Everyone's hearts warmed at the concern that their leader was showing them.
Bai Xiaowen pretended to be flattered, but his heart was filled with disdain.
"By getting the Chief Stewart, Grimma, to make arrangements for me… This is considered a mission reward? By giving me a lousy name tag, a bed in Sharp Helmet City's military camp, and a number of pots and pans? Impossible, I won't let go of such a good opportunity!"
Bai Xiaowen had a grave expression, and he began to speak passionately.
"There's no need to make any arrangements, Lord Ursok. I've left the warm Walterlund to come here so that the Northern Territory can be liberated as soon as possible! To me, a comfortable life is just a poison that corrodes my fighting spirit. What I want is to have greater strength, devote myself to the freedom and liberation of the Vikings."
The people in the hall had different expressions. Young people like Loga and muscular Viking men on the right were filled with respect as if they had seen a role model of morality. On the left, those subordinates well versed in literature had strange expressions.
Ursok coughed. "Young warrior, you still have a long way to go. Don't be in a hurry to pursue power. You need to wait for the right opportunity."
"In fact, Lord Ursok… I've encountered an opportunity now. It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!"
Bai Xiaowen pulled out the Soul Stone in front of everyone in the hall.
"I risked my life to obtain this Soul Stone. It will bestow me with great power and help our cause!" Bai Xiaowen said loudly. "However, it has been sealed. My lord, I beg you to help me undo the seal on the Soul Stone!"
Bai Xiaowen had chosen this moment to take out the Soul Stone after much deliberation.
Firstly, it was impossible for Ursok and his subordinates to report to the North County Monastery or the Empire Knights. The two were on opposing sides.
Secondly, Bai Xiaowen was a new warrior who had just made a great contribution. In order to win over everyone's hearts, no matter what, Ursok would not do something like take this Soul Stone from him. It was impossible for an ambitious person like Ursok to not understand the principle of "selling the sizzle but not the steak". If he took Bai Xiaowen's Soul Stone for himself, who would dare to join the Resistance Army in the north in the future?
The Mages in the left row looked at the Soul Stone in shock, and then they started whispering to each other.
Ursok glanced at the Soul Stone.
"Kevin!" Ursok looked at the first black-robed Mage on the left. "Take a look at this stone."
The black-robed Mage Kevin nodded and extended his hand to Bai Xiaowen.
Bai Xiaowen shook his head. The Soul Stone was in his palm, and he had no intention of handing it to Kevin. "Master Kevin, I will show it to you."
Although he was not afraid of being robbed, Bai Xiaowen was worried that the black-robed Mage Kevin would be tempted by it and use his mana to replace it with a fake one. Then, he would say that it was an ordinary stone. If that was the case, Bai Xiaowen could not do anything about it, and he could not complain about it to anyone either.
Kevin's pale face showed slight displeasure, but he still faithfully followed Ursok's orders. He closed his eyes slightly and released his Spirit to sense the Soul Stone.
"My lord, he's right. This is a Soul Stone. It's now sealed by a rather powerful force." Kevin opened his eyes and said, "I can sense many Wills of the dead from this Soul Stone. If one can fully utilize the power of this Soul Stone, that person can surely become a powerful summoning Necromancer."
The people in the hall frowned slightly. Obviously, to normal people, Necromancers who controlled corpses and skeletons were synonymous with cold and gloom. Others kept a respectful distance from such people.
However, the Vikings advocated power and did not have much prejudice against Necromancers. If it was someone from the empire who believed in the Lord of Light, they would probably have a more intense reaction. They might even shout and demand to kill.
Ursok asked, "Young man, are you really willing to give up the honor of being a Warrior and choose the disgusting Necromancer as your Class?"
Bai Xiaowen said without hesitation, "My talent is more suitable to be a Mage than a Warrior. No matter what power it is, as long as it helps the Vikings' freedom and the independence of the Northern Territory, I will pursue it. I won't hesitate to make any sacrifices!"
Bai Xiaowen spoke passionately, and the group of Viking men nodded repeatedly.
