256: Chapter 253 The Unexpected Messenger

After notifying Mihe, Zhang Mu led Domit back to Gur City.

On the way, he stopped by the construction site. The fish tank requested by the Fallen Spirit was finished, so he conveniently stored it into The World.

Returning to the City Lord's Mansion, he arranged a room for Domit and then returned to Blue Star.

Stepping out of the Portal, he first contacted the Minister of Logistics.

The Queen's rhenium metal was ready, and she was currently meeting with her think tank to research the types of items to exchange for it.

After all, their trading progress started later than China's, so it might take a few more days to finalize.

With things progressing steadily there, he turned his attention to the cave base on the shores of NH.

After acquiring massive resources from the Mountain Gate, they had begun refining the blueprints while simultaneously constructing the manufacturing workshops.

Both sides were stable, so Zhang Mu stopped observing and hurried to the sea where the Fallen Spirit was active.

Under his orders for the past few days, the big guy had been wandering in the ocean far from human activity.

Even if it occasionally encountered ships passing overhead, it remained quiet to avoid discovery.

Hovering in mid-air, Zhang Mu felt that using the Shadow Technique to shroud the Fallen Spirit was too troublesome, so he simply raised a magic shield and dove into the seawater.

Connecting to the Fallen Spirit with Mental Energy, he told it that the fish tank was installed and the space was very vast, asking if it wanted to go in now.

The big guy hesitated, replying by asking if it could play in the sea for a few more days.

The deep sea was full of strange-looking creatures, and it found them very novel.

"Suit yourself."

"Being seen by people? It's fine."

Disconnecting, Zhang Mu burst out of the sea surface into the high sky and summoned a Portal to the Saul Continent.

Affairs on Blue Star were moving forward steadily, and the puppets were sufficient to handle trivial communications, so there was no need for him to oversee everything personally.

Besides, the messenger from the Royal Capital could arrive at any time; it would be hard to explain if he wasn't in Gur City.

Coming out of the Portal, Zhang Mu walked into the study, sat behind the desk, and stared blankly at the ceiling.

After a busy month, he finally had a bit of free time. He didn't force himself to find something to do and decided to go accompany Lia.

Getting up and leaving the room, he wandered over to the backyard.

The two of them, big hand holding small hand, strolled through the courtyard.

"Lord City Lord."

"Brother City Lord!"

Hearing Zhang Mu's intentionally heavy footsteps, Lia turned her head and ran over in surprise.

He crouched down to pick up the Little Cat Girl and, as usual, checked her weight.

Hmm... in a few more days, she wouldn't be a Little Cat Girl anymore, but a Big Cat Girl.

Perhaps because life had stabilized after moving into the City Lord's Mansion, coupled with abundant and balanced meals, Lia's weight had not only caught up with peers her age, but the fur on the back of her cat ears was becoming increasingly smooth and lustrous.

Besides these reasons, Pavlina's meticulous care must have also helped.

He glanced forward.

Pavlina was still wearing loose clothes and pants today that were convenient for squatting or moving, and the colors weren't flashy, just a simple linen gray.

Compared to Lia, she was much more restrained, standing still with her hands folded over her lower abdomen.

Rubbing Lia's blonde head, Zhang Mu walked over slowly: "I've been very busy lately; thank you for looking after Lia."

"It's what I should do, and I like Lia very much as well."

After their exchange, he didn't know how to continue the conversation, and Pavlina wasn't the type to initiate talk, so they both fell silent.

After a long time, perhaps feeling the atmosphere was too stagnant, she mustered the courage to speak: "Lord City Lord, were you injured in the recent battle?"

"No."

Pavlina: "..."

The air went quiet again.

After another ten minutes, Zhang Mu felt a bit restless and turned toward the mansion gate: "I have nothing to do today, so I'll take Lia out for a stroll."

"Lord City Lord," a slightly raised voice called from behind him.

"What is it?" he asked, turning his head.

"Will you be back for dinner tonight?"

"Probably no..."

"Brother Zhang Mu," Lia leaned close to his ear and whispered, "Sister Pavlina's cooking is very delicious!"

"Then I'll come back to eat."

"Um..." Just as Zhang Mu lifted his foot, Pavlina stopped him again, "Yvan is still locked in his room by you. Without your command, he doesn't dare come out."

Yvan? Who's that?

After two seconds of blankness, he remembered this person was the City Lord's 'dear son.' He had locked him in his room on his first day in the City Lord's Mansion.

He had been so busy that he had actually forgotten about him.

Zhang Mu remained silent in thought. Seeing this, Pavlina thought he was still angry about the funeral and quickly said, "Lord City Lord, he has already admitted his mistake."

Looking up at her, he saw her face was anxious, and she didn't seem to be acting.

But... Solon had said that the City Lord neglected Pavlina, and his son consequently looked down on her, usually treating her with rudeness and harshness, showing none of the respect due to a stepmother.

