Cadro Province

Half an hour later, Velin's party of fifteen, with eighteen Red Phosphorus Horses, twelve nag horses, and six carriages fully loaded with goods, entered the teleportation area.

The four mages standing at the corners of the Teleportation Array began channeling magic into the surrounding instruments.

A few seconds later, numerous Magic Arrays appeared all around them.

Suddenly, a flash of white light swept through the area.

After an unknown amount of time, Velin's vision returned. He looked around, and a scene of ruin entered his sight. He already knew that this should be the Cadro Province Capital City.

Compared to the bustling teleportation area in the West River Province capital, this place was exceptionally deserted.

Once everyone had recovered, Velin led the convoy out of the teleportation area.

The moment they left the hall containing the Teleportation Array and stepped onto the streets of the central district of the Cadro Province Capital City, everyone was deeply disappointed.

Human and animal excrement lay everywhere, and the stench was nauseating.

Thugs lurked everywhere, patrolmen extorted people without end, and commoners and small merchants cowered submissively.

"Lord, this... this is the Cadro Province Capital City? Even the worst slums in Silver Prosperity City are better than this." Belder, Captain of the Knight Guard, looked utterly shocked, unable to believe it.

"How could this place be so chaotic?"

Covering his nose and mouth, Velin spoke with equal shock. This was completely unbefitting of a provincial capital.

He truly had not expected a provincial capital to look like this.

Or perhaps this was the true face of the world, while cities like the West River Province capital and Silver Prosperity City were the exceptions.

"Lord, where are we going next?"

Hearing this, Velin took a map from his pocket. It was a map of all Cadro Province, extremely crude and marked only with approximate geographical locations.

Compared to West River Province's 950,000 square kilometers, Cadro Province had only 150,000 square kilometers. It contained more than sixty viscount and baron families and had a population of roughly 1.9 million, about one-third of the population of the Ex Family's Eagle Territory.

"First, we will register at the provincial administrative building. After that, we will visit my cousin, Baron Olcott, and learn about the local situation."

Looking at Gute Territory, two hundred kilometers from the Cadro Province Capital City on the map, Velin closed it and instructed Belder.

Walking along roads covered in excrement, Velin felt sick. He truly did not know how these people managed to live here.

The Cadro Province Capital City was very small. They reached the East City District, where the administrative building was located, in just over ten minutes.

Though it was called an administrative building, it was actually just a two-story stone house with a coat of white paint on the outside.

Standing at the entrance, Velin could not see the walls as anything but gray, bordering on black.

"Stop! Where did this country bumpkin come from? Are you blind? Is this a place you should be?"

Seeing the plainly dressed Velin, the guard at the entrance raised his shoddy spear and spoke disdainfully.

"Impudent."

Belder, standing behind Velin, immediately drew his Knight Longsword, ready to kill the insolent guard.

"You dare make a move?" The guard retreated several steps and shouted, "Guards! Someone is attacking the administrative building!"

Before long, more than a dozen guards and a knight hurried out of the building. They stood on the steps and looked down at the group.

The knights behind Velin drew their swords one after another and stood before him, confronting the guards.

"Who are you people, to dare force your way into the administrative building?" After hearing the soldier's report, the leading knight stared at Velin's group with hostility. He took out a signal Magic Scroll, seemingly ready to activate it at once.

"Who we are can wait. Your guard insulted a noble so brazenly that even if I kill him on the spot, His Majesty the King would have nothing to say about it." Velin fixed the knight with a sharp gaze and spoke in a low voice.

After hearing this, the knight suddenly noticed the flag hanging from the distant carriage. His expression changed drastically. He glared viciously at the guard, but he could not back down now. He represented the Cadro Province Governor's dignity and could not easily yield.

"I know what you are thinking. I do not wish to make more trouble. Hand that guard over to me for punishment, and this matter will be forgotten. Otherwise, even the Cadro Province Governor will be unable to bear the consequences."

"Sir, your words..." A portly middle-aged man came out of the administrative building. He had only spoken half a sentence when he saw the Eagle banner and swallowed the rest. Turning to the knight, he ordered, "Hand that guard over to this gentleman."

"But, My Lord Governor, he..."

"Did you not hear me?" the middle-aged man shouted.

"Yes."

The knight was unwilling, but faced with the Governor's order, he could only wave for his men to disarm the guard from earlier and escort him before Velin.

Looking at the soldier before him, whose face was filled with fear and who no longer had the arrogant manner from before, Velin showed no expression.

Velin drew his Short Sword and plunged it into the man's chest, killing the guard in front of the Cadro Governor.

"My Lord Governor, forgive the offense."

"It is nothing. Young Eagle of the Ex Family, welcome to Cadro Province." The middle-aged man's mouth twitched as he spoke in an even tone.

Afterward, Velin remained outside the administrative building and waited for his registration to be completed.

About ten minutes later, a staff member respectfully presented him with a token held in both hands. The front bore the words "Pioneering," while the back recorded Velin's basic information.

"My Lord Governor, farewell."

"Farewell." The middle-aged man gave a proper noble's return salute, though inwardly, he hoped they would never meet again.

After Velin left, the knight, who had remained silent until then, asked, "My Lord Governor, this is our territory. Why should we fear a single noble scion from outside?"

The middle-aged man's smile vanished as he replied gravely, "Other noble scions would be easy enough to deal with, but the Ex Family is a pack of mad dogs. If we do not need to provoke them, then we should avoid doing so."

Seeing that the knight still wanted to ask more, the middle-aged man said directly, "Enough. Continue maintaining the guard. Compensate the dead guard according to the minimum standard for those killed in action. Also, tell your men to behave themselves and not cause any more trouble."

"Yes, sir."

The knight was unwilling, but there was nothing else he could do.

After leaving the administrative building, Velin did not linger and immediately led his people out of the Cadro Province Capital City.

Although the Governor exiled here would not dare act against him because of the Ex Family's reputation, it was better to be safe than sorry. Velin had no desire to gamble on the man's intentions.

Just as they left the Small City, Belder rode up beside Velin and asked in confusion, "Lord, why did you not give the order for your subordinate to kill that knight and the thirteen guards along with him?"

"Everything has its limits. Do not go too far, or they will have no way to save face. Be careful that they do not decide to fight us to the death."

After hearing this, the confusion on Belder's face did not lessen in the slightest. What was all this supposed to mean?

Seeing the Confused Captain of the Knight Guard, Velin sighed and reassured him, "You need not concern yourself with these matters. Just focus on leading the troops."

"Yes, Lord."

Looking at these knights who lacked political sensitivity, Velin decided that during the pioneering effort, he needed to find someone suited for internal affairs.