Chapter 257 — Seven Hundred Years Unseen

Only in the latter half of his memories, after Ansu was founded and Gao Yang Cecil became Duke of the Southern Frontier, did this ease gradually fade. Heavy responsibility and a certain pressure made this legendary knight, who had risen on the northern campaign, ever more solemn and sparing of laughter. In Sogilim's last few memories of Gao Yang Cecil, he could not recall the other ever appearing so relaxed and cheerful.

Seven hundred years lying in a coffin, and it had instead laid his mindset back to twenty-five? Or had he passed through a round of life and death and seen through certain things?

Sogilim was more inclined to believe the latter.

A man who had already become a legend, who had shaped great deeds, and who had gone through another round of life and death had no need to feign profundity.

His guess had stumbled onto the truth. Gao Song's carefree mindset did indeed stem from the life and death he had experienced and his incredible breadth of experience—only the years he had lived through far exceeded the elven ranger's imagination...

After returning to the territory, Gao Yang handed all the captives directly to Knight Philip, who had been waiting in the barracks. He decided to hold these people in temporary confinement; after a good dressing-down, they would be sent to the mines to dig or to the north shore construction site for infrastructure work, and after the spring thaw next year they could be sent to open up wasteland on the north shore. In any case, there was work to be done everywhere in the territory now, and with the territory developed to its present state, there was no fear that these people could stir up any trouble.

That mercenary mage captured earlier had, after being "educated," been sent to the machinery workshop to serve as an assistant to Nicolas Egg. The Egg Lord's anti-magic field was an unsolvable death sentence for mages below mid-rank. That mercenary mage was very docile now, and had even collected his first month's outstanding production bonus.

As for Sogilim, Gao Yang took him directly to the lord's manor.

To get intelligence, one still had to start with this "old acquaintance."

Sogilim stepped into Gao Song's "castle," and the instant he entered the hall, a warm breath rushed to meet him. The bitter cold wind of the winter outside was completely shut out, and the interior of this "castle"—which did not look especially tall or grand—was warm to a degree that Sogilim found incredible.

The environment here made him feel exceedingly comfortable.

Silver elves were a species that lived in the tropical regions of the southern continent. Though the entire Silver Empire, owing to the influence of high mountains and magic vortices, did not fall into scorching heat, they were on the whole still better suited to warm living environments. Though Sogilim had wandered the northern continent for many years and had adapted to its relatively cold climate, he would still be glad if he could have a somewhat warmer environment.

What puzzled him, however, was that he saw no fireplace or similar heating device in the hall.

"This place is heated by 'warm channels,'" Gao Yang said casually, having noticed Sogilim's search for a fireplace in the hall. "A heating method I invented. Deep within the residence there is a copper heater; fire-runes heat it, and then the heat is carried through heat pipes and brick channels around the heater to every room. The walls here have a hollow layer, and the roof has been insulated as well—it is far more comfortable to live in than a cold, chilly castle. Recently I have been planning to improve the thing so it can heat an entire district."

Sogilim listened carefully, then looked at Gao Yang with considerable surprise: "When did you come to understand such things?"

"I have had some special experiences," Gao Yi smiled slightly, leading Sogilim toward the study. "Seven hundred years unseen—I think we have a great deal to talk about."

Sogilim smiled and followed: "Indeed we do."

After stationing Amber on guard outside the door, only Gao Yang and Sogilim remained in the study. It was plain to see that, with no one else around, this elven ranger—who appeared so detached and aloof—had relaxed somewhat.

Gao Youshu seated himself behind the desk and gestured for Sogilim to find a place nearby, then regarded this "friend from seven hundred years ago" with curiosity: "How did you come to Typhon?"

"Just wandering about," Sogilim answered offhandedly. "I'm a free ranger. Once my term of service with one country ends, I naturally go looking for a new employer."

That was plainly not the whole reason, but Gao Yang did not press him. He merely smiled. "Speaking of which—seeing as you're still wandering, does that mean the problem still isn't solved?"

"I'm about ready to give up," Sogilim sighed helplessly. "When you think about it, even the potion Master Baldiga brewed didn't work. There's probably no one in this world who can help me."

"Actually, you've got it pretty good. No one can see your true strength, and you've even picked up a rather dashing title—'Sogilim of the Golden Hair.' Just hearing it, anyone would know you're taking the path of the people's sweetheart..."

Sogilim shot Gao Cen a glance. "If it were you, would you be happy about it?"

Gao Yang instinctively touched his own hairline. "Forget it. My hairline has finally stabilized after all this trouble..."

Sogilim let out a sigh, suddenly feeling that reuniting with an old friend seven hundred years later was not such a joyful thing after all.

"It's pretty hot in my house. Aren't you going to take off that wig?"

"No!"