257: Chapter 254 Departure, Kingdom Situation

To be honest...

Even though post-event analysis showed Andre had plenty of reasons to come to Gur City personally, Zhang Mu was still genuinely surprised.

The Second Prince's self-deprecation back then didn't seem like modesty, but a genuine belief that his status in the kingdom was that of a complete nobody.

And yet, for such a younger brother who had almost no means or possibility of resistance, he still chose to come, aiming to eliminate the Lord of Gur City before he could potentially become the prince's wingman.

It was hard to know whether to laugh at his narrow-mindedness or admire his excessive caution.

Once Domit finished contacting Mihe, Zhang Mu shook his head and came to the backyard with a wry smile.

Pavlina and Leah were both still awake, seemingly worried that the messenger who suddenly arrived from the capital had brought bad news.

Pushing open the door, Zhang Mu apologetically told Leah that tomorrow's shopping trip had to be canceled.

Because Andre traveled light and used a swift griffin, the estimated arrival date of the day after tomorrow had been moved up to today.

Leah had been showered with affection recently, but she hadn't lost her well-behaved nature.

She ran up to him, wrapped her arms around his waist, and said they could go shopping any day, while comfortingly rubbing her head against Zhang Mu's stomach.

After the two finished their exchange of affection, Pavlina walked over with small steps. Looking as if she hadn't yet recovered from the panic during dinner, she asked in a low voice if Zhang Mu needed her to accompany him to the capital.

After a brief silence, Zhang Mu refused with a calm expression, saying this trip to the capital was just for a routine report and to receive rewards, and he would be back soon.

Pavlina nodded and said nothing more.

Seeing this, he told the two of them to rest early, then turned and found Soren, who was at his desk reviewing official documents.

"Why did you tell Pavlina that I'm used to eating with chopsticks?"

Rubbing the bridge of his nose, he put down his quill: "Lord City Lord, since the Second Madam noticed you were awkward with a knife and fork, hiding it or using a whip will only deepen her suspicion."

"It's better to just come up with an excuse."

"What excuse did you arrange?"

"That the Lord City Lord's life was very hard in his youth, spending years sleeping outdoors and fighting monsters. His eating utensils were often lost, so he would pick up two wooden sticks on the spot to pick up food."

"Although life became prosperous later, he still prefers wooden sticks because they are a memory and a tribute to the self who once worked so hard."

"It's also a way to urge his current self not to indulge in comfort and ease, and thus become lazy."

His mouth twitched: "You're quite good with words, aren't you?"

"This is Soren's job."

"Since you're such a good writer, write me a... manifesto. I want it by tomorrow morning."

"What kind of manifesto?"

"One to boost the morale of the First Army. It needs to express the Soldiers' ambitions, tenacity, and invincible spirit."

"Most importantly, it must be at least a thousand words long."

Soren froze: "Are there manifestos that are over a thousand words long?"

"Mine is." Flicking his sleeves arrogantly, Zhang Mu walked toward the door. After two steps, he turned back: "By the way, we leave for the capital tomorrow at noon."

"Remember to arrange the next few phases of the project properly."

"As you command."

Arranging the follow-up construction and landscaping for the Mountain Gate and Hogwarts before leaving was a plan Zhang Mu had formulated in his mind the very day he decided to go to the capital.

After all, the capital was not like Gur City, where the emperor was far away.

Before the enemies were dealt with, there was no channel or authorization to start projects there, but the improvement of the Mountain Gate and Hogwarts could not stop.

After some thought, he decided to continue construction in Gur City. When it was finished, Zhang Mu could just make a trip back alone.

After leaving Soren's room, he returned to his study and sat alone all night, pondering how to break the deadlock once he reached the capital.

The night passed in a flash.

The morning sunlight cast a golden vertical line on the carpet through the crack in the door.

He got up and walked out of the City Lord's Mansion with the arriving Domit, preparing to meet the Soldiers of the First Army.

But just as they passed through the city gate, they saw an unexpected person by the dirt road—Andre.

Didn't he go back to the capital last night?

Doubt rose in Zhang Mu's heart, but he kept a calm face as he approached: "His Highness Andre, you are..."

"I originally intended to rush back to the capital last night, but I suddenly remembered there were some matters left unhandled."

"Then why stay outside the city? You could have just come to the City Lord's Mansion to find me."

"It was late. It would be too rude to disturb someone's sweet dreams."

"How could that be?"

"Haha, Mr. City Lord, no need to be polite," Andre explained with a smile. "Besides, I was quite busy last night as well."

"Oh?"

"The Griffin Legion is my father's royal guard and has never left his side for more than a day."

