Liu Na was astonished.
Especially when she arrived at the elevator entrance and was stopped by two Human Soldiers wearing Cotton Robes beneath Chainmail, carrying shields in their left hands, spears in their right, and longswords at their waists, her eyes widened even further.
Even the well-read Halfling Elder Polo, who had followed behind her, stared wide-eyed, his furry face filled with disbelief.
"Human Regular Army—elite soldiers stationed only in the major towns of lords!"
When Polo pushed open the Fire Door, his expression changed.
Perhaps Liu Na, as someone from Blue Star, did not understand what this equipment represented to a lord and his troops.
But Polo, as a native of the Spiritual Realm who had once dealt with human lords, understood very clearly—
Only the Regular Army under a lord's command would be equipped with Chainmail and weapons that were clearly Standardized Equipment!
Among the Spiritual Realm Human Race, even a minor lord who managed his territory well and owned a castle would become a locally renowned power if he could field around five hundred soldiers like these.
As for most Minor Lords, even if they exhausted their savings, took on loans, or sold their assets without regard for the consequences, they could only support fewer than a hundred similar soldiers.
And now, on the Seventh Floor Apartment, at the Elevator Room and Staircase Junction—
There were actually five such Human Soldiers standing guard.
At the same time, behind them—
Ten young men dressed in simple cloth robes and carrying Long-handled Sickles, looking like militiamen, were patrolling over.
This likewise filled Liu Na and Halfling Elder Polo with heartfelt shock!
"Miss Liu Na, I think this neighbor on the seventh floor may truly have obtained a Lord Mark—and that of a human lord."
Polo reminded Liu Na in a low voice.
"Mm." A complicated look appeared in Liu Na's eyes. She pressed her pink lips together, worry on her face. "If he already has a Lord Mark, would he really still be willing to cooperate with an Lv. 1 druid like me?"
"Precisely because he is a human lord, he is all the more likely to cooperate with you, Miss Liu Na."
Polo explained, "You can make plants grow quickly, cultivate mushrooms and earthworms as food, and produce uncontaminated Spiritual Realm Food. Compared to food native to Blue Star, which has been completely polluted by the Necromantic Rules and has no special effects, it is more effective and more filling. Long-term consumption can also strengthen the combat power of Spiritual Realm Creatures, without causing them to become listless from constantly eating Blue Star food."
"Then I'll do my best to persuade him." Liu Na nodded with pursed lips.
She understood what Polo meant.
She also knew that if Spiritual Realm Creatures ate Blue Star food for too long, they would not only become listless, but their combat strength would decline as well.
Liu Na had her own logic, too.
It was like constantly eating food with no nutrition that only filled the stomach. Even if it kept you full, over time, you would still become malnourished.
Only Spiritual Realm Food containing Magic Power could provide the equivalent of protein, fat, and all kinds of trace elements, allowing someone not only to eat their fill and maintain their condition, but also to become healthier and stronger.
"He's coming," Halfling Elder Polo reminded her in a low voice.
Footsteps came from around the corner of the corridor ahead, where the Human Soldiers were standing guard.
Liu Na raised her head.
A young man her age, handsome and resolute, youthful yet sturdy, was striding toward them in Chainmail with one hand resting on the hilt of his longsword.
"Hello." He smiled and nodded at her, his attitude friendly.
"Ah, hello." For no reason, Liu Na suddenly felt less confident. Her little face, pale from years without sunlight, lowered slightly. Looking somewhat socially anxious, even her voice became softer. "...Neighbor."
"From the looks of it, Miss Liu Na, you're a legendary Spiritual Realm Professional—and a druid deeply connected to nature!?"
Shen Mu's brows lifted slightly, and surprise entered his voice.
He had listened to this neighbor's introduction.
Just as he had expected, she was indeed the strange person from the fifth floor whom Geng Jun from the Second Floor had mentioned.
He just had not expected that this strange person would be a pretty girl his own age.
And a Professional, too!
"I... I'm only an Lv. 1 druid. I don't have much combat ability. I can only help plants grow a little healthier."
Liu Na lowered her head slightly as she spoke, her voice hesitant and halting, as though she did not dare look at Shen Mu at all.
