The Lord Is Too Overbearing

Buzz!

Effie's vibrating Sound Tablet awakened her from her dazed state. She stopped inspecting the content of the Spatial Ring, stored it in her Spatial Ring and fished out her Sound Tablet. Upon channelling her Qi into it, she was surprised by the identity of the caller. It was the only person far from her that knew how to reach her.

"Hello."

"Where are you now?"

"I can't say that."

"Let's meet at the most convenient place."

"Whom are you with?"

"...those whose sympathy has dwindled."

Widening her eyes slightly at the answer, Effie nodded her head and calmly said, "Very well. Best of luck, Norman."

The call ended and she immediately went to meet Thompson. He was quite surprised when she suddenly came up to him but he quickly recovered and asked her what the matter was. She explained that Norman would join them, bringing joy and worry upon him. He instantly figured out that Norman was being chased after.

Quickly summoning the other members of Hauler, they found a room where they could discuss the matter. Unbeknownst to them, some of the Elves noticed this and reported it to Tinuviel. Upon hearing about the subject, everyone was equally elated and worried. They wanted to help Norman but they weren't sure if they would make it.

Having been on the run for quite some time, they could already grasp what their enemies were aiming for. Norman was not their target--they were. Although their position was no longer a secret, their enemies didn't know how to enter it. Therefore, their enemies were using Norman who knew the guide (them) that could bring them inside.

It wasn't the worst-case scenario, though. They might be aiming their knowledge about Basil's plan. Although they didn't know anything about Basil's current plan, they still knew about what the Alliance Army was up to. If they were caught, they would be giving free information to their enemies since their minds would be open books before their enemies.

"We need to discuss this with Lady Tinuviel. We can't ignore our friend's call but we can't also just head out there and risk everyone's life."

Therefore, Thompson concluded.

As everyone agreed to do what he suggested, a shadow crawled out of the corner of the room. The mysteriously eerie aura the shadow was exuding threw them off but none of them attacked it as it materialized its physique. It was one of Basil's Shadows. They gulped their saliva nervously, anticipating the news the Shadow would tell them.

"Since you have finished your discussion; please, meet Lady Tinuviel. She will tell you the plan Lord Basil has devised for you," the shadow stated, baffling the Knights.

"D-Did Basil predict--"

"It is preferable to not waste your time," the Shadow interjected before vanishing.

Looking at each other for a few moments, Thompson and the others sighed. It felt like déjà vu to them. It was also like this when they decided to aid Basil. Everything was according to Basil's prediction. It was as astonishing as it was frightening. It was getting harder to tell whether he was predicting or manipulating everything.

They would have been afraid if they had yet to know what kind of person Basil was--it was unpleasant to figure out that every choice one made could be predetermined by someone--but they knew him enough to be sure that he wouldn't do something that would bring them harm. Basil was cold but he treasured the people who supported him.

Upon meeting Tinuviel, the Knights became even more surprised. They figured out that Basil didn't only predict that Norman would join them one day but also had organized the other people that would join him late to meet Norman.

'Those whose sympathy has dwindled.' Only then did Effie understand why Norman sounded distracted when he said that.

....

"Darn, they hide well, don't they?" the Guildmaster of Firefly Guild, Zander cursed under his breath. "Norman, are you sure that your friends are ready for these guys?"

"They got Basil on their backs--do you think they are not?"

"Well, I am just keeping the talk going. I am afraid I will shake if I don't distract my mind from the bastards chasing after us."

"Relax. They won't get us."

"Hanging out with Basil seems to have warped your view, Norman. They have a bunch of Eighth Circle Mages and a couple of Purple Core Knights with them! They are part of the Empire's Elite--how could you be so calm?"

Glancing to the back once, Norman hummed to himself and then looked at his wife who was standing behind him on his Hoverboard. A day had passed since he called Effie, which means they had been travelling for a day. He believed in his friends greatly, so he never worried about those chasing after them. He was more worried about his wife, who might not have a great time.

The others, however, were different from him. They didn't have someone they trusted waiting for them. Only the hope of being saved by Basil's followers kept them from not going crazy. Zander was right. Basil had distorted his view.

He wasn't worried because he knew Basil had a lot of powerful people under him that could topple their chasers. He would die should he face their chasers but he wasn't worried about them because he knew they were nothing before the aid Basil had sent on their way.

"Instead of thinking about those we can't see, it is better to focus on our way," Norman said, attracting the attention of the tense people in the vicinity. "Hanging around Basil for three years has taught me one thing. When he tells you to do something, do it as it is. He knows what is best for you."

