Dawn and Edifice left the area where the trade caravan was being held.
Preparing to leave, the trade caravan collected all their stuff and cleaned the area.
Selene merely waited behind in her carriage.
It was still pretty early, so most of the Cultivators had not headed out to take their positions.
Dawn led the way to the Settlement Lord's complex.
...
In the study of a tall building, the Settlement Lord was overlooking a map.
There was Iron Mountain in the centre, and the great divot it was within.
Northeast of the divot was the Great River, which is also where the temporary habitats are.
Thanks to Dawn and Edifice's efforts, they cleared the habitats which held the first tide.
Two areas on the divot's rim were highlighted, the temporary habitats that held the beast groups of the first tide.
Now that they were empty, it was possible to receive and detain the beast groups of the second tide.
However, they were not just expecting groups of sane beasts.
The second tide was supposed to be their first encounter with the insane beasts that caused the tides.
Mixed between sane and insane, they couldn't rely on their original plan to handle the tide.
Sane beasts can be withheld, but insane beasts must be slaughtered.
There was still the plan to assault the Beast Kings first and handle the ordinary beasts.
The only difference would be the insane beasts.
There was likely no king among the insane, who were driven solely to hunt and ravage anything that moved.
Not only do Kings have incredible resilience, but they also have a more complex mindset.
The mist, which was left by the Demon of Confusion, is the cause of their insanity.
Ordinary beasts act savagely, merely driven by instinct.
They'd flee in danger and bully the weak.
While insane, they simply ravage whatever is in front of them.
Regardless of the state of their own bodies or their initial mentality.
They hold no regard for their lives.
Beast Kings, however, have a stronger mentality, a 'Will'.
They lead and control, befitting their status as a king.
However, that also means the mist has a different effect on them, compared to the effect of ordinary beasts.
The mist destroys one's Way; insanity is merely the first step.
Eventually, those who are insane will lose their way, thus losing themselves, and turning into a cloud of mist.
Immortal Union theorised that a beast's lack of complexity makes them resilient to the mist.
While not capable of withstanding the insanity, their Way is too simple to derail completely.
At least, that was all that was seen.
Beast Kings hold a complex mindset, naturally having a more complex Way.
One that can be derailed and destroyed by the mist.
Consequently, this means that no Beast King can withstand the mist.
Not even the Mystical Beast Kings.
The Settlement Lord was looking over the potential beast groups that would be arriving with the second tide.
There was not much worry about the beasts.
The presence of insane beasts would change their plans a bit, but it was easy to compromise.
The most notable figures among the second tide, however, were the Spirits.
At this thought, there was a knock on the study room's door.
"Lord, you have visitors wishing to speak with you."
"Let them in."
As the door opened, a young guard let two women enter.
The Settlement Lord recognised only one of them.
Dawn bowed as she greeted and introduced the woman standing next to her.
"Lord. This is friend Edifice, who helped to relocate our beast groups."
"Oh? So this is who I owe my gratitude to?"
He immediately wore a delighted expression.
Naturally, he was thankful to the person who aided them in these dire times.
"Please, take a seat. I trust you are here to discuss?"
"Indeed, Lord. Thanks for giving us your audience."
The Settlement Lord rolled the map and placed it away, clearing the desk for these two benefactors.
Dawn and Edifice took their seats.
"I hope you had smooth travels relocating the beast groups?"
"Yes. There were no complications during the process."
"Good. I hope you are satisfied with your trading here?"
"Most certainly. You have my gratitude for offering us a Qi Conglomerate and a Mystical Beast King's skeleton."
"I am merely expressing my gratitude. What did you wish to discuss with me now?"
Edifice spared a glance at Dawn before addressing her wishes.
"I will be taking our trade caravan back to our Settlement."
"But our time here might have been too long, and the second tide is already arriving."
"We are a meagre force; if these merchants get implicated during the tide, I am not confident in defending them all."
The Settlement Lord's eyes narrowed; he could understand the sentiment behind her words, and the meaning she implied, too.
Dawn was the next to speak up.
"Friend Edifice wished to recruit me to accompany them on their return trip home."
"I am willing to pay back the aid they have offered me."
The Settlement Lord intervened.
"I understand you wish to express your gratitude, but you must understand the situation."
"This Settlement is under attack, we need all the hands we can get to help."
"If you accompany them, we will be losing a vital part of our total battle strength, a Third Foundation Cultivator!"
Edifice's advances were stifled, so Dawn spoke up to rebuke.
"In our original plan, I was only meant to relocate the beasts. This process would've only been completed during the second tide."
"I am sure you know how disadvantageous that would have been for us. Without friend Edifice's help, we would be suffering that disadvantage."
"Not only that, I am sure you had nothing else planned for me, correct?"
The Settlement Lord was inwardly shocked.
Not only because Dawn's guess was correct, but also because of her willingness to aid the trade caravan's retreat.
"Friend Dawn, what reason do you have for aiding this trade caravan?"
Dawn paused for a moment. Half her reason was to aid in retrieving the inheritance.
The other half...
"I am merely helping a friend. Not just Edifice here, but a dear friend who is part of this trade caravan."
The Settlement Lord looked into her eyes, not a glint of deceit in them.
Hearing the sincerity in Dawn's voice, he grabbed his chin and contemplated.
...