Chapter 95: Chapter 95: Going To Dustwind Town (part 1)

Then Aiden added, almost casually.

“This place can handle a city.”

There was no arrogance in his tone. Just a simple confidence.

Graveknit lowered his head slightly.

“As you command, my lord.”

Beyond the walls, the wind moved across the empty land.

Back in Virel City, the atmosphere inside the Zephyr Clan estate had grown heavier.

The main hall was quieter than usual. Fewer people moved around, and those who did kept their voices low. Word had spread, something was wrong beyond the city walls.

Rhett and his group stood once again before Caelus Vire.

This time, it wasn’t a courtesy visit.

It was business.

Caelus stood near the center of the hall, hands clasped behind his back, his usual composed expression carrying a hint of strain.

“…Three groups,” he said.

His voice echoed slightly in the open space.

“I sent three separate scouting parties over the past few days.”

Kellan frowned. “What’s the find?”

Caelus looked at him.

“None of them came back.”

Silence fell over the room.

Bram shifted his weight. “…Not even one?”

Caelus shook his head slowly. “Not a single one.”

Doran clicked his tongue under his breath. “…That’s not normal.”

“No,” Caelus agreed. “It isn’t.”

He turned his gaze toward Rhett.

“At first, I thought it was just bandits. Maybe something more organized than usual.”

He paused.

“But now…”

His expression hardened slightly.

“I don’t have enough information to make that claim anymore.”

Lira crossed her arms. “So you’re blind right now.”

“Not totally, the only town we don’t have a clue about is Dustwind town,” Caelus replied without hesitation.

For a man like him, who controlled the strongest force in Virel City, to admit that meant the situation had gone beyond simple concern.

Caelus took a step forward.

“That’s why I called you here.”

Kellan let out a quiet breath. “I’m listening.”

Caelus gestured lightly, and a servant stepped forward, placing a small chest on the table nearby. The faint clink of coins echoed from inside.

“Payment,” Caelus said. “Half now. Half when you return.”

Bram’s eyes flickered briefly toward the chest, but he didn’t move.

Rhett didn’t even glance at it.

“So, what’s the plan?” Rhett asked.

Caelus met his gaze.

Caelus met his gaze.

“Go to Dustwind town,” he said. “Or whatever is left of it.”

His tone was steady, but there was weight behind it.

“Find out what’s happening.”

Kellan tilted his head slightly. “And if it’s what the girl said?”

Caelus didn’t answer immediately.

“…Then I need to know that too.”

A brief silence followed.

Lira exhaled softly. “You’re asking us to walk into something that wiped out two towns?”

“Yes,” Caelus said plainly.

Doran gave a low chuckle. “…At least he’s honest.”

Caelus’s gaze shifted back to Rhett.

“You and your group are the most reliable force I can hire,” he said. “The Wrecking Eagles didn’t earn their name for nothing.”

Kellan smirked faintly. “Now you’re just flattering us.”

“I’m stating facts,” Caelus replied.

His eyes sharpened slightly.

“All of you are Body Tempering practitioners. Not one, not two—all of you.”

He let that sink in.

“In this region, that alone puts you above most.”

His gaze lingered on Rhett.

“And you…”

There was a pause.

“…You’ve already reached the peak of Body Tempering.”

Bram crossed his arms, nodding slightly. “Not many can match that around here.”

Caelus inclined his head.

“Exactly.”

He stepped closer, stopping just a few feet away from Rhett.

“If anyone can go there, see what’s happening, and come back alive…”

His voice lowered slightly.

“It’s your group.”

Rhett stood there in silence for a moment.

Then he spoke.

“…We’ll do it.”

—-

The wind howled softly across the dry land as Rhett and his group moved along a narrow, uneven path.

Dustwind Town wasn’t far now.

Rhett walked at the front, a worn map in his hand, his eyes scanning both the terrain and the markings on the paper. The others followed close behind, their steps steady but clearly tired from the long route.

They hadn’t taken the main road.

Too exposed.

Too predictable.

Instead, they cut through rough ground, hills, dry plains, and narrow passes that most travelers avoided.

Kellan stretched his shoulders with a quiet groan. “…Damn, this is too much work.”

“Well, you can always ask for more after we are done here,” Bram replied.

Rhett ignored them, folding the map slightly as he looked ahead.

“We’re close,” he said.

That got everyone’s attention.

“How close?” Lira asked.

Rhett glanced at the map again, then toward the hill in front of them.

“We should see the town in about a minute,” he said. “Once we get past this hill.”

A collective sigh of relief passed through the group.

“Finally,” Doran muttered. “I’m starting to hate dirt.”

They moved forward, climbing the last stretch of the hill. The ground was loose, small stones shifting under their boots as they made their way up.

Almost there.

Just a few more steps, then…

A sharp whistle cut through the air.

Rhett’s eyes snapped wide.

“—Move!”

Too late.

Figures burst out from both sides of the hill.

Fast.

Too fast.

A shadow lunged straight at Rhett.

He reacted instantly, raising his arm to block—

Bang!

The impact slammed into him like a hammer.

Rhett’s eyes widened.

His feet left the ground as he was pushed back several steps, boots digging into the dirt as he barely managed to regain his footing.

The rest of the group froze for a split second.

“…Rhett?!” Lira shouted.

Dust settled slowly.

Rhett straightened, his eyes sharp, locked onto the figure that had just attacked him.

“…What the hell…”

The others quickly spread out, forming a loose formation.

More figures stepped out from behind the rocks… from the slope… from the shadows.

Surrounding them.

Kellan’s smirk faded. “…We’ve got company.”

But no one moved immediately.

Because what stood in front of them.

Was wrong.

They looked human.

At least, at first glance.

Their bodies were intact, their builds solid, clearly trained. The kind of physique only Body Tempering practitioners had.

But their skin, pale, lifeless. And their eyes… Empty.

No emotion. No awareness. Just a faint, unnatural glow buried deep within.

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