Chapter 110: A Misunderstanding

Half a month later, ten thousand bottles of Ice-Blue Potion were delivered to Bloodmoon Territory. After completing the transaction with the young nobleman from the Kingdom of Kube, Weilin received the first large payment of his life: three hundred gold notes, each worth one thousand.

Looking at the stack of gold notes in his hands, Weilin felt somewhat unreal. Yet it had truly happened.

“What a fat cat. I wonder if there’ll be another opportunity like this next time.”

With the transaction complete, Weilin was also about to leave Bloodmoon Castle and embark on the next stage of his journey.

His next destination was Lando City in Kurze Province, where he would retrieve the book written by the Otherworlder.

On June twenty-second, he submitted his resignation to Countess Miali of Bloodmoon. Faced with the reluctance in the eyes of her family, Weilin nearly agreed to stay for another month.

“Aunt, Uncle, Cousin, I’ve had a wonderful time this month. I hope you’ll come visit my territory someday.”

“Don’t worry, Weilin. We’ll visit your territory in the future,” Miali said somewhat reluctantly.

“Your uncle will come too. Remember to—” Seeing his wife’s displeased gaze, Vitris hurriedly changed what he was about to say. “Remember to welcome us.”

“Take care on your journey. May the Goddess of Primordial Life protect you.” Derigos said nothing more, offering only this blessing.

Weilin mounted his Red-Scale Horse, waved farewell to the three members of Countess Bloodmoon’s family, and officially set out on his next journey.

…

Several days later, the two arrived at the provincial capital of Tonks Province.

“Kyle, return to Cadro Province first this time. I need to make a trip to Kurze Province.”

“Yes, my lord.”

Kyle bowed solemnly before stepping onto the teleportation array leading to Cadro Province.

After waiting for three hours, Weilin stepped onto the teleportation array bound for Kurze Province.

Kurze Province, one of the provinces directly administered by the royal family, covered an area of approximately six hundred thousand square kilometers and had a population of around twenty million. Its people were fierce and martial, making it an important source of recruits for the royal army. Furthermore, because it bordered the Ironforge Dwarven Mountain Kingdom—and some of its territory had once been reclaimed from the dwarves—it stationed an enormous standing force of roughly two hundred thousand soldiers, comprising two legions.

Unlike duchies and ordinary provinces, Kurze Province, being directly administered by the royal family, adopted a system of commanderies and counties. The province contained twenty-three commanderies and one hundred and fifty-seven counties, all governed by officials appointed directly by the royal family.

At the same time, to prevent officials from abusing their authority, the royal family supported local military families loyal to the crown in forming a council. This council and the local officials held each other in check, preventing any single faction from becoming dominant.

Upon entering the provincial capital of Kurze Province, Weilin headed straight for the commercial district, hoping to purchase a map.

Aside from knowing the name Lando City in Kurze Province, he had no idea where the place actually was.

Along the route from the teleportation hall to the western district of the provincial capital stood no fewer than twenty combat arenas. Large numbers of civilians displayed fighting techniques learned in the military, competing against one another while the crowds below cheered.

“Today you’re taking the entrance examination for the Warrior Academy. Don’t embarrass your grandfather,” a scar-faced middle-aged man said to the grandson sitting on his shoulders.

“Don’t worry, Grandfather. I’ll definitely get into the First Warrior Academy of Kurze and make you and Father proud,” the child declared with unwavering determination. “After I graduate, I’ll join the king’s army just like you and Father and serve His Majesty.”

“What a fine lad. The Goddess of Life will surely protect you,” the passersby nearby praised him.

“Hahaha, you flatter me, you flatter me.”

The middle-aged man responded modestly to those around him before quickening his pace.

Watching this from within the crowd, Weilin could only marvel at the royal family’s exceptionally high standing in Kurze Province.

The extremely low taxes, the free dissemination of low-level warrior breathing techniques, the establishment of various academies to gather talented youths, rewards for meritorious warriors, and the stories of heroic soldiers spread throughout the province—if he had grown up in Kurze Province, he would probably have turned out much like the people around him.

After making his way through the crowded streets, Weilin finally arrived in the western district.

“Welcome, sir. How may I help you?” a merchant said warmly as Weilin entered.

“Do you have a regional map of Kurze Province?” Weilin asked, surveying the shop.

“Please wait a moment. I’ll look for one.”

The merchant politely excused himself and went toward the back.

“Tom, leave through the back door and find the constables. Tell them there’s a young man here who seems suspicious and is trying to purchase a map.”

“Yes, boss.”

After the shop assistant left, the merchant pretended to search for a map in the storeroom, deliberately buying time.

Weilin felt that the wait was growing longer and increasingly suspicious. But he had done nothing wrong, so why should he be afraid? He found a place to sit and waited calmly.

Suddenly, several constables dressed in black uniforms appeared outside the shop. Each held a sword and watched the interior from concealment.

“Captain Wills, that’s the man. As soon as he entered our shop, he asked whether we had a map,” the shop assistant Tom whispered, pointing at Weilin, who remained perfectly composed.

“Arno, Yarman, come with me. The rest of you surround the exits.”

The other constables nodded and spread out.

Wills then entered the shop with two of his most capable subordinates. Facing Weilin, who was seated on a stool, he said sternly, “Sir, please stand up and surrender your weapon.”

Weilin stared blankly at the three constables who had appeared before him. He rose and removed the knight’s sword fastened at his waist.

“Sir, please produce something that can prove your identity.” Wills ordered someone to take the knight’s sword, then turned back and continued questioning him.

Weilin reached into his clothes, took out the crest of the Aikes Family, and handed it to the tall captain standing before him.

“Captain, this looks like the crest of some great noble family. Could we have made a mistake?” Yarman examined the exquisite carvings on it. At its center was an engraved eagle.

“Do you know which family it belongs to?” Wills asked Yarman.

“No.”

“Arno, what about you?”

“Captain, I don’t know either. But I served in the kingdom’s military for three years, and I think I once saw this family crest on my former battalion commander.”

“Sir, since none of us knows this family emblem, and family crests can be forged and require a specialist to authenticate, while your verbal claim cannot serve as proof of identity, I ask that you accompany us to the Constabulary Bureau. If there is no problem afterward, we will compensate you.” Seeing the situation, Wills had no choice but to resort to this measure.

“All right. I’ll go with you.”

Weilin then followed Wills and the others to the Constabulary Bureau.

After entering the bureau, Wills ordered his men to treat Weilin properly before taking the crest away to have it authenticated.