Chapter 101: Visiting The Corrupted Lands (1)

Chapter 101: Visiting The Corrupted Lands (1)The carriage rolled smoothly along the cobblestone roads, as they arrived before the Mansion’s gates.

The Varyn Mansion, as Timothy had explained during the journey, was the closest ducal estate to the Capital City, perched at the very entrance to the Dukedom of Varyn.

Its strategic position made it a hub for trade and defense, a gateway between the Capital and the wilder territories beyond.

The journey from the Gilded Tankard had taken just under seven hours, and Timothy had kept up a polite stream of conversation during the ride, detailing the history of the Varyn family and their role in safeguarding the Dukedom.

Adrian had listened with half an ear, his mind occupied with the deal he was about to strike.

"We’ve arrived, Master Adrian," Timothy announced in a warm tone. He stepped out first, holding the door open with a practiced flourish. "I’ll inform Lord Varyn of your arrival. He has requested to meet you in his study."

Adrian nodded, adjusting his clothes as he stepped down.

The courtyard was alive with activity. Servants were bustling about, lighting up torches to ward off the encroaching dusk among other tasks.

Timothy led the way through the grand entrance, where polished marble floors gleamed under the torches.

The interior was a blend of opulence and practicality, with tapestries depicting the Varyn lineage hanging alongside racks of different collections.

After a brief wait in an antechamber, a servant appeared to escort Adrian to the study. The room was on the second floor, tucked away at the end of a long corridor lined with portraits of stern-faced ancestors.



The servant knocked softly before opening the door, announcing, "Master Adrian, my lord."

Adrian stepped inside, his eyes quickly taking in the room. It was spacious yet cozy, with a roaring fire in the hearth casting flickering shadows across bookshelves and a heavy oak desk.

Lord Varyn stood by a window, his broad frame outlined against the twilight. He was a man with a neatly trimmed and eyes that carried the weight of decades of leadership.

His presence was commanding, but there was a warmth to his demeanor that would put anyone at ease.

"Adrian," Varyn said, turning with a light chuckle. "No need for formalities. Come, sit."

He gestured to a plush couch near the fire, its cushions embroidered with the Varyn crest.

Adrian inclined his head in a brief gesture of respect before crossing the room and settling onto the couch.

Varyn waved a hand dismissively, sinking into an armchair opposite Adrian.

"It’s been too long since we last met, hasn’t it? You look a lot older, and stronger even. Quite impressive."

Adrian offered a polite smile. "I appreciate the compliments, my lord, but I’d prefer we get to the matter at hand. The sky’s darkening, and I don’t plan on staying the night."

Varyn’s brows shot up, a flicker of surprise crossing his face. "Not staying? It’ll be well past midnight by the time you reach the Capital City, lad. Are you sure you’ll manage?"

"I’ll be fine."

Varyn stroked his beard, studying Adrian for a moment before nodding.

"Very well, then. Let’s get to it." He leaned forward, his tone shifting to one of business.



"You’re meeting with me alone because the Corrupted Lands fall under my jurisdiction. Not by choice, mind you. The beasts that wander out of that forsaken place often make their way here, and my troops bear the brunt of dealing with them."

Adrian nodded, his mind already piecing together the implications, but he decided to clear out a point. "You don’t plan on passing the responsibility of defending the border to me, do you?"


Varyn chuckled, though there was little humor in it.

"Handing you the land won’t solve that problem. The Corrupted Lands are still an asset, or at least, we believe they are. You seem to think so too, which is why we’re here. The other Dukes and I have every right to demand something of equal or greater value in exchange. This is a business transaction, plain and simple. You see value in the land, don’t you?"

Adrian’s eyes narrowed slightly, but he nodded. "I do. Let’s see the blood contract."

Varyn’s lips quirked into a faint smile, as if he had expected the directness. He reached into a drawer in his desk and produced a rolled parchment, sealed with a wax sigil.

"It’s all prepared. Take your time to review it."

Adrian unrolled the contract, his eyes scanning the dense text. The terms were clear: ownership of the Corrupted Lands in exchange for ownership of his share of the King’s rewards.

The contract was binding, enforced by the goddess of this world. He had been skeptical of divine oversight at first, but the System had explained its implications.

The blood contract was no mere formality. It was a pact woven into the fabric of this world’s magic, unbreakable without dire consequences.

The Core, frustratingly, had refused to elaborate further on the goddess or her nature, leaving Adrian to wrestle with the concept on his own.

Satisfied with the terms, Adrian pricked his finger with a small needle on the table and let a drop of blood fall onto the parchment.

The droplet shimmered, sinking into the page as if absorbed by an unseen force. Varyn did the same, his own blood sealing the contract with a faint pulse of magic that made the air hum.

"Done," Varyn said, rolling up the parchment and handing Adrian a second one. It was a map of the Corrupted Lands.



"It’s not easy to chart that place, but this should guide you. The land lies at the Kingdom’s border, protected directly with the magic formation, but the formation there are unstable. That’s why the beasts roam free. Some die from the lack of mana, but enough survive to cause trouble."

Adrian unfolded the map, his eyes tracing the rough lines.

The Lands that bore the Corrupted Lands were a vast, jagged stretch of terrain. Before one got there though, they would have to cross a massive narrow river.

A single bridge, spanning a kilometer, connected the Lands, and beyond the bridge loomed a towering mountain, its peaks shrouded in mist.

The map noted that the bridge’s stability was questionable, and the mountain was a formidable barrier.

Mages who could fly often attempted the crossing, but for others, it meant a grueling climb. Only after one got through the mountain wound they get to see the Corrupted Lands.

"This is sufficient," Adrian said, committing the map’s details to memory before uploading it to the Tech Core. He folded the parchment and slipped it into his pocket afterwards. "Thank you, Lord Varyn, but I need to get moving."

Varyn’s eyes widened. "What? You’re heading back to the Capital now? We’ve prepared a room for you, and there’s a ball tonight in your honor. It would be a shame for you to miss it."

Adrian shook his head. "It’s an honor, truly, but I can’t stay. I’m heading to the Corrupted Lands now. The only assistance I need is a ride to the bridge."

Varyn blinked, clearly taken aback. "The Corrupted Lands? Tonight??"

"I have preparations to make, and time is short." Adrian explained in response.

Varyn sighed before rising from his chair. "Very well. I’ll arrange a carriage to take you to the bridge."