Why was she speaking up for him?

"Pavlina." Zhang Mu shifted Lia higher in his arms. "I remember that Yvan didn't particularly respect you."

"Yes, Lord City Lord."

"Then why..."

"The First Madam cared for Pavlina very much."

I see...

Zhang Mu suddenly understood and put Lia down: "I just remembered some urgent business. Lia, we'll go out to play tomorrow instead."

"Oh..." Although disappointed, Lia perked up her cat ears and said happily, "You can't lie!"

"Okay."

Responding, Zhang Mu walked to the door of Domit's room: "Taking a nap?"

"No." The moment the words came, he pushed the door open and appeared, standing straight. "Marshal, is there an emergency?"

"Do you still remember that village where the Soldiers committed a massacre when we first arrived in the Silent Forest?"

"Of course!" His eyebrows shot up. "I've wanted to find him for a long time, but I've been busy."

"Hehe, that's good then. Follow me."

After speaking, Zhang Mu turned right toward the side courtyard, with Domit following curiously behind: "You found him?"

"I was as busy as you and forgot that I locked him in the City Lord's Mansion long ago."

Hearing this, Domit became visibly excited: "Will you leave him to me to handle?!"

"It's not our turn to deal with him. Work hard and deliver him to Moza Village."

"Understood!"

Soon, the two arrived before a wooden door. Zhang Mu knocked with a smile: "Yvan, are you in there?"

"Father!

Have you finally forgiven me!"

"Hehe..." His laughter was eerie, making the young man inside shudder, not daring to speak further.

Too lazy to waste time, he kicked open the door. Before Yvan could scream, Domit delivered a hand-chop to the back of his neck.

He then stuffed the unconscious man into 'The World' and quickly left the city.

Reaching a deserted place, Zhang Mu pulled Yvan out and tossed him on the ground. Once Domit hoisted him onto his shoulder and sped off into the distance, Zhang Mu turned back to the City Lord's Mansion.

One couldn't fly within the city, and Gur City wasn't exactly small. Relying entirely on his legs, night had already fallen by the time he returned to the mansion.

It was dark, and the shops outside were all closed, so there was no point in wandering the streets.

Thus, Zhang Mu stayed in his study, practicing his Meditation Method all night while using potions.

The next morning, after washing up, he took Lia's small hand and left the mansion. They wandered until the streetlights along the stone path lit up with a dim yellow glow, only then returning home carrying many bags.

"Lord City Lord, Lia, you're back."

Just as they entered the main gate, Pavlina walked out of the main hall with a smile. She took the leather bags from Zhang Mu's hands to give to a servant and stepped behind him to take off his coat: "Dinner is ready."

Nodding in response, Zhang Mu led the skipping Lia to the dining room and sat down at the table.

"Wow! Dinner personally cooked by Sister Pavlina!"

Lia started on the grilled steak, happily twitching her cat ears.

Although he still wasn't quite used to the taste of food on the Saul Continent, Zhang Mu wasn't a fussy person. He watched Lia with a fatherly smile and reached for the porcelain dish holding the utensils next to his plate.

Hmm?

His gaze fell on the table; a pair of silver chopsticks lay horizontally in the middle of the porcelain dish.

Zhang Mu glanced at the places in front of Lia and Pavlina; their dishes only had knives and forks.

His brow slowly rose: "Who told you?"

Pavlina was cutting her steak, but hearing his low tone, she hurriedly looked up. Seeing Zhang Mu staring at the silver chopsticks, she immediately stood up:

"When I went to the study to bring you breakfast before, I felt that you were uncomfortable using a fork, so I went to ask Solon."

"What did he say?"

"He said the Lord City Lord prefers this kind of rod-like utensil."

Before Zhang Mu took over the City Lord's identity, Pavlina had almost never dined with the City Lord, so she naturally didn't know his habits.

It wasn't hard to understand why she went to ask Solon.

Zhang Mu trusted Solon very much.

Since he had told Pavlina, he likely wouldn't have left any openings and must have thought of a reasonable explanation.

His dark expression returned to normal: "I was just asking. No need to be nervous, sit down and eat."

"Yes."

After sitting back in the wooden chair, Pavlina didn't raise her bowed head again until the meal was over.

Lia looked at him, then at her, her cheeks puffing out: "Brother City Lord, you're bullying Sister Pavlina."

"I am not." Smiling, Zhang Mu picked up a napkin to wipe his lips. "I was..."

"Lord City Lord, someone is looking for you," a servant said softly outside the door.

"Who is it?"

"I don't know him. He said... he came from the Royal Capital."

So fast?

Zhang Mu was somewhat surprised. He asked Pavlina to take Lia back to the bedroom to rest, while he got up and walked quickly to the main gate.

