Chapter 38

Moses answered with a calm and even tone, almost indifferent. There was no modulation in his voice, and his expression remained composed. He was analyzing a cause, recounting a fact. However, the listeners were not as calm as the speaker. Especially those who had never seen the desert and could only imagine it from pictures and others' descriptions. They felt a sense of desolation, solemnity, cruelty, bloodshed, and intense scenes from Moses' words. They felt a tightness in their chests, making their breathing quicken. Some clenched their fists, some gritted their teeth, and others had a misty film over their eyes. They felt a newfound determination, a touch of emotion, and a sense of peace and happiness. It turned out that the border city of Qishuizheng was like this, and there were people who were guarding it with their lives. It turned out that the simple country folk were also endearing. Thinking this, a few of the mages harbored even deeper resentment towards Gongsun Murong. Why did he deserve such guards? Why did he have a sister who could earn military honors for him?

Duke Gers wore a look of satisfaction and said to the image of Moses, "Very well, Duncan O'Leary's presence in Qishuizheng is a blessing for the duchy. I can offer you a reward. Now, brave guard, state your request."

Moses didn't hesitate and said, "Gold."

The mages were taken aback, and their good impression of Moses grew. Look at him, such a simple and honest person, unlike many hypocrites who claim to do things for the duchy and refuse rewards when they actually want greater benefits.

Duke Gers was momentarily stunned but then agreed, "Thirty thousand gold coins."

"Thank you for your generosity," Moses said happily, stepping aside, thinking that the funds for the manor's repairs were now sufficient.

******

Next, Duke Gers arranged for people to help bring the spacecraft back and to interrogate Milo and the captives. It was crucial to understand how the Mitchell Empire's combat spacecraft had arrived.

Of course, a small-scale purge was inevitable. Some nobles in the capital were directly arrested, and the duchy sent troops to besiege those in their fiefs.

On October 30, 15940 of the Shangqiong Calendar, the internal noble war of the Gers Duchy began, with fires burning in the cold winter.

The trigger was the attack on the ninth princess, Lucia Gers.

The Rexlar Empire also took the initiative, engaging in small-scale battles with the Mitchell Empire in various border regions, demonstrating the empire's emphasis on the duchy.

******

It had been five days since the battle outside the city.

Nalasha and Gongsun Murong resumed their usual routines the day after they returned.

Lucia was still excited, unable to calm down after her first experience of a life-and-death struggle.

That evening, she came over mainly for dinner, but also to discuss two matters with Nalasha and Gongsun Murong.

Gongsun Murong prepared shrimp and ham soup, grilled meat, and sausages, but he didn't fry them; instead, he sliced them because he had already smoked them with wood chips, and frying would dilute the smoky flavor.

Nalasha had a plate of large bones in front of her, which she gnawed on with great relish.

Lucia couldn't get used to it; not only did it make her hands greasy, but gnawing was less convenient than eating the meat directly.

As for Gongsun Murong, he wasn't picky. He had also learned several local methods for making ham and sausages, which he planned to sell in other places in the future, possibly making a profit.

"Murong, some people say your preserved foods are not good, that eating them too often will change our original eating habits, and that the rural methods are not as noble as our local foods."

Lucia, seeing Nalasha's appetite as she gnawed on a bone, grabbed one and gnawed on it, getting her face greasy, and said to Gongsun Murong.

Gongsun Murong smiled, "There will always be people willing to accept new things. Often, it's not that the food made with foreign methods is bad, but that the people eating it are arrogant and biased. The real loss is theirs. Learning is one of the reasons why humans are superior to other life forms."

"Uh-huh! I can vouch for that," Nalasha said, using a wind blade to cut the bone, adding, "Murong's methods for making food are excellent, and he never refuses new methods, which allows us to eat better."

As she spoke, the bone was cut open, revealing the marrow inside. She picked up a small fork and tapped it, using her inner strength to shake the marrow out.

Lucia licked her lips, "Can I have half? Thanks! I have two things to tell you today."

Lucia paused, took a sip of soda to rinse her mouth, put the half of the marrow in her mouth, savored it, and then continued.

"The interrogation revealed that the attack on us was carried out by the Mitchell Empire's combat mage ship, which came from Danghun Lake. The water pressure didn't crush them."

