Chapter 734: Flattery
Hubert’s eyes lit up with delight at those words. In the last fight, he hadn’t actually been much help—the gravity array Leon Merlin set up affected everyone equally. To boost its power, even Leon himself would be slowed down if he stepped inside. Only the spot where the group stood was safe from the array’s effects.
Hubert basically just stood there watching the show for most of it. At best, he played meat shield, blocking a few arrows and spears.
He hefted Slaughter and strode to the corpse of the Kodo Beast, spitting on it with disgust. With a swing of his warhammer, he knocked the massive body—at least a couple thousand pounds—aside, revealing two battered orcs cowering underneath.
"Get up for Master Hubert! Try any funny business and I'll smash your skull in!"
Hubert bared his teeth, intimidating the two charred orcs, eyes wide and itching for trouble—he almost seemed to hope they’d try something.
The two orcs, covered head to toe in scorch marks but not seriously hurt, got to their feet. Leon recognized them instantly—they were the two leaders of the Ashen Orcs.
"Speak. Why did you attack us?"
Leon glanced at the two battered orcs and asked in a flat voice.
The orc on the left glared at Leon, then spat viciously at his feet.
Pah! Humans really are despicable creatures. Trash like you should all be slaughtered—fed to the Kodo Beasts...
As soon as the orc on the left spoke, Leon smiled.
Anderson joined in with a chuckle: "This guy really doesn’t get the situation, does he? Already a prisoner, and still so stubborn?"
The orc’s face was twisted with rage, eyes glaring, as if he still wanted to fight.
Without Leon making any visible move, a flaming chain suddenly appeared on the orc, binding him tightly in place.
Damn outsiders, you’re dead! Let me go—now!
Before he finished, Hubert stepped up and slapped him twice.
Idiot! Is that how you talk to Archmage Leon Merlin? You need a lesson!
Leon glanced at the orc—despite the two slaps, he remained stubborn, glaring back with no hint of defeat. The other orc, however, was trembling, eyes darting nervously.
Kill him.
Leon glanced at the orc on the left and casually gave Hubert an order.
Hubert was instantly overjoyed, grinning wickedly as he swung Slaughter and smashed the orc’s head with a sickening crunch.
Damn bastard! Talking to Archmage Leon Merlin like that—dying so quickly is letting you off easy. Lord Theo should’ve made you suffer!
Even after smashing the orc’s head, Hubert wasn’t satisfied—he cursed and kicked the corpse a few times.
Just like that, someone was killed...
The remaining orc was stunned, blood splattered across his face with bits of something sticky—his legs buckled, nearly collapsing.
Leon slowly turned to look. The orc’s legs gave out and he fell to the ground, then immediately knelt, crying out: "Great lord, as wise and mighty as the gods themselves—I’ll talk, I’ll say anything you want! If I know it, I’ll tell you!"
The orc babbled frantically, leaving everyone a bit stunned.
Everyone glanced at the mangled corpse, then at the groveling orc, and finally at Hubert.
Even Hubert was stunned by the Ashen Orc’s bootlicking. The flattery sounded so bizarre it made him pause.
Then, seeing Leon’s odd expression, Hubert instantly understood.
Damn it, this bastard is trying to butter up Archmage Leon Merlin before I even got started? How dare you!
Hubert, suddenly feeling much smarter, sensed a threat—judging by Archmage Leon Merlin’s look, he wasn’t planning to kill this cowardly Ashen Orc. Was he going to keep him around?
No way—there can only be one orc by Archmage Leon Merlin’s side, and that’s me. If there’s another, he’ll steal all my perks!
Damn it, what if we find more Golden Three-Headed Dragon’s blood? I’ve already fused one drop—if we find more, this damned orc might snatch it!
No way! No way! I can’t let this damned orc steal my perks!
Thinking this, Hubert glanced at Slaughter in his hand, hesitating.
Damn it, if I use a weapon, this cowardly, filthy Ashen Orc will probably get killed in one hit.
