The border between the Stantin Duchy and the Lampari Kingdom was roughly eight hundred kilometers from Anvilmar City as the crow flew. At the Mana Airship's speed, they could reach it in exactly eight hours.
Xu Yi had originally planned to leave at dawn so he could arrive in Anvilmar City that afternoon. If nothing unexpected happened, he could have dinner with Servini that evening and discuss the Lampari Kingdom's declaration of war against the Sark Kingdom with her at length.
The first leg of their journey the next day went smoothly. Around noon, however, just as the Mana Airship reached Karamay City, a little over two hundred kilometers from Anvilmar City, something unexpected happened.
"President, it looks like... a few people are flying toward us." The Mana Airship's pilot looked thoroughly surprised as he reported this to Xu Yi.
Nearly two years had passed since the Xinfei Merchant Guild first developed the Mana Airship and began testing it. It had flown to countless places during that time, but this was the first time anyone had approached it high in the sky.
Xu Yi glanced ahead through the window and saw several black specks rapidly approaching in the distance.
Obviously, anyone who could fly through the sky had to be a mage.
But why had these mages, who presumably belonged to the Lampari Kingdom, suddenly blocked the Mana Airship's flight path?
Given the Xinfei Merchant Guild's reputation in the Lampari Kingdom, how could they fail to recognize its Mana Airship?
Xu Yi frowned in thought, then motioned for the pilot to stop the Mana Airship. He opened the cabin door and flew out to meet them.
"President Xu, it's been a long time."
Xu Yi recognized the mage leading the group. He was Lakstan, the current vice president of the