Competition Month ended, and the White Phoenix Team entered a new Rest Month.
One day, while Bai Xiaowen was making his routine check of goods being transferred through the warehouse, he suddenly gave a soft exclamation.
"What is it?" Li Shuyi, who was coaching Xiao Jun through her exercises nearby, turned her head like a cricket whose antennae had been touched.
"Something unexpected has happened in the fief. Cecilia's agreed-upon signal showed up among the warehouse goods."
Bai Xiaowen snapped his fingers. "I'll summon Cecilia and ask her what happened."
After Bai Xiaowen summoned her, Cecilia appeared before him in full military dress.
"Dio." Cecilia hurried over and hugged Bai Xiaowen. After kissing him on the lips, she said, "The fief... no, something has happened in the Gorseflower Empire that's beyond my authority to handle."
Bai Xiaowen awkwardly let go of Cecilia's firm, slender waist. "Tell me about it."
Cecilia took out a letter.
It was made of fine parchment that had clearly undergone perfuming and other treatments. Not only did it lack the usual sheepskin smell, it also carried a subtle fragrance.
Most importantly, the broken wax seal on the envelope still bore the Gorseflower imperial family's crest!
"A letter from the Gorseflower imperial family?"
Bai Xiaowen took it.
Cecilia spoke quickly. "It's from Prince Nicholas... no, I should call him Nicholas IV. He's made you lord of Northland, and he's given you the authority to act as you see fit anywhere in the Gorseflower Empire!"
Bai Xiaowen read the letter.
Its ornate language was full of the elegance favored by royalty and nobility, but Bai Xiaowen could still see the message beneath it.
Urgency.
It was as Cecilia had said. Nicholas had made Bai Xiaowen grand lord of Northland, which meant the entire region, including Blackrock City, which