bookrebus Chapter 450 - 374: New Information and "Holy Light Dog
Chapter 450 - 374: New Information and "Holy Light Dog
As a "Hunting Dog," this Valerius’s senses had to be sharp. Any unnecessary surveillance or hostility could tip him off.
Valerius bought some bread and began to wander around the territory, taking small bites as he went.
Raylo returned to the edge of the terrace, his arms crossed, looking down on the man from above.
Valerius nibbled on his bread, strolling leisurely through the town. He visited the blacksmith, browsed the various shops, and even stopped outside the castle like a tourist to admire the architectural style of Black Stone Territory.
His every action seemed perfectly mundane, showing no trace that he was on a mission.
But Raylo knew this "Hunting Dog" was using his imperceptible sense of smell to track the scent of his prey.
「An entire morning passed.」
Valerius had toured nearly the entirety of Black Stone Territory. Finally, his steps came to a halt before a small tavern not far from the castle.
That was a place Master Marlin occasionally visited for a drink.
He stood at the entrance for a moment, as if trying to discern something. Then, he raised his head, his gaze sweeping almost imperceptibly over the terrace where Raylo stood.
His eyes were just as unremarkable as the rest of him—dull gray and devoid of any emotion.
Then, Valerius turned and began walking unhurriedly along the castle’s outer wall, heading northeast.
That was the path leading to the Jade Swamp.
「Two days later.」
The study in Black Stone Castle.
Sunlight streamed through the high window, casting a warm patch of light on the floor. Moonlight lay in that patch of light, fast asleep, its belly rising and falling with each breath.
Everything was exceptionally tranquil until the urgent knocking of Evan, the Scribe, shattered the peace.
"My Lord!"
Evan pushed the door open and rushed in, his usually impeccable hair somewhat disheveled.
"Seagull Port... a disaster has truly struck."
Raylo put down his quill and looked up.
"Speak."
"An unprecedented tsunami swallowed Seagull Port at sunrise. According to refugees who escaped, the tidal wave was like a moving mountain range. The port, along with the city, vanished beneath the waves in an instant. Nothing is left."
Evan’s voice was hoarse.
"After our people spread the news in Seagull Port, a number of people did indeed flee in advance, but most of them..."
He didn’t finish, but his heavy silence said it all.
Raylo said nothing. He simply walked to the window and gazed toward the western horizon, as if he could see through the mountain ranges to the sea that had just devoured the port city.
「That evening, the first group of refugees arrived in Black Stone Territory.」
The people were in rags, soaked to the bone, their faces a mixture of mud and tearstains.
They supported the injured and carried terrified children, walking with empty eyes as if their very souls had been stolen.
At the head of the column, a white-haired old fisherman fell to his knees. Facing the direction of his home, he let out a beast-like wail.
Crying is contagious. Soon, suppressed sobs and cries of grief rose and fell throughout the crowd.
"It’s divine punishment... The giant whale’s eyes, they were like red moons..."
A surviving elder babbled incoherently to the guards of Black Stone Territory, trembling uncontrollably.
They spoke of the disaster, of their fear, of everything they had lost.
Those who had heeded the rumors in Seagull Port and escaped early had faces full of lingering fear and relief, but even more so, the bewildered emptiness of having lost their homes.
Raylo watched all of this in silence.
"Evan."
Raylo said.
"Yes, my lord."
"Establish a refugee camp in the southern clearing. Ensure a supply of food and hot water. Send physicians over, and prioritize the treatment of the wounded and the children."
Raylo’s orders were brief and clear.
"Tell them Black Stone Territory will accept anyone who wishes to stay. Register them. From this day forward, they are citizens of Black Stone Territory."
"Yes, my lord!"
Evan immediately turned to carry out the orders.
Raylo watched the refugees gathered around the fires, slowly recovering from their numbness as they began to sip hot soup. He felt none of the gratification of a Savior, only a heavy sense of powerlessness.
’A prosperous port city, hundreds of thousands of living souls, all reduced to nothing overnight simply because of the wrath of a deep-sea Giant Beast.’
’All I did was leak the information in advance, allowing a small number of lucky people to escape.’
’I didn’t have the power to stop the disaster. I could only take in these broken survivors after it was over.’
’In this world, a Mortal’s life is as fragile as a reed.’