Chapter 1047: Chapter 841: Being a Spy Is Truly a Dangerous Job
Vila ultimately did not choose to place her Royal Palace in the deepest part of the Mil Forest.
When the Undead Tribe was building the Magic Great Wall and clearing the forest interior, she traveled throughout the entire forest in her little carriage, finally choosing the turning point connecting to the western Marching Mountains.
The Mil Forest and the Marching Mountains resemble a longbow just set up with an arrow but not yet drawn, and Vila chose the curved part of the bow.
Yet the deepest and densest section of the forest is the upper part of the bow, sandwiched between the Marching Mountains and the Esi River.
That’s where the towering trees are most numerous.
But Vila did not choose that place.
Although the depths of the forest are the safest for forest creatures, with the protection of the Undead Tribe, she didn’t need to compete with those poor little animals for survival space.
Although humans can understand that her bringing the Undead Tribe would provide safety, the already panicked animals couldn’t comprehend it. They would just feel that Vila and her group were there to compete for their survival space.
To ensure their group’s survival, the animals would fight desperately.
Vila stood on the open carriage, glanced at the small animals observing them from behind big trees, cheerfully waved her Flower Staff, and cast a Nature’s Blessing.
She was quite pleased: the condition of the Mil Forest was much better than she expected, which could save them a lot of time and effort.
Though she didn’t understand why the Divine Beasts were behaving so politely this time… given the temper of the Fire God Beast, not burning everything flammable was already polite.
But Vila was still willing to make concessions for these struggling animals.
So even when she returned to the clearing she chose and saw thousands of trees piled up nearby by the Undead Tribe, Vila maintained her cheerful mood and released her Floral Bone Palace.
Although William informed her right from the start that upon reaching Vila’s chosen final residence, she could hire the Undead Tribe to build a more ideal Royal Palace… this way, she wouldn’t have to stay in the same place with the Temporal Artifact and the Undead Tribe.
But Vila… touching her little purse, felt that this palace was quite nice.
Anyway, the side hall of the Temporal Artifact has its own dedicated entrance and exit, and as long as Vila kept the door from the side hall to her Queen’s Hall closed, the Undead Tribe couldn’t casually enter her hall.
As for loud noise, clamorous commotion, fighting and brawling, Vila… didn’t care.
The Little Flower Fairy drove the Fairy Dragon into the hall with composure, and if worse came to worst, she could live in the carriage… though the fairy residence in the Floral Bone Palace wasn’t bad, it wasn’t much different from a human’s place, requiring the little fairies to change a lot due to their stature.
Moreover, Hill’s arrangements were always more exquisite.
Then, Vila, seated on the King’s Platform, quickly and firmly asked the Young Master who had been by her side, “Who’s causing trouble outside? What’s happening?”
‘Young Master’ gave a confused glance at Vila, wasn’t the Undead Tribe always noisy?
He turned toward his secretary.
The one who had long been checking his tablet said, “Hmm… Didn’t we take in hundreds of refugees two days ago? Snow Cloud Peak arranged them in an Alchemy Hut, where a Hill’s painting was hanging.”
Vila quickly straightened her back, lightly spinning her small Flower Staff in her hands, “Are there many liars? I remember that the commander had them sign, right? That was on a Contract Paper stamped with the Lord of Dawn’s seal!”
Compared to Tyr’s righteous judgment, little fairies like Vila were more afraid of Lansendel, who wouldn’t reason with them… dare provoke the elder, and there’d be no negotiation, you’d get burnt.
“Lansendel isn’t entirely unreasonable!” said the ‘Young Master’ with an innocent face while also looking at his tablet, “Look, those who told insignificant little lies at most got burnt into black pigs.
Only those… hmm… which counts as betraying humans? Only those got burnt to ash.”
The ‘Young Master’ mentioned black pigs, and Hill had seen it on another huge screen, those who lied and dared to sign were just being dragged by the Undead Tribe from the camp to the clearing to be doused!
Severe burns definitely aren’t minor injuries!
Even though Lansendel’s true form still resided in the Divine Kingdom, his attention was entirely elsewhere, and he hadn’t been focusing on Toril’s matters at all during this time… his punishment followed entirely the rules of his Divine Kingdom… while others could opt for lighter penalties, Lansendel always chose the heaviest punishment without any chance of luck.
It’s also understandable why Lansendel wants to extend his reach to the Sun… While Amanata doesn’t hold many divine offices, he can utilize them somewhat.
And Amanata hasn’t appeared for too long; without revival, he might as well be dead permanently, considering how these past years, Amanata performed worse than Baal, who died and became dust.
