Lord of the Oasis Chapter 811 - Chapter 857-860

After their meal concluded, Abel and Kant retreated to the guest chambers. Bunduk, however, was tasked with procuring medicine, leading him down the stairs towards the kitchen on the ground floor. Abel followed Kant closely, entering the room and securing the door behind them. Kant, having consumed a considerable amount of wine, appeared unsteady. Abel swiftly assisted him to a seat, then offered a teapot and teacup, suggesting, "Your Highness, you seem intoxicated. Perhaps some tea would help steady you." "Thank you," Kant acknowledged with a nod. He took the teapot and cup, pouring himself a serving and slowly sipping the beverage. Abel exhaled in relief, settling beside Kant. He then inquired, "Your Highness, did Bunduk's demeanor strike you as peculiar earlier, before dinner?" "Peculiar?" Kant responded, a hint of confusion in his voice, raising an eyebrow. "Indeed," Abel affirmed, nodding. "We received significant news today. Under normal circumstances, Bunduk would be ecstatic. Yet, his reaction was surprisingly subdued." "Now that you mention it, it does seem a bit...," Kant mused, recalling the event and nodding in agreement. "Why don't we wait for Bunduk's return and inquire if something is amiss?" "An excellent idea," Abel agreed after a brief consideration. The pair then sat at the tea table, patiently awaiting Bunduk's arrival. However, the expected sounds of his approach never materialized. "Abel, have you been present each time Bunduk takes his medicine recently?" Kant asked. "I've only witnessed him take it once," Abel replied. "In the days that followed, he would retrieve and consume it himself." Abel continued, "However, my recollection is that he always drank it quite promptly. What could be causing such a delay this time?" "I believe..." Kant began, but before he could finish his sentence, a knock echoed on the door. "He's back," Abel announced, rising to his feet. He then moved towards the entrance and opened the door. To his surprise, it wasn't Bunduk standing there, but a pallid attendant. "Lord Abel, Lord Kant! It's terrible!" the attendant stammered, his voice trembling. "Lord Bunduk has been poisoned." "Poisoned?!" Abel exclaimed, pushing the attendant aside and leaning over the corridor railing to peer into the hall below. The ground floor hall was in an uproar, with shop attendants clustered fearfully around the kitchen entrance. "Take me there at once," Abel commanded, gripping the attendant's collar. "Y-yes, yes," the attendant stammered nervously, leading Abel downstairs. As they descended, Abel suddenly remembered Kant, still in the room. He glanced back towards the guest room door, which remained ajar from his hasty departure, with no sign of Kant in the entryway. "Strange..." Abel muttered quietly. King Kant should have reacted upon hearing of Bunduk's poisoning and collapse. This revelation threw Abel's thoughts into disarray, causing him to freeze momentarily on the spot. "Lord... Lord Abel, is something wrong?" the attendant asked, noticing Abel's stillness and turning back with a nervous expression. Abel looked up from his deep contemplation, frowning at the Orc attendant. He noticed beads of sweat on the attendant's forehead and curiously asked, "Why are you so anxious?" As he spoke, Abel placed his right hand on the attendant's shoulder. The moment he made contact, he felt the attendant's body tremble violently. "Because... because... Lord Bunduk fainted," the attendant stammered, his gaze darting to Abel's arm. "How did he faint? Did you witness it?" Abel pressed further, his grip on the attendant's shoulder tightening. "I... I... I don't know. I just..." the attendant averted his eyes, replying hesitantly. Seeing the attendant's prolonged inability to provide a clear answer, a glint flashed in Abel's eyes. He clapped his hands together, declaring, "Bunduk has fainted. I must find several others to assist me. I shall first go to the soldiers' quarters to seek help. Before I return, please arrange for a carriage and summon more guards to assist." "But this..." the attendant's expression turned anxious. Abel paid him no further mind, instead turning and rushing back towards the third-floor corridor. Upon reaching the third floor, Abel knocked on the doors of each guest room, but received no response. "Where are the soldiers? Where did you take them?" Abel shouted towards the attendant stationed at the corner of the stairs. The attendant snapped back to attention, his eyes widening with fear as he saw Abel descending rapidly. He immediately turned and fled. Just as Abel leaped down the stairs, about to give chase, he was halted by a familiar voice. "Abel?" Standing at the entrance to the second-floor restaurant, Bunduk called out to Abel as he flew past.

