"Good, I understand."
Sauron nodded, saying solemnly, "From now on, Night Raven City is under martial law. Strict searches are required for anyone entering the city!"
"As you wish, fief lord," Frost responded.
"What's the third thing?" Afterward, Sauron asked.
"The Black Sail Chamber of Commerce is coming!"
A hint of a smile appeared on Frost's face as he said, "According to reliable information, the Black Sail Chamber of Commerce has entered the Western Border. They will arrive near Night Raven City in at most ten days."
"The Black Sail Chamber of Commerce?"
Sauron's heart stirred.
He had heard of the rumored Black Sail Chamber of Commerce. It was said to be the most mysterious organization on the Lost Continent. Unlike the infamous Snake Shadow, the Black Sail Chamber of Commerce maintained neutrality in the power struggles between nations on the Lost Continent.
"Yes, it is indeed the Black Sail Chamber of Commerce!"
A glint flashed in Frost Scholar's eyes, and his tone carried a hint of excitement. He continued, "On the Lost Continent, members of the Black Sail Chamber of Commerce have always possessed great magical power. If we can gain their assistance, Oren might awaken."
Sauron's face showed a sudden realization.
No wonder Frost was so excited; it turned out he had placed his hopes on the Black Sail Chamber of Commerce regarding Oren's situation.
But this was quite normal.
As a scholar nearing a hundred years old, Frost had dealt with members of the Black Sail Chamber of Commerce multiple times in his life. Therefore, he had a blind confidence in them.
In Frost's eyes, as long as the price paid to the Black Sail Chamber of Commerce was sufficient, they would likely fulfill any request, provided it didn't violate their principles.
After reporting the three matters to Sauron, Frost Scholar withdrew.
Inside the room, Sauron's eyes flickered.
"Snake Shadow!"
Sauron muttered to himself. Among the three matters, the most noteworthy was the issue with Snake Shadow. As the most terrifying assassin organization on the Lost Continent, Snake Shadow's assassins underwent special training.
It could be said that anyone targeted by them must remain vigilant at all times, or there was a high probability of being killed.
Back at Holy Splendor Academy, Sauron had already witnessed the prowess of Snake Shadow. Even in the royal capital, they could infiltrate. Even Evelyn, with royal blood, couldn't escape the fate of being assassinated by Snake Shadow if Sauron hadn't intervened in the Birch Forest.
Thinking of this, a thought flashed in Sauron's mind.
"I must quickly advance to the high-level Knight realm!"
Sauron took a deep breath, determination gleaming in his eyes.
To resist Snake Shadow's assassination, Sauron needed sufficient strength. Being an intermediate-level Knight was obviously not enough; he had to at least advance to the high-level realm.
By that time, teaming up with Conrad, even if the assassins sent by Snake Shadow were formidable, they probably wouldn't pose a threat to Sauron.
At the same time, at the city gate.
Following Sauron's orders, Kylo Knight personally led the guards to rigorously inspect outsiders entering the city. Anyone wanting to enter the city had to undergo thorough questioning.
Gu lu gu lu!
Not far away, a caravan approached, covered with black cloth, immediately catching the attention of the guards, who promptly stopped the caravan's owner.
"What's inside?" shouted a guard.
"Back, my lord, we are merchants from the north."
The owner of this caravan was a sleazy bald man, slender in stature, with an eight-character mustache, resembling a rat.
"Inside the carriage are slaves transported from the Dukedom of Ashen Fortress, definitely not contraband."
As the bald man spoke, he lifted the black cloth on the carriage, revealing over a dozen women inside, akin to livestock.
Onlookers cast sidelong glances.
The shivering slaves inside the carriage, all unclothed, exposed to the gaze of numerous men, displayed expressions of shame and sorrow.
"Turns out they are slaves from the Dukedom of Ashen Fortress."
A guard realized, with rumors of war in the Dukedom of Ashen Fortress, merchants from various countries were mobilizing.
Perhaps in the past, thirty gold coins could buy a slave, but now it only took ten, and the quality might be better.
"Alright, you can go in!"
After a thorough inspection, the guard signaled that the bald man's caravan could enter the city.
"Many thanks, my lord."
The bald man nodded hastily. He wasn't too nervous, as he was a legitimate merchant and had the legal right to trade slaves in the Taal Duchy.
As the caravan entered the city, order was restored in the surroundings.
However, no one noticed that in the carriage loaded with numerous female slaves, a curvaceous woman with no clothes on had eyes that subtly shimmered.
Facing the lecherous gazes of men on the street, the woman wore an indifferent expression.
"Is this Night Raven City?"
Mary's lips curled upwards, a glint in her eyes as she murmured, "Just a hairless brat. The organization actually sent me here?"
"Never mind, let's consider it a bit of relaxation."
Mary, the gold-tier assassin of Snake Shadow, possessed the battle strength of a high-level Knight. She had successfully completed many assassination missions, and now three high-level Knights had died at her hands.
One of them was even a well-known high-level Knight.
For Mary, assassinating the Lord of Night Raven City posed little difficulty. If it were Night Raven Knight Oren, she might have been more cautious.
But now, with the target being nothing more than a sixteen or seventeen-year-old youth, Mary paid no attention, casually finding a slave caravan to infiltrate Night Raven City.
In the blink of an eye, another seven days passed.
Night Raven City, Raven Fortress.
In a room on the second floor, black qi emanated from Sauron's body, and his eyes gleamed with an eerie light. His aura was steadily rising like a rainbow.
Suddenly, Sauron loudly shouted.
It felt as if a burst of energy exploded within his body, and his entire bloodstream boiled and burned.
"Success!"
After a while, Sauron looked pale, but a glint flashed in his eyes.
Through unremitting effort, the Night Raven Breathing Technique had finally been cultivated to its peak.
Within Sauron's body, a life seed had condensed, officially advancing to the high-level Knight realm.
According to the wizards, the life seed condensed within a Knight's body was also known as a rune.
"Raven Spirit Rune!"
Sauron's eyes flickered as, in the sea of consciousness, the second rune was condensed.
This rune was exclusive to those who cultivated the Night Raven Breathing Technique to its peak. Its effect was to grant Sauron the ability to communicate with ravens.
Through this Raven Spirit Rune, Sauron could to some extent control avian creatures, especially ravens.
Recalling the past, it seemed that there were often several ravens circling Oren. Now it appeared that this might be the influence of the Raven Spirit.