But once Lansendel got better entertainment, he outright gave up his ambitions for the Sun… He seemed ready to go for any opportunity, but if there was a melon to be dug up, he’d forgo the dates.
Yet, even with half their bodies charred into carbon, there were still a few people grappling with each other, cussing at one another without reserve.
The observing Undead Tribe were rather baffled.
But slowly they also caught onto some news: these were spies from rival countries concurrently placed in Kalinsan!
When gathering information, they conveniently undermined their enemy’s efforts—yet one painting caused them all to implode.
The Undead Tribe listened with relish to their insults, and a few Priests very sympathetically healed these spies a bit… They mustn’t die before their amusing tales were finished!
Vila held out for a while, but after a swarm of Little Fairies rushed out to hang on trees or the Undead Tribe to eavesdrop, she dropped her reserve and plopped onto the ‘Young Master’s’ shoulder: “Let’s go out and take a look! Seems quite interesting.”
“Lansendel’s Dawn Fire is indeed merciless!” Celene murmured softly, “It burned everything… didn’t even spare the Harpist.”
Hill glanced at the screen quizzically: those bickering nations seem to be around Kalinsan!
Then he saw a limping blackened Bard following behind ‘Snow Cloud Peak’. His burns weren’t as severe, but his clothes were in tattered shreds, and he was wrapped in a cloak that ‘Snow Cloud Peak’ had just handed him… Snow Old Dog was carefully studying a Harpist’s badge.
“Oh~ it’s from Miliel’s faction.” Celene seemed to discern something from that badge, “No wonder the Undead Tribe gave him some leniency, they have to at least consider your reputation!”
Hill smiled wryly… Lynn possibly being one of Miliel’s Chosen wasn’t exactly a secret among the Undead Tribe.
So he wasn’t surprised when ‘Snow Cloud Peak’ found a few Priests to heal the Bard; the Bard’s injuries were indeed minor, showing he merely hid a potentially dangerous identity but harbored no hostility towards the Little Fairies and Undead Tribe.
Thus merely took a hit from Dawn Fire for concealing the truth.
Harpists always habitually hide their identity, especially the traditionalists… Miliel’s believers are mostly such.
As for danger… Harpist isn’t just a name, it’s an advanced profession.
The Bard might be an eighth-level in his main profession but concealed his Harpist skills.
Concealing strength is certainly a danger for the camp trying to aid him… It’s not the same as unwillingness or inability to implement preventive measures.
The punishment Tyr meted out is sealing their power… Their profession levels aren’t low, just attracting Dawn Fire wouldn’t cause such misery.
Yet, Tyr is always cautious, willing to give people a chance, so he first seals the power of those violating the Righteous Contract and then has the Righteous Knights step in for a fair trial.
Then there’s Coron, the elves’ skills are always notable and fearless in battle against enemies, yet they’re most worried about enemies throwing harmful Magical Items… Hence their constraint on these foes is sealing the ability to use Magical Curio, especially spatial tools.
So even if these spies have tools in their magic pouches that might help them escape, they can’t bring them out.
And William’s divine power inscribed on the paper is fair judgment… Using his thoughts on safety as a rule to assess whether these people pose harm to the camp.
The Harpist dared to conceal his identity because, according to Toril’s traditional practices, someone without any hostility and even a hint of friendliness wouldn’t be punished.
But this time, William is the trial’s core.
Though he’s tried to lower his high standards somewhat, Hill thinks the term “spy” is enough to set him off, even if they’re allies.
The Undead Tribe were relishing the secrets being spilled by those blackened covert operatives… Discovering the Undead Tribe were captivated by their tales and even willing to send Priests made these spies spill even more eagerly.
After all, they’re revealing dirt about enemy nations, not lies, swapping it for healing without any guilt… As for their own secrets being exposed, eh, if secrets are revealed to enemies, are they still secrets at all?
It’s not what they said themselves, nor did they do it themselves, who’s to care if the Great Nobility or even the King from their side loses a bit of face?
For most Toril people, spycraft is merely a job for money, they don’t maintain lofty national faiths… What beliefs do Nobles give them? Only shiny Golden Dragons are their favorites.
Yet their lives are certainly more valuable than Golden Dragons… While they enjoy dancing on razor’s edge, it doesn’t mean they want to roll along it.
Despite the ample intel in the Border Kingdom by Steam Lake’s locale, the Undead Tribe were ultimately drawn to the intel from Tethyr spies from the magic-blast Anmur Kingdom… Especially as it related to the former ruler of Mulan, Prince Andreju.