Chapter 262: The Gate of Calamity

Wu Qingsong decided to split into two teams. Ram would lead one group to Riniconia to bribe the administrators and sort out the land arrangements, while he would take Beck and a few others northwest, entering the territory of the Marquis of Osaga.

Osaga’s territory wasn’t large. It was less than half the size of Baron Elyar’s lands. But from what Wu Qingsong saw, almost every patch of flat, water-accessible land had been cultivated. Waterwheels and canals stretched across the landscape, resembling lands around the capital that had been farmed for centuries. The population density here was notably high.

The farmers working the land were still ragged and thin, but something about them felt different from those in other regions. 

As he neared Osaga’s castle, Wu Qingsong realized it. They seemed to have a glimmer of hope in their eyes.

The marquis wasn’t at the castle, so Wu Qingsong smoothly bribed the attendants to gather information on the marquis’s location, mood, and purpose behind his summons. These attendants didn’t get many chances to pocket bribes, so after a bit of feigned reluctance, they accepted. They whispered that the marquis was handling affairs in Norwei and suggested he go there for an audience. As for the marquis’s mood and the reason for the summons, they couldn’t say for certain, but assured Wu Qingsong that he rarely punished people over his mood. Any reprimand would only be for a genuine mishap in his duties.

Wu Qingsong had to spend a night at an inn outside Osaga Castle before heading to Norwei. By nightfall, he finally reached the fortress there.

The area around Norwei was much more barren than near Osaga Castle. Instead of farmlands, the surroundings were filled with wooden forts and large training grounds. It looked less like a town and more like a massive military camp.

Countless mastiff soldiers were undergoing drills, and from their exercises, Wu Qingsong guessed they were preparing to fight insectoids.

He identified himself to the guards and was allowed through without issue, meeting the Marquis of Osaga directly.

The marquis was examining a set of leather armor. When Wu Qingsong entered, he tossed the piece onto the table.

“Greetings, Marquis.”

“You finally arrived. What took you so long?” 

The marquis cut straight to the point.

Wu Qingsong was slightly taken aback by the bluntness. After a brief pause, he replied, “Please forgive the delay, Marquis. I had some business to finish in the capital, then ran into a storm at sea and drifted off course.”

“A storm?” 

The marquis raised an eyebrow, then shook his head slightly.

“I’ve arranged your territory for you,” he said, pulling a rolled parchment from the piles of documents on the table and tossing it to Wu Qingsong.

Wu Qingsong froze briefly, then quickly said, “Thank you, Your Lordship.”

Had Ram’s trip been for nothing?

“The southernmost point of your territory will be Orgrimmar,” the Marquis continued. 

Someone of his rank naturally didn’t need to consider Wu Qingsong’s thoughts too deeply. 

“From there, it stretches northward to include the hills and mountains of Esola, covering about two hundred square miles.”

“Thank you, my lord,” Wu Qingsong said again, surprised.

The Esola hill region was mostly barren, and though the area technically spanned a large territory, much of it was undeveloped mountainland with little actual value. Imperial tradition rarely allocated such an expanse to a new lord. Usually, it wouldn’t exceed fifty square miles. Most times, to curb potential threats, they’d intentionally divide the land into scattered parcels to make management harder.

This was why Wu Qingsong had Ram bribe the officials—to avoid that situation, even if it meant asking for barren mountain plots as long as it kept the territory contiguous.

But he hadn’t expected the Marquis to handle everything himself.

This left Wu Qingsong feeling both puzzled and slightly worried.

“No need to thank me,” the Marquis said. “Most of it’s uninhabited hills and undeveloped land of no value to them.”

Wu Qingsong was at a loss for words and just stood there. He looked grateful and somewhat dumbfounded.

“You may be wondering why I’m doing this?” the Marquis said.

“Whatever you need, my lord. As long as it’s within my power, I won’t refuse,” Wu Qingsong said.

In fact, he was genuinely thinking this. Was the Marquis Osaga intending to use him as a planted agent within the Marquisate of Riniconia? But if that were the case, it seemed awfully conspicuous.

“Come over here,” the Marquis Osaga said, spreading out a map on the table.

Wu Qingsong bowed respectfully and then cautiously approached, stopping a few steps away.

“Are you familiar with what they call the Gates of Calamity?” the Marquis asked.

“A little,” Wu Qingsong replied.

In reality, he’d only recently learned bits and pieces about the so-called Gates of Calamity from Nina, Ram, and Dark Moon after his encounter with the Sentalus.

These so-called Gates of Calamity were actually passageways to the underworld. They weren’t just one or two caves but often consisted of dozens, sometimes hundreds, of tunnels of various sizes. They all shared a common trait: a dangerously close proximity to the subterranean world, teeming with an overwhelming number of insectoid creatures.

The continent had many areas where mining operations broke through to the underground world. 

For example, in Tannar, where Wu Qingsong had once visited, the copper mines often accidentally opened tunnels into the underground. Fortunately, these tunnels were narrow, resource-poor, and didn’t lead to insectoid strongholds.

In terms of surface geography, areas across from the so-called Gates of Calamity connected to densely populated, resource-rich plains and cities in the insectoid world. In contrast, places like Tannar linked to desolate insectoid deserts.

It was difficult to completely destroy these Gates of Calamity. Closing known passages often led the insectoids to dig new ones, causing even greater damage. Thus, the empire had constructed fortresses near these gateways, continually deploying troops to clear out newly emerging insectoids. Some younger elves seeking experience, honors, and prestige also volunteered for these missions.

There were seven famous Gates of Calamity across the continent. The most notable, and closest to the empire’s core, is Kahango’s Gate in central Sentalus Duchy, where nearly half of Sentalus’ forces were stationed, rotating in and out of the underground for clearing operations.

Another well-known gate was Darlington’s Gate, north of the imperial capital. Spanning hundreds of square miles, this region was filled with passages to the underground, prompting the empire to construct three fortresses to secure the area.

“After that incident, I returned to the capital specifically to research anything related to the True Red Demon Lord,’” said Marquis Osaga. “Though I didn’t find that exact name, a legendary mage who has been studying the insectoid language for over a century told me that in the insectoid language, the Gate of Kahango leads to the domain of the Demon Lord of Calamity, while the Gate of Darlington leads to the domain of the Endless Demon Lord. It appears that each of the major Gates of Calamity is connected to some being bearing the title of Demon Lord.”

‘I am the Crimson Demon Lord, ruler of the Third Abyss.’

The memory of the Crimson Demon Lord’s introduction resurfaced in Wu Qingsong’s mind.

“Marquis, are you suggesting…?”

“Most Gates of Calamity have been around for centuries or even millennia, and their origins can no longer be traced. But I suspect that last time, those rebels from Norwai aimed to turn Esola into a new Gate of Calamity.” Marquis Osaga explained. “Tagraedi, this is why I decided to place you in Esola. Marquis Riniconia is indifferent to state affairs and ignored my warnings, but if a new Gate of Calamity were to open there, it would be disastrous.”

“You must take on this responsibility,” he said, meeting Wu Qingsong’s eyes. “I have things in order north of Norwei, but the region north of Esola. I’m leaving that in your hands.”