On the road outside the gate, a gryphon stood with its wings tucked. A man stood on its back, wearing a fully enclosed helmet, his features invisible.

He must have heard the approaching footsteps, as he jumped to the ground and removed his helmet.

Seeing his face, Zhang Mu's pace faltered for an instant before he continued forward to the gate.

"The Lord of Gur City?"

"Yes." The messenger represented the King, but Zhang Mu stood tall.

"Hehe." The man wasn't displeased by his somewhat rude behavior. He gave a light laugh and said, "Capable people always receive extra tolerance.

Allow me to introduce myself. I am Andre, the First Prince of the Kingdom of Lake."

Zhang Mu maintained his indifferent posture: "His Highness the First Prince reveals his identity—is it because you hope I'll show submission? Also, does delivering a letter require you to make the trip personally?"

"The City Lord misunderstands." Andre cradled his helmet with one arm. "I simply heard that a City Lord on the border not only perceived the enemy nation's intent to sneak attack the kingdom but also personally led Soldiers to repel the enemy army.

The impulse to meet a hero in person was uncontrollable, so I asked my Father King for the task of delivering the message."

The corners of his mouth curled up as Zhang Mu laughed inwardly. So that's how it is...

In a plain, remote border city, a City Lord with both wisdom and courage suddenly appeared.

And his younger brother, a competitor for the throne, had dropped from the sky as reinforcements and met this City Lord first.

Even though the Second Prince's strength was very weak and he was unlikely to win even with Zhang Mu's support,

given Andre's extremely cautious nature, he would never underestimate any opponent, even one that seemed incredibly frail.

Therefore, it was not surprising that he personally rushed to Gur City to eliminate the power of Zhang Mu, who could threaten him.

Anyone else might have thought Andre was just as he said—simply coming to see the hero who turned the tide for the kingdom.

But Zhang Mu wouldn't forget that this guy had said he wouldn't target him, only to send personal guards to spy on him immediately after.

Heh... this is getting interesting.

As if thinking of something, Zhang Mu dropped his arrogant attitude and showed a kind smile: "I greatly admire Your Highness's broad-mindedness. Please, come inside."

Andre smiled slightly and strode over the threshold into the mansion.

"Has Your Highness eaten?"

"Not yet. After receiving the Commendation signed by my Father King, I immediately rode the gryphon here."

"I am not worthy of such effort."

Zhang Mu appeared "quite moved." While instructing a servant to prepare food, he led Andre into the dining room and sat at the table that had already been cleared.

"Mr. City Lord." As soon as Andre sat down, he said with a serious expression, "Was going to the Royal Capital your own idea?"

"Hmm? What do you mean, Your Highness?"

"The City Lord's loyalty to the kingdom need not be questioned, and I have no need to hide anything. The current situation of the kingdom is not optimistic. I am puzzled that you would choose to go to the Royal Capital."

"Even if I didn't accept the Commendation, I would still have to go for the annual debriefing."

"Does Your Highness mean to say that we City Lords will meet with misfortune during this debriefing in the Royal Capital?"

"Father King would never harm the City Lords, but the two Archdukes have already escaped his control. Of course, few people know about this. If my royal brother suggested going to the Royal Capital for the decoration, then he also hoped to promote the City Lord's heroic deeds rather than having any malicious intent."

His schemes really come one after another.

Cloaked in his illusion, Zhang Mu didn't need to maintain his facial expression. He grinned with inward disdain while responding, "It does indeed have something to do with His Highness the Second Prince."

"Really?!" Andre's expression was very "shocked."

"Hehe... Rest assured, Your Highness. I think, as you said, the Second Prince was just being kind. Um... at the time, the Second Prince invited me to attend his banquet when I go to the Royal Capital. I figured the Commendation would arrive in about a month, just as the annual debriefing begins, and I would definitely have to go to the Royal Capital anyway, so I agreed."

Andre looked relieved and said with a smile, "I am glad that no misunderstanding was caused between Mr. City Lord and the Royal Family."

"How could that be? Serving the kingdom is the duty of us City Lords."

He was about to say more but was interrupted by the servant serving the food. As the First Prince of the kingdom, his upbringing was proper after all; he didn't continue his chatter and dined with Zhang Mu.

Afterward, Andre strangely did not continue the previous topic.

He pulled the Commendation signed by the King from his pocket and handed it over, adding another remark that "his royal brother's actions were unintentional, please forgive him." Finally, he issued an invitation to Zhang Mu to also attend a banquet he would host in the Royal Capital.

Receiving an affirmative answer, he nodded with a smile. Accompanied by Zhang Mu to the mansion gate, he jumped onto the gryphon's back, pulled the reins, and soared into the sky.

Squinting his eyes as he watched for a while, Zhang Mu turned and found Domit: "Contact Mihe. Have him lead the First Army to the outskirts of the city early tomorrow morning."

"Yes!"