With that thought, Hubert tossed Slaughter aside, grabbed the groveling Ashen Orc, and slapped him twice.
Damn bastard! Who do you think you’re flattering? Archmage Leon Merlin isn’t someone you can butter up! You filthy orc, trying to change the subject—I see right through your scheme! The great Hubert has exposed your plot!
With that, Hubert gritted his teeth and swung his fist—each punch landing solidly on the Ashen Orc.
That’s for being dishonest! That’s for lying!
Thuds echoed as Hubert beat the Ashen Orc, who soon coughed up blood and screamed in pain.
After a while, Leon finally spoke up, half amused, half exasperated: "Enough, Hubert."
Hubert, still unsatisfied, landed one last kick and growled, "Bastard, behave!"
The miserable Ashen Orc was covered in scorch marks and bruises, spitting blood—he looked utterly pitiful.
Great Archmage Leon Merlin, I’ll talk—I’ll say anything.
Leon could see it—the Ashen Orc was even more shameless than Hubert, desperately clinging to life.
Tell us everything you know.
The orc knelt, trembling, and immediately began: "Great Archmage Leon Merlin, your servant Beta reports..."
Hubert glared and kicked Beta. "Damn bastard, still not behaving..."
Beta screamed and collapsed, trembling on the ground.
Leon waved a hand, exasperated. "Go on."
Beta, desperate to survive, quickly spilled everything he knew.
Great Archmage Leon Merlin, here’s what happened: our Ashen Orc tribe—well, their tribe, recently discovered a newly emerged ruin here. The Ashen Orcs sent people to excavate.
And we just got word—the ruin might be something special, possibly left by Constantine the Sage, so the Ashen Orc tribe is taking it very seriously...
Hubert seized the chance to kick him again. "Archmage Leon Merlin is asking why you attacked us!"
Beta didn’t dare protest and quickly explained: "The Ashen Orc chieftain personally ordered us not to leak any information. Any living soul near here had to be killed. So, when we saw you, we attacked. But I wasn’t the one who gave the order—it was the other guy! I said you wouldn’t know, so let it go, but he insisted!"
Leon pondered for a moment. The news was unexpected—a newly emerged ruin, Ashen Orcs arriving, and perhaps it’s related to the Rune Crystal artifact...
Besides you, how many Ashen Orcs are here?
Beta didn’t hold back and sold out the Ashen Orc tribe: "There are several teams, but we aren’t working together. I’m just in charge of patrols. The real excavation teams are much stronger—the tribe’s elites are there. I even heard the true experts from the tribe are present…"
Our team is the weakest of all. We’re not even qualified to guard the ruins, let alone excavate them. Great Archmage Leon Merlin, you must be careful—there are many powerful orcs here, real experts! Of course, none are as strong as you, and the gap is enormous…
Beta kept flattering Leon, selling out the Ashen Orc tribe and spilling everything he knew about the ruins.
Leon lowered his head in thought. Along the way, he’d noticed more and more Dark Elf Wraiths. He’d been following Kuris’s notes, and if he kept going, he’d end up near the ruins—especially since Kuris’s notes mentioned them too.
Alright, you’ll guide us, and I’ll spare your life.
Leon finished thinking and addressed Beta.
Beta was overjoyed, bowing low and shouting: "Thank you, great Archmage Leon Merlin! Your mercy shines on the whole land—your brilliance outshines the sun…"
Beta shamelessly flattered Leon, while Hubert just rolled his eyes.
Beta led the way for the rest of the journey. The route was a little different from Kuris’s notes, but the general direction was the same.
On the way, Beta’s cowardice was on full display—at the slightest hint of danger, he’d hide behind Leon, knowing it was the safest place.
As a result, Hubert beat him up several times for no reason. Beta quickly figured out why and started following Hubert instead, even calling him “Master Hubert.”
After that, Beta stopped getting beaten up for no reason. Hubert was thrilled to have a new follower, but whenever Beta flattered Leon instead of Hubert, Hubert would find an excuse to beat him up…
If Beta forgot to flatter Hubert, he’d get beaten up again…