Chapter 82: The Looming Conspiracy

Upon his return, Quellinthys and Yanida were both surprised, never expecting that Patrick would come back to the Tower of Sunlight to continue his service. After hearing the news, their moods visibly improved, though Patrick never pressed them for further details.

The operations of the Tower of Sunlight began to return to normal.

Meanwhile, the family head assigned an assistant to support Patrick at the Sun Sanctuary—Higgins El Cabron, a collateral descendant of the family and Patrick’s peer. His profession was rather unusual: not quite a warrior, but a close-combat ranger.

Back in the day, he’d joined the ranger corps, stationed at the eastern sanctuary of Eversong Forest as part of the sanctuary’s garrison. When the trolls of the Forest of Life threatened the sanctuary, Higgins El and his unit drove them off several times—not with archery, but swordsmanship. Eventually, Aurelia dismissed him from the ranger corps, saying, “A ranger who can’t use a bow? Perhaps you should stick to alchemy.”

Higgins El was disgruntled, but what could he do? He had no skill with the bow, and there was no precedent for a melee ranger. His presence in the corps was indeed an oddity. Still, as a garrison soldier, he earned many merits. During inspections, all the rangers raised their bows in salute—save Higgins El, who alone brandished a longsword, creating an almost comic scene.

Thus, the Cabron family could hardly comment on his situation. Moreover, during training, Higgins El failed most ranger aptitude tests—speed, accuracy, hawk’s eye, reconnaissance. The only ranger trait he possessed was agility; in close combat with trolls, he was nimble as a lynx, undaunted by the hulking enemy warriors. Now, Old Phil had dispatched him to the Tower of Sunlight, leaving Patrick with a new headache.

Patrick glanced out the window. Sure enough, the young man had blended into the ranks of the soldiers below. As to what he was doing—no need to ask—he was surely exchanging sword-fighting tips with the warriors.

“Lorne Songflow, fetch Higgins El Cabron and bring him to me. Both of you, together.” Patrick sent word to the head of his intelligence network.

At the same time, Patrick summoned the Spirit of the Lynx to his fifth-floor office.

“Lord Patrick.” Higgins El appeared before him, visibly anxious. After all, Patrick was the first true power-holder in the family. Higgins El had just been discussing swordplay with the soldiers when Lorne Songflow summoned him, leaving him somewhat unsettled.

Patrick immediately turned to Lorne Songflow. “How has Reghba been conducting the rituals lately?”

Lorne Songflow replied, “Some hunters have been bringing in scrub wolves and other beasts. Outside, they use the wolf meat and arcane materials for offerings to the Spirit of the Lynx.”

“Arcane materials are acceptable?” Patrick was surprised.

“They are. The Spirit of the Lynx accepts them.”

“In your words, I am now an arcane-aligned animal god,” the Spirit of the Lynx said as it entered, its movements the very definition of feline grace. It was lion-sized, with limbs and eyes faintly aglow with arcane energy. “By accepting your arcane power, I shed the voodoo curse from my body, and my energy system has changed as well. Now I can only wield arcane and nature’s power—voodoo and witchcraft are beyond me.”

The Spirit of the Lynx lay beside Patrick, its large eyes shining with the keen alertness unique to felines.

“Are you comfortable with the new rituals? Any negative effects?”

“None at all. After ridding myself of voodoo and witchcraft, my power changed, but wasn’t weakened overall. Thanks to your arcane energy, I can now bestow a portion of my strength to mages.” The lynx licked its paw, exuding an undeniable feline charm.

“Then I’ll leave this young man in your care.” Patrick gestured to Higgins El Cabron. “If I recall, your divine domains are strength, agility, and damage—should be helpful for his swordsmanship.”

“Really?” Higgins El blurted out, unable to contain his excitement.

“I can vouch for that,” Lorne Songflow affirmed. “I carry the energy mark of the Spirit of the Lynx. Even though it’s just a basic arcane boost, the increase in attack speed is remarkable.”

...

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Silvermoon City, Silvermoon Council, Council Chamber.

“What do you all think of Councillor Patrick Cabron?” Greenvale Dawnsworn posed the question to his colleagues.

“Judging from his last inauguration, his focus doesn’t seem to be on Silvermoon City,” observed Bridges Dawnwind, who had long since received reliable intelligence that the Cabron family’s affairs were shifting outward.

“He’s an extremely gifted mage—no one has ever reached the seventh circle in so short a time.”

“His arcane talent disrupts the basic balance,” Greenvale Dawnsworn stated. In truth, Patrick wasn’t just upsetting the balance among council members; the rise of a top-tier spellcaster inevitably consumed the interests of other councillors. It was, in effect, no different from harming their interests.

“I agree with Councillor Greenvale—we can’t let him continue to grow unchecked. Even if he seems to understand the city’s rules and is shifting his focus outside, he must shoulder more responsibility,” said Janrini Dawmstar, who had until then remained silent.

The others nodded in agreement. None of the five great families wanted a new face in the council chamber.

Senior Sunwing asked, “What about the land and administrative rights to the Sun Sanctuary that he’s petitioned for?”

“Give him everything. If the Cabron family is focused on the Forest of Life and the Sun Sanctuary, the structure of Silvermoon City will stabilize. That gives us time to devise a plan for him.”

“We should assign him even more responsibilities. What do you think about giving him full authority over Taquilin?” Bridges Dawnwind’s eyes glinted with a sudden idea.

“That might not work,” Oakes Dawnblade pointed out. “Taquilin’s affairs are too many. Drowning him in paperwork is possible, but Taquilin is the administrative hub of all Ghostlands. If he gains full control, half of Ghostlands would be in his hands. And if the Cabron and Windrunner families join forces, they’ll have a voice throughout Quel’Thalas.”