“Bunduk?” Abel halted his steps instantly, moving to stand before Bunduk. “The inn’s staff are indeed deceitful. They attempted to exploit the news of your poisoning to trick me. Where are the soldiers? Are they with you?”

“The soldiers are in the dining hall.” Bunduk, momentarily confused by Abel’s meaning, inquired, “The innkeepers mentioned that you and His Majesty wanted us to remain here and not venture out. However, after all the dishes were consumed, you still had not appeared in the dining hall. I couldn’t help but investigate.”

“It’s a good thing you came out. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have realized these people had trapped you here.” Abel exhaled deeply. “The inn’s occupants were likely seeking an opportune moment to ambush me and Your Highness while we were distracted, intending to leverage our lives for blackmail.”

Following his encounter with Bunduk, Abel had started to piece together a plausible scenario. His tone, at this moment, was laden with anger and indignation.

“Why would the inn’s people treat us in such a manner?” Bunduk asked, his eyes widening slightly. “Also, what about His Highness?”

“I’m uncertain of their motives. His Highness had previously gone out alone with the innkeeper. If they were indeed operatives of the Dark Side organization, aiming for our surrender, they should have acted then. His Highness did not accompany me out; I’m unsure if he sensed something amiss from the beginning. I must return to check. Quickly assemble the soldiers! We will break out!” Abel commanded.

Chapter 858: The Pervasive Dark Clouds of the Inn

“Understood!” Bunduk immediately assented, turning to head towards the dining hall.

Abel, without any hesitation, proceeded towards Kant’s guest room.

The door to the guest room was already shut, and an unsettling premonition began to stir within Abel.

He approached the door, struck it with his palm, and called out, “King Kant! King Kant! Are you still in there? Open the door quickly, it’s Abel.”

Abel pressed his ear against the door, poised to detect any movement within.

After the scraping sound of tables and chairs being moved, the guest room’s lock slowly disengaged. Abel held his breath, instinctively concealing his person behind the wall.

Creak— The door opened just a sliver.

“Abel?” Hearing Kant’s voice, Abel, who had been crouching by the wall, let out a breath of relief. He straightened up and replied, “Your Highness, this inn is no longer secure. Let us follow the soldiers and make a swift exit.”

Upon seeing Abel’s face, Kant unlatched the door with ease, allowing Abel to enter the room.

“Bang!” The door was secured once more. Abel looked at Kant, perplexed, and began, “Your Highness, we…”

“We are not leaving.” Kant walked to the tea table and sat down, stating calmly.

“The individuals in this inn are extremely perilous. They attempted to abduct us just now… I don’t know what their next move will be,” Abel explained with urgency.

“Let’s not jump to conclusions just yet.” Kant waved his hand dismissively. “Even if there is a trap, it might not be orchestrated by the inn’s occupants. The group that sought to plot against us has failed. They should be the ones concerned, not us.”

“Then, Your Highness, what is your intention?” Abel pondered for a moment before inquiring.

“Let’s stall the inn’s people for now and observe their subsequent actions,” Kant stated quietly. “Also, dispatch someone to the monitoring station to inform them. Contact the Gnome management personnel and arrange for an ambush around the hotel.”

“Yes!” Abel nodded in agreement.

Having received his orders, Abel immediately turned and departed the guest room to rendezvous with Bunduk and the others.

The hall, which had moments ago been in turmoil, had fallen silent again. At some unknown time, the inn’s entrance had been barred. Not only the tea house but even the kitchen and other areas revealed no sign of any person.

Abel met Bunduk, along with the human and Elf soldiers, at the entrance to the dining area.

