Return to the City

It was around 3 p.m. on Thursday, April 6th, Imperial Calendar 1157. Normally, this was the time when Linshui City's fishermen, having worked hard all day, would return to the Dock Area in the joy of a good catch and sell their haul.

Yet at this moment, the Dock Area of Linshui City lacked its usual streams of people and the incessant cries of hawkers. Instead, it had been placed under martial control by Garrison soldiers, whose stern faces carried faint smiles.

Ever since noon yesterday, when the messenger sent by Lieutenant Colonel Merkel had rushed back into Linshui City and brought news that the Garrison's expedition force had successfully rescued the kidnapped noble hostages and completely wiped out the Water Bandit Group,

both the local Noble Council of Linshui City and the Lord's Mansion had been filled with a relaxed and cheerful atmosphere. Among the senior officers at Garrison headquarters, however, beneath the prevailing ease lingered strange feelings born of envy and jealousy.

At this moment, looking upstream along the Dorosun River from Linshui City's docks, countless moving black dots had already appeared on the river. Riding the current, they sped straight toward Linshui City.

What soon came into view before the lord and nobles who had come to welcome them were dozens of vessels, large and small. Among them were more than a dozen small Fast Boats clearly used by water bandits. The decks were packed with soldiers standing tall and proud, as though proclaiming their glory to the dignitaries who had come to receive them.

Sean stood on the deck at the bow as well. The river breeze gently stirred his short golden hair. Thor followed close behind him, while Phil and Vinson's three men were guarding the Water Bandit Speedboat carrying the treasure chests. The speedboat was tethered behind the troop transport Sean was aboard.

As Sean watched Linshui City gradually become clear before his eyes, he felt both eager and faintly pleased. But when he saw the ant-like crowd by the docks waving and craning their necks in his group's direction, he frowned unconsciously, then let out a gloomy sigh and shrugged helplessly.

Sean knew that no matter what world one lived in, there would always be people who, once benefits or credit were involved, desperately pushed themselves forward and constantly sought to make themselves stand out. Beneath their smiling, cheering faces lay unspoken words like, "Look, I deserve some of the credit too..."

Of course, if something went wrong, they would tuck their heads in as much as possible, carefully avoiding any connection between themselves and the mistake. Once the initial sensitive period had passed, they could push out some unlucky scapegoat or "temporary worker" to take responsibility.

Sean could not help thinking that if this had been his previous life, the scene would now be filled with dazzling camera flashes. The lord and nobles welcoming the victorious soldiers would step forward with smiles, embrace Lieutenant Colonel Merkel and the other officers as representatives of the expedition force, then pose in all sorts of ways before the cameras for reporters. Perhaps afterward... no, definitely afterward, they would deliver some deeply moving or impassioned speech. The next day's newspapers would run headlines such as, "United as One! How They Planned from Afar and Won a Decisive Victory a Thousand Miles Away."

But this world had none of that. After a round of elaborate pleasantries and welcome speeches, Sean, who was both an officer and a Noble Cadet, received thanks and encouragement from the lord and nobles along with several other senior students.

After a seemingly enthusiastic exchange that was, in truth, nothing but empty nonsense, the entire welcome ceremony finally neared its end. By then, more than an hour had passed.

The only thing Sean found fortunate was that there was one unlucky fellow with an even bigger headache than his own. That was Frey. As the victim of this incident, he naturally received condolences from the lord and every noble who had come to welcome them. Even now, Sean could see him sweating profusely as he struggled to deal with all the concern.

During this time, Sean had only had any substantial exchanges with two of the people who had come to welcome them. One was his uncle, Baron Horton. As Sean's relative and an influential noble in the city, he naturally needed to appear at every important occasion. But in such a noisy, crowded, and watchful setting, the two had merely exchanged greetings and asked after each other's health.

The other was Lord Mor, the dean of Lassos Noble Academy, who was already over fifty. Though Dean Mor was indeed no longer young, he gave Sean a distinctly improper impression.

At first, Dean Mor had spoken formally with Sean. But before long, he began waggling his eyebrows at him. One moment he was praising the Perfume Sean had invented, and the next, the conversation had somehow turned to women who used perfume.

He went on and on about the wonderful sensations created when noblewomen's natural fragrance mixed with perfume. As he spoke, he swallowed greedily, as if still unsatisfied. His lecherous expression made cold sweat break out across Sean's forehead. He talked for more than twenty minutes, and though Sean tried several times to change the subject, he could not get a word in.

Only when Dean Mor was finally satisfied and preparing to leave did he seem to suddenly remember to tell Sean to return to the academy next Monday to complete enrollment procedures and other formalities. Sean wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, readily agreed, and respectfully saw him off.

The entire welcome ceremony finally ended, just as Sean had hoped. He immediately turned and instructed Thor to hire a carriage from a nearby carriage house. Then, keeping a low profile and acting with great caution, they moved the two treasure chests onto Thor's hired carriage before leaving.

