They all call me Great Master

Shadows rolled outside, and the pure white land of deathly silence gradually vanished.

Amid sighs, Old 'Spirit Medium' readjusted his monocle. He caressed the pure white surrounding him, feeling the changes within. Then, he raised his hand and snapped his fingers—

Snap!

A white warhorse, drawing a pure white carriage, burst through the thick fog amidst the low chanting of countless lost souls, causing the shadows to retreat once more.

The carriage door slowly opened, and invisible steps extended to the feet of Old 'Spirit Medium'.

Step by step, Old 'Spirit Medium' ascended.

Just before entering the carriage, Old 'Spirit Medium' whispered softly, in a voice only he could hear.

"Arthur, you must remember the words your grandfather told you."

Having said that, Old 'Spirit Medium' entered the carriage.

The carriage door slowly closed.

The next moment, the white warhorse pulled the pure white carriage, racing across the land of shadows like a sword of pure white, splitting the shadows in two. Countless lost souls that had perished within the shadows instinctively followed the carriage of the New King.

Old Charlie sat expressionlessly inside the carriage.

He didn't think.

Nor did he ponder.

He couldn't afford any guilt.

To deceive Them, he had to become like Them.

...

The jolting of the carriage woke Arthur from his slumber.

He yawned widely, wiping the moisture from the corners of his eyes.

"Hunter!"

Seeing that Arthur was jolted awake, Simon immediately frowned and slapped the side of the carriage, yelling out.

"Officer Simon, don't blame me; I've been as careful as possible. It's too dark, and, besides, the roads here are just too rough—damn it, Lord Count clearly allocates funds every year!"

Hunter looked aggrieved.

This shirking attitude displeased Simon.

However, he did not say anything more.

Because Arthur was gesturing to him with his hand.

"How long have I been asleep?"

Arthur asked.

"About eight hours since we set off; it's been dark for two hours now," Simon reported truthfully.

Clearly, without a command from Arthur, Simon would not stop to look for a campsite.

"I've been too tired lately; let's find a place to set up camp.

We should have enough food and water with us.

Besides, we're not in a rush to get to Yumir Manor; there's no need to travel so hastily."

Arthur naturally would not reproach a subordinate like Simon.

He knew Simon had good intentions.

He also knew that Simon's actions were not just for flattery or showing off but rather to make him more worthy of the apprentice policeman's title.

It was simply a bit overzealous.

"Understood!"

Simon gave a nod and then slapped the carriage again.

Soon afterward, the carriage and the two horses following it stopped by a clearing on the roadside—clearly, a campsite frequently used by travelers and merchants.

Not only had the weeds and shrubs around the site been cleared, but stones had also been laid out to form a fire pit.

More importantly, the sound of a stream could be heard nearby.

Although the carriage carried two barrels of fresh water, Newt still went with a pot to fetch water from the stream.

The two barrels of water had been boiled, then lemon juice was added before they were sealed—a method learned from long-distance sailors at the docks, which allowed fresh water to be preserved for a long time.

However, once opened, the preservation time would be significantly reduced, necessitating quick consumption.

And close to South Los, water sources were plentiful, but nearing the Mount Gale Region, that may not be the case.

Therefore, when there's a water source, it's better to fetch water directly.

While Newt went for the water, Hunter had already gathered firewood from nearby and lit the fire pit.

In the glow of the fire, the darkness around was dispelled.

To see further into the distance, Simon lit three torches and placed them at the edge of the campsite—being on the first watch of the night, he had to be fully prepared.

So, while Hunter and Newt used the dry food they carried to prepare dinner, the apprentice policeman was already organizing the four firearms of varying lengths strapped to his body and the sword at his side.

"You all rest tonight, I'll keep watch."

Cradling Pendragon, Arthur suddenly spoke up.

"Consultant?"

Simon, Hunter, and Newt looked on in surprise.

According to the rules, Arthur, treated as a first-class officer, was not required to stand watch.

"I slept too much this afternoon, it'll be hard for me to fall asleep tonight—and for a 'Spirit Medium,' the night is a good time for meditation.

The peacefulness of the wilderness especially makes me feel like I might gain something.

Please trust the intuition of a 'Spirit Medium'."

Arthur's earnestness led Simon, Hunter, and Newt to exchange looks before agreeing.

Not needing to keep watch, Hunter and Newt happily went to fetch their blankets.

"If you need anything, please wake me up."

Having fetched his own dinner, Simon spoke up once again.

"Of course!

I'm just a 'Spirit Medium', not some warrior, and I won't try to be a hero."

Arthur first took two small dried fish for Pendragon, then poured some boiling water into a cat bowl and set it aside before finally grabbing his own dinner—a baked potato, grilled sausages, baked bread, and salted oatmeal porridge.

Everyone had the same food.

Moreover, in the wilderness, such food was considered lavish.

It was certainly better than cold, hard rations.

Exhaustion from traveling made Hunter fall asleep as soon as he finished dinner, and within seconds, his snores thundered through the camp.

Even Simon, who clenched his teeth and persevered, entered dreamland a few minutes later.

Arthur sat on a log by the fire pit, while the well-fed Pan curled his front legs, squinting toward the fire pit.

"Be careful not to scorch your face!"

If it weren't for having collected all six whiskers already, Arthur would have never allowed Pendragon to do something so risky.

But now?

Arthur lifted his hand and added two more logs to the fire pit, making the flames burn brighter and warming up Pendragon and his companions Simon, Hunter, and Newt even more.

Crack, crack!

The logs made a unique sound in the flames as Arthur sat in front of the fire pit, his gaze drifting somewhat.

He had been reflecting on the dream in his memory since waking up.

It was blurry and very chaotic.

But his intuition told him it was important.

As his spirituality increased, Arthur was quite aware that intuition often pointed to the answer.

'Did Old Charlie want me to remember what he said?'

With the tranquility of the night aiding him, the young 'Spirit Medium' gradually began to recall the words spoken by Old Charlie in his dreams.

But there was a problem.

Old Charlie had said so much, but which words were the key ones?

Arthur sat by the fire pit, pondering deeply.

In the end, he decided to let it go.

It was simply too much, and he decided to play it by ear.

Then, the young 'Spirit Medium' lifted his head to look at the night sky.

At that moment, the moon hanging in the night canopy was almost completely round.

Next evening, it would be a full moon!

It was also his most crucial moment!

'I hope everything goes smoothly!'

That's what Arthur thought quietly to himself.

And in the next moment—

An unprecedented intense feeling of heart palpitations emerged.