Free Web NovelChapter 1128: Chapter 1065: Change at Longbow Castle?
Muddy water pooled in the wagon tracks, resembling shattered silver mirrors, reflecting the fragmented clouds at the blue horizon.
The support team from the Holy Alliance set sail from Xia Lvcheng and, after numerous twists and turns, successfully arrived on time at Dawn Island.
Besides Jeanne herself, there were more than ten Wizards from Black Snake Bay, over thirty Alchemists from the Holy Alliance, and seven or eight dedicated monks from the Saint Father’s Association.
Apart from the logistics personnel, Jeanne also brought twenty officers including Michelle Ney from the Holy Armor Forbidden Army and Socette from the Iron Fist Battle Group. ƒгeewёbnovel.com
Of course, there were also a dozen Kush Knights protecting Vivian, even Perini, one of the Alco Clan’s three brothers, was there.
In addition, there were two large carts of clockwork guns and Holy Favor Seeds, along with some retired veterans for protection.
In total, their group consisted of nearly a hundred people.
The level of armament and elite composition clearly indicated a force not to be trifled with as if it were a group of random merchants.
Naturally, some Robber Knights without any foresight attempted robbery or coercion, but they were mostly taken down with a single shot.
From landing at the dock until now, Jeanne’s team had traveled the entire day and was feeling somewhat fatigued.
Seeing smoke rising in the distance, Jeanne asked the guide, "Where is this ahead?"
"Ahead is Brook Creek Town. Walk another day after passing through, and you’ll see the towers of Longbow Castle." The guide was a local limping hunter, with pants rolled up to his knees.
As for Bradak, he advanced a step, notifying the City Council of the Holy Alliance emissary’s arrival.
However, Jeanne specifically instructed Bradak to keep her arrival a secret.
After a few steps forward, they reached the town’s boundary.
Jeanne halted her horse and saw the town’s boundary marker pushed askew, teetering precariously.
Besides recording the local town name and notable families, there were blood-red words painted alongside saying "Die, Tax Collector, Die."
Outside the town, several refugees huddled under tree shadows and straw huts, each with sunken faces.
Seeing Jeanne’s team, they shrank into the shadows like frightened wild dogs.
Grandmother Vivian sat in the carriage behind, pulled back the curtain for a glance, and gently tapped her slender fingers on her knees.
A city is never merely the city itself; it includes the surrounding farmland villages, along with scattered satellite towns.
These satellite towns are often small, with populations ranging from a hundred to a thousand.
They’re typically clustered near ferry bridges, serving traveling merchant convoys on one hand and guarding these key roads on the other.
The town ahead, Brook Creek Town, is among these.
The guide led the way, and Jeanne followed off the horse, quickly reaching the edge of the town’s inn.
The sight of strangers in the town didn’t arouse curiosity, considering they are accustomed to traveling merchants.
It’s only upon noticing the demeanor and armament of these escorts do they wonder which City Councilor dispatched these elite mercenaries.
"Please wait a moment, the inn rooms are insufficient, we’re coordinating." The limping guide exited and shouted to Perini, responsible for arranging the itinerary.
Perini nodded: "Quickly, we can offer more money."
Getting confirmation, Perini promptly entered the nearby tavern.
Jeanne approached Vivian, who was awkwardly exiting the carriage, and assisted her: "Grandmother, would you like some beer? The water here isn’t clean; boiling it takes time."
"No, beer isn’t suitable for me at my age." Grandmother picked up her cane, standing upright alone.
Shortly after, Perini arrived carrying a flask of distilled spirits: "Grandmother, your drink."
Jeanne blinked, as the wafting alcohol scent from Grandmother stung and made her eyes smart.
Using a silk handkerchief to dab at the corner of her mouth, Grandmother’s eyes shone without a trace of drunkenness.
She spoke fondly: "This distilled fruit wine, only found on Dawn Island, made from inferior green grapes.
Usually fermented and distilled, then sold northward. When I was nine, my father let me drink this wine."
A nine-year-old girl drinking distilled spirits?
How exactly did you Norn people proliferate to become the first population of the empire?
"Missy, interested in accompanying this old lady for a walk to stretch the legs?"
Knowing Grandmother’s discomfort from a day in the carriage, Jeanne quickly supported her, setting off nearby.
The two were accompanied by Perini and other guards as they trod the dirt path composed of sand and mud along the street.
Like most towns in Leia Kingdom, Brook Creek Town utilized wooden frame houses with steep-gable roofs.
Just in contrast to the Holy Alliance’s long eaves and small windows, these roofs were shorter with larger windows.
Along the street sides, among collapsed ruins and small woodland patches lay various shops.
Aside from minor agriculture and handcraft industries, Brook Creek Town primarily served traveling merchants and hired soldiers stationed here.
Inside the town are tool shops, restaurants, taverns, gambling houses, etc...
Even without nightfall, Liu Yings could be seen swaying in the shadows or beside window corners soliciting customers.
Today, street guests were noticeably more numerous than usual; hefty merchants ascended to the second floor while lean tradesmen remained on the ground level.
Next to houses wafting decadent music lay gray tents on barren ground alongside vacant-eyed refugee children.
"This Brook Creek Town, are merchants usually this numerous?" Grandmother suddenly beckoned to those children, producing candy and biscuits from her bosom.
A teenager with craving eyes looked at the candy: "More merchants today, not usually this many."
"Where did these merchants come from? Why are they gathering here?"
"Many returned from Longbow Castle, gathering reason...unknown."
Grandmother called over a soldier, distributing the sweets.
Without needing to turn and signal Jeanne, Jeanne’s voice sternly rang out: "Investigate why there’s a gathering here." ƒrēewebnovel.com
Hoods-wearing Chekas nodded, vanishing quickly into alleyways.
Grandmother smiled, enjoying interactions with clever folks.
Looking at her own folks like Perini and Enrico, Grandmother felt both weary and helpless.
Cleverness they had, alas misapplied cleverness.
When Jeanne returned to the inn for lodging, she received answers right after gaining warm water.
"Several members of the Forty-Five People Society were assassinated the night before last, even Summer Wave’s representative was nearly harmed, necessitating sending his family to the countryside.
The entire Longbow Castle suspects the Sixteen People Council resisting the Holy Alliance’s arrival. To prove innocence, the Sixteen People Council initiated clearing spy operations.
Currently, the Forty-Five People Society has imposed a curfew ban, barring some merchants entry.
Fortunately, this spy purge lasts only three days, ending tomorrow noon to lift blockades for investigation."
"What’s your viewpoint?" Perini specifically arrived under Grandmother’s orders to inquire.
Jeanne didn’t speak, sinking her feet in steaming water, shortly speaking leisurely: "Why bar entry instead of permit entry but not departure? Only one day anyway.
"Unknown, unexplained. I asked the guide and inn, they were equally clueless."
"Which merchants were barred outside?"
"Besides food and liquor merchants; nearly all others..."
"Iron ingots? I recall Longbow Castle having a royal arsenal for weapon repair and storage, right?"
"Iron merchants seemingly barred entry, yet elevated as Anti-Spy Committee’s Summer Wave, presumably Holy Alliance’s own; current situation should be safe?"
"Uncertain." Jeanne withdrew from the tub, dried herself with coarse cloth, pulled on shoes, "Call Socette, Michelle, and the others."
