Supreme Magus novel Chapter 4090

Chapter 4090: Winning Without a Fight (Part 1)

"It seems that Verhen isn’t the only man of the hour. Someone got famous." Erion tapped on a message as he stared at Jorl with malice. "Or maybe I should say, infamous."

The full-body hologram of Jorl appeared, along with his physical description, those of all his known aliases, and the price the Griffon clan had put on his head.

"Look at this. Verhen stole Orpal’s spotlight, and now you’re competing with the Dead King as the most wanted criminal in the Griffon Kingdom." Erion said with a laugh. "For this reward, I’m tempted to turn you in myself."

Unlike Dragons, Griffons didn’t sell or exchange Life Maelstrom. They were afraid that someone might kill them using their own powers, or worse, that a skilled Forgemaster might replicate Tyris’ Royal Fortress armor.

The artifact itself produced Life Maelstrom, making its wearer a one-man army capable of taking on a Divine Beast.

It was the reason the ten full-powered bolts of silver lightning that the Griffons had put on Jorl’s head as bounty were so alluring. Whoever brought the Storm Griffon dead or alive to his clan would receive Life Maelstrom ten times, no questions asked, anytime and anywhere they wanted.

The offer was enough to make any warrior and Forgemaster salivate. Yet the real kicker was the opportunity to share communication runes with the Griffons and establish a long-lasting relationship.

All kinds of Divine Beasts were mostly a myth even for Awakened, and meeting one usually resulted in death if one wasn’t properly introduced. Griffons were the mightiest of Divine Beasts, and there was no Awakened bloodline that wouldn’t have given anything to get one in their family.

Where the less ambitious focused on the rich bounty, everyone else saw an opportunity to achieve a perpetual supply of Life Maelstrom.

Jorl knew all those things and was so horrified by the implications of such a reward that he didn’t punch Erion once for his bad joke.

"Shit!" It was all Jorl managed to say. "Give me your amulet, and I’ll break the news to the Dead King myself."

’I’ll never understand why someone as powerful as Jorl needs Orpal, nor the reason he’s so respectful towards him.’ The Jormungandr thought while placing the artifact in the Griffon’s extended paw.

Erion had no idea how frail discipline and morale were in the Dead King’s army. Jorl was its general, but he needed Orpal to create more soldiers, just like Orpal needed Jorl to keep them in line.

Without either of them, the Upyrs’ threat would end as quickly as it had formed.

Moreover, Jorl needed to appear loyal to placate Orpal’s paranoia until Uragar and Salanoth contacted the Black Throne. Even if the Dead King’s ambitious plan failed, Orpal would still have Night and Moonlight, while his followers would die a dog’s death.

"Akhton, with me." The Storm Griffon said. "I might need a hand."

Jorl was lying. He didn’t need Akhton’s help. He just wanted the Bastet to witness with his eyes how unstable Orpal was and remind him that they needed each other if they wanted to dethrone the Dead King and live to tell the tale.

The Storm Griffon showed Orpal the bounty on his own head first. His reaction was just what Jorl expected.

"Welcome to the club." The Dead King laughed as if it were the best joke ever. "I know very well how it feels when your family wants you dead. Too bad that, unlike me, you’re not a Horseman.

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