Epilogue

Jia Ruo and the others brought Lady Lesthara to the small town of Urda.

Using his Hall of Tranquility badge, Lyle summoned the garrisoned Warrior Monks. He was going to lead them to retrieve the band of bandits.

Meanwhile, Neeko and Jia Ruo settled Lady Lesthara into the town's only inn.

They spent twelve silver coins to get Lady Lesthara the inn's best room.

Now, Lady Lesthara was curled up in bed beneath a blanket, holding a cup of hot tea and sipping it.

Through the steam rising from her cup, Jia Ruo, standing by the door, was finally able to get a proper look at Lady Lesthara.

She was around forty, with long, slightly disheveled brown hair and a somewhat gaunt face. Thin lips, big eyes.

Even her evidently well-cared-for face bore the marks of age.

Yet those fine wrinkles couldn't hide the lingering traces of her beauty. She must have been stunning when she was young.

It was just that Lady Lesthara's daughter didn't seem to resemble her, either in hair color or appearance.

Jia Ruo thought.

That was rather strange, but it wasn't his place to ask about it.

As Jia Ruo was thinking, Lady Lesthara put down her cup and looked over.

"Thank you for saving me."

"It was our duty. I may look young, but I'm already a Precidian Sheriff," Jia Ruo said.

"I know, but I still want to express my deepest gratitude on behalf of the Buvelle Family. This is a personal invitation, so please do me the honor of visiting sometime. I'd love to host all of you at my home."

"Madam, you're too kind."

"Please, don't refuse."

"It would be our pleasure. But right now, what you need most is rest. We'll take you back to the Placidium tomorrow. If you need anything, my companion and I are right next door. Good night, Madam."

Jia Ruo bowed, then led Neeko out by the hand.

After spending another twelve silver coins, Jia Ruo rented the room next door to Lady Lesthara's and settled in there with Neeko.

Early the next morning, Lyle walked into the inn with dark circles under his eyes, accompanied by the Coachman.

"Thanks for your hard work, Lyle."

From the looks of it, Lyle had been busy all night. Jia Ruo, who was having breakfast with Lady Lesthara, couldn't help feeling a little guilty.

"It's nothing. The important thing is that we completed the mission. Let's head back and report in."

Lyle waved his hand.

"Come have something to eat, Lyle. We can take care of the rest," Neeko said, her cheeks puffed as she spoke with her mouth full.

Lyle didn't refuse.

Before long, everyone had eaten their fill, and at Lyle's insistence, they immediately returned to the Placidium.

At last, the horse pulling the carriage no longer had to run for its life.

Close to noon, Master Percy personally received them in the Hall of Tranquility.

"Lady Lesthara, I'm glad to see you've returned safely. Ionia has been unsettled of late, and this was a failure on our part. But you should also take greater care of your own safety. Please bring guards with you when you travel from now on."

"Thank you for your concern. I've lived in Ionia for many years, and nothing like this has ever happened before. I'll be more careful in the future."

After saying this, Lady Lesthara hurried away. She needed to go home and let her daughter know she was safe.

"For your first mission, you did very well."

Master Percy turned to Jia Ruo and Neeko.

"I've read the report Lyle submitted. There's nothing wrong with it. You handled things beautifully."

"They were just a few petty thieves. We could handle them easily. Of course, we had Lyle's help," Jia Ruo said, feeling even more sorry for Lyle.

He'd thought Lyle might catch up on some sleep once they got into the carriage. He hadn't expected him to write up the report on their operation during the ride.

Lyle really was a model worker.

"Good. In that case, Lyle will accompany you on your future missions until he thinks you can manage on your own. Jia Ruo, strength doesn't come only from physical prowess. Experience and wisdom are essential too."

"Yes, Master Percy. I know I still have a lot to learn from Lyle."

Jia Ruo glanced at Lyle.

It looked like he'd be spending plenty of time with Lyle in the future.

"Good. I look forward to seeing you grow. Here, take this."

Master Percy pulled out a booklet.

"This is the Hall of Tranquility's Bounty List. It records fugitives who have committed crimes. When there are no urgent incidents to deal with, your Investigator Group will also be responsible for hunting these criminals. You can discuss it with Lyle and choose a target from the list. The Bounty List is updated on the first of every month, and the support staff will deliver a new copy to your lodgings. Also, as the name suggests, these fugitives have bounties on their heads. It's an extra reward from the Hall of Tranquility for Sheriffs. That was a lot of information. Did you understand?"

"I did, Master Percy."

Jia Ruo nodded. The system was a little like that of bounty hunters.

That night, after taking a bath, Jia Ruo lay comfortably on his stomach in bed. He didn't start cultivating right away, instead opening the booklet.

"Daler, a member of the Navori Brotherhood. Can use a little Fire Magic.

"Wanted for: During a clash with another faction, Daler burned down a village, killing fourteen innocent civilians.

"Bounty: 3,200 gold.

"Portrait follows..."

"Proda, an unusual mage skilled in Plant Magic.

"Wanted for: This mage believes that sacrificing living people can strengthen his Mana. So far, eight victims have died at his hands, their bodies drained of blood by plants.

"Bounty: 5,400 gold.

"Portrait follows...

"Addendum: This man is suspected of having a mental illness. Capture him dead or alive."

Jia Ruo flipped through the wanted notices one by one. Suddenly, he saw a familiar name.

"Yasuo, a disciple of the Gust Dojo, skilled in the magical power of Wind Element and a master of Wind Riding Swordplay, the Gust Dojo's legendary sword technique.

"Wanted for: During a past battle against Noxus, Yasuo killed the dojo elder he was supposed to protect. Given that his fellow disciples were all fighting the Noxian army at the time, we have reason to suspect Yasuo's loyalties.

"Bounty: 15,000 gold.

"Portrait follows...

"Note: He killed dozens of his fellow disciples who pursued him, including his own brother.

"Wanted dead or alive."

Jia Ruo sat up and studied the wanted notice closely.

The portrait showed a stern-looking man with long black hair hanging loose around his shoulders, rough stubble along his jaw, sharp eyes, and a diagonal scar across the bridge of his nose.

Yasuo was on the list too.

Jia Ruo knew the truth behind the matter: Yasuo had been falsely accused.

The dojo elder, Suma, had been asked by Riven to destroy Riven's Rune Greatsword.

But when Elder Suma used Wind Riding Swordplay to shatter the Rune Greatsword, one of the flying fragments accidentally struck and killed him.

As a result, Yasuo, the only person of his generation who had mastered Wind Riding Swordplay, was declared the killer.

The council would uncover the truth eventually.

Perhaps he could play a suitable role in the matter and get to know Yasuo and Riven, two heroes.