The Herb King



"Miss Irithel, is there anything you need from me?" Ramiel's deep voice echoed. 

"Our scouts saw an army of Underworlders with roughly one million soldiers marching towards the Jasper Empire. With the size of their army, they should arrive in a month." Irithel muttered over the device. Her face was solemn as she uttered those words. She had fought the Underworlders herself and she knew how dangerous they were. If it weren't for Albert's help back then, she might have suffered serious injuries or even died! 

The Underworlders fight in a savage and reckless manner. They didn't even care if they would trample their comrades to death. They were unafraid of pain and their bodies were as tough as metals! 

The other side was silent for a brief moment before Ramiel replied in a serious tone. "Thank you for the information. Please keep me updated on what's happening on your side and tell your scouts to report to me daily regarding the one million Underworlders marching towards the Jasper Empire." 

Normally, Irithel would act coquettishly when someone speaks to her like this, but she restrained herself this time and answered. "Alright. I will ask my subordinates to keep track of them. You guys should prepare for their arrival." 

"Yes. We will make our preparations immediately." 

Irithel ended the call after that.

In the borders of the Northern Region, Ramiel kept his Communication Rune with a grave look on his face. There were more than five million soldiers in this camp, but he didn't know if he could mobilize them since they weren't officially under his control. The various leaders of the empires might have told them to follow his commands, but would those soldiers unconditionally listen to someone they were unfamiliar with? 

Thinking about this, Ramiel sighed heavily. "It looks like I need to display my power to subdue these guys..." 

The leaders were not yet here so he had to command the allied army all by himself. 

Ramiel inhaled deeply before he shouted. "Soldiers of the Regalis Continent, I am Ramiel Sigurd, the Supreme Commander of the Barden Territory's main army! I have received a report that one million Underworlders are marching toward our location! According to the information I received, their target is most likely the Jasper Empire! With their speed, they will reach the territorial boundaries of the Jasper Empire in approximately one month!" 

His voice was so loud that all soldiers heard him clearly. 

"What?! One million Underworlders! I thought that they are not attacking yet..."

"Jasper Empire, isn't that a small empire in the between the Central Region and the Northern Region?"

"Who cares about a small empire? And who are you to speak in such a high and mighty tone? Do you think that we will follow your commands just because the leaders think highly of you?" A peak stage Level 4 soldier snorted with his arms crossed. Ramiel's strength was concealed at the moment so no one knew how strong he was. Everyone believed that he was just a retainer like them. 

Some people watched the scene with interest. Although Ramiel's power was hidden, a few of them believed that he was a powerful expert. After all, the leaders wouldn't foolishly assign him as the temporary Commander of the allied army if he was weak. 

The soldiers of the main army behind Ramiel glared at the Level 4 soldier, making the latter feel alarmed. It was only a short instance, but he felt as if he had taken a step into Hell! Those people were Level 4 Espers and there were so many of them! He even felt some auras that were so much stronger than his own! 'Those guys... It looks like I kicked a steel plate this time!' He felt nervous as he stared at the silent Ramiel. The more silent Ramiel was, the more fearful he become. 

Suddenly, Ramiel's body slowly hovered in midair! He floated toward the peak stage Level 4 who had opposed him and stood in front of him with a calm look on his face. 

"Flight! He is flying! Only Level 5 Espers can do that! He is a Level 5 Esper!"

"There is actually a hidden expert in the Barden Territory!" 

Ramiel moved his face closer toward the peak stage Level 4 Esper and asked in a teasing voice. "Is this power enough for you to follow my commands?" 

The guy forced out a smile when he heard Ramiel's words. How could he go against him after knowing that he was a Level 5 Esper? He was arrogant, but he wasn't stupid. "Enough. Enough. Yes! Yes! Please forgive me for my impertinence!" He lowered his head. He didn't dare meet Ramiel's gaze. He might be a peak stage Level 4 Esper, but he was still far from becoming a Level 5 Esper. 

"Good! At least you are not stupid." Ramiel whispered to the guy which made the latter blush in shame. 

Ramiel then hovered in midair and shouted. "The Jasper Empire might be a small empire with no experts, but we still have to help them! If the Jasper Empire is destroyed, its neighboring empires would follow! Who knows if your empires would be next? Before that happens, raise your weapons and stop those bastards! I will lead the vanguard force to stop them from trampling the Jasper Empire! Are you guys with me?!" 

The soldiers trembled when they heard his words. That was right. What if their empires would be the next ones to be attacked? The thought of it made the soldiers feel nervous. They wanted to protect the safety of their families and friends. They didn't want anything to happen to their empires. 

"YEESSS!!!"

The soldiers' answer echoed in all directions.

Ramiel's lips curved upwards as he looked at all the soldiers beneath him. They were filled with fighting spirit as they shouted. "We will follow, Sir Ramiel!" 

***

Aethelwolf and the various leaders were still in the headquarters of the Mystic Island. They were providing the Ancestor with all sorts of information regarding the Regalis Continent. This includes the power structures of the various empires and even the smaller sects and kingdoms. 

Xymera read the documents in her hands with a calm look on her face. When she saw the list of experts in the current Heavenly Might Rankings, she was deeply disappointed. Other than the top twenty experts, the rest were just ordinary Level 5 Espers. They weren't even worth mentioning. If they were in her era back then, they would only be Elders or commanders. 

"We have to increase your levels. Unfortunately, we don't have time for that. If we had another Transcendent being, things would be a lot easier for us." Xymera muttered as she put down the documents in her hands. 

Hearing this, Aethelwolf and the others nodded their heads in agreement. 

Knock! Knock! Knock!

There was a series of urgent knocking on the door which made them stop their discussion.

Estes frowned as he said. "Come in." 

A Level 4 soldier entered the room with a solemn look on his face. He kneeled in front of Estes as he reported. "Island Master, we received a tip from our informant in the Northern Region that an army of one million Underworlders is marching towards Jasper Empire!" 

Everyone's faces changed when they heard this.

"One million Underworlders? How did the allied army respond to this? Are they already informed about this matter?" Estes asked in a low voice.

The Level 4 soldier nodded his head. "The allied army already knows about this. According to our scouts, an expert named Ramiel Sigurd exposed his power as a Level 5 Esper to rally the allied army. Because of his overwhelming power, the soldiers of the allied army didn't dare to make things difficult for him." 

Aethelwolf chuckled when he heard this. Ramiel was forced to reveal his level, but this was also good. It was necessary to have a collected chain of command in the allied army. 

The others turned their gazes toward Aethelwolf. After being together inside the Frigid Snow Dimension for over six months, they had heard of some information about Aethelwolf. It was said that he had secretly nurtured more than five Level 5 Espers! Everyone was curious as to how he did it, but no one dared to ask him how. 

"You have trained a capable subordinate, Sir Aethelwolf." Estes sighed as he patted Aethelwolf's shoulder.

Aethelwolf shook his head and said. "We should wrap up things quickly so that we can return to the borders. Ramiel might be a capable commander, but we still have to be there to ensure that nothing will go wrong." 

"You are right, Sir Aethelwolf." Empress Shiphra agreed with his words. She was worried about the safety of her young geniuses. She wanted to see them soon and have them go somewhere much safer. 

"In that case, let's go to the borders!" Xymera muttered calmly. She had already learned all the information she needed to know. It was time to go back to the borders!