The completion of the Tower of Hope made it the tallest structure in Lefay Territory, living up to its name as the beacon of hope for all its people.
Ella gazed up at the towering spire, her eyes alight with longing. For a wandering mage, nothing was more coveted than a magic tower of their own. Yet the exorbitant cost of construction made it an impossible dream for most—especially those already struggling to get by.
Even among mages who could afford such an expense, few had the land to build one. Most had no choice but to pledge allegiance to a powerful faction in exchange for the privilege. As a result, tower-owning mages remained rare across the continent.
Noticing Ella's envious stare, Kael smiled, reading her thoughts. **"Ella, if the opportunity arises, I'll build you a magic tower too."**
"Really?" she blurted out instinctively. When Kael's confirming gaze met hers, her joy was palpable. To Ella, this was monumental news.
Kael chuckled inwardly. Constructing a tower for Ella someday would be a worthwhile investment—not only would it bolster Lefay's strength, but it would also secure her unwavering loyalty. Two birds with one stone.
Ella, meanwhile, practically vibrated with excitement at the mere mention of a tower. This woman is a true magic fanatic.
In other developments, Kael had tasked the Snowbear Beast with excavating an underground realm beneath the City Lord's Manor. The creature's digging prowess was unmatched, and soon, the space beneath the manor had transformed into a vast subterranean world. Kael relocated the Unicorn Rhino herd there, supplying them daily with heaps of roasted meat to satisfy their bottomless appetites.
Fortunately, meat was one resource Kael could afford to spare.
Everything progressed smoothly. Recently, merchant caravans had begun trickling back in growing numbers—clearly, word of Kael's annihilation of the Nomadic Banditshad spread.
Lefay was finally on the right track. Though trade had yet to return to its former prosperity, this marked a promising beginning.
Kael was confident that as merchant caravans continued to multiply, Lefay Territory'stax revenues would flourish accordingly. Soon, the territory would become entirely self-sufficient, no longer reliant on Kael's personal funds.
For now, however, Lefay still depended on his gold—coins flowed out like water each day, and even with Kael's current wealth, it felt like a bottomless pit.
Fortunately, the news of the Nomadic Bandits' destruction had spurred a surge in trade, giving Kael some much-needed breathing room.
"Kael, are you planning to see Lone Wolf?" Amelia approached softly as Kael massaged his temples, weighed down by Lefay's administrative burdens.
Kael frowned slightly. "How is he now?" The memory of their battle resurfaced—how he had left Lone Wolf severely wounded and comatose. Only Kael's mastery as a Grandmaster Alchemist had pulled the man back from death's door.
"He's conscious, but unstable," Amelia reported.
Kael nodded. "I'll go check on him."
The matter of Lone Wolf needed resolution. If he could be turned to their side, Lefay City's strength would grow exponentially!
Currently, Jett and Finn handled military affairs, while Amelia oversaw strategy. Though this arrangement kept the city functioning, it was far from ideal. Lefay lacked a true pillar—someone capable of shouldering greater responsibilities.
And Lone Wolf might just fit that role, Kael mused.
The bandit leader was imprisoned in the City Lord's Manor's dungeon, a necessary precaution. After all, Lone Wolf was no ordinary foe; letting him escape would be an irreparable loss.
As Kael stepped into the dim, musty depths of the dungeon, the pungent stench of mildew assaulted his senses, making him wrinkle his nose reflexively.
Though Kael's footsteps were light, they still alerted Lone Wolf. The man's vigilance was evident—his eyes snapped open like drawn blades, piercing through Kael despite his grievous injuries.
Kael felt no fear toward this defeated foe. He met Lone Wolf's gaze coolly as the bandit leader strained against his restraints, only to be yanked back by thick, wrist-sized chains. These were specially forged; even an eighth-level expert would struggle to break free, let alone one as wounded as Lone Wolf.
"Save your strength," Kael said flatly.
The words forced Lone Wolf into silence, though his smoldering glare burned with fury and a thirst for destruction.
"How do you plan to deal with me?" Lone Wolf finally rasped, his voice hoarse and weakened—proof of the devastation wrought by Kael's composite magic. When Kael remained unmoved, he slumped in resignation.
"What do you think?" Kael smirked.
Lone Wolf exhaled. "I've ravaged the Lefay Plains for years. I knew this day would come." His tone turned eerily calm, almost accepting. "Lord Kael, I lost to you fair and square. Kill me if you wish; I won't resist. But some of my men are innocent. Spare them."
Here was a man of unyielding pride, facing death without flinching.
"Innocent?" Kael scoffed, locking eyes with him. "If they're innocent, what does that make the tens of thousands of Lefay's civilians? What of those slaughtered by your bandits? The merchant caravans you plundered?"
Each question struck like a hammer. Lone Wolf's face flickered with guilt—brief, but undeniable—before hardening again.
"Hmph." He turned away, refusing to engage further.
But Kael pressed on, drilling into him: "Lone Wolf, you master the Ancient Octad Formation, command formidable strength, and excel in military strategy. You could thrive anywhere across the Three Continents. Why choose the life of a bandit?"
The words plunged Lone Wolf into deeper silence. His gaze grew distant, as if haunted by memories untold.
This was precisely the question that puzzled Kael the most.
Lone Wolf was a master of the Ancient Octad Formation, a man of extraordinary strength who had single-handedly built the Nomadic Bandits from nothing. His military and administrative talents were more than sufficient to command any legion across the continent. How, then, had such a man ended up as the leader of a mere bandit group?
"Lord Kael, wasting your breath on a prisoner like me seems rather pointless," Lone Wolf said coolly, his tone laced with clear dismissal, as if unwilling to delve deeper.
Yet Kael only smiled. "Is it? I'd argue that years of meticulous planning must have served some grand purpose. I'm curious—what exactly were you after?"
Lone Wolf's expression shifted several times before he finally let out a long sigh and muttered, "I have a blood feud with the Kingdom of Maider."
His teeth ground together so fiercely that Kael could hear the grating sound—proof of the sheer hatred burning within him.
So there's more to this story after all.
Seeing Lone Wolf's reaction, Kael knew he had struck a nerve.
After a heavy silence, Lone Wolf continued, "My family was once nobility in Maider… until a conspiracy led to our downfall. The royal family crushed us, leaving no survivors—my parents, my elders, my kin… all slaughtered."
His voice was thick with grief, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles whitened. The fury in his eyes was unmistakable.
"I was the only one who escaped. Yet even then, Maider hunted me across the Three Continents, sending assassins after assassins… forcing me into hiding." A bitter smirk twisted his lips. "I changed my name, concealed my identity, and even stumbled upon… certain opportunities. Heh. Those damned royals never imagined I'd be lurking right under their noses!"
Perhaps it was the weight of years spent in secrecy, but now that Lone Wolf had finally spoken his truth, he seemed… lighter. As if a burden had been lifted.