Her social anxiety was at least at a severe level.
"Becoming a Professional is already something to envy. It's what countless people can only dream of." Shen Mu did not think much of it. Instead, he sighed with some emotion.
His former self had once dreamed of becoming a Professional.
After finally discovering what seemed to be a Spiritual Realm Mark belonging to a Professional in some basement, it had been snatched away by someone else.
His cowardly former self had directly committed suicide.
That alone showed just how precious the title of Professional was.
"My apologies, Lord Shen Mu. Let me explain the situation on behalf of Miss Liu Na." Halfling Elder Polo glanced at Liu Na's socially anxious appearance and sighed as well.
He understood Liu Na's kindhearted nature, which bordered on weakness.
So he took over the conversation himself and said under Liu Na's grateful gaze, "We live on the fifth floor. We can cultivate some Spiritual Realm mushrooms and earthworms. If they are made into Energy Bars, they can effectively improve the health of Spiritual Realm Creatures. If possible, I hope we can cooperate."
Polo first laid out their advantages.
"Mm, that sounds quite good." Shen Mu immediately understood. This was probably the kind of Spiritual Realm Food with a "soul."
Of course, Shen Mu no longer needed it.
After all, he had an entire mu of Wheat Field producing wheat.
He also had all kinds of food rewarded by the system.
And if that was not enough, there was his Robber Contact Point. Narot, the bankrupt merchant, could purchase food from the world of Mount & Blade: Warband in an emergency.
As for the Energy Bars the halfling mentioned, Shen Mu felt they were neither here nor there.
"He really did obtain a Lord Mark!"
Yet Shen Mu's attitude shocked Halfling Elder Polo to the extreme.
He had so many soldiers—at least fifteen from what Polo had seen so far—yet he did not need to worry about food.
That made it easy to guess that this young man before him had obtained a Lord Mark. As long as he paid Fragments of Space-Time Crystal Core, he could summon a ready-made Human Territory from the Crystal Wall System of the Spiritual Realm, which had already completely collapsed.
He could even summon all kinds of food once stored in that territory, along with crops and even buildings!
And Halfling Elder Polo was certain that Shen Mu, this young man, already possessed a considerable amount of food!
"Lord Shen Mu, as a lord, I believe you would surely look favorably upon us Halflings—a Lawful Good race skilled at farming and making small handicrafts, with steady and reliable temperaments."
Halfling Elder Polo changed his approach.
His furry face was solemn.
At the same time, he extended a small forepaw, clawed yet as dexterous as a hand, and pointed at Liu Na. "When you plant crops and cultivate trees in your territory, a high-level druid can also take on the important task of tending Farmland and orchards!"
"Hmm?" Shen Mu was slightly stunned. He did not understand why the halfling had suddenly said that.
"Please form an alliance with us, Lord Shen Mu. We only need to spend the daytime in your territory, experiencing a natural environment that has not been polluted by the Necromantic Rules."
Elder Polo stated his purpose. "And in return, we are willing to help you tend your Wheat Field!"
But after hearing that, Shen Mu's expression changed slightly.
"How did you know I have a Wheat Field?"
Shen Mu had never told anyone about that one mu of Wheat Field.
And to prevent others from learning his secret, Shen Mu had specifically arranged for five Swadian Footmen to guard this place.
The point was to hide even the fact that the apartment at the end of the corridor, originally Room 7001, had become the Stronghold Main House.
After all, these were among Shen Mu's trump cards!
"We Halflings are the most observant. Miss Liu Na is a druid, and she can sense the Natural Aura."
Elder Polo knew that Shen Mu had become suspicious of them.
So he held out his hand.
From his furry paw, he opened the hand that had been tightly clenched around a little soil and half a stalk of wheat.
He made a solemn request. "Lord Shen Mu, we are willing to obey your commands and await your orders. Please allow us to experience this unpolluted Natural Aura as well. We are willing to use everything we are good at to handle the miscellaneous affairs of your territory."
But Shen Mu remained silent.
It was not because he was thinking.
Rather, a new dialogue box had appeared before his eyes.
Another new Temporary Mission!
Ding! The Temporary Mission System has detected an event! Temporary Mission issued: First Alliance.
Before you continue