"Since they've been in Gur City for nearly a month, it was necessary for me to visit them and then report the situation to my father."

"I see."

"By the way, I have already ordered the Griffin Legion on behalf of my father to be responsible for your safety on the way to the capital."

"Of course, I'm not looking down on your strength, City Lord, but, you understand, this is the courtesy a hero deserves."

Zhang Mu opened his mouth to speak, but Andre waved him off: "Don't refuse. As a hero, you are naturally different from ordinary people."

"Hmm... about half a year ago, my royal sister met a magician with excellent talent but unfortunately meager literary grace."

"My sister had high hopes for him."

"Regrettably, unlike you, Mr. City Lord, he did not become a hero of the kingdom; he was far even from being a powerful magician."

"Not long ago, he died in a minor conflict, like a weed stepped on and broken, unnoticed by anyone."

"That is indeed disappointing. I imagine the Princess feels the same."

"Yes, but it's understandable. Investing resources in someone else's future is inherently risky; you don't get a return every time."

"I quite agree with what Your Highness Andre said."

"Hahaha..." He laughed a few times. "We have similar tastes and topics. I look forward to seeing you again in the capital."

With that, he put his finger to his lips and whistled. A griffin dove from the clouds above and landed beside him. Andre hopped onto its back and flew into the sky, quickly vanishing into the horizon.

"Lord Marshal," Domit only asked after the man was gone, "was his last remark belittling the Princess of the Lake Kingdom?"

"Tsk, even you could hear it. He really is quite incompetent."

Domit was a bit unhappy: "Lord Marshal, I have shed blood for the First Army."

"And?"

"You shouldn't mock me indirectly."

"Just scold you directly?"

"Of course! Direct scolding is a lash, a wake-up call!"

Zhang Mu gave him a deep look, feeling an involuntary worry for the future of the First Army—could it be that all the Soldiers would become masochists?

An image of the entire camp filled with a tense, weird atmosphere flashed through his mind, and he couldn't help but shudder: "Don't bring that stuff into the First Army."

"Why? I think it's a very good..."

"No whys!"

"Oh."

The two stopped their idle chatter and hurried toward the woods where the First Army was stationed.

When they were almost there, he had Domit contact Mihe to come see him alone.

When the man arrived, Zhang Mu said, "You're fast on your feet. Go check the surroundings to see if the messenger has left."

Returning about half an hour later, he confirmed, "He's gone."

That's good.

Although it was basically impossible for Andre, a Great Knight, to escape Mihe's search, Zhang Mu could rest easy.

But he still played it safe—he cast an illusion of the City Lord on Mihe, left Domit where he was, and used the Shadow Technique to go to the woods alone. He put most of the First Army Soldiers into "The World," leaving only about a hundred as guards to travel with him.

After all, it was the City Lord traveling; there had to be some pomp and circumstance, otherwise it would arouse suspicion.

Then they returned the way they came, met up with the other two, and hurried back to Gur City together.

Once inside the City Lord's Mansion, he immediately found Soren, who now had dark circles under his eyes like a panda.

After questioning him and learning that everything was properly arranged, he went to the backyard to get Leah—Pavlina wasn't there; a servant informed him that she had taken the opportunity while the City Lord was out to visit her parents.

Zhang Mu was saved the trouble of explaining why he was taking Leah and happily boarded the carriage Soren had prepared to leave the city.

After waiting at the city gate for a while, the Griffin Legion arrived. The coachman raised his whip and snapped it against the horse's rump, and the convoy slowly moved forward.

The journey was long, nearly crossing half of the Lake Kingdom, so Soren had carefully selected a comfortable carriage.

The carriage interior was very spacious. Even with benches installed on both sides, two people could pass each other in the aisle without having to turn sideways.

The interior furnishings were also exceptionally luxurious. At the far end of the carriage was a double bed covered with a soft, warm goose-down quilt.

With the heat-radiating magic crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling, Leah didn't even need to wear her thick fur coat.

Even though a Magister doesn't fear ordinary winter cold, Zhang Mu still comfortably held the Cat Girl and huddled under the covers, leaving only his head exposed.

"Soren, is there any progress in investigating the kingdom's situation?"

He sat on the left bench padded with animal skin, holding a document: "We lack a proper intelligence department, so gathering detailed information is difficult."

"However, the general situation has been clarified."

"Start from the beginning."

"Excluding small towns, villages, and cities with weak power, there are a total of four hundred and sixty-three large cities within the Lake Kingdom."

"Half of them are directly controlled by the royal family. The rest are all in the hands of the two Grand Dukes."

