He turned to Jagoan and inquired, “Have all the soldiers chosen for the training in Aurous Hill departed?”
Jagoan replied, “Yes, Mr. Wade. The Dragon Temple has handpicked nearly a hundred soldiers, and they’ve already set out in batches. To avoid drawing attention, they’re flying to major cities in China and neighboring countries before transferring to Aurous Hill. They’re due to arrive one by one starting tonight.”
Jagoan nodded thoughtfully and asked, “Are they all completely trustworthy?”
Jagoan reassured Jagoan with conviction. “Mr. Wade, rest assured that these soldiers have been meticulously screened and assessed to ensure they’re not only strong and talented, but also fiercely loyal to Dragon Temple.”
Jagoan probed further. “What level of strength can we expect from these soldiers?”
Jagoan answered, “The most powerful among them are the two commanders of Dragon Temple, Calum Edwards and Apollo Wainwright. They had the pleasure of drinking your celebratory wine in Mexico and are now both in the late stage of the six-star warriors. They’re only one step away from becoming seven-star warriors.”
He paused briefly before continuing. “Aside from them, the remaining Dragon Temple soldiers consist of many five-star generals and over a dozen four-star and three-star warriors. They’re all top-tier assets of Dragon Temple in terms of martial prowess.”
Jagoan nodded, impressed by what Jagoan had just revealed.
These soldiers were undoubtedly the cream of the crop. With proper training, their strength would skyrocket and Dragon Temple’s martial might would leap forward significantly.
***
At the top courtyard of Zilian Villa, Maria focused intently on her landscape painting.
With the majority of it complete, she began to meticulously paint a lush tree by the edge of a tranquil lake nestled amidst the mountains. Once the tree was finished, she picked up a fine brush and began outlining the figure of a person beneath it.
Suddenly, there was a knock on the courtyard gate, interrupting Maria’s concentration.
Mr. Cross, her trusted guard, spoke respectfully from the other side, “Miss, I have important news to report!”
Maria furrowed her brow and put down her brush, walking outside to greet him.
“What is it?” she asked coolly.
Mr. Cross rushed into the courtyard, his face tense. “Miss, I just received word that Jarvis Delgado, one of the Warriors Den marshals, was killed in Cyprus!”
Maria’s eyes widened in shock. “What?! Jarvis is dead? Who could have done it?”
“It’s unclear,” Mr. Cross replied, bowing deeply. “But the British Lord has already informed all middle and senior personnel. Jarvis was taken out by a close-in anti-aircraft gun, and the entire garrison in Cyprus has been wiped out!”
“Cyprus?” Maria exclaimed, her surprise evident. “Isn’t that where the dead soldiers were stationed before the Warriors Den meeting? Did they announce the events leading up to the demise of the garrison in Cyprus?”
Mr. Cross nodded gravely. “Apparently, the enemy slaughtered the entire garrison of dead soldiers. Moreover, they beheaded hundreds of cavalry guards and nearly a thousand family members living in the upper levels of the dead man’s station, located in a copper smelter in Turkey.”
He continued, “Afterwards, they killed Jarvis in Cyprus by setting up a trap and utilizing high-powered, rapid-fire near-defense guns.”
“The Lord has now raised the alarm for all middle and senior-level personnel, and suspended all external operations,” Mr. Cross said and added. “Communication between the overseas personnel and Warriors Den has also been temporarily cut off.”
Maria looked on in horror, she then asked, “Is this all true?”
Mr. Cross bowed deeply, his voice full of reverence. “Miss, it is absolutely true!”
Maria’s face lit up with joy. “That’s wonderful news!”
However, Mr. Cross couldn’t help but interject, “But Miss, there’s something you don’t know…”
“What is it?” Maria asked, her curiosity piqued.
“The garrison of dead soldiers in the Warriors Den is top secret,” Mr. Cross explained.
“It’s heavily guarded, and in addition to the dead soldiers and cavalry guards, there are also high-ranking officials above the Dark Realm stationed there. So, who could have silently wiped out the entire garrison? It’s simply unbelievable.”
