Chapter 1 That Night

That night, Sigrid finally brought Lanqi to an independent city-state called "Glatton Stone Fortress," also known as Little Stone City.

The sky had long turned pitch black, with only twilight and lamplight as their guides.

Beneath the towering city gate,皑皑 was covered in snow.

"It's only seven o'clock, even though it's been dark for three or four hours."

Lanqi stepped off the sled, took out his pocket watch, and exclaimed after a glance.

In Little Stone City, daylight probably lasted only a few hours, and it would decrease further north.

This was why this snowfield was called the Land of Eternal Night.

Back then, he and Sigrid had gone to Bandera City, the northernmost part of the Protoss Empire, and going further north would have entered a similar "eternal night" zone.

"Don't worry. Whether it's dark or light, I'll deliver you on time according to the contract."

Sigrid had already jumped off the sled ahead of Lanqi and started moving his luggage.

Since this guy seemed to have brought a lot of tools, the luggage was heavy, with a total of three boxes.

Including her own, there were four.

"Okay."

Lanqi watched Sigrid work.

One of the reasons the secretary strongly recommended Sigrid to him was her super endurance at night, almost ignoring the poor visibility and snowy weather, delivering customers to their destinations.

If she was the driver, they could basically stay overnight in an orc city-state every day, six in total, and on the seventh day, they would successfully arrive in the Demon Realm.

As soon as the two arrived in the city, they could see the post station. For a small fee, it provided rest camps for adventurers and their mounts on their journeys.

Sigrid led the Snowfield Nether Deer and the sled to the orcs at the post station. These experienced caretakers quickly fed and groomed the Nether Deer, ensuring they would rest properly tonight.

"By the way, I need to remind you that the situation in the Porant Empire has led to some unwanted things on the snowfield recently. You need to be prepared."

Sigrid walked back to Lanqi and said while waiting for a carriage by the roadside.

This was also why she had been unwilling to take on new jobs recently.

Unfortunately, the other party offered too high a price.

As long as this deal was done, the orphanage would have nothing to worry about for a whole year. Even if a war broke out, the nuns could take the children to neighboring countries without becoming refugees.

"Okay, but can you tell me in detail what kind of creatures they are? So I can be mentally prepared."

Lanqi asked with great interest.

"Those blood clans... If the Horning Empire covets the Porant Empire, it may have already started infiltrating the Kingdom of Fuklo and the Kingdom of Ides on both sides of the Porant Empire. As long as they pass through the two kingdoms, they can go to the snowfield to prepare in advance."

Sigrid didn't expect Lanqi to believe her. She just said a few words casually.

"The blood clans will definitely want to block the northern snowfield behind the Porant Empire first, and then encircle and devour the Porant Empire on land. Of course, these are just my guesses, which may be very different from what those imperial politicians think. After all, they think the enemy is more likely to be the Horning Empire, not the blood clans."

She knew that customers like this artist would probably trust the dignitaries equal to his status more, and would not take her one-sided words seriously, so she didn't mind saying it.

Of course, the other party, who was born superior and seemed to live in a castle palace, might not care about her views on the war situation at all.

Anyway, if the blood clans really occupied the Porant Empire, they would not be willing to kill a harmless and artistically talented plaything human like him.

And she, who was an eyesore to the blood clans, would be the blood clans' primary assassination target.

But she was no longer afraid. Her parents and clansmen had all been killed by the blood clans. She had long learned to endure darkness and loneliness, and for the time being, she lived one day at a time.

"Wow."

Lanqi looked at Sigrid in surprise.

"What 'wow, wow'?"

This made Sigrid look up at him in confusion, wondering if something was wrong with his brain.

"You're very smart."

Lanqi praised the short figure beside him.

He felt like he was on the same wavelength as her.

"What do you mean?"

Sigrid didn't understand why Lanqi suddenly praised her. She was originally prepared to be denied.

"I just think you analyze problems very thoroughly, much better than those noble lords in the parliament."

Lanqi closed his eyes and spread his hands helplessly.

"Is that so?"

Sigrid was dubious, but she felt it was good that the employer could listen to her advice.

Of course, it was more likely that this painter really didn't care about the situation in the Porant Empire, so he could believe her words as a child as soon as he heard them, without asking her why she made such a judgment or refuting her.

If possible, she really didn't want to encounter blood clans again, especially on the snowfield between the city-states in the Land of Eternal Night.

Once encountered, it would be very disadvantageous to her at night.

Unless she escaped from the snowfield, she could hardly survive until daybreak.

Blood clans were almost invincible.

They chatted for a while.

Lanqi and Sigrid waited for a coachman in the city to carry their luggage onto the vehicle, taking them on a tour of the city.

This Little Stone City stood at the southernmost edge of the Land of Eternal Night. It was winter all year round, with white snow covering the vast land. It was a community mainly of orcs, full of primitive and rugged beauty, and integrated with the modernity of human city-states.

Among the six city-states along the way, Little Stone City, as the southernmost in the Land of Eternal Night and the closest independent city-state to the Porant Empire, had the most normal relationship between orcs and humans, and there were frequent trade exchanges. It was deeply influenced by human culture.

Going deeper into the Land of Eternal Night, it would become worse and worse. Until the last city-state, you would hardly encounter humans in the city, and even demons would appear.

"In this city-state, it's still relatively safe. Starting the day after tomorrow, don't leave my side without authorization and don't act alone."

Sigrid looked at the familiar buildings in the city-state, mostly constructed of hard stone and specially treated wood, with a stable structure that could resist the cold and snow.

She reminded Lanqi.

Little Stone City was the city-state in the Land of Eternal Night that she visited most often. She had been to the next few city-states less often, but she also knew the dangerous environment there.

"Okay, I understand."

Lanqi confirmed.

Listening to the guide was very important. Having a reliable bodyguard by his side also made him feel quite at ease, including tomorrow's activities—meeting the Grand Lord and repairing the statue for this city-state.

It was said that in the temple of Little Stone City stood an ancient relic statue—the God of Rock and Shelter, which guarded this land and the oaths of the orcs with a solemn posture.

The God of Rock and Shelter, also known as the God of Earth, presided over earth-attribute divine arts in the Book of Creation.

It was also the god worshiped by the bear people of this Little Stone City.

Lanqi and Sigrid continued to take the car to the interior of Little Stone City, passing through roads paved with gray slate. On both sides were some low buildings. The streets were quite lively. Various furry orcs wore distinctive costumes, and occasionally humans could be seen walking among them. The downtown area was brightly lit at night.

After more than ten minutes, they finally arrived at tonight's residence, the most luxurious Snow Bear Hotel in the city-state.

(End of this chapter)