Chapter 6 I Will Always Be Watching You

Hearing the question posed by Ren, the lizardman beggar’s vertical pupils slowly contracted.

"The old beggar doesn't know what you are talking about," he said, taking his time. "However, there have indeed been rumors lately of villagers disappearing from Turbulence Village, Fish-Leap Village, and Shoal Village in the south."

"Specific time?"

"Yesterday," the lizardman beggar replied. "They all went fishing downstream on the Saint River yesterday and did not return by nightfall. The villages organized search parties today to head downstream, but no news has come back yet."

"Any other clues?"

"None. They were likely devoured by pythons; after all, this rainforest has never been safe."

Ren tossed him another gold coin.

Missing, are they?

Ordinary disappearances would not attract the attention of the city’s rats; they were clearly sensing that something was wrong. Unfortunately, their intuition was correct. If the scouts of the Ghouls had already reached the lower reaches of the Saint River, it meant they were advancing even faster than he had anticipated. At the latest, the main force of the Ghouls would reach Dragon Valley City in three days. There was not much time left to act.

Ren silently calculated the result and suddenly felt a shift, looking off into the distance. At the end of the alley, Aeliana was leading a dejected-looking Daia back toward him.

"Master Wizard," Daia said in a low voice. "The shamans do not believe in the matter of the Ghouls."

"Oh," Ren replied absentmindedly.

If you were a shaman stationed at the base of the Scaled Temple and someone suddenly ran up to you claiming the "end of the world is coming," you would be a fool to believe them.

"Can you help me?" Daia asked.

"No," Ren said.

Daia: "..."

She looked at Aeliana for help, but the latter only offered a helpless, bitter smile.

Ren walked into the inn and ordered a plate of honey-glazed smoked chicken with mulberry sauce, a plate of charcoal-grilled bacon, and a large pitcher of hot goat's milk. Aeliana sat beside him, asked the waiter for a knife and fork, and without seeking Ren’s permission, began to eat elegantly. Daia sat on the other side of Ren and secretly swallowed hard.

"Eat," Aeliana said flatly, pushing the sliced grilled pork toward her. "He already saved you from Swamp Town; he wouldn't let you starve to death here."

Daia looked at Ren again, and seeing he had no intention of stopping her, she began to eat in small bites. Once she was full, Daia stared blankly at the empty plates on the table, then suddenly heard Ren say:

"It is not difficult to make Dragon Valley City believe the Ghouls are coming; it is also quite simple to make Dragon Valley City deal with them."

"Master Wizard, please tell me!" Daia said, immediately excited.

"No rush," Ren asked. "What are you prepared to pay in exchange for the answer?"

"Eh?" Daia was bewildered, her face clearly showing, "Does this really require a trade?"

She looked to Aeliana for help, who said softly, "Knowledge is the most precious treasure."

"Alright," Daia quickly made up her mind. "Master Wizard, I am willing to trade for your answer, but I do not know what I have to offer."

"Hmm," Ren wiped his mouth with a napkin. "You don't look like you have any money, and I happen to need a servant to attend to my daily needs. Serve me for two months in exchange for the answer you want. Think it over carefully."

"There is no need to think; I agree," Daia said without hesitation. "As long as I can save them, I am willing to do anything."

Aeliana looked up, quietly watching Daia, a strange glint appearing in her eyes.

"Anything?" Ren let out an undisguised, mocking laugh. "Do you know what a heavy promise that is? Do not make promises easily if you cannot keep them. Start by doing your job as a servant first."

"I have agreed to your terms; now it is your turn to give the answer," Daia said stubbornly.

"The reason they don't believe you is simple: people cannot imagine things they have never seen," Ren said, slowly picking his teeth. "Just catch a Ghoul and throw it in front of the citizens of Dragon Valley City, and everyone will want to know what this monster really is."

That’s it! Why didn't I think of that! Daia finally had a realization. Damn it! If I were just a little smarter, I wouldn't have to be someone’s maid.

"But where are we going to get a Ghoul?" she asked, following up. "Your answer is incomplete; please explain."

"Villagers have gone missing in the lower reaches of the Saint River recently," Ren replied. "It is most likely the advance party of the Ghouls has already reached the south of Dragon Valley City’s sphere of influence."

Daia’s face turned pale, and she began to wring her hands in nervous anxiety. The Ghouls have already arrived? Is there still time?

"Aeliana," Ren commanded, "go catch one. Keep it alive."

Aeliana did not refuse, but reminded him, "What about the answer to the other question?"

"What?" Daia was confused.

"He asked two questions just now, but only gave you one answer," Aeliana said.

Daia frowned and thought for a moment, then asked hesitantly:

"So, even if the people of Dragon Valley City believe the Ghouls are coming, it doesn't mean they will prepare for war?"

"Obviously," Ren sneered. "War mobilization requires drafting militia, with everyone providing their own weapons and rations. With the low efficiency of the commoners, it would take at least one to two months, and the Ghouls will not give Dragon Valley City that much time."

"If I were a noble or a shaman of Dragon Valley City, once I truly understood what these Ghouls were, and knowing that war mobilization was already too late, I would choose to flee Dragon Valley City to save my own life, rather than stupidly waiting to organize a defense until the city fell and everyone died."

"But!" Daia argued quickly, "What about the commoners?"

Both of them looked at her with wordless gazes, making Daia feel as if she had fallen into an ice cave. What else could they do? From the perspective of the nobles and shamans, their own lives were naturally the most important. As for the commoners, what did that have to do with them?

She finally realized that her idea of "making Dragon Valley City prepare for war" had significantly overestimated the integrity of certain groups.

"If that is the case," Daia quickly changed her line of thinking, "then let all the commoners know that the Ghouls are coming and that Dragon Valley City is incapable of resisting! Then everyone will choose to abandon the city and flee! Everyone will be able to survive!"

"A rather clever line of thought," Ren commented. "But most people won't listen to you."

"Only the nobles and shamans possess the knowledge to evaluate the battlefield situation. Commoners, limited by their own experience and knowledge, cannot judge whether their own side can defeat the Ghouls. For many commoners, their only source of information throughout their lives is the noble lord of their own territory—whatever the masters say is the truth."

Daia fell silent again. After Ren’s simple explanation, she finally realized that the current Dragon Valley City was like a ship about to sink. If you told the passengers, no one would believe you; but if you told the captain and the crew, they would be the first to take the lifeboats and leave, not caring in the slightest whether the passengers lived or died.

"Master Wizard," Daia suddenly spoke up. "I want to seek another answer."

"How can I best preserve the commoners of Dragon Valley City?"

"The price for the answer to this question is a bit expensive," Ren mused, then suddenly laughed. "Add another year to the term of your service."

Daia’s brow furrowed tightly, and she instinctively looked at Aeliana again. Aeliana did not respond, only harboring her own private thoughts. Although Ren claimed he wanted to find a woman to serve him, Aeliana was not naive enough to believe he truly needed a maid; it was likely to keep Daia under his control. Daia was clearly just an ordinary human girl—was she worth the effort of a calculating, inherently evil Necromancer like him?

It doesn't matter. No matter what schemes or tricks you have, I will use this body you created, and these eyes, to watch you forever...

...Forever.