The soldiers were already in formation, their expressions grave.

“Abel, why are you alone? Where is His Highness?” Bunduk, seeing Abel emerge solo, nervously stepped forward and questioned.

“His Highness has instructed that we continue to remain within this inn,” Abel relayed. “Furthermore, His Highness believes this operation was not initiated by the inn’s staff.”

“But the inn’s attendants were complicit in this scheme,” Bunduk stated, perplexed. “If not for them, we wouldn’t have been so easily deceived.”

“Sigh, in essence, His Highness has requested we maintain our current positions for the time being. We are to avoid any conflict with the inn’s people.” Abel sighed, offering a caution, “Currently, the enemy operates from the shadows while we are exposed. It would be prudent to advise the soldiers to exercise greater vigilance.”

“Understood,” Bunduk acknowledged. He then turned, addressing the assembled soldiers, “Everyone, commence the search. Proceed to the first-floor hall and inspect thoroughly. “Remember to remain vigilant of your surroundings at all times. Stay close to your comrades. Do not venture alone. “Do you understand?”

“Yes!” the soldiers responded in unison.

“I shall escort the soldiers downstairs. You may proceed to escort His Highness first,” Bunduk stated, turning to Abel. “There must be guards attending to His Highness.”

“Very well. Exercise caution,” Abel nodded.

After observing Abel depart, Bunduk directed the soldiers to descend the stairs.

The accountant, who habitually remained near the counter, had vanished.

Bunduk proceeded to examine the inn’s entrance. He discovered the door was secured from within.

Recalling Abel’s earlier remarks, Bunduk began to suspect that this operation might unfold as His Highness Kant had predicted: the inn’s staff were not complicit in this scheme.

“All personnel, initiate the search. Form small teams of five. Inspect not only this area but also the kitchen and the rear courtyard. Conduct a thorough sweep,” Bunduk commanded.

The soldiers promptly dispersed, following their respective team leaders to scour the premises.

After a period, a discovery was made.

“Commander Bunduk!” a soldier of the royal guard called out, standing before the counter.

“What is it?” Bunduk, who had been stationed at the entrance, immediately approached and inquired.

“The Lord of the Accounting Department…” the soldier inside pointed hesitantly towards the wine cabinet beneath the counter and spoke.

Upon hearing the mention of the ‘Accounting Department,’ Bunduk immediately bent down to investigate. He observed wine bottles piled on the floor, and the body of the accountant was wedged into the confined space.

“Is he still breathing?” Bunduk inquired, looking up at the soldier.

“No…” the soldier replied with his head bowed.

Bunduk enlisted three or four soldiers to help extricate the accountant’s body from the wine cabinet. It was placed upon a nearby tea table.

The accountant had likely been forced beneath the counter after his demise. Bunduk pondered the immense strength required for such a horrific act. Observing the contorted state of Fellett’s remains, Bunduk couldn’t help but frown. He declared, “I will stand guard over this gentleman’s body. The rest of you, continue searching other areas swiftly. Rescue as many as possible.”

“Yes.” The four or five soldiers near the tea table bowed their heads in assent.

Once the soldiers had departed, Bunduk removed his cloak and draped it over the accountant’s entire body. He then stood motionlessly beside the tea table, awaiting further reports.

At some indeterminate moment, Abel and Kant approached him. Bunduk, in a somewhat dazed manner, inquired, “You have returned?”

“Who is this?” Abel asked, his expression grave.

“It is the inn’s cashier, Master Fellett,” Bunduk stated, enunciating each word carefully.

Hearing the name spoken by Bunduk, Kant couldn’t help but furrow his brow.

“How was he discovered?” Kant inquired after a brief silence.

“A soldier found him within the wine storage area beneath the counter. He was deceased when discovered,” Bunduk explained solemnly.

Abel stepped forward and gently lifted a corner of the cloak. After a brief perusal, he quietly let the fabric fall back into place.

“Were any other findings made elsewhere?” Kant directed his question to Bunduk.

