Forests Don't Support Idle Goblins

In the corner of the cemetery behind the Cathedral of the God of Night and Fate in Plantagenet City, a thin figure wearing a long black hood slowly walks past several tombstones.

This is a corner area of ​​the cemetery, where ordinary people with little money usually choose to be buried. The poorer ones, or even beggars who died of disease and hunger on the street, have long been taken to the earthen hills far outside the city.

The man was carrying a bunch of white chrysanthemums and walking slowly, his eyes constantly scanning the tombstones, as if it were his first time visiting this cemetery.

She stopped walking in front of this very ordinary tombstone, sighed softly, and said in a low voice, "Father, Vivian has come to see you."

The tombstone in front of me was so ordinary, just like the others around it, and even a size smaller. If it weren't specifically mentioned, no one would know that a royal baron was buried here.

The tombstone bears nothing but the name of Baron Mello and his birth and death dates. There is no epitaph, no words he wanted to say in his lifetime, and no confession to the world and the gods. It is a sad sight to see such a successful baron end up like this at the height of his career.

Vivian bent down and put down the chrysanthemums in her hand. She was somewhat surprised to find a bouquet of white flowers already placed next to the tombstone. "Could it be that my brother came here?"

Judging from the freshness of the bouquets, it probably wasn't Charles who did it; it was probably one of her father's other friends. Vivian squatted in front of the tombstone, examining the two bouquets. "So, besides the two of us, there are others who remember you, Father."

She gently stroked the tombstone, the hard texture coming from her fingertips. The feeling was surprisingly similar to when she was a child, touching her father's stubble-covered face—it was just as rough.

"I don't know where my brother is yet, but we've determined his general location," Vivian said softly to the tombstone, as if she were chatting with a family member. "Grandmaster Afif is very powerful. His divination tells me that my brother has been staying in Nightmare Forest for a long time, but he will be staying in Giraffe Town for a while next year. At that time, I will try to find him."

"But Father, you don't need to worry," she gently brushed the surface of the tombstone, as if wiping the dust off a loved one's face. "My brother is safe and sound. He won't be in any danger for the next year. Old Mr. Afif even used a lot of magic to confirm his condition."

"I'm doing well too. My teacher treats me very well. In addition to urging me to practice magic every day, he's also making me drink 'Red Bull' to boost my learning ability."

"Caw caw," a cawing of crows drew Vivian's attention. She turned around and, seeing nothing new, continued to tell Baron Melo about her ordeal. "Torch City is changing its name now, and our family crest will no longer be displayed at the city gates."

"Those merchants who used to come and go now miss you in private," she sighed. "They used to complain all the time because you weren't willing to reduce taxes. Now that a new group of officials is in charge, the whole dock is in chaos. Everyone wants to make more money, and those merchants have to pay more than before."

"I don't know yet who's behind this against our family, but I think as time goes on, those guys will definitely slip up. By then, as my magical abilities become more proficient..."

"The time has come to avenge you."

"However," her fingers slowly traced her father's name, "we still need to find my brother first, since he doesn't have a high-ranking archmage as his teacher like I do."

After talking for a while, Vivian also wiped her father's tombstone clean. She slowly got up and stared at her father's grave. If her gaze could penetrate the soil, she could see her father resting peacefully.

"I'm leaving now, Father. After I find my brother and settle everything, I will move your coffin back to the family cemetery."

After saying that, she put her hood back on and pulled the brim down, then turned and walked out of the cemetery. It wasn't the time when the people of the Kingdom of Fran were offering sacrifices to the dead, so there were hardly any people in the cemetery. As long as she left the cemetery and led the crowd away, no one would know that a wanted criminal had just arrived.

The cemetery was very quiet, except for the occasional cawing of crows. Only a gentle breeze brushed against Vivian's face. She looked up at the gray sky and thought, "It's going to rain soon."

So she quickened her pace, preparing to leave the cemetery as soon as possible. If it rained in the city, the sight of a person in a long black cloak walking abruptly on a deserted street would undoubtedly attract the attention of the patrolling sheriffs.

Just as Vivian arrived at the entrance to the cemetery, a voice rang out, calling out to her, "Please wait a moment."

Vivian stopped in her tracks. She didn't turn around, but instead began to plan her next move. At the same time, she gripped the staff hidden in her cloak. If the other party was an informant planted by the sheriff, or a bounty hunter lying in ambush, then she could only escape by defeating them.

Vivian stopped in her tracks. She didn't turn around, but instead began to plan her next move. At the same time, she gripped the staff hidden in her cloak. If the other party was an informant planted by the sheriff, or a bounty hunter lying in ambush, then she could only escape by defeating them.

"Vivian, is that you?" A kind voice rang out. The voice sounded somewhat familiar, causing Vivian to pause in her next action.

"Don't worry, child," the old, kind voice slowly approached from behind, "There's no need to be so wary. You know, I touched your head not long after you were born."

Vivian loosened her grip on the staff and said softly, "I'm sorry, you've mistaken me for someone else."

After laughing a few times, the person behind him said again, "Don't worry, child, no one can hurt you here. As long as I stand here, no one will dare to take you away."

Vivian's tense nerves gradually relaxed, and she remembered whose voice it was.

"Archbishop Conrad," she slowly turned around and saw an elderly man in front of her, dressed in a black priest's robe with two white sashes with gold patterns hanging down his back, "I didn't expect to see you here."

"No, child, it is I who am waiting for you." Archbishop Conrad, with his white hair and beard, calmly shook his head. "I am sorry that I was not able to help much with the Baron's matter before."

"Archbishop..." Vivian hesitated for a moment after hearing the other person's words.

"I wasn't in Plantagenet at the time. After hearing that the Baron had been captured, I immediately rushed back here, but it was too late." The Archbishop stepped forward and slowly extended his hand. "Please forgive me for not stopping those conspiracies against your family."

"After that, I've been waiting here for you, just to say sorry to you and your brother in person."