The Virtuous Dark Witch

Chapter 58

After taking the deal, Wilson did not dare to be careless. He took out an old topographic map of Anastas City, gathered his tribesmen, and began discussing defense and patrol arrangements.

Nam and his men had hunted and taken missions all year. Looking at the map, they quickly identified several key defense points and potential overlooked weaknesses, then shared their ideas.

Once the patrol and defense plan was finalized, Wilson led his tribesmen to the Moslin Bank in the city to withdraw one hundred thousand gold coins. He set aside sixty thousand in gold notes to buy land and settle, then distributed the rest."Four hundred gold coins are for furnishing the City Guard Mansion—Bodwin, you take charge of that." The rest will be split equally among you."

"Finally, money!" Nam's green wolf eyes did not blink as he stared at the four tubes of gold coins he received. How long had it been since he held gold? He carefully brought them close and sniffed. The smell was not fragrant, but he loved it. He lifted his leg to cross the street toward the Moslin Bank.

Wilson grabbed him. "Where are you going?"

"Lord, I'm going to the bank." Nam held the heavy gold coins in both hands. "The Dessey Witches are shrewd to the bone. If she can pay us this much upfront, there must be a big battle coming. Lana isn't here right now, and I don't dare carry this much money. I want to exchange it for gold notes and hide them."

"Good idea." Wilson let go. "Go on."

The eighty-nine werewolves nearby followed his example. But just as they were about to leave, Nam turned back.

He approached Wilson with his bearded face. "Lord, I plan to exchange all four hundred gold coins for notes. Then I won't have any spending money. Can you lend me one gold coin? No, a hundred silver coins will do. When Lana comes, she'll pay you back."

Wilson immediately knew trouble was coming. Sure enough, before he could speak, the eighty-nine werewolves crowded over. He wished he could vanish on the spot, but his identity held him back. He looked up at the sky, surrounded by begging voices, and sighed deeply. "Why can't fate be the same for everyone?"

He wanted to be like young Dessey—calm, unruffled, and willing to spend thousands of gold coins without a second thought.

On the second floor of the Dessey Shop, Elara sat upright at a table, holding a quill. She checked the city rules she had just written, seeing if anything needed adding.

Anyone entering the West Sea Mall, whether Andros or human, may conduct business but may not bully or kill. Anyone who causes conflict or bloodshed will be held accountable by the West Sea Forest. Compensation and punishment will also be decided by the West Sea Forest…

Cinderaven bent his head and stared at the line at the bottom of the rules: All who enter must read the city rules. Stepping inside means you agree to have read them. All final interpretation of matters within the West Sea Mall belongs to the West Sea Forest.

He thought the clause was a bit domineering and unreasonable. He glanced at Elara, who looked serious and focused, and felt he should warn her.

"The Andrea Capital has stood for ten thousand years. For various reasons, the Andros nobles have long been used to special treatment. All clans on the Mal Continent are deeply influenced by hierarchy. If you try to break this ruling concept overnight, you may face extremely fierce backlash."

Elara had considered this. "Ultimately, I'm not strong enough yet." If it were the Witch Ancestor of the West Sea, she would not fear backlash—she was so powerful that no force would dare resist. She set down her quill and leaned back. "We'll take it step by step."

“That's right. Don't rush for quick success.” Cinderaven pushed the paper aside and walked to the table. “Your top priority right now is to suppress the various forces as soon as possible and stabilize the West Sea Mall and the Luohe Plains.”

Elara nodded, braced herself, stood up, and vanished from the second floor. She went to the secret room to clean her crossbow and count arrows. She had used only two of the two boxes of Dark * Explosive Shells last time, leaving thirty. She did not need to carry many such powerful trump cards, but she could not carry too few either.

After arranging his tribesmen, Wilson left the city without saying goodbye to Elara and hurried back to Yaga Valley. In less than two hours, the ninety werewolves left in the city spread the news that the West Sea Forest had hired the Macadam Silver Wolf Tribe to guard the West Sea Mall.

Before dark, everyone in the West Sea Mall knew. The happiest were the Rozin merchants. The white-bearded owner of Hank's Gem Shop found a moment to call his family and tell them to prepare to close early tonight.

The young man Siro was confused.“Lord Elara has already hired the Macadam Silver Wolf Tribe to guard the West Sea Mall. Business is the best it's been in years since Rocky Anastas died.”