“Not at the present time,” Bunduk replied, shaking his head.

Chapter 859: Nomads Trapped in the Cellar

Kant located a chair near the tea table, sat down, and instructed the other two to assist the soldiers.

After Abel and Bunduk had left, Kant’s gaze lingered on the body resting on the tea table.

A somber expression washed over Kant’s features.

His prior assessment of the accounting department had been rather dismissive. He had generally maintained his own course, keeping a degree of distance from the accounts office. Now, it appeared his perspective had been somewhat narrow-minded.

When an individual is alive, experiencing both the animosity of some and the affection of others, these are the vibrant hues of existence. Because we align with different factions, we may harbor dislike, affection, or indifference towards others. Such potent emotions act as catalysts for life's vitality.

Human interaction, in essence, mirrors the process of exchanging identifiers. Kant harbored no regret for his past actions. Given his accumulated experience, such an abrupt incident was insufficient to undermine his underlying principles.

He was merely contemplating the scene from the viewpoint of an inn guest, drawing sentimental parallels with the deceased individual before him. He also acknowledged the fundamental human emotions that accompany birth.

Approximately half an hour later, Bunduk and Abel returned to Kant’s presence. They reported, “Your Highness, the inhabitants of the inn are all confined within the cellar in the rear courtyard. The majority are unconscious.”

“Lead me to them at once,” Kant said, rising to his feet.

“Yes.” After providing instructions to his subordinates, Bunduk nodded to Kant.

The trio swiftly made their way to the inn’s backyard. Soldiers were congregated at the cellar entrance, diligently carrying the unconscious inn staff out to the courtyard, one by one.

“How are the individuals who were overcome?” Kant inquired of the soldier bearing a man.

“Still… still breathing.” The cellar was accessed via a wooden ladder. This soldier, tasked with carrying an attendant nearly as tall as himself back to solid ground, was visibly exhausted. He could only manage a breathy response to Kant’s question.

“That is good news,” Abel nodded. “Transfer the inn’s occupants to an area with fresh air. I shall assist you shortly.”

“Understood,” the soldier affirmed with a nod.

“This is problematic,” Bunduk stated grimly, his expression far from optimistic. “We have yet to ascertain if the perpetrators orchestrating this have truly fled the premises. They’ve gathered the servers and guests here. If they exploited the ensuing chaos to remain concealed within…”

Abel harbored a growing unease. He approached the cellar entrance and called out, “Everyone! Halt!”

This sudden command startled everyone, bringing their actions to a standstill.

Abel paused before continuing, “We will only be extracting the inn’s guests and staff. All guests must present their room key, and all staff require verification from their colleagues.”

“Yes!” the soldier responded promptly.

“Very well, everyone, resume the rescue efforts,” Abel instructed.

Following the directive, the soldiers commenced questioning the staff and guests about their identities. They also searched the unconscious individuals. Only those possessing a room key were permitted to be brought out of the cellar by the soldiers.

Abel returned to Kant and Bunduk’s side.

Bunduk observed him and remarked, “You are truly remarkable. The moment I considered this possibility, you devised a fitting strategy and announced it swiftly to the soldiers.”

“Your concern was paramount. Prior to that, I hadn’t even recognized the potential issue,” Abel admitted with a touch of self-deprecation.

“Abel’s strategy is sound. Even with minor oversights, rest assured the lives of the innocent are not in jeopardy,” Kant stated approvingly.

Post-interrogation, the rescue pace inevitably slackened. However, as the rescued individuals regained consciousness, they readily joined the effort, streamlining the mission’s progression.

“How many individuals remain unidentified?” Kant personally approached the cellar entrance, querying a captain overseeing the operation.

“Your Highness, approximately eight individuals’ identities are currently unconfirmed,” the captain reported.

Kant and Bunduk exchanged a look, then instructed the captain, “Inform your soldiers to exercise extreme caution. It would be best if they proceed in pairs, watching each other’s backs. It is easier to carry...