These catapults were too well-crafted. They definitely weren’t built on the spot, but were instead brought here in pieces and reassembled.

A group of Wilderness Natives certainly wouldn’t have the ability to build catapults that can be disassembled. The level of technology required is something only a power with a mature military industry could achieve.

’Fujero is hiding a huge secret from me!’

The Lord mused to himself.

"This pattern... it’s so familiar."

Just as the Lord was lost in his wild speculation, Masha touched a cold metal axle. Her expression was pained as she stared at the strange patterns on its surface.

It was the frustrating pain of knowing you recognized something, but being unable to recall it at the crucial moment—a battle against your own mind.

"It’s alright, take your time. We’ve captured one of their leaders anyway. If worse comes to worst, we’ll just give him the full treatment—tiger bench, chili water, the works."

Levi said consolingly.

After all, the harder you try to remember something, the more it slips away. Memories like that often surface when you least expect it.

Besides, it was obvious that the Pigman held a high rank within the Alliance Army. He was bound to know something, which was precisely why the Lord had taken him alive.

"I remember now!"

After wracking her brain for a while, Masha’s eyes suddenly lit up and she exclaimed in excitement.

"I’ve seen this pattern before in the Church library!"

"This is the Evil Emblem Spider-bodied Dark Elf! Legend says this evil emblem belongs to the Evil God worshipped by the Zor Elves a thousand years ago—the Weaver of Fate!"

Masha said, her expression grave.

As a member of the Clergy, remembering knowledge related to the major Gods was a primary duty. It was crucial for identifying hostile powers in advance. Masha, as it happened, recognized this pattern.

"This..."

The Lord grew alarmed and uncertain.

’If this Weaver of Fate is the so-called Rose Evil God from my previous life, then we’re in big trouble.’

However, with the Gods having gone into seclusion, Levi wasn’t too worried on that front. ’Besides, I’m a "pious" follower of the Holy Light Goddess now. I have backing.’

It was just that these Zor Elves were no simple matter.

These Dark Elves had a matriarchal society where the status of males was akin to that of slaves. They were also known for having numerous Priestesses.

Their social structure was generally organized by family or by city.

Most Zor societies had a system of nobility.

Unlike in human and other societies, Zor nobles were completely different from their commoners in terms of magical ability.

Most Zor nobles possessed a strong affinity for Magic. They were almost all Casters who knew a spell or two.

They had organized armies and high-quality weapons and equipment.

They were a completely different breed from these Wilderness savages.

’If the true masters behind these Wilderness Natives are the Zor Elves, then this situation might be far more troublesome than I imagined.’

Seemingly sensing the Lord’s worry, Masha offered a few words of comfort. "Lord, there’s no need to worry about something like this just because of an emblem. The Zor Elves disappeared a thousand years ago. It’s rumored they were exiled to the Dark Nether Realm by the Gods, to never again set foot on the surface."

"Perhaps these Wilderness Natives just found the catapults in some ancient ruins?"

"Even though the catapults don’t look that old, most Zor Elves are natural-born Casters. It wouldn’t be surprising if they knew some kind of preservation Magic."

"In this day and age, even a rat can be a bridesmaid to a cat. Is anything truly impossible?" The Lord held to his own opinion, clapping his hands together before clasping them behind his back and walking to the side to observe the Thorn Corps’ encampment.

’Nowadays, all sorts of monsters and demons are crawling out of the woodwork in the Wilderness. A bunch of Zor Elves showing up wouldn’t be strange in the slightest.’

Levi was merely being prudent.

Masha, however, seemed to be pondering the Lord’s words. ’A Shah Mouseman as a bridesmaid for a Cat-man?’

’It... doesn’t seem entirely impossible...’

After all, rumor had it that a certain Rat-man and Cat-man were unusually close.

She could only marvel at how knowledgeable and worldly her Lord was; most of her own knowledge came from books.

Flames lit up the sky over the Thorn Corps’ encampment. Even from hundreds of paces away, the brutal sounds of slaughter were audible.

The war cries of the Panda Warriors, in particular, were deafening. They echoed across the land like the roars of ancient warriors.

One could imagine that many of the Wilderness Natives on the front lines had probably been struck dead by this sonic assault, their eyes and ears bleeding.

"Boss, what do we do next?"

Zat trotted eagerly to the Lord’s side. Clasping his hands behind his back in imitation, he watched the battle below, shaking his head in appreciation. "Truly a satisfying slaughter."

Glancing at him, Levi gave his orders. "Feed the Giants. Have our Warriors help them move stones. We’re about to hit those Wilderness Natives with something big."

"Also, light a bonfire. Signal Fujero."

The Lord believed in making the most of his resources. Since these catapults were now his, he was naturally eager to test them out himself.

As for helping the Thorn Corps?

That was quite unnecessary.

Without the threat of the catapults, the Wilderness Natives could hardly be considered worthy opponents.

Before, the Thorn Corps soldiers had been fighting timidly, fearful of the giant stones raining down from above. Now that the catapults were gone, their morale would naturally surge.

With a hundred Panda Warriors and six Casters, there was no way the Thorn Corps would fail to hold their ground.

Their earlier disadvantage was only because they had been caught off guard by the Wilderness People’s catapults.

Once the situation stabilized, everything would start moving in the right direction.

With time to kill, the Lord ambled over to the trussed-up Pigman Leader.

He simultaneously marveled at when these Barbarians had managed to steal his divine technique of "tortoise shell" bondage, while also finding the scene before him too "beautiful" to look at...

Masha’s face flushed slightly. If the one tied up had been a woman instead of this burly brute, she would have long since furiously accused the people of High Cliff Castle of falling to the worship of some god of lust.

Levi sat down imposingly on a stone draped with sheepskin, suppressing his disgust.

"Name?"

"A Pigman never fears death! Kill me if you’re going to!"

Tikli panted, his eyes bloodshot.

He hadn’t expected to be so careless, to fall for that Beastman’s trick and be captured in an instant. To make matters worse, they were now humiliating him with this type of bondage.

"A tough one, are you?" Levi sneered.

Though the words sounded like a compliment, they made all the Barbarians present shiver involuntarily.

They had just come from a heated battle and their blood was still running hot, but hearing their leader’s words was like having a bucket of ice-cold water dumped over their heads.

’It’s over. This Pigman is in for it now.’

In their hearts, all the Barbarians offered a moment of silence for this brave Warrior.

"I imagine for a man of such iron will, conventional tortures like the brine whip and the burning clamps would be useless," Levi said with a beaming smile. "So, I’ve decided to treat you to some Soft Torture instead."