Han Shuo was overjoyed to hear that his rank had increased by two. He quickly handed his iron badge to Candide.
The Dark Mantle organisation existed on a huge scale and held various resources of the Empire. Candide and the other two heavyweights held power that put them below one person and above tens of thousands. No one could afford to overlook them. By being promoted here, they could enjoy even greater benefits and use their power to acquire the latest information that was not yet known to others.
Holding Han Shuo's badge, Candide couldn't hide his excitement as he returned to his seat. He changed the rank on the badge before handing it back to Han Shuo. The stars on the back of the iron badge had disappeared, replaced by four crescents moon.
"Thank you Lord Candide!" Han Shuo looked at the badge and put it back into his space ring. He smiled and thanked Candide.
Candide spread his hands, the strange smile still on his face. His spirits were high as he laughed happily, "No need to thank me. This is the reward you have earned. You brat, you are very good. It hasn't even been a year since you joined, and you're already a rank four Dark Moon. What a miracle."
"That's only because of my luck and the master's promotion!" Han Shuo wasn't arrogant or conceited as he replied humbly.
"All right, all right, you little sycophant of a brat!" Candide laughed loudly as he teased a bit. Then he raised his eyebrows and said, "I want to know all the details of how you came across this handwritten notebook."
Han Shuo knew early on that Candide would question this matter carefully, so he'd already prepared a story. He briefly described the situation in the forbidden land, hiding what needed to be hidden and saying what he could say. Han Shuo credited the Cyclops and the Gold Dragon with completely lifting the confining force, and said only that he was extremely lucky. He said it was only after the two giant creatures had left that he entered the forbidden land and obtained the handwritten notebook.
Candide was astonished when Han Shuo finished. He muttered, "I didn't expect the legendary Forbidden Land to be so strange that no one could leave. Now that it's lost its power of imprisonment, it's still simply unbelievable. Could it be that the demigod Ayermike died there? There is something strange about it."
"I searched the area carefully once. After the two super-rank creatures left, there was nothing left but the tombstone. Even if you send someone to investigate, I'm afraid there's nothing left to discover." When he left the forbidden land, Han Shuo had erased all traces left behind. Even if Candide really did send someone there, they wouldn't find anything.
"Is that so?" Candide said quietly and continued, "However, I should still send someone to investigate. This is connected to the deity Ayermike, so it shouldn't be handled carelessly. I think His Majesty would do the same".
"Up to you! I'm not going back there. I've just returned from that place and found nothing after searching every nook and cranny!" Han Shuo seemed uninterested in this mission as he shrugged his arms in apparent laziness.
"It's up to you, if you don't want to, I'll just find someone else!" Candide looked at Han Shuo and didn't nag him. He gave Han Shuo a puzzled look and then said, "Right, if you don't have anything there, why do you keep running into the Dark Forest? That area is not for ordinary people to enter!"
"Hehehe, not answering that question is also my right, isn't it?" Han Shuo laughed shamelessly, knowing that the Dark Mantle had no business prying into the private affairs of its members.
Glancing at Han Shuo, Candide helplessly waved his hand and said, "Forget it, forget it. You've already brought this item back, so I don't care about your private affairs. By giving me this handwritten notebook, you've already done a great deed in public, so I owe you a great favour in private."
"That's great!" Han Shuo laughed happily and then inquired, "Mhm, good. I've already checked in, so if there's nothing else, I'll leave first, I have some other things to take care of!"
"Wait, wait!" Candide stopped him, muttering, "I've actually prepared a mission for you, but you brat could even come back alive from the depths of the Dark Forest, and you're a necromancer now. This simple mission seems inappropriate for you now."
"Well, I have three that are a little more difficult. The first is to go to Balthazar City and assassinate a traitor named Angel. This traitor has an official role in Balthazar City, so all his actions seem legitimate, so the only way to avoid trouble is to assassinate him.
