The Western Province, which the Swinston family has guarded for generations, is a special presence in the Kingdom of Orem, not only because it has the largest iron ore production among the seven provinces, but also because it is the only province whose territory is not fully connected. The land is divided in two by the river that flows from west to east, and for convenience, it is customary to refer to them as the Upper West and the Lower West.

Ronk is a town on the edge of the Upper West, near the Dead Fog Swamp. Like other towns classified as "backcountry", it has all the hallmarks of such a place - low and old walls, streets that can almost be seen at the end, and listless houses that seem to crumble into ruins in the next moment. Of course, the picture is complemented by the terrible mud on the ground, the smell of horse manure wafting in the wind, and the expressionless inhabitants with staring blank eyes.

Inconspicuous, yes, there are no words that can describe the town so accurately, even Baron Kajik, who stands at the window. The fifty-year-old man, the owner of Ronk Town, had just finished his lunch, and was standing at the window, gazing at the land in front of him where his family had ruled for generations.

Normally, the time after lunch is the most beautiful and relaxing, but it is such a familiar town that looks like you are looking at your fingers, and it has made Kajik a little irritable these days. As for the reason, it was actually very simple, because the entire Upper Western Realm was shrouded in a strange and tense atmosphere, and even he, a small nobleman in the middle of nowhere, could really feel this unusual state.

Gently lifting the milky white curtain, Kajik's gaze wandered on the deserted street, his slightly erected belly holding the front of the garment a little tight, and pushing a bulging arc on it. Soon, his eyes were drawn to a group of strange visitors, a group of about five or six people, each of whom had hidden his figure in a wide dark gray cloak, and the old man at the head was negotiating something with the guards at the gate.

"It's not a common scene...... Kajik muttered quietly.

These unfamiliar faces were, of course, Essaoweran and his party, who, thanks to Berosio, had almost found the best shortcut to the town of Ronk, and had arrived in this humble town in just one morning. If it is safe to do so, it is of course the best choice to sneak away from here and infiltrate the Western Province.

But in the current state of the people, they urgently need supplies, a lot of supplies, and a place to rest. The experience in the Death Fog Swamp had already tormented them to the point of exhaustion, and even the injuries on the bodies of Paislin, Kuhl, and the others that had not yet had time to deal with them could not be delayed any longer.

The guards at the gate of the town looked at Soveran and the others with some surprise, it had been a long time since he had met a traveler passing through the town of Ronk. "Table, identify ......" The guard quickly greeted him, his voice a little nervous.

Sovereign and the others turned over and dismounted, and as discussed in advance, Old Sean pulled down the hood that covered his face and walked up. "Don't be nervous, as you can see, we don't mean anything. As he spoke, the old man took out the Order Insignia from his bosom and handed it to the guards, "I am a high-ranking priest from the Order Sect of Guangming Mountain, and I have just completed my journey to the Death Mist Swamp with the guards and students, hoping to get the corresponding supplies and rest here, and then continue our journey. ”

When the guard saw a kind face under the hood, half of his guard had been removed, and when he saw the golden insignia in the old man's hand, he not only did not have a trace of suspicion, but even showed a more respectful expression than facing his own lord. "Please, I beg your pardon......" He quickly waved his hand, then bowed and saluted, not taking the insignia, "Honorable lord, welcome to Ronk Town, of course you will be able to get supplies and have time to rest, of course ......" said and stepped aside.

Old Sean smiled and nodded, and he drew a triangular gesture in front of the guards. "Thank you for your help, and may the light of the Lord God bring you good luck. ”

"Thank you, thank you, dear lordship......" replied the guard with a bow.

Just then, a muffled inquiry came from afar. "What's going on here, who are they? Ronk doesn't often have strange faces, especially from the west...... Hmm, the Dead Mist Swamp?" Karjik walked over with his hands behind his back, carefully avoiding the stagnant water and mud on the ground, and carefully examined Solviran and the others.

"Lord Huiyu, it's a high-ranking priest from the Order of the Bright Mountain, and his guards and students," the guard said as he approached Kajik and added in a low voice, "He has a golden insignia in his hand......"