"Didn't Grand Duke send people to guard it?" Nalasha was puzzled.

"Yes, Grandfather did, but more than half of the guards were from the Hilary Francis family, like Milo. They ambushed the other half. I'm sad that they didn't resist at all when they were attacked. If, I mean if, we had been with them, I believe you, Nalasha, could have instantly set up a defense and counterattacked. Even Moses and the others wouldn't have been easily defeated. So Grandfather plans to bring some real instructors from Qishuizheng to train the army in the capital, especially trusted adventurers. Peace and tranquility have made the capital's warriors forget their vigilance. Now, many nobles want to recruit people from Qishuizheng, along with their families."

Lucia spoke quickly, and she ate just as quickly, except when gnawing on bones, she remained graceful.

Nalasha sawed open another bone, gave half of the marrow to Lucia, and asked, "Really?"

"I'm not lying. It's because of the outstanding performance of your household. Your servants' children go to school during the day, the adults work at the construction site, and they return to the square at night. On that day, the Francis family arranged for people to deliver food at the square. When things went wrong and they tried to control the situation, many resisted. Your household's servants, who had just finished work, happened to be there. Everyone said that a group of people from the countryside could form an array like an army and help the capital's guards subdue the people the Francis family had arranged and then abandoned. Since then, the nobles have planned to recruit adventurers from Qishuizheng and bring their families along. It must be said that Qishuizheng has become famous. The adventurers there have excellent combat skills, and their families are always ready to fight."

Lucia spoke excitedly, as if the servants of Nalasha's household were also her servants, and she felt proud.

"Ah? Lucia, we didn't think about that, right, Murong?"

"Right," Gongsun Murong admitted. At first, he didn't want too many adventurers to follow, as they would be a burden.

"This is what the butler grandpa once said: 'When you carry water back from the river, the drops you inadvertently spill along the way, which you think you have lost, may return to you as the green of spring.'"

Nalasha recalled what she had learned and felt even more nostalgic for the butler grandpa.

Lucia was taken aback, "That sounds beautiful. The second thing is, you should have a family crest. Have you thought about it?"

"Family crest? Murong, do we have one?" Nalasha asked.

Gongsun Murong nodded, "You and I both have one, but I think we should have a new one, one that belongs to us."

"I agree," Nalasha nodded vigorously.

******

After Lucia was full, she left.

Nalasha and Gongsun Murong began to think about the family crest.

The crest could be an abstract design, text, or a certain animal or plant.

The whole night passed.

They thought a lot in their dreams but were still unsatisfied.

So they decided to go out and relax during the college holiday to increase their inspiration.

Their first choice was naturally the mage shop, but they found that the items there were not suitable for a crest.

After buying a few mage items, they went to the pharmacy.

The pharmacy had ready-made potions and tablets, as well as ingredients for making them.

They bought more ingredients, especially the raw materials.

Gongsun Murong always treated the plant ingredients for making potions as seasonings for cooking, using them to flavor many preserved foods and remove fishy and gamey tastes.

As they were about to leave, Gongsun Murong suddenly turned back, took out a plant from his bag that he had collected from the bottom of Danghun Lake, and asked the clerk, "Do you buy this?"

The young clerk, seeing the flower the customer had just bought, frowned, not recognizing it.

He apologized and quickly ran to find the pharmacist.

A moment later, he returned with a man who looked to be in his fifties.

"Master Loriel, take a look. I've never seen such a flower. From the root to the stem to the flower, there are no leaves, and the flower is gray," the clerk said, pointing to the flower on the counter, slightly nervous and curious.

The flower Gongsun Murong had taken out, as the clerk said, had no leaves, only one flower, light gray, and he had dug up many from the bottom of Danghun Lake.

Master Loriel looked in the direction the clerk pointed.

When he saw the flower, he was stunned.

He walked quickly to the front, bent down, and opened his eyes wide to examine it carefully.

Then his mouth opened in surprise.

From his slightly trembling state, it was clear he was very excited.

He reached out to touch it but suddenly pulled his hand back.

Then he rubbed his hands together, his breathing quickened, and he had to take several deep breaths before asking, "Who is the owner of this?"