Norman's words made them recall the message they had received from Basil. 'Trust me' was only written once but they could tell the emphasis was put on it. They had thought it was Basil's way to convince them that his version of the story was the correct one, at first. After hearing Norman's statement, they figured out what he wanted them to trust him on.

The plan he had devised for them. He didn't care if they believed his story but he wanted those who decided to follow him to follow everything he said without question. It was a ridiculous demand; therefore, he wanted to them trust in him. Those who didn't should suffer and those who did should prosper.

"It is mind-boggling to think that I only got what Basil meant in his letter now," Zander muttered in astonishment. He had lost his worry for their chasers.

The others calmed down too and it wasn't long until they were as relaxed as Norman was. None of them stopped doing their best, though. On the contrary, they moved even faster than before. Without anything burdening their minds, they could utilize their Energy more effectively.

Basil watched the scene through [Visualization]. He couldn't help smiling lightly in amusement. Belief does do something amazing for people. People can do many things when they weren't pressured. In perilous situations, one's belief alleviates the pressure on one's mind. This results in one's ability to think more clearly.

In this case, Norman the believer propagated his belief splendidly. Of course, it was possible only because he was calm in the very first place. Had Norman known that the Eighth Circle Mages whom they feared so much were flying right above them, he wouldn't have been able to convince the others either. Ignorance is bliss, people say.

Boom!

Deactivating [Visualization], Basil turned his attention to the scene before him. There was a luscious forest decorated with gigantic trees before him. It would have been a sight to see if not for the fact that a raging flame was devouring it. As green withered, eaten by red, black quickly dominated the place. The mind-calming forest looked like purgatory now.

"Must suck dying like roasted pigs," Iliana remarked, referring to the Paladins who died inside the forest.

"At least roasted pigs taste good. They are but a waste of space," Ione commented.

Looking at each other with puzzled looks, Xander and Cyrus wondered what made their Mistresses moody. They weren't like this two days ago. Maybe, the ceaseless encounter with the Paladins had finally gotten on their nerves. Added to that was their short resting period, so it was not unusual for them to be frustrated.

Turning to their Lord, they couldn't help praising him in their hearts for the umpteenth time. Despite being the most active one, he didn't show any signs of frustration. He hadn't slept for two days and was always on high alert. They could see the gears in his head spin 24/7. It was crazy to think that he looked unaffected.

As talented as all of them were, Basil was indeed different from Ione and Iliana. He was the Fated Child for a reason.

"Deacon, blow the candle out," Basil ordered, earning a quirked eyebrow from his company.

"As you wish, Master," Deacon obeyed.

Opening his mouth, the Tyrant Saberwolf created an extremely condensed air sphere in his mouth. He shot it at the forest, taking out the fire and destroying the burned trees in an instant. Iliana and Ione already knew how strong Deacon had become but the scene still astonished them. It was still a little bit surreal for them that he had become a Seventh Grade Magic Beast.

Turning their attention back to Basil, the two female Pacifers wondered why Basil ordered Deacon to do it. They became even more bewildered than they already were when he threw a bag of food down. Without saying anything, he turned around and told everyone to move on. Thinking it was just another one of his antics, the two shrugged and turned around.

It was at that moment that they heard a rustle behind them. Thinking it was an enemy, they turned around again, ready to attack whomever it was. Their breaths hitched when they found a pregnant civilian limping toward them. One of her feet was badly burned and mangled. A burning tree had fallen on it.

"Let's move on."

They wanted to rush at the civilian woman but Basil stopped them. Ione immediately realized what she was about to do but Iliana failed to realize their situation. She turned to Basil angrily before ignoring his words. She managed to catch the pregnant civilian before she fell but didn't get to treat her because Basil stopped her before she could.

"We no longer have the right to play the hero. Doing so now will make us a hypocrite," Basil said as he lightly pulled on Iliana's arm. "Let me show you the truth--look around you."

Doing what was told, Iliana found countless unarmed charred corpses. It was at this moment that Iliana realized what they had been doing all this time.

"It is either us or them. I choose us."

"You...how could you..."

"I prefer watching the innocent across me die than having our people suffer--I've said that, haven't I? Their lives are below the people we have on our backs. You have to know that, Iliana."

Iliana wanted to retort but found herself unable to. She went silent for a few seconds before pulling her arm off Basil's grip. She got on Deacon and the travel was resumed. She didn't speak to Basil until they arrived at the Demi-Human Empire and didn't do anything during that time. Her sympathy had dwindled and she didn't know what to think of it.