The baron's face changed suddenly, and he immediately saluted with the utmost standard. "I beg your pardon for the offense, Baron Ronk Karjik is at your service, and I wonder if there's anything I can do for you?" he stood up, trying to smile the most graceful of things, "You know, it's rare for strangers to pass by here. Especially for an adult of such a noble status as you! I have to say, my luck today is indeed very good!"

Karjik's humility had good reason for him, and unlike the mere faith of the commoners, the low-ranking nobleman of the Olem Kingdom knew very well what kind of power the status of "High Priest" represented. For thousands of years, what has really taken root in this land is not the royal power that has undergone changes, but the Holy See that has always maintained neutrality, a force he does not want to provoke, and he cannot afford to provoke at all.

"You're so gracious, Lord Baron," said old Shaun with a smile, "we just want to find a tavern in town, and after a little rest, we can continue our journey." "Hopefully, it won't cause you any unnecessary trouble." ”

"No! Of course ......not," Kajik shook his head, a flattered expression, he could hear the rejection of himself in the other party's language—this is what the clergy have always said to nobles, but he continued to ask with pretended concern, "Your condition looks terrible, the Lord God is above, is this just coming out of the Death Fog Swamp?"

Old Sean instinctively wanted to refuse, or even end the tentative conversation altogether, but he had to continue: "Yes, we have indeed just completed our journey to the Swamp of Death," he said, reciting a prayer silently, "As preachers of the Lord God, we can't just go to safe places during our spiritual journeys." The old man's tone had a hint of solemnity, "Praise the Lord God, the Death Mist Swamp has indeed benefited us a lot......

"Salute to your tenacity and piety, my lord. Kajik admired and showed an embarrassed expression, "Please forgive me for being abrupt, you have also seen what a remote place Ronk Town is, there are strangers here, I need to care about the identity of the visitor." He hurriedly explained, "Of course, this is by no means a suspicion of you. However, the Holy See should sign the relevant documents for you, so that in case of trouble, the region where you are located can help accordingly......"

As he spoke, Kajik glanced at Old Sean and rubbed his palms a little awkwardly. "Excuse me, my lordship, could you please show me the text?"

The baron's words shocked old Sean, the other party was indeed not wrong, the clergy who traveled abroad in the Holy See would indeed carry the relevant documents with them. It's not that they've ignored the issue, it's that no one could have imagined that they would meet the local rulers in Ronk Town, and as for the guards, they wouldn't make such an impudent request.

"That's right, Lord Baron, you're right......" Old Sean coughed twice, looked back at Kull behind him, and quietly gave him a look, "Take out the paperwork and let the cautious lord check it!" He bit the word "cautious" very hard, as if venting his dissatisfaction.

Kajik's face twitched, but he clenched his teeth unmoved. It wasn't so much how dutiful he was to the administration of the kingdom, but how he always felt that a high-ranking priest who traveled to the Dead Mist Swamp with his apprentices and guards was something that could not be described in any other way than madness. And this group of people always gave him a strange feeling - neither the dress, nor the eyes, nor even the aura on his body, did not look like a real priest.

Old Sean hoped that Kull would understand what he meant and find a reason to fool him, and Soveran also looked at Kull next to him, they were in enough trouble at the moment, they couldn't just kill them from Ronk Town, right?

Kull clearly understood Sean Sr.'s intentions. "Yes, Teacher!" he said, turning and rummaging through his bags, trying to prevaricate by the excuse that he had lost it, or that he had forgotten to bring it with him when he left. After all, with a baron from the West, could they stop them, or even order the guards to arrest them?

Before Kull could speak, another voice joined in on the seemingly peaceful, but not at all pleasant meeting, instantly changing everything in the room. "Who is this? Oh my God! I didn't expect to meet you here!" the voice was excited, with irrepressible pleasure.

The abrupt words made Sovereign startled, could it be that someone here recognized someone in his team? Could it be that this seemingly ordinary trip to Lunk Town was a serious mistake from the beginning? Tandra and the others, who were wearing hoods, had even secretly tightened their sword hilts, and if they were really identified in front of Baron Ronke, they would have no other way out than to kill them from here.

Old Sean's eyes narrowed slightly, staring at the few blurred figures in the distance, while the expression of Kajik on the other side changed a few times in an instant.