The Shining Star Above The Heaven-Chapter 389: The Rumour Spreads

"Master, to think that you finally contacted me! I tried to reach you a year ago but couldn’t. Right now, I’m in seclusion at my hideout. Do you have any new orders, Master?" Arson replied after not replying for a few seconds.

"Yes, there will be a new order. I’m currently in Caritas City—I have business in this empire," Aldrian said.

"You’re already in the Atria Empire? In a situation like this, you must have something important to do, Master. Others are trying to leave this empire, and Caritas City is already under the second prince’s faction after the rebel group led by Baroness Weilmar was pushed toward the capital of the barony."

"This city is no longer under the second prince. I’ve already taken over it."

Arson was stunned. "What do you mean?"

"I killed Marquess Parus and his son, along with almost all of his forces in this city. Anyway, you’ll hear about it in the next few days."

"..." Arson was truly speechless. He had killed the head of a noble family—one of the second prince’s important supporter like it was no big deal. If it were anyone else, Arson would think they were insane, but since it was his master...

Aldrian’s voice resounded again. "I heard from someone that you have a connection to the imperial family. Who is it?"

He had learned this from Xin Haotian when they once discussed the rumors surrounding the Thunderous Shadow Pavilion.

"It’s the second prince, Master. He sometimes uses our services. However, since I—well, became your underling—"

"Slave," Aldrian cut in.

"..." There was a slight pause from Arson before he continued. "Yes, slave... Since I became your slave, Master, I’ve been distancing the Thunderous Shadow Pavilion from him. I’m afraid of a conflict of interest because, well, you know—we kill others regardless of their identity as long as we’re paid."

"Doesn’t that make the second prince suspicious if something happens to you or your organization? I imagine he’d try to look for you, maybe even hunt you down, because of your group’s dealings with him."

"Yes, Master. At first, he didn’t suspect anything, but as time passed, he began to suspect that we were trying to cut off our connection to him. He seems to have misunderstood, thinking that we were influenced by the first prince to distance ourselves from him," Arson explained.

"The peak was when the coup finally broke out. The second prince considered us a threat that needed to be eliminated. So he tried to hunt us down, but luckily, since we had already reduced our operations outside, they still had difficulty finding us. Our hideout is only known to us, after all, and it’s located in an area that few people are aware of."

Aldrian thought for a moment before replying. freёwebnoѵel.com

"Then, have you basically joined the opposition faction against the second prince’s faction now?"

"Well, that’s not entirely true. From the rebels’ perspective, we’re still a force with ties to the second prince, and they would kill us on sight. We’re stuck between a rock and a hard place. At this point, we’ve already suspended all operations because we’re essentially being hunted by every faction."

"I see. Then you can come to Caritas. This place is off-limits to those factions. Moreover, I need manpower to manage many things here. I’ll provide you with the necessary resources for that."

Arson’s expression turned ecstatic. He had been hiding in the hideout for more than a year, spending most of his time in seclusion. He had also forbidden all assassins from leaving unless they needed to gather updates on the outside world, minimizing the risk of being caught by either the second prince’s forces or the rebels. Their resources had been steadily depleting since their source of income had completely cut off.

Now that Aldrian had said they could come to the city and receive resources, there was nothing better than this. They could finally breathe fresh air while also working to obtain the resources needed for their cultivation.

"Thank you, Master. I will bring my men to Caritas as soon as possible. But it might take some time since we have to pass through many areas under the second prince’s faction to reach Caritas."

"It’s alright. I’ll be staying here for a while anyway. Good luck on your journey."

With that, Aldrian cut off communication with Arson. He then turned his attention back to the garrison commander, who was tending to his men by giving them healing potions.

Spreading his senses across the city, he noticed that most of the residents had come out of their establishments, all looking in the direction of the "slaughter ground."

Seeing that most residents had finally gathered the courage to come out of their homes and were all focused in the same direction, Aldrian took advantage of the situation.

"To the people of Caritas City, this city has been liberated from the second prince’s control. As the one who freed this place, I guarantee its security, and there will no longer be martial law. All citizens may resume your normal work without worrying too much about your safety," Aldrian’s voice echoed throughout the city.

"However, for those who think they can do as they please—disturbing the security and order just because I have taken over and there are no soldiers patrolling, mark my words, you will regret your choice before you even have the chance to repent."

His voice carried a slight killing intent, sending a chill down the spines of those who heard it. However, the people of the city also felt relieved—after all, with such a warning in place, who would be crazy enough to take advantage of the situation? This was the voice of the man who had killed Marquess Parus; anyone attempting to stir trouble would essentially be committing suicide.

The remaining soldiers from the second prince’s faction also felt the chilling pressure. The garrison commander hurried to treat his men, knowing they needed to leave as soon as possible. He feared that Aldrian might change his mind after granting them his mercy.

Not long after, he and the rest of the survivors of the giant fireball departed, leaving behind many charred corpses or what little remained of them and a ground flattened by destruction.

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A few days later, news that caused an uproar throughout the entire Atria Empire spread like wildfire. Many people talked about it, as this was an unexpected development. Who was the person bold enough to oppose both factions in this civil war? Was he from another territory or not? Rumors began to circulate about the one who had killed Marquess Parus.

Some claimed that he was as powerful as an Emperor-stage cultivator, capable of creating a miniature sun to obliterate thousands of soldiers. Others speculated that he was from the neighboring Vindas Empire, seeking to take advantage of the civil war. There were also whispers that he was a ruthless man who did not hesitate to torture those who opposed him.

However, the people of Caritas spoke of him differently, saying the city was much safer under his rule.

All kinds of rumors caused the mysterious figure to rise in popularity. As the war raged on, many began to believe that Caritas could be a refuge—a place where they could stay safely without being dragged into the conflict. As a result, people started trying to enter the city.

Although the areas under the second prince’s faction had already blocked the teleportation portals leading to Caritas, this did not deter others from seeking refuge there. And so, the city of Caritas suddenly became a destination for many within the Atria Empire.

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In Weilmar City, the situation was tense as the second prince’s army could be seen from the city walls. They had set up tents surrounding the escape routes, ensuring that no one could enter or leave the city. The blockade had already lasted for more than a week. Though it was a relatively short time, its effects on the common folk were already apparent.

Food reserves were running low as supplies from other cities and hunting activities had been cut off. The economy had plummeted to its worst state, with trading activities nearly halted due to the blockade. Local merchants could only trade with the city’s residents, who were also reluctant to spend much, trying to conserve their wealth.

In conclusion, the city was in a dire state, with its people facing the threat of famine and poverty. However, that was not their only concern—they also feared what fate awaited them in the days to come.

The people of the city lived in constant fear of what would happen if the second prince’s army breached their walls. They had heard that the inhabitants of cities aligned with opposing factions had met grim fates.

They were caught in a true dilemma—if the second prince’s army won the war, their future would be bleak, but if they continued like this without finding a solution, they would starve to death.

At this moment, atop the city walls, a beautiful woman stood gazing at the blockade. She had striking purple hair and sharp, determined eyes. Her brilliant blue eyes still burned with spirit, undiminished despite the unfavorable circumstances. That same resilience was reflected in the armor she wore—battered and scarred with slashes and cracks, bearing the marks of countless battles she had fought without ever yielding.

A few moments later, a man clad in knight’s armor approached her from behind and bowed slightly.

"Milady, we have news from Caritas City."