By the Lord's Command, Seal the Merchant House!

The next morning, the air was still permeated with the damp chill unique to the forest.

Ye Wei'an lifted the tent flap and stepped out, only to find the camp devoid of its usual breakfast-time clamor.

Cain was waiting outside the door.

Seeing him emerge, Cain immediately stepped forward. "Young Master, the men are all waiting over there. They have something they wish to tell you themselves."

Ye Wei'an followed Cain's gaze to see over twenty soldiers already standing in a neat formation, each looking at him with burning eyes.

As Ye Wei'an approached them, the veteran in the front row was the first to drop heavily onto one knee.

Then, like a row of falling dominoes, the soldiers behind him knelt down one by one.

"Lord Ye Wei'an!" It was Rochi, the one-armed veteran, who led them. His voice was hoarse with emotion. "We were kept in the dark, nearly becoming abandoned pawns! Now we understand. From this day on, we no longer pledge our loyalty to that future baron in Firefall Fortress, but to you! Your will is our direction, and your enemies are our enemies!"

"At your service, my Lord!"

The soldiers' shout startled the birds in the forest into flight.

Standing on higher ground, Ye Wei'an looked down at these soldiers, a sense of unprecedented stability welling up in his heart.

This was the first armed force under his command since arriving in this world.

Although these men could hardly be called elites—many of them didn't even hold a warrior rank—to Ye Wei'an, they were the perfect raw material.

With the Companion System, even ordinary militia could be forged into a truly elite fighting force.

"Very well. Remember your oath today." Ye Wei'an accepted their allegiance. "Since you have chosen me, I will never fail that choice. Your glory shall be one with mine."

This spiritual transformation gave the entire troop a new lease on life.

The subsequent speed of breaking camp was astonishing. The soldiers even sang work chants with vigor; the tedious march seemed to become a joyous affair, and their pace was significantly faster than before.

The journey that was supposed to take two days was completed half a day ahead of schedule.

By the time the group arrived ten miles outside Firefall Town, news of the arrival of the Summerstar family's bastard son had already reached the town.

Mayor Bartok—a middle-aged man with a potbelly and a pair of neatly trimmed mustaches—had been waiting at the town entrance early with several bailiffs.

The moment he saw Ye Wei'an, his face was plastered with professional warmth and humility as he trotted over.

"By the great goddess Waukeen! Lord Ye Wei'an, it is Firefall Town's honor to see you return safely." Mayor Bartok clutched his chest theatrically. "I heard you encountered some savage bandits on the road? How harrowing! All the respectable people in town have been praying for you."

"I have received your concern, Mayor Bartok." Ye Wei'an sat atop his tall steed, looking down at him with an indifferent tone. "However, I have official business to attend to upon this return, and some parts of it may not be an honor for Firefall Town."

The smile on Bartok's face stiffened, and he coughed twice to mask his unease. "My Lord jokes. It is my honor to serve you. I have already prepared the best inn in town for you, and the soldiers can rest at the barracks in the East District..."

"Your heart is appreciated, Mayor Bartok." Ye Wei'an sat tall on his horse, interrupting him from his high vantage point. "I am not accustomed to staying in other people's places. I have my own lodging."

With that, he issued his order directly.

"Enter the city. Target: South Street."

Under the curious gaze of the townspeople, the caravan marched straight through the bustling market and finally stopped in front of the most imposing building on the street—the Old Oak Leather Shop.

When he heard the words "South Street," Mayor Bartok already felt that something was wrong.

Watching the caravan stop, the mayor asked with a final shred of hope, "Young Master Ye Wei'an, the lodging you spoke of, could it be..."

"You guessed correctly. It is indeed this merchant house." Ye Wei'an's words completely extinguished his hanging heart.

"My Lord, this... the owner of this Old Oak Leather Shop is no ordinary merchant." Bartok tried to struggle, frantically winking at Ye Wei'an. "He is deeply trusted by... 'certain big figures' in Firefall Fortress. If you barge in like this, and that noble person decides to investigate, this humble mayor cannot bear the consequences!"

Watching his conflicted expression, Ye Wei'an found it rather amusing.

It was clear that Bartok was afraid of being dragged into the infighting among the Summerstar family members and wanted an excuse to back out.

"I understand your concerns, Mayor Bartok." Ye Wei'an pulled a parchment document from his breast pocket and snapped it open in front of Bartok.

"By order of the liege, Baron Summerstar, the Old Oak Leather Shop in Firefall Town is suspected of colluding with bandits and harming innocent civilians. I am hereby ordered to immediately arrest the relevant culprits and seal the associated properties!"

After finishing the proclamation, Ye Wei'an looked at Bartok. "This warrant bears the Baron's personal seal. Mayor Bartok, you only need to tell me now: are you prepared to obey or defy the Baron's command?"

Bartok stared at the parchment, his heart skipping a beat.

He was intimately familiar with the pattern of three golden stars on a blue field—it was the seal of Baron Summerstar.

He was a smart man; the moment he saw the seal, he realized this matter was far beyond his ability to intervene.

"Oh my, my Lord, what are you saying!" Bartok immediately put on a righteous face, bowing even lower. "Since it is a secret order from the liege, this humble official will naturally obey! Since this leather shop is suspected of colluding with bandits, not only do I dare not obstruct you, but I must fully assist you in cleaning house!"

He straightened up and waved his hand violently at the bailiffs behind him. "Did you all hear that? Lord Ye Wei'an is handling a case under the Baron's orders. Everyone clear the way and assist his Lordship in taking over the Old Oak!"

Ye Wei'an put away the document and said coldly to Cain behind him:

"Break down the door."

"As you command, my Lord!"

Cain immediately dismounted and, leading the soldiers who had just pledged their loyalty and were eager to prove themselves, smashed open the doors of the leather shop.

"Everyone, get on the ground! Kill anyone who resists!" Cain was the first to charge into the shop.

After the original owner of the shop had been taken away, only the maids and helpers hired by Gray Crow remained.

These poor people had never seen so many soldiers before and were terrified, kneeling and begging for mercy one after another.

This massive commotion quickly drew the attention of half the street.

The merchants who had been trading on the South Street, the farmers carrying their baskets, and the loafers and thugs who spent their days idling about all swarmed over in a sudden rush.

People whispered to one another, their faces filled with disbelief—in Firefall Town, Gray Crow was a notoriously ruthless character, and it was rumored that his backing was unfathomably deep; even the sheriff would usually give him a wide berth, yet today, someone had actually led troops to smash down his door.

"Look! Gray Crow's den has been raided!"

"Judging by this display, is the Summerstar Family finally playing for keeps?"

"I heard that's the young master of the lord's house? Lordship is truly wise!"

The reason Ye Wei'an had made such a grand spectacle along the way, causing chaos while sealing the trading firms, was precisely to blow the matter out of proportion and spread the news.

Entering Firefall Town meant that he had returned to the territory of Firefall Territory.

The more people who knew he had returned safely, the less Lady Selina would dare to make a move against him—assuming she had received the news.

And the more people who knew Gray Crow was a villain, the harder it would be for Selina to twist the truth and cover up the evidence.