“Listen to your grandfather,” Siro's twin brother Tony said steadily. “Lord Elara wouldn't hire the Silver Wolf Tribe for no reason. We should be careful now.” Rocky Anastas was dead, but he had a son, and Viscountess Ana Stirling was still alive. They would not swallow this defeat.

Less than fifty miles from the West Sea Mall, in a shepherd's hut south of the Caesar Plains bordering Rodley Valley, a woman in a sheepskin dress hummed an ancient ballad, slowly sewing a black hooded cloak. Her pupils were yellow, and witch power flowed steadily from her movements.

When she finished the cloak and bit off the colorless thread glowing with soft Sun Radiance, witch power rippled at the hut's door. A red-eyed Andros in a black hooded cloak stepped out from the center of the ripple. "Is everything ready?"

The sheepskin-dressed witch tucked the needle into her updo, stood up, brushed off the cloak, and handed it to the red-eyed Andros. "In the underground city, the Turned have gone three days without food." That's their limit."

The red-eyed Andros took the cloak and smiled gloatingly. "The West Sea Mall is packed and lively today. They're so hungry—perfect for a trip there. It'll even help Lord Elara lighten her burden. She won't have to spend so much hiring werewolves."

"Hiring werewolves?" The witch was surprised but understood. "The Dessey Witches don't have many members. Thea Dessey's wedding is near, and Merlyn…" Mentioning Merlyn, her eyes darkened, and her tone turned cold. "You take over the rest here. I'm returning to Mashar City."

"As you wish."

The sun set. After eating their fill, the ninety werewolves of the Silver Wolf Tribe split into teams of nine and headed to their assigned posts to begin patrolling. Pedestrians in the city noticed them. Elara, watching from the second floor of the Dessey Shop, saw the city's lights slowly turn on and twisted the Life Ring between her fingers.

Cinderaven stood on the outer windowsill, looking left and right, deeply worried about the simple-minded werewolves.

After nine o'clock, everything seemed calm. But some conservative shops had already put up closed signs—including Hank's Gem Shop. The streets were not as crowded as during the day, but still busy.

The deeper the night, the more alert the werewolves spread throughout the city. Following Wilson's plan, after ten o'clock, four teams slowly gathered on the main streets, while six teams guarded the residential areas.

Whoosh… whoosh…

Hundreds of emaciated Turned suddenly appeared in the center of the Caesar Plains. Like starved beasts released from a cage, they rushed frantically toward the nearby West Sea Mall. Under the moonlight, their sharp fangs glinted coldly.

Watching them leave, the hidden red-eyed Andros smiled coldly. "Farewell, lovely warriors. The Emperor will remember your contributions."

The Turned spread out as they neared the West Sea Mall. Almost the moment the first Turned stepped inside, Cinderaven warned Elara, who was cultivating, "They're here. Just as we expected—all Turned."

Elara stopped cultivating, left the Dessey Shop with Cinderaven, and channeled witch power. In an instant, all ninety werewolves in the city received her order. "Try to take them alive." She had use for these Turned.

“Ah—!”

A scream shattered the peace of the West Sea Mall. A thin-turned lunged at a fleeing Rozin woman with clawed hands. Terrified, she stumbled and fell. "Help!"

Food was right in front of him. The Turned's sunken eyes blazed with bloodlust. His desire for blood exploded with power. He flashed forward and opened his dry, b****y mouth.

"Ah—!" The woman screamed, overcome by fear. She scrambled on the hard stone ground. A shadow fell over her, and her eyes rolled back.

At that moment, a howl pierced the air. A white wolf shadow lunged and tackled the Turned aside. The strong, white-haired werewolf smashed his fist, shattering the Turned's bones. He roared at the trembling Rozin woman huddled in the corner. "Hide in a house, now!"

Hundreds of starving Turned poured into the city from all directions. The West Sea Mall descended into chaos. But Elara was prepared. She floated above the streets, channeling witch power, and her calm voice echoed over the mall.

"All Rozin people of the West Sea Mall, listen! Enemies have invaded. Seek shelter nearby. Do not panic. Trust our werewolf brothers—they will protect you. Trust the West Sea Forest. Tonight's disturbance will be avenged by the West Sea Forest."

"Come in!"

