Titan King: Ascension of the Giant-Chapter 660: All benefits and power are built upon strength

Mornings in Stoneheart City, besides the fresh air, featured rows upon rows of merchant caravans, quite a sight to behold.

Over time, under the meticulous development by various merchants, the outer city's districts and roads became more and more numerous.

Main streets and alleyways, exotic beasts and carriages, slaves and vendors, coming and going, gave the city more of an atmosphere of daily life.

"Let's go, time to set off!"

Orion knew very well that the current Stoneheart City definitely couldn't be considered a golden age.

At most, it could only be described as thriving.

Orion leaped up onto Thunderhawk Rayden's back.

Rayden, this fellow, seemed to have recently become a father, having conquered several female thunderhawks and produced a good nest of little thunderhawks.

"Master, when His Highness the Prince grows a bit older, let him sign a contract with my offspring."

"We'll talk about it when the time comes. It depends on Pallas's own attitude."

Orion didn't immediately agree to Thunderhawk Rayden; it was too early to talk about these things now.

Neither Pallas nor Rayden's offspring had grown up yet.

Besides, for such matters, it was best if both parties were willing, a mutual commitment being more reliable.

Behind Rayden, Ursa and the four guards—Dace, Otho, Beyn, and Torba—leading a hundred squad mounted on various flying creatures, also took off one after another.

Following them was a combat team of five hundred harpies.

This harpy unit was specially transferred by Delilah from the Sentinel Corps. Their existence wasn't for actual combat but more like the Giant King's honor guard, a show of the Stoneheart Horde's prestige.

"To the blood elf race's territory!"

Thunderhawk Rayden received the instruction and led the way, flying towards the City of Blessings.

Before heading to the dragon race territory, Orion planned to first visit the blood elves' City of Blessings.

During the North-South War, the blood elf race's Elf King Anasterian died in battle, and Elf Prince Rommath succeeded the throne. Orion had not yet met this Elf King.

Now was the time to meet this neighbor.

On the ground, a large group of flying mounts taking off from the city attracted a lot of attention.

"Lord Orion is personally leading a long journey; something big must be about to happen again."

At the Colosseum, Nico and Kadir stood on an open-air balcony of the main building, watching Orion's departing group, Kadir frowning in thought.

"No matter how big the matter, it's not as important as us earning Blackstone coins for the Horde, and for ourselves."

Fatty Nico withdrew his gaze, glanced at the Colosseum where spectators were already entering, and his mood brightened considerably. fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓

A few days ago, Orion had casually said a word, and the Colosseum had given out quite a few tokens.

Now, it was time to earn it back.

"My friend, some matters are not for us to participate in right now. Not knowing is most likely better than knowing."

"What we need to do now is to openly and honorably win all the Blackstone coins from the hands of everyone in Stoneheart City into our own."

Kadir nodded. Since participating in the defense of Lysinthia City, he found that Nico had changed.

This fellow had become more timid, more cherishing of his own life.

Of course, he had also become shrewder.

"Within three days, we need to come up with a new gimmick, a new way to play that will make those duelists' fighting spirit surge and make those gamblers willingly offer up their Blackstone coins."

"My friend, on our shoulders, we still bear the monthly performance assessment."

"You used to be nobles; you wouldn't want to bear the bad reputation of being incompetent and perfidious, would you?"

"I don't know where Lord Orion learned this set of practices, but I feel like we're locked in."

"..."

Kadir shook his head; he knew his friend very well.

Nico's current garrulousness was actually an expression of excitement and joy.

Earning money was Nico's hobby.

If this hobby could simultaneously bring Nico status and power, it would be a perfectly wonderful thing.

Therefore, Nico was enjoying it; he relished all of this.

"We can't possibly leave now. This counts as taking root in the Stoneheart Horde, right!"

In the north, while defending Lysinthia City, Nico and Kadir had learned many things about the Stoneheart Horde, either directly or indirectly.

Both Nico and Kadir knew clearly that unless they died, Orion would not possibly let them leave.

...

Miles and miles away, while Orion was rushing to the City of Blessings, Soaring Bird City was also undergoing changes.

These changes stemmed from shifts in power and authority.

"Speak... Speak up... Who... Who was it exactly?"

This was a very bloody scene. Torin, holding a leather whip, was publicly flogging a guard of Soaring Bird City outside the palace gate.

This guard was the one who had demanded an entrance fee from Torin at the city gate back then.

Now, this guard had been miserably tortured and had his tongue cut off, completely unable to speak.

And Torin, the city lord, acted as if he didn't know, continuing to flog the guard while loudly interrogating him.

In the city center, within a magnificent building, was the headquarters of the Golden Apple Chamber of Commerce in Soaring Bird City.

Henrik angrily pushed open Mateo's door, ignoring the latter who was in the middle of making love, and loudly questioned him.

"Mateo, our man has been taken! That damned Baron, he's retaliating!"

His interest interrupted, Mateo pulled up his trousers and waved away the two human female slaves beneath him.

"Henrik, can you knock first next time?"

"Didn't Sebastian teach you manners and a sense of shame?"

Mateo was very calm; compared to the hot-tempered Henrik, he appeared more composed.

"Sense of shame? You're talking to me about a sense of shame?"

"Where is this? This is a branch of the Golden Apple Chamber of Commerce!"

"What was that just now? Female slaves! Sex slaves for you to vent your lust on whenever you want!"

"Mateo, the enemy is bullying us right at our doorstep, and you still have the nerve to talk to me about a sense of shame here."

Mateo shook his head, took out a goblet, and filled it for himself and Henrik.

"Friend, let me ask you, where is this?"

"Soaring Bird City!"

"Then whose territory is Soaring Bird City?"

"That damned Baron!"

Henrik downed the wine in one gulp, but the anger in his heart still hadn't subsided.

"Hehe... You see, you said it yourself, this is Baron Torin's territory."

"Killing a mercenary who offended him in his own territory—where is Baron Torin wrong?"

Henrik abruptly looked up, staring incredulously at Mateo who had said this.

"Man, have you forgotten?"

"All benefits and power are built upon strength."

"Baron Torin is now an Alpha-level powerhouse; he already has the ability to share benefits."

"Besides, this is still his territory."

Mateo swirled the goblet in his hand, as if everything was under his control.

"We should be thankful that when we controlled Soaring Bird City, he didn't have his current strength."

Mateo wasn't wrong in saying this.

In human kingdoms, every noble who advanced to Alpha-level strength was a pillar of the kingdom, considered an upper-middle-class figure with real power.