Merchant From Earth in the Magical World

After Yan Xing finished his reply, he spurred his prized horse to leave, seizing the opportunity while the military officer was momentarily stunned.

However, the officer reacted quickly, driving his own warhorse to continue blocking the path of Yan Xing's steed, his face filled with confusion as he asked, "You know Miss Hibel?"

"Of course I know her, very well in fact!" Seeing the officer's reaction, Yan Xing became even more certain that Hibel must have some significant status in Nuta City. He continued to bluff, figuring he might as well use the connection, "I have an appointment with Knight Hibel to assist her with a case. Do not hinder me and delay the important business between me and Knight Hibel."

At this time, Yan Xing did not want to cause any trouble in Nuta City, nor did he want to meet Hibel.

He only wished to quickly find Eden to liquidate the ceramic tableware he had on hand. Then, he needed to settle all the matters he had to deal with before the mercenary's timed explosive went off and swiftly leave Nuta City.

Once back in my own Eternal Domain, with the Thunderous Swamp at my back and a Werewolf Great Army at my command, anyone looking for trouble would first have to figure out my relationship with the Swamp Tribe. And I, Sir, have ways to keep them utterly confused. Once I figure out this demonization of chickens... The vast grasslands would become Sir Yan Xing's chicken farm.

Yan Xing once again invoked Hibel's name, intending to forcefully depart.

But this officer was stubborn; he continued to block Yan Xing's horse, saying, "If you have an appointment with Miss Hibel, then we shall escort you to her."

"There's really no need…you need not trouble yourselves."

With a wave of his hand, the officer signaled to the more than a dozen armored infantry swordsmen who had come with him. They split into two rows, clearly intent on escorting Yan Xing's party to find Knight Hibel.

The officer added, "There are too many Swamp Werewolves in your party. In order not to alarm the civilians of Nuta City, it is better that we escort you to Miss Hibel."

Yan Xing did not expect that he would be hoist with his own petard this time.

It seemed impossible to avoid meeting Hibel now. If I must go, then I'll go! With my silver tongue, I'll talk her in circles, beat around the bush, but I will not jump into any trap. I'll feign ignorance, play dumb, just give some perfunctory answers, and then leave.

"Then… I must trouble you to lead the way…" Yan Xing lit a cigarette for himself and then said to Donna at his side, "Go on, hand out some candy to our esteemed escorts."

While Yan Xing was causing a minor uproar upon entering Nuta City, Hibel was having lunch with the Old Earl.

They were also discussing things such as mercenaries, traitors, Orcs... and the matter of Ice Jade Porcelain.

Hibel was puzzled by how such an out-of-place item had inserted itself into such a solemn discussion on matters of state and national affairs.

"Father… I know that these days, the nobles of Nuta City have been discussing this miraculous tableware. But it is just a set of tableware, whereas now there are betrayers helping Orcs slaughter our people and destroy our resources.

This is a very important military issue.

As the lord of Nuta City, you should immediately investigate this matter.

Those mercenaries, able to lead the Evil Wolf Knights through our lines without our knowledge, must know our patrol patterns—

Especially the Griffon Knights' patrol patterns.

This is extremely dangerous!"

Hibel understood the human army's strategies and tactics on the Wildwind Highlands even better than Yan Xing. In the network of fortresses, there was cavalry patrolling the ground, Griffon Knights soaring through the skies.

For a small group of mercenaries to lead a band of Evil Wolf Knights through the gaps between the fortress clusters, silently reaching the northern grasslands of Nuta City, was utterly inconceivable.

There were certainly those familiar with the Duchy's Army who had leaked the fortress clusters' patrol patterns. This allowed the Evil Wolf Knights, with the help of mercenaries, to penetrate our territory as if entering an uninhabited realm.

We must root out these traitors to eliminate this massive hidden danger.

At that moment, the butler served a plate of fragrant pan-seared dragonfish, placing it on the dining table in front of Hibel.

Count Theodore, holding a knife and fork, carefully sectioned the fish for Hibel and fondly said, "I specially dispatched a Griffon Knight to catch this fish in the nearby sea, and then stored it in an icebox to ensure its juices wouldn't be lost.

"I've had meals in the barracks, and they were simply awful. Men should train in the barracks, but women should stay at home and enjoy life.

"Your sister has sent a few more dresses, all very beautiful!

"If you wear those dresses to a banquet... I guarantee all the eligible bachelors in Nuta City will be competing to invite you to dance.

"I'm old now; I have no sons, only you.

"You should be choosing a qualified husband to inherit my title, not trying to become a general.

"In today's Wildwind Highlands, being a general isn't a good job.

"..."

Hearing the old Earl's nagging, Hibel secretly rolled her eyes.

This was why she didn't want to come back. Her father now just wanted to find some noble's son who couldn't inherit a title and was willing to change his surname to Theodore, so that the hereditary Earl's title could continue under the Theodore name. But Hibel's dream was to be a general: to lead an army that would sweep the Orc and Elf forces off the Wildwind Highlands, permanently removing the northern threat to the Silvermane Principality and becoming a hero whom everyone admired, sung about in poems by traveling bards. But... The lord of Storm City and the Supreme Commander of the Duchy's Army in the Wildwind Highlands, Marquis Anderson, was her brother-in-law. The lord of Nuta City, Count Theodore, was her father. What commander, with a brain pecked by a griffon, would dare to place Miss Hibel at the front lines of combat? So Miss Hibel, who was determined to achieve military honors and become a general, became the commander of a Griffon patrol unit of the Nuta City Defense Forces. Her rank was Major. All the Battle Griffin Knights under Miss Hibel were given a strict order... 'Strictly forbidden: Knight Hibel must not fly beyond the defensive range of Nuta City.' Hibel's wish to join the army was fulfilled. But she couldn't get to the battlefield. Without a chance to earn distinctions, she couldn't become a general. The old Earl was just waiting for Hibel to realize this and come home to obediently find a 'stay-at-home son-in-law.'

However, this time Hibel had seized an opportunity to achieve distinction. The words the old Earl spoke were ones Hibel couldn't bear to listen to before, and she could tolerate them even less now.

"Father... just tell me what I need to do to investigate this case. I'm not going to marry just anyone, anyway. You see those noble sons—they wear so much powder it's thicker than a wall, and none of them can even beat me in a fight! By what right could they become men of the Theodore family? The reference version of this chapter is on M*V*LEMPYR.

"But this Knight Yan Xing I met this time, he seems quite impressive. He speaks with even more authority than Marquis Anderson."

Count Theodore had long regretted bringing up his little daughter as if she were a son. He was reaping what he had sown.

Knowing his daughter well, the old Earl realized that Hibel would not let this matter go easily.

So he thought of a solution.

"How about this... You said the knight you met today named Yan Xing, he might be the maker of the Ice Jade Porcelain. If you can get a set of Ice Jade Porcelain dinnerware from him for me, I'll let you investigate this case."