Chapter 417: Meeting

The northern port of Wubei.

Over the past six months, Rulance had steadily dispatched fifty thousand souls to Ronin, and with the bolstering support of Victorino, a bustling little town had long since coalesced in the vicinity of the harbor.

Yet, the vast majority of the dwellings were mere rudimentary shelters hastily erected by the construction crews; seen from afar, the clusters of huts bore an unsettling resemblance to a sprawling refugee camp.

"Life here is truly dreadful!"

Anilu, the personal maid-at-arms to Sophia, stood upon the wooden deck, her gaze sweeping over the laborers toiling and shouting in the distance as they built the harbor. The persistent clamor caused her brow to furrow in deep distaste.

"If only Uncle Simon would hurry and mend the ship, so we might depart and wander elsewhere."

"Have patience, Anilu. Uncle Simon’s mastery of shipbuilding is undeniable, but without iron ore, even his hands are bound," replied Sir Petro with a weary sigh. A seasoned voyager of the high seas, he served as the captain of this very vessel, the *Windbreaker*. "The Northern Wubei Territory simply has no ore to spare us."

"How utterly stingy of them," Anilu grumbled, crossing her arms.

Leaning against the ship's railing, Sir Hamon, who had been scribbling covertly in a small leather-bound journal, finally spoke.

"According to the intelligence I have gathered over this past month, this realm is rather backward. Iron ore is inherently scarce here, and what little they possess must be channeled into agriculture and harbor construction. It is truly in short supply."

Hamon closed his notebook, letting out a faint, melancholy sigh.

During this month, he had not only traversed the lands of Wubei but had also ventured into the neighboring metropolis, the City of the Wooden Horse. To be frank, the journey had left him profoundly disappointed—the region was severely underdeveloped, and certain enclaves remained outright primitive.

"We looked upon this place as a 'Land of Hope,' yet whether any hope truly resides here remains a daunting uncertainty."

They had crossed the vast waters in search of powerful champions to aid them back in the Crescent Continent, yet in these lands, even the title of Silver Moon Knight was a rarity whispered of, to say nothing of legends who walked above the mortal realm.

"Let us not be so pessimistic!"

A crisp, feminine voice chimed from within, and Sophia, draped in a long robe of celestial blue magic fabric, stepped out from the cabin and onto the sunlit deck.

"This place is not entirely devoid of advancement. At the very least, the porcelain, the curved plows, and this particular paper we have observed are exceedingly fascinating."

The three interlocutors nodded in unison, unable to deny her observation.

Anilu stepped closer to Sophia's side. "According to Hamon, the battle involving that man, Ronin, concluded nearly a month ago, yet he has still failed to return. Your Highness, should we not simply go out and seek him ourselves?"

At the mention of this matter, a shadow of hesitation crossed Sophia's face.

Having newly arrived in an unfamiliar domain, their paramount desire was to establish a secure footing. Wandering blindly into the unknown might very well provoke unnecessary perils.

This was the precise reason they had lingered here, awaiting Ronin's return; it was only that the delay had stretched far longer than anticipated.

"If Ronin does not return within the next two days, we shall wait no longer."

Sophia declared, "Hamon has already acquired the nautical charts, and Petro has gleaned the general coordinates from the harbor folk. We shall sail directly north through the Screaming Sea and make for the royal capital."

Their expedition was born of a need for reinforcement, and their natural instinct was to forge contact with the most formidable powers available.

The sole reason they had tarried in this outpost for so long was merely to gather the most fundamental intelligence.

A wave of relief washed over Anilu and the others; at long last, their stagnation was coming to an end.

As they spoke, the rhythmic, urgent thudding of galloping hooves echoed from the shore. Having endured several arduous campaigns, Tom's countenance now bore a palpable air of maturity and steadfast composure.

Reaching the edge of the pier, he bowed with utmost reverence and said, "Honored guests, my Lord has returned to Swamp Town. Should it please you to grant him an audience, you may set forth immediately."

Anilu muttered under her breath, "This lord certainly fancies himself grand."

Sophia offered a gentle smile. Had she been back in her homeland, her status dictating her movements, it would invariably be others who traveled to receive her with formal pageantry.

"Let us not dwell on such matters."

She inclined her head toward Tom. "Our thanks for the tidings, Sir Knight. We shall depart at once."

With those words, she unfurled her enchanted flying carpet, ascending into the skies toward Swamp Town.

"How wonderfully convenient," Tom murmured to himself in admiration, casting a proud gaze over the burgeoning harbor.

He had, in essence, borne witness to the meteoric rise of Ronin and the sweeping transformations of the Northern Wubei Territory.

He possessed unwavering faith that the future of this land would burn far brighter still.

……

Within the courtyard of the Swamp Keep, Ronin waited in anticipation, eager to witness firsthand the true nature of a flying carpet.