Many shops had been about to close and activate their stone guards. But hearing their lord's proclamation, they knew they had not been abandoned. Plucking up courage, they ordered their slaves to stand guard with clubs and blades and called in pedestrians from the street.

Elara repeated her words again and again. Her ethereal voice soothed panicked hearts. Without pausing, she flashed out the west gate, turned into a grain of witch sand, and shot toward the Luohe Plains in the west.

With the shops' help, far fewer Rozin people remained on the streets. The werewolves had less to worry about and quickly gained control. They shattered Turner's bones and piled them on the main east-west street, guarded by one team. They double-checked every corner of the city to make sure none were missed.

The Rozin people peeked through door cracks or huddled by windows. The werewolves did not care. They only wondered why Lord Elara wanted the Turned alive.

Nam squatted down, grabbed a recovering Turned, and dislocated his jaw. He pinched his nose, frowned in disgust, and examined him. After checking five more Turned, he rumbled, "Ham, these Turned's fangs look like they just grew."

Ham, a muscular, handsome werewolf and Nam's brother, glanced at him, crossed his arms, and crushed the recovering claw of a Turned at his feet. "You can stop holding your nose." We don't need to check. We just follow Lord Elara's orders and protect the West Sea Mall."

"I know." Nam lowered his hand and punched a Turned trying to stand. "I'm just curious why Lord Elara's keeping these stinking Turned alive."

Ham was also curious. "They all smell the same—they're from the same place. Lord Elara probably wants to hang them to warn their masters." That was all he could think of.

By now, Elara had reached the Luohe Plains. She appeared before fifty Turned coming from the east. Without a word, she pulled fifty strands of hair from her head, chanted a short spell, and threw them.

She arrived silently and left silently with a string of bound Turned. The Rozin villages of the Luohe Plains remained undisturbed. After this night, Elara no longer hesitated—she decided to build walls to protect the Luohe Plains as soon as possible.

Boom… boom…

A string of tightly bound Turned crashed from the sky, flattening several trying to stand. The werewolves swallowed hard. In such a short time, their lord had traveled between the Luohe Plains and the West Sea Mall and captured a string of pests.

A glowing grain of witch sand fell. Elara appeared holding Cinderaven. Looking at the pile of broken bodies covering a street, she sneered. She pulled a handful of hair and threw it. The strands spread into flexible silver threads, wrapping around each Turned and binding them firmly.

The ninety werewolves stared dumbfounded. Nam and his brother fixed their eyes unblinkingly on Elara's black hair, as if trying to see how long it would last.

Cinderaven, nestled comfortably in Elara's arms, lifted his half-closed eyelids and glanced at the ignorant werewolves. These strands were not plucked from her head—they were naturally shed root hairs collected since childhood.

Davique Dessey, the youngest daughter of Fiona Dessey, had spent her life researching dark weapons. She discovered the method to refine root hairs into chains.

Since then, every Dessey Witch has collected shed root hairs from childhood, preserving them carefully. Upon reaching a certain level, they refined the hairs into chains and hid them in their hair. These root-hair chains could be reused indefinitely unless broken or the master died.

"Hang them on the four city walls." Elara's gaze swept over the Turned who had attacked the West Sea Mall and Luohe Plains. All wore Moonlight Rings—well-equipped. She would hold nothing back. "Let those restless forces calm down."

Ham elbowed his brother. See? He had been right. He truly was one of the wisest in the Macadam Silver Wolf Tribe.

Elara lowered her lashes and smiled softly. "Don't let them die. These are evidence. I'll take them to their masters to claim compensation for the West Sea Mall and the Luohe Plains."

A gift delivered to her door—she could not refuse. The West Sea Forest never turned away gifts.

Nam glanced at his stunned brother and chuckled quietly. Hear that? Compensation was why Lord Elara kept them alive. Intimidating other forces was just a bonus. He raised his arm. "Brothers, let's work!"

Each werewolf carried two Turned easily, grinning. A few kicked the motionless Turned lightly. "Don't you die on us now…"

Once the Turned were taken away, Elara channeled a wisp of witch power and exhaled. A gentle breeze swept the street, cleaning the main road. She looked up at the sky. The moon was sinking west. Tonight was over. Tomorrow could wait until tomorrow.