The second is to go to Bimson City in the north of the empire. It's said that someone has stored a large amount of weapons in the barren hills surrounding the city. We need to send someone to investigate. The third mission is to guard someone you know, Prince Lawrence.
Uh, even though his identity hasn't been officially recognised, I think you already know him. This third mission has been issued personally by His Majesty the King. Although he's already provided some of his own men, the King is still worried that it's not enough. You can join if you're interested.
Assessing the matter a bit, Han Shuo believed that there was still some danger on Phoebe's side. He had just returned to the Empire and still had a lot of things to take care of, so he couldn't leave right away. Han Shuo said: "Alright, I choose the third mission. I already know Lawrence, so protecting him is like killing two birds with one stone!"
"Then it's up to you. But Lawrence's identity is special, so you have to be careful not to get into trouble!" Candide had long reminded Han Shuo to handle Lawrence properly. He advised this again when Han Shuo accepted the mission, explaining that it would be even more intense once the princes began their struggle for power.
"Rest assured, I understand!" Han Shuo nodded his understanding. Then he hesitated for a moment and asked, "Master Candide, what kind of person is this Duke Ashburn?"
Candide was surprised for a moment and stared at Han Shuo suspiciously. "Why? Does he want to recruit you?"
Shaking his head, Han Shuo said in a low voice, "It's not that. I think I may have offended him, so I'm guessing he won't let me go so easily."
Shocked, Candide said with a dark expression, "Politically speaking, Grand Duke Ashburn is the Empire's Minister of Operations. His younger sister is the Queen, so he is the uncle of the eldest son, Prince Charles. This person is vile and always seeking revenge for his grievances. He rules over a large number of Death Sworn Warriors and has used his position and the Queen's secret support to assassinate many of his political enemies. You must be careful if you offend him."
"Are you afraid of him?" Han Shuo was silent for a while before he suddenly asked.
Rolling his eyes at Han Shuo, Candide said, "It's not that I'm afraid of him, but rather that I don't want to recklessly provoke him. You already know that our Dark Mantle is the hand of the king in the shadows. Everything we do represents the King. In particular, we three rank five Dark Suns are directly under his command.
As long as the King is healthy, no one can harm us. Even Ashburn has to tread carefully, lest we discover his weaknesses. However, once His Majesty the King abdicates and the power shifts, if the new king nullifies our authority, Ashburn won't have any scruples to move against us, do you understand?"
Nodding, Han Shuo said in a low voice, "I understand. Good, then I'll go find Lawrence!"
Han Shuo left immediately after speaking. Candide suddenly spoke up just as he was about to leave, "You're one of mine, and since you're now a rank four Dark Moon, even if Ashburn wants to deal with you, he'll have to be careful. Hehehe, since I got Ayermike's handwritten notebook this time, I'll help you in your moment of need!"
"Thank you!" Han Shuo turned his head and thanked Candide sincerely before leaving the room.
Leaving Mt. Ordas through the transportation matrices, Han Shuo headed towards the house of Finance Minister Eevee. He wanted to ask how Lawrence was getting on and how things were going on his side.
"I'm Bryan. I've come to see Lawrence. Please notify those inside for me." Han Shuo smiled at the guard after arriving at Lawrence's house.
Han Shuo had long known that it was the clothes that made the man. He was dressed in a perfectly tailored blue warrior outfit, the collar adorned with several precious stone fragments. While Han Shuo looked capable and alert, the confident smile on his face made him seem even more unusual.
The guard, who usually looked down on people, realised that this was an exceptional person. Not daring to make things difficult for Han Shuo, he respectfully said, "Please wait a moment," and quickly went inside.
Lawrence himself came out a short time later. He started to laugh heartily before he reached Han Shuo, "You're back at last! I have come to the Necromancy Department several times looking for you."