Kevin's eyes seemed to scan Bai Xiaowen once before he said, "My lord, this young man's Physique is relatively weak, but he has a powerful Spirit. He is indeed more suitable to be a long-range spellcaster."
Ursok nodded. "It seems that I have no reason to stop him then. Kevin, you're the strongest Mage in my territory. Can you help him undo the seal of the Soul Stone?"
Bai Xiaowen immediately looked at Kevin.
Bai Xiaowen had to admit that he had reached a crucial step of the S- Class Advancement Quest, so he was very nervous.
He was worried that Kevin would decline to help him. If that was the case, the other Mages would also refuse to help him. Then he would have failed in this route of helping the Resistance Army.
Thankfully, Kevin did not refuse. Instead, he said straightforwardly, "No problem."
"Phew." Bai Xiaowen heaved a sigh of relief and quickly thanked him. "Thank you, Master Kevin." He handed the Soul Stone to Kevin with peace of mind. Now, he was not afraid that Kevin would swap this Soul Stone.
"But…" Kevin's words made Bai Xiaowen's heart skip a beat.
All Bai Xiaowen wanted to do was beat this sickly man to death! He was infuriated with how this man kept saying "but". Whenever someone said that there would not be any good news.
"But what?" Bai Xiaowen asked cooperatively.
Kevin swept his gaze across the hall, cupped his hands at Ursok, and took his leave. Then, he said to Bai Xiaowen, "Follow me."
The two of them passed through the corridor and came to a study room. There were bookshelves against the wall and a laboratory table with many utensils.
"Make yourself comfortable. This is my lab."
Kevin played with the Soul Stone in his hand and said slowly, "You must have stolen this from Falca."
"How did you know?"
"Hehe, every spellcaster has a unique aura. Falca's spiritual energy is on the seal of this stone, and I've met Falca once before. I heard that Falca stole the sealed Soul Stone from the North County Monastery and was chased by royal knights. He even escaped to another plane. I didn't expect that this Soul Stone would end up in your hands." Kevin sighed.
"It has nothing to do with Falca now. It's mine," Bai Xiaowen emphasized.
"Relax, relax." Kevin waved his hand. "I don't have any ties with Falca, and I won't tell on those b*tches residing in the North County Monastery. It's just that I heard yesterday about the arrest of Falca, so I just wanted to have a casual chat with you… All right, let's get back to the main topic."
Kevin took a scroll from the bookshelf and gently unfolded it. A stream of energy light enshrouded the scroll. He placed the Soul Stone in the center of the scroll. As he unsealed it, he said, "It's not difficult to unseal it, but the energy of this Soul Stone of yours seems to have dried up. If you want to obtain power, unsealing it is not enough."
Bai Xiaowen was overjoyed, but he composed himself and asked calmly, "Master Kevin, can you help me charge it with energy?"
Kevin shook his head. "The hunger of the Soul Stone is not something that ordinary energy can satisfy. It must devour souls. The stronger the soul, the more it meets the requirements. I can't help you with this. However, I can point you to a place."
Bai Xiaowen was very cooperative. "What place?"
Kevin slowly operated the scroll. After the energy light dissipated and turned into a piece of scrap paper, he picked up the Soul Stone and handed it to Bai Xiaowen. Then, he said, "That place is 150 miles north of Sharp Helmet City. It's a forgotten graveyard where powerful ancient Viking Warriors are buried. The souls there definitely meet the requirements of the Soul Stone."
Prompt information:
"You learned about the Frozen Tomb from Sharp Helmet City's Chief Mage, Kevin."
"Quest progress updated."
" S- Class Advancement Quest: Black Soul Stone. Current Progress: Remove Seal 1/1. Charge 0/100."
Bai Xiaowen took the Soul Stone thoughtfully and asked, "Master Kevin, I'll go to that ancient tomb to collect soul energy. Is there anything you need my help with?"
Kevin smiled and said, "Me? There's no need. I'm not interested in necromancy. I'll remind you one last time. You have to head to the ancient tomb as soon as possible."