"Anyone disturbed tonight may register at the former Anastas City Lord's Mansion—now the West Sea Mall City Guard Mansion—tomorrow." Elara walked toward East Street, speaking to the empty road. "Anyone who suffered losses may also register there. The West Sea Forest will do everything to seek justice for you."

From the moment the Black Mandala descended on the West Sea Mall and Luohe Plains, the humans and Andros living there had become people of the West Sea Forest. Only by protecting them could the West Sea Forest gain their loyalty. Later, when the rules of the "Pure Land Mall" were perfected, the West Sea Forest would have the confidence to introduce a "tax" that did not exist in this world.

Back at the shop, Elara floated to the second floor and sat on the windowsill, murmuring to herself. "Three hours ago, the West Sea Mall wasn't exactly bustling, but it was lively. Now? I've lifted the barrier, and it's still dead quiet."

The forces behind the Turned knew exactly how to break a city. They had started this—so she would not hold back from demanding a huge price.

"Are you going to take those Turned to the Andrea Capital?" Cinderaven smelled the lingering stench of blood and hid his anger behind half-closed lids. Before Elara could speak, he added, "I'll help you identify the Andros nobles who turned them. Demand compensation—ask for everything."

Elara's eyes dimmed slightly. "You seem upset."

"Of course I'm upset!" Cinderaven lifted his bird head and said angrily. "These Turned aren't ordinary. They were raised with blood."

He did not know if the turned humans had volunteered, but he knew blood-raised Turned could not be left alive. They were thrown into blood pools and fed fresh blood without restraint until their Andros instincts fully awakened. These Turned were extremely bloodthirsty—without exception.

"That force probably didn't think I'd keep them alive." Elara smiled, her face cold. "Don't be angry. Wait and see. We'll take these Turned to them soon."

Her comfort did not calm Cinderaven. He tightened his wings. "Austin Corell has been gone too long. The Andros nobles have forgotten his likes and dislikes."

The next day, as Elara expected, many shops in the city kept their doors tightly closed. There was nothing she could do but let them calm down.

Perhaps the Rozin people were used to oppression. Despite the West Sea Forest's stance, only two Andros merchants in the city calculated their losses and registered at the City Guard Mansion that morning. Elara would not wait. She needed the register to claim compensation.

After noon, the werewolves split into groups and shouted along the streets. "Who suffered losses or fear last night? Hurry to the City Guard Mansion to register! The West Sea Forest won't let you suffer in vain! The Silver Wolf Tribe won't allow it!"

They shouted until their throats were hoarse, but the Rozin people still hid.

"It seems we need a leader." Elara took Cinderaven out of the shop, walked along the street, and went to Hank's Gem Shop. It was open, but no customers came in.

Elara's purpose was clear. The white-bearded shopkeeper hesitated. "Lord, to be honest, we closed early last night. I… it wouldn't be right for me to go." He wanted to help, but he felt…

"Grandfather." Tony walked over with a ledger. "Our shop did suffer losses. We closed early last night because we were afraid, and now we have no business. I'm ready to register at the City Guard Mansion."

Elara nodded approvingly. "Good." He had reminded her—losses over the next few days should also be counted, not just last night's.

Once the first Rozin person stepped forward, others followed. The werewolves at the City Guard Mansion registered until dark and told those still waiting to come the next day. They would patrol in teams again tonight.

After that initial strike, six days of peace followed in the West Sea Mall and Luohe Plains. Elara and the werewolves did not let their guard down. Then Wilson arrived in the city with his entire Macadam Tribe.

Elara stood by the lighthouse window of the City Guard Mansion and smiled as nearly two thousand Silver Wolf Tribe members approached. "Wilson's life isn't easy either."

"Tell me about it." A silver wolf shadow leaped into the attic, and Wilson appeared beside Elara, sighing. "I have so many wolf cubs to feed. I'm run ragged." When he entered the city, he had seen many skeletons hanging on the walls. "You'll need guards to escort those skeletons to the Andrea Capital, right?"

Elara shook her head. "No." The way Ana Stirling took the Sun Staff to the Andrea Capital is the way they'll go."

Wilson stared at the wealthy lord for a long time. She did not seem to be lying. He sighed sincerely. "You Dessey Witches really know how to live." But he still wanted to try. "I'm great at herding wolves. Won't you really hire me to drive those skeletons to the Andrea Capital?"