His free hand flipped a page: "According to news from my friends, the cities on the royal family's side are a bit restless, but they at least maintain basic obedience."

"As long as the orders don't seriously harm their own interests, they are still willing to execute them."

"As for the two Grand Dukes... they basically ignore the existence of the royal family."

"I see... things are quite heated then." Zhang Mu rubbed Leah's small, sleeping head. "Why are the two Grand Dukes of the Lake Kingdom opposing the royal family?"

"Coveting the king's throne?"

"Hmm..." Soren flipped another page, "It seems... yes."

"It seems?"

"My friend's abilities are limited; they could only find that the two Grand Dukes are dissatisfied with the king's incompetence and intend to become independent."

"Pure nonsense."

Carefully sitting up, he leaned against the carriage wall: "I could understand if they were plotting for the kingdom's treasury, but what kind of absurd reason is dissatisfaction with the king's incompetence?"

"They already have autonomous territories. Their only duty to the king is to protect the national territory."

"But isn't protecting the national territory just protecting their own turf?"

"Then, what does the City Lord think the reason is?"

Rolling his eyes, Zhang Mu nearly spat on his face: "If I knew, would I have you check?"

"Insufficient data, Lord City Lord." Soren lowered his sleeve which was blocking his face. "And... do the Grand Dukes' movements have anything to do with what you want to do?"

After half a year together, Zhang Mu trusted him enough not to hide it: "Yes."

"Can you tell me?"

"It's complicated. You just need to know that I must ensure the kingdom's stability, and that the First Prince and the Church—at least the Church in Lake—are my enemies."

Declaring oneself an enemy of the Church on the Saul Continent was equivalent to announcing to The World, "I want to commit suicide."

However, Soren didn't look panicked or nervous; he just smiled: "Being able to be an enemy of the Church and still be alive and well... I'm suddenly very interested in the City Lord's past."

"You'll learn about it later."

Nodding with a mysterious look, his gaze fell back to the documents: "Since that's the case..."

"Based on the limited intelligence, I can infer that the two Grand Dukes are coveting something belonging to the royal family."

"A treasure?"

"Yes, and something exceptionally precious."

"What are their class levels?"

"One is a Saint Magician, and the other is a Saint Knight."

Such strength would be considered elite even within an empire.

Something that could tempt them was clearly not going to be ordinary.

When Zhang Mu was in Kas Town, he hadn't asked Avril or Potter about such things, so he had no way of guessing what the treasure specifically was.

Pondering for a moment, he turned his head to the bench opposite Soren, where Mihe and Domit were sitting side by side.

"You guys?"

They both shook their heads at the same time. Domit said, "Mr. Mi He has been hiding in the Silent Forest for decades; he's very unfamiliar with everything outside."

"As for me... I've traveled around, but mostly with low-level Adventurer Groups. The upper echelons of the kingdom... we only occasionally hear rumors of unconfirmed truth."

Unable to rely on those around him, Zhang Mu frowned and wondered if he should visit the residences of the two Grand Dukes himself.

With the help of the Shadow Technique, he might be able to gather some valuable information.

At that moment, Mihe suddenly said, "The capital. He is in the capital."

"Who?" Zhang Mu asked subconsciously, then realized it was the old friend Mihe had mentioned, the one who co-founded the Resistance Army with him.

"He's in the capital?"

"He always has been."

"It's just..." Zhang Mu's excited expression faded, "It's useless."

"Even if an ordinary citizen settles in the capital, they couldn't possibly gather useful intelligence."

"He holds a position in the royal palace."

"It's the same, or rather, inside the palace, the channels for obtaining news would be even more scarce and closed off."

"He is by the King's side."

"?" All three people in the carriage looked toward Mihe.

Soren closed the documents and asked in surprise: "If I remember correctly, Mr. Mi He was one of the founders of the Resistance Army?"

"Yes."

"Then your friend..."

"The Resistance Army was established by him and me together."

"You never said that." As a veteran member of the Resistance Army, Domit also looked stunned.

"What use would it be to tell you?"

"Uh, true."

Zhang Mu waved his hand to stop the two who were about to ask more: "Mihe, forgive my rudeness, but this concerns the entire Resistance Army."

"Hmm."

"Can you guarantee he won't betray us?"

"He won't." His tone was flat, but it carried firm trust.

"Then we... Eh? Quite the nerve, isn't it?"

Mid-sentence, Zhang Mu emerged from the covers in surprise, looking at Mihe, who had also sensed something: "You go or I go?"

"I'll go. I'm quite curious to know who exactly has the guts to spy on a convoy escorted by five hundred members of the Griffin Legion."