132: Lilivia visits

Dust was still drifting in the distance, and Shen Xiaochuan stood by the viewing platform at the South Gate.

The wind blew from outside the city, carrying a hint of dust.

He had just sent off the last group of refugees, and the markers on the sand table had all turned green, indicating that everyone had been settled.

He turned to return to the council hall, but Karl called out to him from behind: "God Shen, the Ninth Princess has arrived and says she has something to discuss with you."

Shen Xiaochuan did not turn around, merely let out an "En," and continued walking forward.

His shoes made sounds against the stone slabs, and the copper gear on his sleeve swayed gently.

He knew Lilivian was no ordinary person, but he had no intention of treating her specially.

To him, those who could work were good people, and those who followed the rules were his own people.

The door to the council hall was open, and sunlight shone in, leaving half the room bright and the other half dark.

When Shen Xiaochuan walked in, he saw that she was already standing in the center.

She stood straight with her hands placed in front of her, no longer like the woman who had whispered for help before; now, she looked like a proper noble.

"You're here." Shen Xiaochuan sat in the main seat without asking her to sit down. "What is the matter?"

Lilivian stepped forward and performed a standard salute, her movements very practiced.

"I am Lilivian, the Ninth Princess of the Eldora Kingdom. A month ago, when you were eradicating Goblins in the Western Wasteland, you saved my sister—Lilivianona."

Shen Xiaochuan frowned. He had fought too many battles recently and couldn't remember which one it was.

"Are you talking about the cave that was half-collapsed?" he asked.

"Yes." She nodded. "My sister was locked up for seven days, surviving by drinking water from rock crevices. When you led your men in, she had already been dragged to the side of the altar. If you had been half a day later..."

Shen Xiaochuan waved his hand to interrupt: "I didn't go there to save anyone. There was a resource point there; I went to seize it."

She didn't get angry, but instead smiled: "But the result was the same. She came back, and she even brought back a fragment of the copper gear you dropped."

Shen Xiaochuan looked down at his cuff.

The copper gear was still there; it had been sewn on by his father himself on the day he retired.

But he remembered that one piece had indeed broken off during that battle and gotten stuck in the cave wall.

"She kept it all this time." Lilivian took a small cloth bag from her bosom and poured out a copper piece with some faint scratches on it. "She said that if a God would personally lead a team to save people, it meant this person was trustworthy. That is why I dared to bring my people here to seek refuge."

Shen Xiaochuan took the copper piece and felt its edge. That's right, it was made from the same piece. He was silent for a few seconds before placing the copper piece on the table.

"So, are you here to repay a debt of gratitude?"

"Not just that." She looked up at him. "I am here to discuss a partnership."

Shen Xiaochuan raised an eyebrow.

She paused, then continued: "Our kingdom has a throne trial every three years, and the winner becomes the king. I am currently one of the candidates, but my strength is insufficient; I don't even have the qualifications to register."

Shen Xiaochuan leaned back in his chair and tapped his fingers on the armrest: "Do you think I can help you?"

"I can help you manage the refugees," she said. "We have people who can farm, weave, practice medicine, and forge iron. As long as we are given a plot of land, we can support ourselves. I am not asking for a fiefdom, nor for special privileges; I just want an equal partnership."

Shen Xiaochuan stared at her.

She did not avert her gaze.

He knew she was gambling. Gambling that he would value old ties, gambling that he needed manpower, and even more so, gambling that he wouldn't treat a princess who bowed her head to ask for help as an enemy.

But he also understood that no one does things for free.

"You said your sister felt I was reliable because she saw me drop the copper gear?" he suddenly asked.

"She said that truly powerful people do not flaunt their strength, nor do they abandon important things."

Shen Xiaochuan chuckled.

"Then you are wrong," he said. "I didn't forget it; I simply didn't notice it had fallen. At that time, I only wanted to blow open the second cave entrance and be the first to seize control of the altar."

She was stunned.

"But I still went," he looked at her. "Because I have said that those who follow me will not die in the wilderness."

He stood up and walked to the window.

The sun outside was bright, and food was being distributed at the South Gate plaza. People changing shifts were busy, and the meat soup in the pots was steaming. An old man squatted on the ground, drinking vigorously, while a young person next to him patted his back gently.

"Do you know why I opened the gates?" he said. "It's not because you mentioned the past, nor because you saluted. It's because the people you brought didn't cause a ruckus after entering, they queued up to receive supplies, greeted each other, and when a child fell, the adults apologized first—they understand the rules."

He turned around. "Right now, what is more valuable than a blade is unity of heart."

Lilivian's eyes felt a bit sore.

"You want a partnership?" Shen Xiaochuan walked back. "Very well. I don't need oaths, and I don't need letters of allegiance. I want an exchange."

"Please, tell me."

He pulled open a drawer and took out a dark purple crystal card. The card had fine cracks on it and a black dot in the center.

"This is a black market purple gold card," he said. "There is an underground market three hundred kilometers away, run by a group of veterans. They don't recognize status, only this card. With it, you can buy people, buy Materials, and even buy prohibited blueprints."

He pushed the card over: "I'm not giving it for free. You use it to help me solve my manpower problem, and I will let you leverage it for your development. Once you have established yourself, whether you want to leave or stay is up to you."

Lilivian did not take it immediately.

"Are you afraid I'll take the card and run?" he asked.

"I won't." She shook her head.

"Then take it," he said. "Remember, I don't need loyalty; I only need credit. If you do one part, I will repay one part. If you deceive me once, next time you will be an enemy."

She reached out and took the card, her palms sweating.

The card was cold, but it felt heavy in her hand.

"Thank you." Her voice wasn't loud, but it was clear. "I will let everyone know that Skydome City taking us in is not charity, but a partnership."

Shen Xiaochuan nodded: "Go. Go see your people. Karl is already waiting for you in the residential area."

She stepped back, saluted once more, and turned towards the door.

When her hand touched the doorknob, she paused. "City Lord Shen."

"Anything else?"

"I have realized one thing," she said. "That day in the Dry River Valley, you killed twenty Goblins by yourself, not because you were strong, but because... you keep your word."

Shen Xiaochuan did not answer.

She opened the door and walked out.

Sunlight shone into the room, and the doorway was empty.

Shen Xiaochuan sat back in his chair and glanced at the screen. A System notification popped up:

[Mission Completed: Foreigners Arrive]

[Reward: 500 Gold Coins]

He glanced at it and closed it.

Outside the window, the wind blew a newly hung flag. The flag depicted vines wrapped around a sword, with Skydome City's copper gear logo next to it.

The two patterns were side by side, swaying in the wind.

The room grew quiet.

The copper piece was still on the table, reflecting a bit of light.

Shen Xiaochuan touched the copper gear on his cuff, confirming it was still there.

Then he opened a new sand table record and wrote a line:

"South District expansion plan initiated, estimated population increase of three thousand to five thousand, prioritize using black market resource channels."

The pen tip scratched across the paper, making a rustling sound.

Laughter of children came from outside, and someone was handing out candy. An old woman sat under the shade of a tree, rummaging through a cloth bag, when she suddenly pulled out an embroidered shoe insole, paused for a few seconds, and smiled.

In the distance, Karl led Lilivian down the street.

She walked slowly, looking at the houses while listening to Karl explain the distribution rules. Passing a well, she stopped, drew some water, and took a sip.

The water was a bit cold and tasted of dust.

She swallowed it.

She looked up towards the council hall.

That building was neither tall nor pretty, with a metal rod stuck on the roof like an antenna.

She suddenly felt that this city might truly be different.