Early in the morning, the sky was just beginning to lighten.
"One-two-one, one-two-one, one-two-three-four!"
Chants rang out from the port. The soldiers had already begun their morning run. The ground vibrated, and the weight of their heavy armor created a tremendous noise, instantly waking Perry's beastkin knights.
"What's happening?" Perry shot up from her bed, grabbing the armor beside it and starting to put it on.
Thump, thump, thump…
The tent flap was thrown open. Sally rushed in, saw Perry, and immediately saluted, "Your Highness! Humans are being very strange. They're just... running around, this early in the morning."
"Huh? So we're not being attacked?" Perry froze, her movements to don her armor halting.
"No." Sally gave a wry smile and shook her head helplessly. "I have men watching them. They won't be allowed to launch an attack."
"That's good." Phew... Perry let out a long breath, her tense heart relaxing. She slowly resumed putting on her armor. Sally saw this and immediately moved to help her.
"Let's go see." After her armor was on, Perry strode outside. Being woken up this early, there was no way she could get back to sleep.
"Yes." Sally followed closely.
The two of them reached the edge of the camp and saw over a hundred men running on the flat ground near the port.
"This..." Perry frowned. "This is morning training? What can you train just by running? How to flee or how to chase?"
On the ship, Lucas was leaning on the railing, watching the soldiers run below. He glanced at the two figures at the edge of the beastkin camp, and the corners of his mouth turned up slightly.
"Master, is this really okay? Won't it expose our soldiers' combat strength?" Mina asked softly.
They had slept on the ship last night. Riverden City was too dilapidated; even its best inn was subpar. They couldn't exactly stay in the Riverden City Lord's castle.
"No. It will only make them wary," Lucas said lightly. "Everything from yesterday until now has been to create an illusion for the beastkin tribe: that I am very strong."
The beastkin tribe had twenty to thirty thousand people, not at all less than Sedona City. The only difference was in their economy. In terms of military strength, the beastkin were actually stronger. After all, a beastkin on a horse is a knight. Twenty to thirty thousand people could field two or three thousand knights. Of course, without armor, their combat effectiveness would be somewhat lower.
"Last night, they sent people to test us," Mina said, her cat ears twitching as she looked at Sally and Perry.
"Just let the soldiers keep telling the truth," Lucas waved his hand.
"Should we... add a few things?" Mina asked softly.
"No need. Also, pass the order: have the kitchen prepare a few impressive dishes. Let them see what a real banquet is." Lucas's mouth quirked. "We must have the right presentation. Otherwise, how can we entice them into a deal?"
"Yes." Mina turned and went into the cabin to pass on the order.
"Master, you seem to be paying a lot of attention to them," Ayesha asked, a bit curious.
"They have horses. Warhorses are a rare resource," Lucas said softly. "Sedona City is short on warhorses. If I'm to expand the army, I need cavalry, and for that, warhorses are essential."
"Understood." Ayesha nodded in realization.
"Interesting." Lucas watched the beastkin chief wave at him. He rather liked her attitude and intelligence.
"Your Highness, do you think he's doing this on purpose?" Sally asked, looking at Perry, who was lowering her hand. She glanced at the shouting human knights.
"Get ready. Do not breach etiquette at lunch," Perry said calmly, turning and walking back to her tent.
"Yes," Sally replied respectfully.
*
Time passed, and soon it was noon. Perry went to the banquet with Sally, followed by six strong beastkin knights.
Tap, tap, tap...
"This ship is huge," Sally said, her voice wavering slightly as she tilted her head back to look at it. "When will we ever have a ship like this?"
"We live on the grasslands. A ship is of no use to us," Perry said lightly. "A ship this size... the maintenance alone would cost a fortune."
"Welcome, Your Excellency. The Master is waiting. Please follow me." Mina said from the top of the ramp, turning to lead the way.
"Alright." Perry nodded, her eyes glancing at Mina's face.
Tap, tap, tap...
The group boarded the ship and, led by Mina, entered the cabin. They saw Lucas sitting at the head seat, smiling at them.
"Your Excellency, please sit." Lucas gestured for them to sit, a gentle smile on his face.
"Mm." Perry nodded lightly and sat at the square table, remaining silent. Sally sat right next to her. The knights who had followed them were stopped outside the cabin.
"Let's serve the food. We can talk while we eat," Lucas said, turning to Mina.
"Yes." Mina raised her hand and clapped.
Tap, tap, tap...
Two or three attendants immediately came in, carrying trays. They placed exquisite ceramic plates, knives and forks, cloth napkins, and glass cups at each place setting.
This setting alone left Perry and Sally stunned. This was simply too extravagant. Especially the transparent glass cups. This was several times better than a banquet at the beastkin royal palace.
Tap, tap...
The food also arrived quickly. Dish after dish of beautifully plated food was brought to the table. The morsels of food glistened like gems, and the enticing aroma of meat made Perry and Sally swallow hard.
There were eighteen dishes in total: cold dishes, hot dishes, soups, and more. There was even a forty-centimeter-long steamed fish, which Lucas had procured from Earth.
"You must excuse the simple fare. Time was limited, so we could only prepare these humble dishes to receive you," Lucas said softly, looking at the full spread.
Ahem, cough! Perry nearly choked. If this was humble... what did that make their meal last night?
"..." Sally was silent, staring blankly at the dishes. Why... even their roast mutton... how could they make it look so exquisite, and how could the aroma be so completely different?
"Ladies, will you be having wine? Or juice?" Lucas asked lightly.
"J-juice," Perry said, her voice bitter. Why did she suddenly feel like she wasn't the princess? He was the one who seemed like royalty.
"Pour the chief and her companion two glasses of orange juice," Lucas said. He knew why they wouldn't drink: to keep their heads clear.
An attendant quickly poured orange juice for them. The bright yellow liquid amazed them; they had never seen such a juice before.
"Please, eat." Lucas was the first to pick up his chopsticks.
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