Chapter 201: The Night Before Departure
That night, after the meeting concluded in Coldsteel City, the kitchens of the lord’s manor blazed with light and the rich aroma of food filled the air. Nolan fulfilled his promise and personally prepared a lavish dinner for the core members of the team.
Once again, his cooking completely overturned everyone’s understanding of him.
Dish after dish unlike anything they had ever seen or smelled before was carried onto the table: tender, juicy beef stewed in red wine, fragrant garlic-roasted oysters, crispy golden fried minnows, and a creamy mushroom soup made from beast milk and flour with a uniquely rich texture.
“This! This is what I’ve been waiting for! It’s been forever since I tasted the boss’s cooking! Now this is living!” Little Donnie exclaimed through a mouthful of beef.
Rehanna and Vivi were equally dazzled by the feast, too busy eating to care about maintaining any ladylike composure.
Even the ever-composed Anna narrowed her eyes in satisfaction after tasting the creamy mushroom soup, unable to hide her delight.
Although Ailindel’s spirit-forged body did not require food, she was still swept up by the lively atmosphere. Sitting beside Nolan, she quietly sipped the citrus honey drink he had specially prepared for her, a gentle smile resting on her face.
There were no rigid distinctions of rank at this banquet, only laughter and camaraderie among companions. They shared the joy of victory in battle and spoke excitedly about Coldsteel City’s future, the mood relaxed yet vibrant.
By the end of the meal, not only had everyone’s stomachs been thoroughly satisfied, but the team itself had unknowingly grown even more united.
Over the next three days, all of Coldsteel City entered a state of intense activity.
At the training grounds outside the city, Hank personally oversaw the harsh screening and training of the newly incorporated prisoners of war. He intended to forge this ragtag group into a capable local security force in the shortest time possible.
Inside the joint military production workshop, the Crimson Anvil, Barton and his fellow blacksmiths switched to round-the-clock shifts.
The furnaces burned day and night without pause, while the sounds of hammering and the sizzling of engraved runes echoed endlessly through the workshop. Crates upon crates of newly manufactured Raven-Type black armor were sent to the military warehouses.
Leus and his apprentices were equally overwhelmed with work, tirelessly stockpiling Dragon Blood’s Oath.
Meanwhile, in another corner of the training grounds, a brand-new organization had begun its first official training session.
“A hymn is not sung with the mouth, but felt with the heart! Use your souls to commune with the sacred power of the Mother Goddess! Let it come from within. Let the doctrine become part of your very thoughts!”
Kayan had abandoned his usual attire and now wore a specially tailored robe of gold and crimson as he addressed the fifty soldiers standing before him in matching armor.
Each of their pauldrons bore the same insignia: a holy cross as the foundation, with two crossed warhammers at its center. It was the emblem of the Inquisition of the Cross. The cross symbolized purity, while the twin warhammers represented martial strength and faith—the ultimate means of crushing heresy and evil alike.
Kayan’s own insignia, worn over his left breast, was particularly exquisite. Anna had commissioned the city’s finest engraver to craft it. Since there was no temple available, Ailindel personally blessed the emblem, while Nolan himself formally bestowed the honor upon Kayan.
These fifty men and women formed the first members of the Inquisition of the Cross, along with its armed division, the Holy Hammer Division. Every one of them possessed unwavering faith in the Mother Goddess, alongside the physique of warriors and an affinity for holy light.
Under Kayan’s leadership, they chanted sacred verses again and again, learning how to transform faith into power capable of defeating their enemies. Their movements were still clumsy, and the holy light they released remained faint, but fervor burned brightly in every pair of eyes.
Nolan’s expedition party was also making its final preparations for the journey ahead.
Vivi carefully maintained her daggers and hand crossbow, organizing arrows of every type into separate groups. Rehanna repeatedly polished the Ice Wolf sword, feeling the chilling cold radiating from the blade as the bond between wielder and weapon grew ever stronger.
Ailindel, meanwhile, needed no preparation at all. She simply stayed quietly in Nolan’s room, either watching him handle official affairs or accompanying him to the training grounds for sparring practice. For her, as long as she remained by Nolan’s side, it did not matter where they went.
On the night before departure, Nolan sought out Anna and Hank.
“After I leave, I’m entrusting everything in Coldsteel City to the two of you. Keep an eye on any movements from Demont.” Nolan looked at the father and daughter solemnly. “I’ve already shared the activation authority for the Coldsteel Pride with you and Little Donnie. Use it if necessary. Right now it can probably sustain five to ten minutes of high-intensity combat, and longer in lower-intensity engagements. Don’t worry about damage—the core can repair itself.”
“Rest assured, my lord,” Hank replied with his usual calm steadiness. “As long as I’m here, nothing will happen to Coldsteel City.”
Anna then handed Nolan a lengthy inventory list. “These are the supplies prepared for the expedition. I’ve already arranged everything for you, my lord. There’s enough dried food and fresh water for half a month, as well as healing potions, antidotes, and bandages. I also prepared samples of Coldsteel City’s ironwork and some fine cloth, just as you requested. They may prove useful during negotiations with the Wood Elves.”
She had thought of everything imaginable, covering nearly every possible situation.
As Nolan accepted the list, warmth rose in his chest. With Anna around, he truly could set aside many worries.
“Anna, take care of yourself. Don’t overwork,” he said, noticing the dark circles beneath her eyes.
“I… I understand,” Anna answered softly, lowering her head.
Hank looked up at the sky as though he had heard nothing at all.
***
Morning arrived on the third day.
Before dawn had fully broken, a unique company had already assembled outside the gates of Coldsteel City.
Nolan wore the Immovable Bulwark, with Mountain’s Resonance hanging at his waist, seated atop a magnificent black warhorse that made him appear every bit the heroic lord.
Behind him rode Ailindel, Rehanna, and Vivi on their own mounts. The three breathtaking women, each with her own distinct charm, formed a scene striking enough to draw anyone’s gaze.
Further behind stood Kayan and the fifty members of the Inquisition of the Cross. Clad in uniform gold-and-crimson armor, they stood in orderly ranks with solemn discipline.
Hank, Little Donnie, Anna, Leus, and everyone remaining behind in the city had come to see them off.
Renee, meanwhile, had already entered secluded meditation within the quiet chamber and therefore did not come. Still, before entering seclusion, she had personally given Nolan a small blessing doll she made herself. At the time, her voice had been as soft as a mosquito’s buzz from embarrassment, and the moment Nolan thanked her, she fled as though running for her life.
“Boss, have a safe trip! When you come back, I promise you’ll see a stronger version of me!” Little Donnie shouted, waving energetically.
“My lord, please be careful. And don’t forget to eat your meals on time,” Anna reminded him again and again.
“I’m not a child, Anna,” Nolan replied helplessly.
Then he mounted his horse fully and gave the crowd a final nod before turning toward the endless sea of green forest stretching across the western horizon.
“We’re off!”
Without another word, he dug his heels into the horse’s sides. The warhorse let out a sharp neigh and charged forward.
Behind him, Ailindel and the others immediately followed.
Beneath the rising morning sun, the group galloped toward the vast forests of the Borderlands.