It was not yet fully light. Amid soft shades of pale purple and fish-belly white, the dawn slowly stripped the darkness from the sky. A chilly breeze blew gently, and only after a while did the golden sun gradually burst forth with countless rays.
When Han Shuo and Dokes returned to Brettel City, they were surprised to find that Valklan's troop of knights had also just arrived. Han Shuo could see traces of battle on them, and several men had even vanished forever.
Riding a feeble warhorse taken from the bandits, Dokes followed Han Shuo into Brettel City at an unhurried pace. The first things that caught his eye were two highly intimidating Magic Crystal Cannons on the city walls. The formerly dilapidated walls had not only been repaired until they looked clean and bright, but had even been raised. Looking from a distance, Dokes actually found Brettel City somewhat imposing and magnificent.
Nodding inwardly, Dokes turned to give Han Shuo, who was hurrying into the city with a somewhat gloomy expression, a surprised look. He understood that these changes in Brettel City were entirely the work of its new city lord.
"What happened? Was there another complication? Where are the merchants and the War Equipment?" Han Shuo drifted over like a ghost, his cold demand arriving with the chilly morning breeze and startling the still-shaken Valklan.
Only when Valklan turned and saw that it was Han Shuo did he breathe a sigh of relief. Hastily straightening, he explained, "My lord, there was indeed a slight mishap along the way. Our torches attracted the attention of bandits roaming through the night. Fortunately, that area was close to Tali Mountain. Before the bandits could arrive in large numbers, Fokalin, the leader of the Mountain People, came down to help us. The