creatures beneath their feet. Although those dark days have long passed, the legends are still passed down from generation to generation, and the creatures themselves have never gone away."

"Our tribe is no longer what it used to be, but we are still pitiful creatures in front of them."

Fengdal was half speaking, half singing. This might be some kind of poem circulated among the dwarves, so it didn't rhyme in the Imperial language. But even so, the dwarven ancestors' awe of dragons was evident - even in the dwarven legends, they once raised dragons and used their breath to forge metal ores for them.

But there is at least one thing that can reassure everyone: just as Angelita said, in the past three hundred years, the dragon called the Bite of Golinotuo has never appeared in the mortal world again. Perhaps this time, they really just came to eliminate some extreme druids.

After more than ten days of wilderness travel, a faint white mist began to shroud everyone's vision in the morning and evening. Shrubs replaced grasslands, and forests replaced shrubs again. When the mighty force of nature rose from the ground and blocked their way, Reslaufer and Patrick, who were walking in the front, had to swing their swords, cutting through the suffocatingly dense vegetation to keep moving forward.

Before the Empire was established, and even before humans spread across the world, the elves had already settled here, using this natural barrier to resist the invasions of dragons and giants, which had not yet completely subsided. Even today, although the elves have long abandoned this place, the name "Triumph" they left behind is still used today.

They have entered the Golinoto Mountains.

Chapter 135: The Forest Does Not Belong to Druids

How... spectacular.

Angelita stood at the foot of the mountain, looking up, but all she could see were layers of tree shadows, no peak in sight. Even as she strained her eyes to peer into the distance, she couldn't even determine whether it was a mountain range or a dense forest.

"No man-made wonder can compare to the might of nature," Bella stood beside her, equally amazed at the sight. "Rufo demonstrated this to me more than once when I was a child, but illusions are illusions after all. It's better to see it with your own eyes."

"But we cannot deny creation because of this. Don't forget that it is also a part of nature." With the sound of its four hooves kicking the ground, a male red deer stopped beside the crowd and eventually turned into the image of a hunchbacked old man.

"I told you to wait, but you didn't hear me," Rufo complained. "I can't keep following you up here in the sky. Do you know how hard it's going to take for my old legs to keep up with you?"

Patrick couldn't help but apologize for this: "It seems that we were all shocked by the scene here and didn't hear you, Archdruid."

"Lei...Old Lei and I have both traveled back and forth between the two sides of the mountain range, but most of the time we traveled via trade routes. This is the first time we've opened a road through the dense forest."