Published at 30th of January 2026 6:43 am

Chapter 1458: Seat and Heart

This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl

Springale was a major city in Europa, known to be the seat and heart of the Sovereign Union.

Unlike Amberfall, it didn’t have a strategic harbor, for it was situated on the mainland. It did, however, have access to one of the most important rivers that flowed through this land — the Anumay River.

Warm currents from the river kept the city temperate all around the year, earning it the name The City of Everlasting Warmth.

It was a hub of trade, craftsmanship, and high-stakes politics, with power shared uneasily between nobles, guilds, and mercantile interests. Needless to say, the true power within these factions always rested in the hands of Magi.

A couple of months after traversing the Sea of Green, Lebu and his team reached Springdale by the main road, joining a steady flow of merchants, travelers, and guards moving towards the city gates.

Sitting at the front of the caravan, Kenny saw the city walls rise high ahead of them, thick and well-maintained, with banners snapping in the wind. Armed guards watched every entrance closely, their eyes vigilant as ever.

Kenny had a look of astonishment on his face when he looked at those towering walls. This was genuine shock as even Adam hadn’t seen city walls as big as this before.

"Heh, I had the same look on my face when I first visited Springdale," Kori, who was seated beside him, chuckled lightly. "Quite fascinating, no?"

Kenny nodded in a daze. He couldn’t help but ask, "How long must this have taken? To build the walls around the city, I mean."

"I don’t know." Kori shrugged. "Legend says the ancient dwarves built them. But who knows? These days, every marvel of engineering gets credited to those dwarves. Hmph, who’s to say we humans didn’t build them instead?"

As the caravan passed through the gates, Kenny noticed that Lebu was posing as a merchant for a certain trading company inside Springdale. He figured the company was one of the many fronts the Brotherhood used to operate in the city.

Now let’s find out how deep the claws of the Cult have penetrated, Adam thought to himself, a cold gleam flashing in his brown eyes.

It didn’t take long to pass through safety and verification. Lebu knew several guards and administrative officers in the City Watch. Generally, it would take outsiders — even if they were residents — anywhere between an hour and two to get through security checks.

However, through Lebu’s connections, the party was able to enter the city in less than fifteen minutes. Of course, the caravan had been thoroughly checked, and all the team members’ identifications were scrutinized.

When it came to Kenny’s identification documents, or rather, the lack of them, Lebu whispered something in one of the guard captain’s ears. Upon which, the latter cast a knowing glance at the clueless dusk-skinned youth and allowed him to pass with the party.

Makes sense, Adam thought to himself.

The Union runs the city, and the Brotherhood supports the Union. Some of the Magi in the upper echelons of the city’s governance might even be aware of our secret organization.

As the caravan passed through the gates, the noise drowned them immediately.

Countless wagons creaked over the packed streets, and people carried on conversations in loud voices. The smell of the river mingled with the smoke from forges. Three-four-story buildings crowded the roads, stacked close to one another, their lower levels occupied by shops.

Lebu led the group without hesitation, navigating through the traffic towards the Trade Ward. A few onlookers stared openly at Kenny, noting his unfamiliar clothing styles.

Kori awkwardly cleared his throat and said, "We need to get you some clothes, Kenny."

"Hmm?" The boy innocently tilted his head as he looked at his long breechcloth and... well, that was all he was wearing. "What’s wrong with this? It’s perfect to move around, and hunt, and play."

Kori’s lips twitched. "You can forget about hunting," he said. "You’ll have to take on various jobs to earn money, and with that money, you can buy food or anything else you want."

Kenny looked as clueless as ever.

Right at that moment, Lebu’s voice carried over from the head of the caravan.

"Kori, he’s going to be your responsibility," said the Agent. "Show him the ins and outs of the city. Teach him... well, everything one would require to survive in a metropolis."

Kori wanted to protest, but when he saw Kenny’s brown eyes gleaming with awe and wonder, he couldn’t help but relent.

In the end, he sighed. He turned towards the Lebu and asked, "I’m guessing he’ll be living with us for the time being?"

Lebu let out a light chuckle. "Weren’t you and Pang looking for a flatmate? Well, things worked out for you in the end, after all."

Kori and Pang, the two Acolytes of the Brotherhood, exchanged helpless glances. They were looking for another flatmate to share their burdens, not become one.

"...Yes, Captain." They nodded with slight reluctance.

Although Kenny was a bumpkin, he seemed to be a decent boy. So they didn’t mind having him as their flatmate. And considering that in the near future, Lebu was going to recruit him into the secret order, Kori and Pang could see him becoming their teammate.

Almost half an hour later, the caravan finally arrived at its destination. They had stopped at an unassuming trading company. All the Acolytes alighted from the carriages and helped carry the crates and chest into the building. Kenny, too, helped them since he had nothing better to do.

He noticed Lebu talking to a wealthy merchant, then heading deeper into the building with him a few moments later.

The Brotherhood’s contact? He wondered.

Or is he an Agent himself?

"Stop zoning out." Kori patted the boy’s shoulder.

"Ah!" Kenny appeared startled. He offered a foolish grin. "I, uh... I’ve never seen so many people before."

Kori offered a faint smile. Pang stepped forward and put his arm around the boy’s shoulders. "Come, we’ll show you around the city."

"And also buy you some clothes!" Kori added with a chuckle. "The Captain’s given us more than enough money to help you get settled. We’ll use the rest to buy you supplies, and then have a feast later tonight!"

"Let’s go!" Kenny raised his fists to the sky and excitedly said.

Together, the three boys disappeared into the crowd.

***

At the same time Adam arrived in the city, another person also reached Springdale — someone deeply familiar to him.

In a dimly-lit chamber, two powerful figures cloaked in dark hooded robes knelt on one knee as they welcomed this man who stood calmly before them.

The man’s black hair carried a vibrant sheen, and his brown eyes flickered with something vile and calculating. If one looked closer, they might even see hints of madness in the depths of his eyes.

He clasped his hands behind his back and regarded the kneeling figures with open condescension.

"Rise," he said in a flat, emotionless voice.

The two robed figures obeyed, standing while keeping their heads lowered. Their lips parted, as they spoke in unison, thier tone humble:

"Welcome to the Union... Lord Benton."

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