Long River Town

This mounted band was made up of Gato Raiders, a nomadic people entrenched across the grasslands in the east of the continent, and the most dangerous ungoverned armed force.

They were the most infamous large-scale bandit collective on the entire continent.

They were skilled with bows and horses and fierce in battle, but they were almost impossible to communicate with—they had built a nearly closed society on the eastern grasslands, rejecting all diplomatic and trade requests and attacking any outsiders who tried to enter Gatu territory.

In truth, they were a coalition of tribal warlords who lived by plundering wherever they went.

Raiding caravans in the Lionheart Kingdom or the Raven Kingdom of the Northern Territory, abducting women, and pillaging villages—this was their daily life.

But ever since Count Oden built Brave Shield Fortress thirty years ago, the Gatu had rarely launched raids in the direction of Long River Town—small groups of raiders were blocked beyond the grassland border by the Brave Shield Fortress garrison, while large Gatu forces prompted timely warnings from the fortress.

It had been a long time since over a hundred Gatu people had raided deep within Long River Town's territory.

The two hurried toward Long River Town without stopping and finally arrived that afternoon.

Long River Town was a magnificent city, not the least bit inferior to Lion City.

What had once been a border town was now the largest trading city in the eastern region.

Long River Town lay against a great river, the Tongtian River.

Across the river to the north stretched vast wilderness; to the west lay dense marshlands threaded with waterways; mountains shielded the south; and the immense Long River Forest stood to the east. In Long River Town alone, one could experience every kind of scenery the continent had to offer.

One could also see people of every race on the continent...

Unlike any other city, Long River Town had its own distinct culture—it was a city built jointly by generations of adventurers and Pioneer Lords.

Pioneering territory did not actually have a high success rate.

The vast majority of pioneering nobles died young in endless battles—especially around Long River Forest and the Gatu Grasslands.

Yet the chance to become part of the true ruling class could only ever be won on the battlefield.

Thus, even at the risk of their lives, countless adventurers pressed onward, hoping to carve out a bright future for themselves with the swords in their hands.

For commoners, the most likely way to rise in status was also through the battlefield—serving as mercenaries under a noble lord, earning military merit, and gaining the lord's favor.

As the lord's territory expanded, commoners with distinguished military achievements might be granted knighthoods and become members of the nobility.

Naturally, such opportunities were more plentiful under Pioneer Lords.

Therefore, anyone seeking to make a name for themselves in the Eastern Province, whether a commoner mercenary or a noble Pioneer Lord, came to Long River Town first.

The nobles came here to recruit troops and purchase horses, while the mercenaries came to seek their futures.

Though only a handful of adventurers succeeded in soaring to greatness, the merchants of Long River Town made fortunes from them...

This made Long River Town's commerce, especially its military supply trade, extraordinarily developed—arms dealers, horse merchants, and traders in all manner of provisions and building materials, rarely seen in other cities, could be found everywhere.

The reason Grand Duke Alma and Count Oden both coveted this territory was precisely because its thriving commercial environment could bring in considerable tax revenue.

Long River Town's current lord was actually Duke Elfwan. Unfortunately, he had been bedridden for years and was said to be partially paralyzed.

Though the aged Duke Elfwan had many wives and concubines, he had not had a single child. He had no siblings either, and seemingly had no way to pass on his family bloodline. Naturally, this gave Grand Duke Alma certain ideas. Some of Long River Town's administrative affairs were now managed on Grand Duke Alma's behalf.

Count Oden, renowned for his military achievements, had raised his forces from Long River Town and built Brave Shield Fortress in the north step by step. He possessed considerable popular support and prestige in Long River Town, so it was only natural that he had some ideas about it as well. Long River Town's garrison and defenses were currently managed on Count Oden's behalf.

Thus, the two factions naturally fought openly and secretly over Long River Town's future ownership.

After arriving in Long River Town exhausted, the two immediately found the city defense force's barracks.

The barracks openly displayed Count Oden's double-lion shield crest—Count Oden made no effort whatsoever to conceal his designs on Long River Town.

Of course, the administrative hall opposite the city defense barracks was not particularly discreet either—Grand Duke Alma's lion-claw banner hung there.

Li Ang showed his noble insignia to the guards and entered the city defense barracks.

The officer who received him was a burly middle-aged man with a face full of beard.

"Sir, I am Ralph, Knight Commander under Count Oden. Are you certain you saw a large number of Gato Raiders nearby?"

"Yes. Ten hours ago, on the road south of Long River Town, in an uninhabited area."

After hearing Li Ang's "report," the bearded officer clearly did not believe him. "That is impossible, my lord! The Gatu people have not entered Long River Town in thirty years..."

Perhaps only because both people making the report were nobles did the bearded man refrain from throwing them out outright.

Li Ang looked at the map of Long River Town hanging on the wall, walked over, and pointed at it. "I swear upon my family name that we saw a force of over a hundred Gatu cavalry at this location."

That fog-shrouded uninhabited region lay deep within Long River Town's territory, more than three hundred li from Long River Town and over five hundred li from Brave Shield Fortress at the border.

A noble's oath upon his family name could not be doubted, yet the bearded officer still found it hard to believe. "But, my lord, Brave Shield Fortress has sent no warning of enemy activity! It would be impossible for the Gatu people to cross the border without Brave Shield Fortress knowing. Otherwise, it would be treason!"

Li Ang and Sarah exchanged glances.

Sarah was clearly startled, then sharply sensed that something was wrong—having mingled among nobles for years, this social butterfly was highly sensitive to politics. She immediately reminded Li Ang in a low voice, "My lord, perhaps a month ago, Duke Alma had Foucher..."

Li Ang gave Sarah an approving look, and she understood, closing her mouth.

Li Ang studied the map seriously once more, then took a crumpled parchment scroll from his pocket and handed it to the bearded officer.

"This may be connected to the matter Count Oden previously entrusted me to resolve... I think you should read this letter first."

Oden had indeed asked Li Ang to carry a letter—and had written it in front of him.

The letter served as proof that the two sides had established a cooperative relationship.

In it, Oden instructed his subordinates that matters the Fletcher Family could not conveniently handle could be given to Li Ang.

At the same time, should Li Ang encounter danger, he could seek aid from Oden's territory.

The letter included one line: "Cooperate with Mr. Li Ang as much as possible."

This was, of course, meant to allow Li Ang to swiftly deal with the "bandits" entrenched in Oden's territory.

But the Gatu people Li Ang had unexpectedly encountered, the Gatu rider Sarah had seen at Foucher's place, and the lack of any incident at border-side Brave Shield Fortress—put together, these circumstances naturally allowed Li Ang to realize that the Gatu people's appearance deep within the kingdom was most likely due to the territorial dispute between Grand Duke Alma and Count Oden.

Since this was not a large-scale Gatu invasion but a political struggle, Li Ang naturally needed to seize the chance to extract some benefit—after all, the phrase "cooperate as much as possible" was not easy to quantify...