"I see why the lord doesn't want anyone without a kingdom-tier skill in the army."
"We'll be a liability to our colleagues."
Zhang Xiang said as he watched the treatment given to Man Nao and the others.
"That's why we must quickly advance our skills to the kingdom-tier."
"Only by doing so can we earn the chance of becoming heroes and having an empire-tier combat strength."
Bianca looked at her kin as she said.
...
About 20 miles away from Blazing Sun City, Storm Lord faced one of the heroes of Nether Bark Kingdom.
"I lost the battle."
He said.
"You're alive and still a lord. That's good enough for us."
The Extraordinary-tier hero said before leaving towards the Nether Bark Kingdom.
''As long you're willing to protect me until I max out my potential, then that's also good for me.''
Storm Lord said as he followed behind the hero.
He also made sure to retrieve the territory tokens and resources of Zhang Youde and the other lords previously in his association along the way.
...
Sitting on his couch, Zhou Zhou counted his loots.
35,434 Mist Cores! (32,000 Green bronze-tier, 3,000 White silver-tier, 434 Yellow gold-tier)
48 Green bronze-tier lord talent crystal fragments!
8 White silver-tier lord talent crystal fragments!
3 Yellow gold-tier lord talent crystal fragments!
28 Origin Crystals!
2 Copies of Yellow gold-tier advance grade lightning fall skills! (Empire-tier)
As well as skill books and equipment worth approximately 2 Diamond-tier items.
"It's indeed nice dealing with a high number of lords."
He muttered before starting a trade with the Ultimate Collector.
After watching the early to mid-stages of Bai Yung's battle, he figured the Dragon-horse spear general hero inheritance won't be a perfect match for him.
"Just like Lu Chong, his path isn't to command a battlefield but to battle at his will."
With that as his reference, he made sure to trade for a hero inheritance with such specification.
...
"Did he require your assistance?"
Lord of Fish Spring Town, Zhang Boen, asked his city's military commander.
"When we arrived at the battlefield, there was only blood dying the ground."
"The entire army was nowhere to be seen."
The commander responded to his lord.
Zhang Boen could hear the shock in his words.
"It's good that he can handle such an army by himself."
"That goes to show that he would be able to assist the kingdom in facing off against our troublesome neighbors."
He said to the commander before preparing to send a report to King Li.
...
"Pour the medicine Mr. Oman cultivated."
Douma gave out orders to the other farmers as he supervised the treatment of the terrain of Desolate Gabi.
Standing a few meters away from him was Oman Pyius.
"A project like this would've taken years if I never got the Mythical-tier lord talent."
"The ability to plant any medicinal herb and harvest it in a matter of hours or days is extraordinary."
Looking behind him at the herb garden hall situated close to the lake encircling Blazing Sun City, he muttered.
...
An hour after noon of the next day (18)
Stepping into Hui Teng's office in the Administrative Building, Halle handing a document to the city's vice lord.
"We have a robbery case."
"!!"
Looking up at Halle in shock, Caitlyn immediately asked before Hui Teng could speak.
"Who would dare rob someone in the city despite the countless opportunities around?!"
"It didn't happen in the city."
"The robbery took place along the trade route leading to Fish Spring Town."
Halle clarified Caitlyn's confusion.
"Oh."
Caitlyn could only respond with that after Halle's clarification.
"What about the patrol guards from Fish Spring Town?"
"Weren't they present?"
Hui Teng asked after his assistants were done with their conversation.
"The victim and her driver claimed the patrol guards arrived after the robbers were far gone."
"They're saying the robbery was planned between the robbers and the patrol guards at the 4th checkpoint."
Halle conveyed to Hui Teng.
"That's a big accusation that could cause a rift in our relationship with Fish Spring Town."
"Ensure to suppress the accusation before it spreads."
"Caitlyn, make a report to the city's commander and have him go after the robbers."
"I will deal with the patrol guards."
Hui Teng gave Halle and Caitlyn their respective tasks before leaving the Administrative building to carry out his task.
"To Fish Spring Town."
Walking to his mechanostrider using an mobility cane, he gave his destination to his driver before taking a short nap.
"Yes, my lord."
Ji Xen said before igniting the engine of the mechanostrider.
...
"What's your reason for coming?"
"I don't think tracking and apprehending a bunch of criminals is exciting enough for you."
Looking at Remiel, Jeremy questioned.
"Aren't you bored of staying at a spot and just training your skills all day long?"
"Well, if you aren't bored, I am."
Remiel said while riding beside Jeremy, Theresa and one of the 2 sword shield soldiers in the reserved unit.
"Well, that's a valid reason."
Jeremy nodded before focusing on the road.
In about 20 minutes, they arrived at the location of the crime scene.
"Can you divine their whereabouts?"
Standing beside Theresa, Remiel asked her.
"It will depend on how much they spent carrying out their operation."
Theresa responded while squatting to lift a handful of desert sand.
Spinning her topaz necklace around it, she got a feedback a few of seconds later.
"Got anything?"
Remiel asked.
Looking at the patrol guards being kept away by Jeremy and the sword shield solder, Theresa answered.
"They're in the city."
"That will be a bit of a problem."
Remiel scratched his head as he said.
"Indeed."
Theresa nodded in agreement.
Under the agreement signed by their lord, Fish Spring Town wasn't within their jurisdiction to act.
"The vice lord should be in Fish Spring Town right now."
"We can report your findings to him and see what he will have us do."
Remiel said as he and Theresa walked towards their mechanostrider.
...
'I wonder what relationship my lord has with him for him to always attend to me personally whenever I come here.'
Hui Teng thought as he listened to Zhang Boen addressing one of his subordinates.
Finishing with his subordinate, Zhang Boen turned towards Hui Teng.
"The patrol guards at the 4th checkpoint will be called back and thoroughly investigated."
"If we find out that they have a hand in the robbery, they will be immediately executed."
"And also, I'll make sure the merchant is compensated no matter how the situation ends."
He said to the young man putting on armor.
"Thank you for your assistance, lord Zhang."
"My lord would definitely be grateful."
Hui Teng bowed in appreciation.
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