Xu Yi certainly could not remain in the territory the Moon Shadow Tribe had acquired from the Sark Kingdom and simply wait. He still had plenty of other matters to attend to.
Before leaving, however, he left behind the two hundred guards from the Xinfei Merchant Guild Guard Corps he had brought with him.
With their formidable fighting strength, the Guard Corps, together with the Moon Shadow Tribe's Forest Guards, could handle any force of ordinary Sark Kingdom soldiers numbering no more than five thousand.
Of course, in case the Sark Kingdom reacted particularly fiercely, Xu Yi had also instructed Philp, the captain of the Moon Shadow Tribe's Forest Guards stationed there, to retreat immediately without hesitation if he judged that they could not hold out.
They were not far from the Black Rice Wasteland. Once they withdrew there, their safety would be assured whether they headed east into Black Rice City or west to Black Rice Port.
After giving these instructions, Xu Yi had intended to return straight to the Stantin Duchy. Yet while passing through Black Rice City, he unexpectedly encountered Count Rivell, who had hurried there.
Count Rivell had come to Black Rice City specifically to await Xu Yi's return, bringing a private letter from Her Majesty Queen Servini.
After reading the letter, Xu Yi hesitated for only a moment before deciding to accompany Count Rivell to Anvilmar City for an audience with Her Majesty Queen Servini.
Black Rice City lay more than six hundred kilometers from Anvilmar City, but thanks to the Mana Sedan's speed and the convenience of the Road Network spanning the Lampari Kingdom, Xu Yi and Count Rivell set out in the morning and arrived in Anvilmar City toward dusk that afternoon.
"President Xu, it's been a long time since you last visited