Chapter 461

Rafe Cavatt, the Northwest Republic's second Director of Mining and a consul, stood beneath a lush tree roughly two miles outside Glimmerstone City, gazing northeast along the road. Beside him were a temporarily set-up table and chairs, and on the table sat a silver-white square box.

"Clito sent me a message through the temple before, saying he'd probably be back today. Why hasn't he shown up when it's almost evening?" He had waited for a long time without seeing anyone, and could not help frowning as he muttered, "Wasting half my afternoon is one thing—I'm on leave today anyway, with nothing much to do—but if this drags on any longer, the fish will melt!"

Just then, he spotted a carriage emerging from the far end of the road, rolling briskly toward him.

The man driving from the coachman's seat was a handsome fellow in light leather armor, with long black hair and features that carried more than a hint of femininity. Put kindly, he was graceful and strikingly refined; put less kindly, he looked like a cross-dresser—or a sissy.

The man had sharp eyes and spotted Rafe from far away. He burst into laughter, snapped his whip sharply through the air, and urged on the mixed-blood steed—its forehead and limbs dotted with small scales—as it pulled the carriage whistling forward. Then he gradually slowed down and stopped neatly beside Rafe.

"Hey, Rafe, you really came to pick me up!" He jumped down from the carriage and said with a grin, "I never expected a busy man like you to actually keep his word. You gave me quite a scare!"

"We agreed on it in the message. Keeping one's word and honoring one's promises is one of my principles in life," Rafe said with a straight face. "I even specifically took