Chapter 563 - Frozen Lake (I)
Although Rhode knew that he would be participating in the Dragon Soul Ceremony, he wasn’t feeling exceptionally anxious because it wasn’t the most important situation on hand. Instead, it was the second 5 Stars Mission in the Cranmore region—Frozen Lake. As long as Rhode completed this mission, his Guild would be safe and sound for the next year. Rhode was reminded of another person… Not sure if Barter still remembers the deal he made with me during the Midsummer Festival—I hope he keeps his promise.
The Cranmore region was located in the glacial land of the Northwest. Although the region wasn’t considered to have an inhospitable natural environment, its soil definitely wasn’t fertile. The people living there mainly planted cold proof crops, but this wasn’t due to the geographical environment of Cranmore. Instead, the Frozen Lake in the region was the main culprit. Rumor has it that the Frozen Lake had been covered in a thick layer of ice, which had never melted, for centuries. Not only this lake, but the entire Cranmore region also had a similar phenomenon. The rivers and wells would be covered in a thick layer of ice whenever the winter season approached. All the people could do was to break the ice into chunks and use them after melting.
This strange phenomenon had attracted plenty of investigators. However, they weren’t able to find the source of the problem until a Mage randomly discovered an enormous Elemental Creature hidden below the Cranmore Lake and solved the mystery of the Cranmore region. But the people failed to search for a solution to deal with the Elemental Creature. The only valuable information they had was that this creature lived in the source of water for the entire Cranmore region. Its powers would multiply every winter and decrease to its weakest in summer. This was why Rhode chose to strike now. After all, it was still early autumn and the situation would be troublesome if he waited any longer.
But it wasn’t only the Frozen Lake that was strange in the Cranmore region.
A bone-piercing cold breeze blew into Rhode’s face as he got down the chariot. It was noon and the hottest time of the day where people would rather rest under the shade of a tree than to head outdoors. However, the Cranmore region was ice-cold as though it had entered the winter season. Moreover, the scene before Rhode left him knitting his brows.
The Greenery Town before him was the nearest town from the Frozen Lake in the entire Cranmore region. Due to this reason, Rhode had arranged for Lize to lead the mercenaries here for preparations. However, Rhode realized that his mercenaries had set up camp on the open space outside the town instead. They gathered in a circle and Rhode couldn’t figure out what they were doing. Rhode felt rather strange. There are several pubs and inns in the town, so why did they choose to spend the night in the open instead?
Rhode approached them and he realized that something was off. There were some disputes going on and he witnessed Anne furiously brandishing her shield and bellowing her grievances.
“… They’re making Anne mad! Those people are so unreasonable! We shall wait for Leader to arrive and see if they would…”
Anne turned around and revealed a delighted smile as soon as she saw Rhode. She raised her right arm high in the air and waved with all her might. “Ah, Leader! You’re here! Those people are too annoying!”
Rhode observed in silence. Then, he gestured with his raised arm and the mercenaries immediately shut their mouths, which shocked the senior residents. From the start, they didn’t take this black-haired young man seriously. But he contained the mercenaries with just a hand gesture. This went to show how extraordinary his position in the guild was.
Until this moment, an elderly man among the residents let out a sigh and gazed at Rhode hopelessly. “I’m sorry, Sir. We don’t want to do this. But, after all these years, we really can’t tolerate it anymore.”