Chapter 312: A Friend's Price

  Gru's figure was not hindered in the slightest. He passed through the already scattered yellow sand like a bolt of humanoid lightning, chasing directly after High Priest Tima. But High Priest Tima's figure faltered, and he let out a miserable groan.

  Just as he used magic to fly backward and turn, in that instant, High Priest Tima felt two strange, sharp pains on his back.

  The pain was first cold, then it hurt, and then it began to go numb. A strange feeling of weakness spread from the point of pain throughout his entire body.

  Compared to this pain, what made High Priest Tima lose control even more was the shock and anger in his heart. He knew that these two sensations on his back meant he had been poisoned and cursed, the unique poison and curse of Harpy blades. In his fury, High Priest Tima threw a punch backward.

  Without time to pull out the two knives she had stabbed into High Priest Tima's back, Loralei, with the agility of a fly, turned at a very small angle in mid-air. High Priest Tima's fist grazed her shoulder, tearing away flesh and blood. Amidst the sound of breaking bones, the Harpy Chieftain let out a sharp, piercing shriek.

  At this moment, Gru had also arrived. This time, he didn't use his fist. Instead, he brought his fingers together, and the edge of his palm and his fingertips sliced across High Priest Tima's neck, then he stopped.

  High Priest Tima was still retreating, but his steps were staggering. His massive body knocked over a large patch of bushes before he finally came to a stop, leaning against a tree. Bright red blood gushed from his throat like a cheerful spring, instantly soaking his entire body in red. A gurgling sound could be heard, impossible to distinguish whether it came from his mouth or the wound in his throat, nor whether it was his own voice or the sound of the blood.

  Those huge ox-eyes nearly bulged out of his body. They were filled with anger, unwillingness, and disbelief, looking at Sedros, the man he had called "my friend." He suddenly took a breath. It was clear he had used all the remaining strength in his body to take this breath. Then, his voice, mixed with the gurgling in his throat, came out: "It was I who had Sedros bring you out of Nighon. The price was three magic black crystals. This is your price in his eyes..."

  Gru was slightly stunned, and Sedros's expression changed slightly. High Priest Tima's mouth was foaming with blood. These words were forced out, pushing against the blood that was flooding his throat. Finally, High Priest Tima revealed a ferocious smile, spitting blood bubbles. Then, his massive body crashed to the ground.

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  So it turns out these things didn't need me to teach... High Priest Tima took one last look at Loralei, who had landed on the ground, and died with his huge ox-eyes wide open.

  Gru walked forward, quietly looking at High Priest Tima's corpse on the ground. His dark eyes returned to their original depth and calmness, like an ancient well without ripples. Suddenly, he turned and asked: "Who told you to make your move?"

  Loralei, who had been groaning while holding her shoulder, stopped her groans at Gru's question, but the cold sweat on her head still fell like rain.

  "I was afraid that if Tima really escaped, it would be troublesome," said Sedros. His expression had also returned to calm. He nodded to Loralei, "Well done, Lady Loralei. Rest assured, the Harpy tribe will now be true members of Oufu. You should know what happened here today, right?"

  "Yes, of course I know. Several Temple Knights from the Church infiltrated this place. In the battle, High Priest Tima was unfortunately killed, and we also killed one of the Temple Knights." Loralei nodded repeatedly.

  Sedros smiled and nodded, "Well, then please pass this on to your people. When the Minotaurs arrive, I'll have to trouble you to pacify them as well. I will do my best to cooperate and let the Minotaurs accept your leadership. You should go and tend to your wounds now."

  Only then did Loralei walk over and retrieve her two knives from High Priest Tima's body. She had no interest in taking even one more look at this former ally, now a corpse. Indeed, as High Priest Tima himself knew, she was not a fool. She knew that in the eyes of the Minotaurs, she was nothing more than a vassal, just a card to be played. In Nighon, there was no choice, and also because she had never had such a habit or way of thinking.

  And just as High Priest Tima had thought, these things only needed a little guidance from someone. He just didn't expect that the first to offer this guidance would be someone sent by Sedros. And a Harpy chieftain who was weak and needed support, with a mind and cunning that were relatively less profound, was clearly much easier to control and manipulate than a High Priest Tima who was more powerful and more ambitious.

  Loralei flew away unsteadily. Only Gru and Sedros were left, and on the ground were the corpses of the Minotaur High Priest and the one wearing the Radiant Battleplate.

  "Is what he said true?" Gru asked lightly, looking at High Priest Tima's corpse.

  Sedros let out a long sigh and said, "Yes."

  "Oh? A bit of a surprise." Gru smiled slightly. It was a pronounced smile, yet one that felt very out of place with his face and temperament.

  Sedros didn't speak. After a long while, he slowly began to speak, his voice lacking its usual spirit and vigor. "Over the years, you have helped me far too much... I've said that Oufu is not mine... But if it is to be considered mine, then half of it is yours."

  Gru didn't speak, still maintaining that strange smile, still looking at High Priest Tima's corpse. The Minotaur High Priest still wore that ferocious smile, as if mocking someone. The thick foam of blood around his mouth had already attracted a large swarm of swamp flies.

  "Oufu has come this far. It will truly succeed if it can just get past one more difficult hurdle. The greatest wish of my life will be fulfilled, so this half of mine, you can take it whenever you want..."

  "The price difference... is that the right word..." Gru was still looking at Tima's corpse, as if saying this for no apparent reason.

  Sedros shook his head and said, "I'm just entrusting it to you. I have many friends, and also very few... so few that there is only you."

  "I said, I was just a little surprised." Gru said lightly, turning and walking out of the swamp.

  Sedros let out a long sigh and also turned to follow his back. On the ground, flies had already begun to crawl into High Priest Tima's nostrils and mouth.