Several unfamiliar faces walked behind Lawrence. Each of them had an exceptionally calm demeanour. They were obviously experts with great skills. What Candide had said wasn't wrong. Lawrence was extremely careful about his safety.
"All right, nothing should happen in broad daylight. You can stop following me." Lawrence turned his head to say this after walking out. Then he quickly walked over to Han Shuo and gave him a warm hug, saying, "Why did you suddenly remember to come looking for me?"
"Uh, I didn't actually remember to look for you, I just remembered that I was given a mission and that's why I came!" Han Shuo explained honestly as he smiled wryly at Lawrence.
Lawrence was stunned and then laughed out loud, "So that's why! It doesn't matter, it's good that you came."
"Come, come, come with me. We can find a comfortable place to talk." Lawrence dragged Han Shuo along and headed straight for the carriage at the entrance.
When the normally lazy coachman saw Lawrence coming, he immediately became extremely animated. He hurriedly ran to the side and lifted the curtains for Lawrence to enter. The unfamiliar experts spread out and followed, either overtly or covertly, carefully ensuring the prince's safety.
"Go to the Rose Garden in the north workshop!" Lawrence ordered the coachman as soon as they were settled.
"What's that?" Han Shuo was practically dragged into the carriage by Lawrence. He couldn't help but ask after the carriage started moving.
"Hehehe, you'll know when we get there. Don't worry so much. Tell me, where did you go to fool around after we parted ways?" Lawrence asked Han Shuo with a mysterious smile.
"Nothing much, I just hung around the Valley of Sunshine for a while and then went to the Dark Forest to kill some magical beasts." Han Shuo smiled slightly. He answered effortlessly, hiding everything.
"It can't be that simple. I heard from Junior Sister Phoebe that you did some amazing things in the Valley of Sunshine! Hehehe, you made such a mess of the Rainbow Sickle Mercenary Band. Did you really think I was that ignorant?" Lawrence made a you-don't-consider-me-your-brother face. He narrowed his eyes and curled his lip at Han Shuo.
"Hehe, it was really nothing. Speaking of your junior sister Phoebe, you're her elder brother and yet you know nothing. Her merchant guild was being insulted and bullied, and you didn't even help her?" Han Shuo wrinkled his eyebrows, turning the blame back on Lawrence.
Lawrence paused, surprised by these words. He then furrowed his brow and asked confusedly, "What happened?"
Han Shuo looked at Lawrence carefully and hesitated. He asked in surprise, "You don't know?"
"This junior sister of mine doesn't like to owe favours to anyone. Whenever something happens, she never wants to bother others. I know her temper, so I just didn't know what exactly happened." Lawrence replied frankly.
"The thing is, Cameron's Merchant Alliance wanted to take over the Boozt Merchant Guild. Cameron seems to be backed by Duke Ashburn and almost captured Phoebe in the guild." Han Shuo's face was cold and serious as he replied.
Suddenly enraged, Lawrence slammed his hand on the carriage. He snorted coldly, "Ashburn seems to be sparing no effort for Charles, huh? Such despicable means."
Pausing for a moment, Lawrence let out a long sigh, "Oh, Phoebe, really. I could have helped her with this, but she still won't confide in me. If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't have even known if she'd been taken over by Cameron's Merchant Alliance."
Thanks to the Dark Mantle's intelligence network, Han Shuo had a general understanding of Lawrence's abilities. He also knew that Lawrence's men in the Gryphon Legion had taken complete control of Valen City and that Lawrence was now the new head of the Gryphon Legion.
Moreover, if Lawrence were to win the King's favour, his identity as Prince could be officially recognised. As such, he would have hopes of becoming king.
"Bryan, you have offended Ashburn this time. It looks like even if we didn't want to be good friends, it would be hard not to be." Lawrence looked deeply at Han Shuo and said, "I have a good position for you at the moment. If you wish, I can help you quickly reach a high rank in the army. It wouldn't conflict with your identity in the Dark Mantle either. What do you think?"