"Well hello, Dastan, we meet again!" Carmello's greeting was like a sharp knife, piercing the deep-rooted memories in Dastan's mind.
Those memories were like stars hanging in the sky—distant, luminescent, and occasionally hidden. They were a source of sealed pain, yet also an awakening elixir, reminding Dastan not to forget the past and spurring him ever onward.
"It has been a long time, Carmello. I truly didn't expect that we would meet again after all these years." Dastan's rabbit-like face betrayed no emotion.
"All these years, we have been searching for you every single day."
"We're just a group of people abandoned by the Empire, hardly worth your concern."
Baharo didn't quite understand what the two were talking about. His mind was simple, and his reactions were even slower now that he was locked in a cage. All he could do was listen attentively, hoping to make some sense of the situation.
"The Chief has been waiting for you for a long time. Enough talk, follow me quickly." After saying this, Carmello unlocked the cage. The moment it opened, several new iron chains materialized around Dastan's body.
"I'm surprised your Alchemy has improved to such a degree, already reaching a state where you can act at will."
"It's all thanks to the Chief. Under his leadership, the Alchemy Workshop is flourishing and has become a pillar of the Empire." Carmello's face glowed with pride, and every word he spoke was heartfelt.
"Heh heh heh, so all this credit now goes to Kuyi Tulan." Dastan sneered. "I can't believe you've all forgotten your roots so quickly."
"Your criticism is valid. We always remember the Great Mentor's teachings, but..." Carmello hesitated, then looked at Dastan and finally managed to voice the question he had been holding back, "Is... is the Great Mentor well?"
"The Great Mentor is very well. You don't need to worry about him."
A relieved smile appeared on Carmello's face; he had received the answer he wanted.
"Then, come with me. The Chief is waiting for you."
Dastan and Baharo, bound in chains by Carmello, were led into the Lubin Tavern with much clanking and swaying.
Musa and Axia, who had been guarding the prisoner cart, also followed closely. But before they could recover from their surprise, Carmello stopped them at the tavern door. This left Axia deeply puzzled.
Stopping Musa was understandable, but what did it mean to stop him, Axia? He was a member of the Alchemy Workshop, how could he be barred from entry?
Axia looked at Hector with hopeful eyes, hoping Lord Hector would put in a good word for him. But to his surprise, Lord Hector didn't even look up.
Perhaps Lord Hector was too deeply wounded and found it inconvenient to speak, Axia consoled himself...
"The matters inside are not for you to know; you're just an errand boy." An alchemy apprentice, also guarding the door, kindly reminded Axia, who kept peeking into the tavern.
"You don't know anything! I've made great contributions..." Axia was about to boast of his significant achievements on the mountain, but before he could finish, a voice thundered from inside the tavern, startling Axia so much he nearly stumbled.
"Silence!" It was Carmello's roar, low and filled with authority.
Besides the members of the Alchemy Workshop, Elder Rostellum was also in the tavern. Of course, Guard Goding and his men were being held under house arrest upstairs. In short, the Lubin Tavern was now completely the Alchemy Workshop's territory.
Kuyi Tulan looked at the speechless Hector and smiled faintly. "I didn't expect the one who intervened unexpectedly to be so capable."
Hector lowered his head in shame, feeling he had disgraced the Alchemy Workshop.
"First, take this pill and focus your energy. Later, I'll ask you what exactly happened on the mountain that it actually required Milo to be deployed."
Hector received the pill, walked to a corner of the tavern, took it, and then closed his eyes to concentrate his Spirit Power.
"Now then, I should greet our old friend."
"I am no friend of yours!" Dastan's voice was laced with disdain; he clearly detested the man before him.
"Oh, I forgot Dastan was here too. Don't worry, I have things to ask you properly later. But the old friend I'm talking about now isn't you. You can rest for a bit first." Kuyi Tulan didn't even glance at Dastan, walking straight towards the other burly figure bound in chains.
This surprised Dastan, and the surprise sparked his anger. However, the feeling was fleeting because, in Dastan's heart, Kuyi Tulan was no longer worth his fury. To Dastan, Kuyi Tulan was merely a loathsome object to be discarded, not worth a shred of emotion.
The old friend Kuyi Tulan referred to was, naturally, Baharo—the ever-smiling Baharo.
"Heh heh heh, are you going to invite me for another drink?" Baharo forced a smile.
"I recall inviting you for a drink before. You accepted and didn't refuse," Kuyi Tulan said.
"That's right, I didn't refuse. People aspire to greater heights, and I am no exception. It is my honor to serve the powerful forces of the Empire."
"Then why did you go back on your word?" Kuyi Tulan's gaze was profound, like an arrow piercing Baharo's chest.
"I also made it very clear at the time: I have a mountain supporting me."
"And I said, no matter what mountain it is, I can flatten it."
"No, I didn't mean how high or dangerous this mountain is. My point was, I cannot leave my mountain range until my mission is accomplished."
"Oh?" Kuyi Tulan sounded intrigued.
"Our organization is called 'The Hounds,' and every one of us is a hound."
"So, if someone tosses you a few scraps, you dogs will wag your tails and come running?" Kuyi Tulan said with a smile.
"You can insult me like that, but you fail to understand another characteristic of a hound."
"Blind loyalty?"
"Heh heh heh, mock all you want, insult all you want. I am a hound. Even in the most perilous moments, I cannot forget my mission." Baharo still forced his usual smile, but this time, his gaze was far more resolute, as if nothing could sway his decision.
Hound... Kuyi Tulan slowly savored the inherent nature of this animal. Such creatures possess a blind loyalty, but this loyalty isn't immutable. Just as Baharo had said, toss them a bone, and these hounds will wag their tails and come running. However, there are always exceptions. On the Yowein Continent, many people admire these animals, treating them as friends and companions. Some fanatics even liken themselves to hounds... Clearly, the Baharo before him was one such individual. However, when Kuyi Tulan had initially recruited this big lug, it wasn't truly because he was so outstanding. Kuyi Tulan had recruited him simply because he had noticed a peculiar aspect of Baharo's Spirit Power. That peculiarity was its impurity.