Chapter 49

*Snap! Snap!*

The rhythmic sound of armor plates rubbing against each other came from outside the reception room, as if a squad of soldiers was marching toward the place.

"Here they come!"

Ushig, the fur and herb merchant who thought he was about to die, shuddered and almost collapsed to the ground.

A military officer in half-armor appeared at the door of the reception room, glanced around, and then, after a brief pause, nodded to the people inside and pounded his chest, saying, "Camp Commander of the City Defense Camp, Raz! Welcome to Lian City!"

Lin默 immediately stood up, pounded his chest with the same force, and nodded in response, "First Squad, First Elite Assault Platoon, First Battalion, Royal Dragon Riders, Dragon Knight Molin! It's a pleasure to meet you."

The black heavy-armored knight's salute made the fifth-rank swordsman Raz feel a sense of familiarity. Yes, it was the true military salute of the Slan Empire, so ingrained that only a true imperial soldier could perform it so naturally.

"Ranger, Muxin! It's a pleasure to meet you, sir!"

Li Muxin also returned the salute, remembering that in this world, commoners did not have the right to a surname, so she did not reveal hers.

In fact, Chinese surnames originated during the Yellow Emperor period, with a significant portion appearing during the Eastern Zhou period, often derived from fiefs, official positions, or imperial grants. At that time, they were generally considered noble, meaning that the descendants of the Yan and Huang emperors, if they have their own surnames and can trace their family lineage, are descendants of the nobility.

However, upon arriving in this new world, to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings, the Li sisters tacitly chose not to reveal their surnames.

"Y-Your Excellency Raz, I am Ushig, a merchant!"

The fur and herb merchant felt a bit intimidated in front of the highest commander of the city defense camp, and his speech was somewhat stammering.

Raz merely nodded in response; in his eyes, only the baron and imperial soldiers deserved his respect.

Footsteps and voices came from outside the reception room of the baron's residence.

At this moment, four more people followed the city defense camp commander Raz to the reception room of Baron Hongyu.

"What does the baron want us for? Is it about the Portlan people?"

"Probably! Mr. Roning, your information is always so accurate. I think the baron must have a plan for the current situation, and he has called us here to discuss it."

"You're right, Lord Hes! What is bad news for others is good news for you."

"Hehe, not at all, Brother Feis. Isn't this an opportunity for you too?"

"Lord Cuike Laka, please take good care of me, Hes. You might save my life."

"Of course, with you, Lord Hes, leading the way, I will be much safer too."

"Hey? Someone is already here, it's Raz!"

Raz turned around, quickly clenched his fist to his chest, and bowed, saying respectfully, "Mr. Roning, Lord Hes!"

When he saw the famous seventh-rank swordsman of Lian City, he immediately added, "Hello, Swordman Feis!"

As a seventh-rank lightning swordsman, Feis, although a bodyguard of Mr. Roning, was always a figure worthy of respect, no matter where or when.

"These are?"

A middle-aged man wearing round-rimmed glasses looked curiously at the guests in the reception room. Behind him, a brown-haired man with a large two-handed sword narrowed his eyes and observed as well.

A young man in black heavy knight armor, a black-haired girl in a sapphire samurai outfit, and a fat, nervous merchant.

He recognized the merchant, Ushig, a fur and herb merchant who frequently traveled between the small towns outside Lian City, a familiar face.

"Mr. Roning, Lord Hes, Swordman Feis, Lord Cuike Laka, hello, I am Ushig, a humble merchant, and I have the honor to meet all of you."

The fur and herb merchant quickly stood up, bowing deeply, and he also breathed a sigh of relief, confirming that the baron did not intend to harm him.

He was unexpectedly excited to meet these important figures on this visit to the city.

"This is Lord Molin of the Royal Dragon Riders! And this is the female ranger Muxin!"

Raz, as the first to arrive and also a subordinate of Baron Hongyu, took the initiative to introduce the four latecomers.

"Lord Molin, Miss Muxin, I am the president of the local Fire Rose Chamber of Commerce, Roning. It's a pleasure to meet all of you. Ushig, why didn't you come to see me after entering the city? Are you looking down on me, your old friend?"

Mr. Roning, the middle-aged man with the round-rimmed glasses, first smiled and exchanged pleasantries with Lin默 and Li Muxin, then approached and patted Ushig's shoulder, appearing very approachable.

"Hello, everyone!" The fifth-rank earth mage Cuike Laka, dressed in a black robe with silver threads and holding a dark green magic staff, nodded.

"Raz, what does the baron want us for?"

As a noble by military merit, Hes had a very loud voice, which could be heard clearly even before he entered the reception room. Now, standing in the room, his voice echoed in everyone's ears.

This eighth-rank great swordsman, who had earned his noble title through military service, was extremely tall and strong, with large joints and hands that almost touched his knees. He carried a two-handed sword on his back, which he never left, and his every move exuded the ferocity and brutality of a seasoned warrior.

"Hehe, Lord Hes, your voice is as powerful as ever."

A long laugh came from outside the reception room, and finally, the baron of Lian City, Baron Hongyu, appeared at the door.

The reception room was very large, and even with a dozen people inside, it did not feel crowded. As the servants at the door bowed, a man with slightly pale skin and black curly hair walked in, exuding an aura of authority.

"Baron!"

"Lord of the City!"

Roning of the Fire Rose Chamber of Commerce, Feis, the noble great swordsman Hes, and the city defense camp commander Raz all bowed in greeting. The latter addressed his boss as "Lord of the City," a very professional form of address.

This was one of the reasons Baron Hongyu valued him so much, indicating that he was very disciplined and could be entrusted with the city's defense, a matter of life and death.

The mage Cuike Laka, with his special status, merely nodded as usual. Mages had natural privileges and did not need to bow to nobles.

Strength earns respect, a universal rule that applies everywhere.

"Hello, Baron Hongyu!"

Lin默 and Li Muxin greeted the owner of Lian City and the target of their mission with different forms of respect.

The fur and herb merchant Ushig prostrated himself on the ground, as he had only seen this noble figure at a banquet before, and this was his first time facing him so closely.

"Everyone, please take a seat!"

Baron Hongyu nodded to everyone, including the prostrate merchant Ushig, as he was both the baron and the lord of the city, outranking everyone present.

Roning and the others, as well as Lin默's group, all sat down. With a light clap from the butler of the baron's residence, the servants quickly placed tea sets and exquisite pastries on the low tables in front of the soft, spacious armchairs, but no one touched them.

"Alright!"

Baron Hongyu, seated in the main position, crossed his fingers and said calmly, "This time, I have invited Mr. Roning and Lord Hes to discuss the welcome of Lord Molin of the Royal Dragon Riders to our Lian City, and also to discuss how to deal with the damned Portlan people."

He did not mention the city lockdown he had ordered and shifted the topic to the purpose of Lin默 and his group's visit.

Their forceful entry onto the city wall, defeating the soldiers, and demanding to see him made their intentions clear.

Moreover, his unspoken words were not revealed. Whether it was Roning and his bodyguard Feis, the noble great swordsman Hes, or the mage Cuike Laka, they were all powerful figures in Lian City.

Furthermore, Baron Hongyu knew some secrets that were not widely known. Although Mr. Roning was the owner of the Fire Rose Chamber of Commerce, he was actually a rare warlock, whose methods were not only bizarre but also powerful.

By calling these local strong figures together, it was not only to discuss how to deal with the Portlan people but also to serve as a safeguard against the black heavy-armored knight who claimed to be a dragon knight.

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