Elrond had previously cautioned him that the visitors possessed formidable strength; thus, for this impending encounter, Ronin had not only commanded Elrond to stand by his side but had also stationed Carlos within the keep, while ordering Rig and his knightly squad to patrol the immediate perimeter.

Before long, a dark speck materialized against the distant horizon.

The speck expanded gradually. Judging by its velocity, it moved slower than a dragon or a gryphon, yet it was undeniably swifter—and far more comfortable—than any steed.

Moments later, the form of the flying carpet became distinct to Ronin's eyes.

Though the object superficially resembled nothing more than a common textile, a closer inspection revealed intricate, swirling patterns etched across its surface—the unmistakable hallmarks of magical circuitry.

The very instant his eyes beheld the mystical tapestry, Ronin knew with absolute certainty that these travelers did not hail from the continent of Orlant.

The carpet descended gracefully into the center of the courtyard, and five silhouettes stepped onto the stone ground.

For this journey to Swamp Town, Sophia had summoned even Simon, who had hitherto remained aboard the vessel.

"Are you the master of the Northern Wubei Territory, Count Ronin?"

Ronin nodded in affirmation while quietly taking measure of the speaker.

The magical fluctuations emanating from the woman were undeniably potent, particularly in the fleeting moment she concealed the carpet; if his deductions served, she was likely a Grand Mage.

The three men and the lone woman standing in her shadow, though concealing their true prowess, bore an aura that was distinctly extraordinary.

Wherever these five walked, they likely possessed the power to topple a fortress.

Ronin offered a polite smile. "It is a pleasure to receive such distinguished guests. I am indeed the Count of Wubei, Ronin Wushan."

"The pleasure is ours. I am Sophia Sears, from the City of Dawn."

As their hands clasped in greeting, Sophia smiled. "I did not anticipate you would look so remarkably youthful."

In the quiet theater of her mind, she added, *Not only youthful, but fiercely powerful.*

Ronin cast a swift glance toward Elrond, wondering if the ancient elf had ever heard of the City of Dawn, but Elrond offered no sign of recognition; perhaps in his distant era, the city had not yet been built.

"The City of Dawn upon the Crescent Continent?" Ronin inquired directly.

Hmm?

At this, Sophia and her companions fell into a sudden, stunned silence.

By virtue of the Tempest Sea, all communion between the two continents had been utterly severed for generations. From what source had Ronin unearthed knowledge of the Crescent Continent? Could it be that the history of this realm had not been entirely erased, contrary to Hamon's investigations?

Or perhaps...

A sudden, alternative suspicion crossed Sophia's mind. She swiftly extended her spiritual perception, yet she detected not the slightest trace of Wraith Soul energy within him.

Ronin’s brow knit slightly. What exactly had she just attempted to probe?

"Forgive me, I merely sought to confirm a suspicion."

Sophia withdrew her hand. Since the young count had already divined the truth, there was little purpose in further obfuscation. "I did not expect you to possess knowledge of the Crescent Continent. It is true; we hail from those distant shores."

"I have encountered tales of the Crescent Continent within three ancient volumes, wherein it was described as a magnificent realm where magic and battle aura flourish in splendor. Thus, upon beholding your flying carpet, the suspicion arose naturally."

Ronin sighed with profound wonder. "To think that travelers from that legendary place have truly arrived before me."

Elron muttered to himself—could these three ancient texts possibly be referring to him, Rudar, and McKen?

"Your knowledge impresses me,"

Sophia said politely, then stepped aside to introduce, "These are my companions."

"Guard Captain Ainelu White, Shooting Star Knight and Chief Mage."

Ainelu, the one fond of muttering, nodded briefly at Rowan.

Rowan returned the nod, inwardly startled—this guard captain was no weakling.

"This is Uncle Simon Hawkins, Silver Moon Knight, master of forging. The vessel we sail upon relies entirely on his maintenance and repairs."

Simon grinned, his dark skin making his teeth appear strikingly white.

Rowan smiled back—such a simple-looking man, yet a Silver Moon Knight skilled in both forging and shipcraft.

Truly a rare talent.

"This is Petro Prius, our navigator, and my liaison officer Hamon Marcello. Both are Shooting Star Knights."

Petro shrugged. "Grouping me with Hamon like this… seems I'm not strong enough to stand alone."

"What? Being introduced alongside me bothers you?"

They bickered, but their tone was playful.

Rowan greeted them all, yet their collective strength left him both awed and wary.

A team led by a Silver Moon Knight and a Grand Sorcerer, plus three Shooting Star Knights—such a force was overwhelming.

And Sophia’s open display felt almost like an intentional show of power.

"Your might leaves me utterly astounded!"

Rowan laughed. "Any castle in Wushan Domain could fall before you with barely a struggle."

"You misunderstand, Lord Rowan,"

Sophia replied with a smile. "We seek no conflict. So I ask you in turn—to lay down your hostility. That beast lurking in your courtyard… unsettles us." (End of Chapter)