Merchant From Earth in the Magical World

Yan Xing and Hibel rode back to Eden's manor together, keeping busy with the road construction crew until evening.

When the two returned to the Lord's Mansion, Count Theodore called Yan Xing over alone.

In a heavily guarded, secluded room, firelight from a brazier on the wall illuminated a map spread across the center of a table.

"This must be a map of the Wildwind Highlands," Yan Xing guessed, then asked Count Theodore, "It shows the defensive arrangements of the Wildwind Highlands Legion. This seems like something I shouldn't be seeing."

Yan Xing saw many military unit symbols on the map, so he turned his head away.

At the same time, he had Chui Chui copy and save the map.

The Eternal Domain finally has a fairly detailed map of the Wildwind Highlands, Yan Xing thought. Now I won't have to rely on my abysmal drawing skills.

Count Theodore summoned a ball of magical light, letting it hover above the map.

Then he said to Yan Xing, "This map is likely no secret in the Wildwind Highlands anymore. Perhaps our enemies have an even more detailed version on their own tables."

In that case, I can look at it, Yan Xing thought.

Yan Xing turned his head back to the map and asked Count Theodore, "Mentor, you showed me this map; is there something you need me to do?"

"Do you remember those mercenaries you brought in? The ones who colluded with the Orcs to attack your territory?"

Yan Xing answered, "Of course. I personally handed them over to Miss Hibel."

"They're all dead," Count Theodore said slowly, observing Yan Xing's reaction.

Yan Xing sighed and said meaningfully, "It's for the best."

Given the current situation in the Wildwind Highlands, some things couldn't be openly addressed.

With an external enemy at the gates, bringing such matters to light could cause significant internal disruption.

Such matters could only be investigated covertly.

"Yes, it's for the best. Their crimes indeed warranted death." Count Theodore's gaze returned to the map on the table. "But the defensive vulnerability north of Nuta City cannot be ignored."

Yan Xing looked at the map.

Between the Thunderous Swamp and Nuta City lay a vast, uninhabited grassland. Fortresses built by the Human Wildwind Highlands Legion stretched westward along the southwestern border of the Thunderous Swamp.

The fortresses were densely packed on the side bordering this uninhabited grassland. In their midst stood Riftfort, a military city that anchored the entire defensive system. It guarded Nuta City's northwestern region, preventing Orc and Elf infiltration towards the city.

The Orc heads and mercenaries Yan Xing had brought served as clear evidence of vulnerabilities in this barrier—significant ones at that. Note:CheckM_VLEMPY_Rforanycorrections.

"I don't want to get involved in your conflicts. That is the stance of the Thunderous Swamp."

The Eternal Domain is too insignificant to qualify for involvement anyway, Yan Xing thought.

For Count Theodore, he hoped the Thunderous Swamp would help secure his northern border, yet he also wished to avoid dragging the Swamp Tribe into the conflict and introducing unnecessary variables.

Yet, this vulnerability was undeniably real.

"Actually, I've known for a while that some of our own people are colluding with the Orcs and Elves. I even suspected a particular individual. But that person would never allow Nuta City to be exposed to the enemy's blades…" Count Theodore paused, then continued, "Ever since learning about the Orc attack on your Eternal Domain, I've been studying Nuta City's northwestern barrier. For 300 Malevolent Wolf Cavalry to appear so silently near your Eternal Domain, at least a quarter of the fortresses must have turned a blind eye to their infiltration.

The worst-case scenario is that important figures within Riftfort are also involved.

According to information I've just uncovered, the mercenary leader Yarlin, whom you mentioned, once served in Riftfort."

This was terrible news, and it affected him directly, Yan Xing thought.

If I were the Orc or Elf commander, he mused, once war broke out, I would definitely send troops through these gaps to harass the Wildwind Highlands Legion's supply bases. If I were bolder still, I'd attack and seize Riftfort. Then Nuta City would transform from a rear bastion into a frontline.

If that happened, would the Orcs and Elves ignore the Eternal Domain?

Definitely not!

After all, I sent Gustav's head to Chief Li Ya.

Even without that grudge, the Orc-Elf Alliance Forces wouldn't tolerate a territory friendly to Nuta City existing at their rear while they attacked it.

I never imagined war would come this close, Yan Xing realized.

He asked Count Theodore, "Is there a way to seal this vulnerability?"

Count Theodore shook his head. "Only a small number of people are colluding with the enemy. If we launch a large-scale investigation, it will undoubtedly affect morale. If rumors spread, it will sow distrust among the various units.

We'd lose the war before it even began.

The traitors can only be investigated secretly, but we're short on time... and we might not uncover anything conclusive."

Count Theodore sighed deeply.

The external enemies were formidable, and so were the internal ones.

Yan Xing sensed that Count Theodore must have a solution in mind for calling him over. He asked, "Mentor, do you have a plan?"

But Count Theodore countered with a question for Yan Xing: "How confident are you about winning tomorrow's road construction competition against Gale?"

Yan Xing had learned about the Golden Oak Chamber of Commerce's road construction methods from Eden.

"As long as Gale doesn't use Earth Mages for road construction, we'll defeat him without a doubt."

Count Theodore hadn't expected Yan Xing to be so confident.

"Earth Mages definitely cannot be used for road construction." Count Theodore picked up a quill from the table, drew several lines and a circle on the map, and then said, "As long as you can defeat Gale tomorrow, I'll entrust the Nuta City to Storm City road renovation project to you. Furthermore, I'll cover half the investment for the road from the Eternal Domain to Nuta City.

I require a watchtower supply point every kilometer along this road. If enemy forces infiltrate, these points can effectively hinder their east-west movement.

Furthermore, Nuta City will finance the Eternal Domain to construct a fortress at a location forty kilometers to your domain's southwest.

If your road construction crew can build roads quickly, then constructing a rammed-earth fortress should also be feasible.

We will establish a joint military force within this fortress. Nuta City will dispatch an aerial unit of three hundred Griffons, and you will provide the ground troops..."

Yan Xing looked at the circle Count Theodore had drawn on the map.

Heading directly west from this fortress led to Riftfort.

Stationing an army here would ensure that any infiltrating enemy, whether intending to attack the Eternal Domain or wreak havoc in Nuta City, could not afford to ignore this fortress's presence.

If a critical situation arose at Riftfort, the troops stationed in this new fortress could also respond quickly.

Based on current intelligence, the impending war could very well spread to this area. Building a fortress in such a critical location was indeed essential.

Yan Xing asked Count Theodore, "How many troops will I need to provide?"

Count Theodore answered, "Initially, the Orcs and Elves will be on the offensive. Their primary strategic goal will be to crush Marquis Anderson's main forces, so they won't commit excessive troops to high-risk infiltrations or surprise attacks.

After all, Nuta City is a formidable stronghold, not one they can easily capture; they might even get bogged down here. Maintaining a force of a thousand soldiers in the new fortress will suffice. We will primarily rely on Griffon patrols to cover the vulnerabilities in the existing fortress defense system.

When the war reaches a stalemate and the Wildwind Highlands Legion's reserves are heavily depleted from being drawn upon, it's highly probable that the Orc-Elf Alliance Forces will take military risks, such as attacking Riftfort..."