When the group returned to Sean's small residence in Linshui City, it was nearly five in the evening. Alice and the others were waiting anxiously at the entrance. After the messenger had entered the city yesterday, they had already heard the general details of the expedition.

But because the Dock Area had been sealed off by soldiers today, they had no choice but to remain at home and wait for Sean and the others to return.

Alice paced back and forth anxiously at the entrance, occasionally stretching her head out to watch the activity on the street beyond the courtyard, as though she might miss Sean's group if she did not. Only when the hired carriage slowly stopped outside did her worry turn to joy, and she hurried forward with the others, her face full of smiles.

"Young master, welcome home..." Alice came gracefully before Sean. Her smiling eyes were filled with tenderness so deep it seemed impossible to dissolve. After giving a slight bow, she greeted him.

After speaking, Alice slightly raised her head and carefully examined Sean before her. Only after finding him unharmed did she seem to relax. Then she turned toward Phil behind Sean and gave him a smiling nod.

"Alice, was everything all right at home while I was away these past few days?" Sean looked at the lovely Alice before him, and a blazing flame immediately rose in his heart. Yet as his cultivation deepened, not only had his body grown stronger, but his control over his mind had gradually increased as well. This allowed him to suppress his desire at once and ask in an even tone. Afterward, his gaze swept across the people behind Alice.

"Young master, we've all been well..." Hearing Sean's concern, Alice immediately looked at him with her rippling, watery eyes and replied softly. Then she suddenly noticed Sean looking behind her with puzzlement.

Only then did Alice remember that besides Gordon and his four brothers, Aunt Sarah and Nina, the mother and daughter who had only begun working yesterday, were also standing behind her.

She immediately said apologetically, "Young master, I'm sorry... I forgot to introduce them. This is Aunt Sarah, the new cook, and her daughter Nina, who will serve as a maid..." After saying that, she stuck out her little tongue awkwardly, looking especially adorable.

After a brief pause, Alice added, "Young master, they were originally my neighbors. We've known each other for more than ten years..." Her meaning was clear: she knew this mother and daughter's character and abilities very well.

Hearing this, Sean smiled and welcomed the mother and daughter standing behind Alice. The two of them, very restrained, addressed him as "my lord" and stepped forward to bow in greeting.

At the same time, Sean noticed that although Sarah was already middle-aged, traces of her youthful beauty could still be seen on her face. Nina, on the other hand, was a girl of thirteen or fourteen. Though she had not fully grown into her looks, her still-childish features already revealed a delicate prettiness. Yet the sickly pallor on her face marred the youthful vitality she should have possessed.

"You two will follow Alice's instructions from now on... Starting today, Alice will be my personal maid." Sean spoke gently to the mother and daughter. At the same time, he elevated Alice's status from an ordinary maid to his personal maid.

"Ah... Thank you, young master..." Alice immediately wore a look of delighted surprise as she thanked him excitedly. Her trembling hands pressed against her full breasts.

With a smiling gaze, Sean admired Alice's ample fullness as it rose and fell with her excitement, then nodded at her encouragingly. In this world, personal maids held high status in noble households. They usually served as their noble masters' confidantes.

"Everyone, quiet down... I have something important to announce..." Sean then said loudly to everyone present. Once their attention had focused on him, he turned to Phil and congratulated him. "I hereby formally promote you, Phil, to my Knight Squire. Congratulations. At the same time, I hope you will continue working hard and go further on the path of knighthood..."

"Ah... Thank you, my lord, thank you, my lord. I will devote everything I have to serving you..." Upon hearing Sean's words, Phil said excitedly. Afterward, he immediately dropped to one knee and performed a formal squire's salute to Sean.

"Heh... Phil, get up. The formal ceremony must wait until we return to the family estate and can conduct it before my father and the others..." Sean smiled as he reached out and pulled Phil to his feet, explaining gently. Then he added teasingly, "Remember to have dinner with me tonight..."

"Yes, my lord. It would be my honor..." Phil said respectfully after rising.

After that, Sean introduced Vinson and the other three to Alice and the rest. From then on, they would also become Sean's servants, though for the time being, they could only retain the status of slaves.

Everyone exchanged pleasantries for a while and congratulated Phil and Alice. Sean simply watched it all with a smile. Only after a moment did he say to Alice, "Alice, prepare hot water for me..."

After Alice nodded obediently to show that she understood, Sean turned to the others and instructed, "Thor, you and Phil take those two chests to my room. Afterward, arrange lodgings for Vinson and the others. Hmm... for now, they'll have to squeeze in somewhere. Once you're done, everyone may rest. Push dinner back by an hour." After saying that, he gave Alice a subtle look and took the lead toward the house.

Alice immediately followed Sean, keeping a few steps behind him. After receiving his orders, everyone else quickly began moving. Before long, Thor and Phil directed the others in safely carrying the two wooden chests into Sean's room. Then they each busied themselves with their tasks...