“Sander.”

“This subordinate is here.”

“Your salary for next month will be forfeited, you good-for-nothing. Who told you to spend so much?” Lint scolded, looking heartbroken.

Sander held his tongue.

As Lint continued muttering, he glanced around Tie Mu City’s streets and buildings.

“This Tie Mu City is well built.”

“It’s nothing compared to Snowfall City.”

Snowfall City was one of the largest cities in the human realm, so naturally, Tie Mu City could not compare to it. Sander’s response was quite accurate.

Lint shook his head. He was well aware that the gap between Tie Mu City and Snowfall City was vast, perhaps even insurmountable. In terms of population alone, the difference was several times over.

Snowfall City was a metropolis with nearly half a million residents, while despite all Richard’s efforts, Tie Mu City only boasted twenty thousand permanent residents at present.

However, Lint’s observations were more detailed. He could see that the city’s underground sewage system, public baths, roads, and other infrastructure were quite advanced and well maintained, and that the various districts within the city were laid out in a logical manner.

In this, Snowfall City was rather disordered, leading to frequent traffic jams and flooding.

“This city’s designer was quite a talent as well,” Lint said.

Though Sander hadn’t observed quite as thoroughly, upon being pointed in the right direction by Lint, he too noticed several unique aspects of the city.

Tie Mu City wasn’t large. After wandering for four hours, the two had seen most of it.

It was now the dinner rush. Lint, a man who never deprived himself, and Sander set about tracking down the best restaurant in town to satisfy their palates.

“Right this way sir, sir.”

Before they could make their way up the stairs, a waiter emerged to greet them.

They followed the waiter into the establishment. The main hall was packed, likely due to the dinner rush.

Sander frowned at the noisy crowd. As both Lint’s trusted subordinate and protector, he instinctively disliked having meals with his lord in such a crowded environment.

The waiter, a man experienced in reading faces, took note of the two men’s unusual demeanors. “If you’ll please follow me, sir, sir, we have reserved seats upstairs.”

“Sir, we have reserved seats upstairs, but the price…”

“Lead the way.”

“Of course, honored guests, upstairs.”

On the second floor, Lint had a better view of the restaurant’s patrons. During the course of ordering, Lint had gotten a sense of the prices at this establishment: a table of good food cost one or two silver narls, a hefty sum equivalent to a common family’s monthly expenses.

Aside from noble families, few commoners could afford such a meal, yet the patrons here appeared to be mostly commoners.

The diners looked almost uncultured, and if he were pressed for an adjective, he’d have called them nouveau riche. These were the first few who had grown rich under Richard’s rule. The group was mainly composed of merchants, wealthy farmers, and junior military officers—the Flying Bear Army paid handsomely.

“Bang!”

A loud noise drew Lint’s attention. A well-dressed gentleman had sat down before the main hall.

“Today, we’ll recount Young Master Richard’s great battle against the pirate raiders and his heroic efforts to protect our homeland and its people!”

“Upon hearing Young Master Richard’s powerful battle cry, ‘Do not harm my people!’ the pirate was so terrified he could neither move nor speak, and was swiftly taken into custody!”

“Nice!”

As the storyteller continued, the crowd below cheered in approval.

“Hah!”

Unlike the rapt Lint, Sander couldn’t help laughing out loud.

“What are you laughing at, Sander?”

“My lord, this storyteller is too much—he’s completely disregarding all logic. No one can freeze a man to the spot with just a roar on the battlefield. It’s preposterous.”

“That’s true, but he’s not telling it for an expert like you, look, the common folk are convinced.”

“Brilliant, brilliant.”

Lint couldn’t help but praise the performance twice.

“Isn’t this just the same as those bards?” Sander asked, still a bit confused.

“No, they’re different. I never thought about it before, but now it’s clear the bards have gone down the wrong path.”

“Those minstrels always weave their tales through convoluted verses and sing them in a cryptic manner, thinking themselves sophisticated, but in reality, how many people can truly understand them? This storyteller is different; his words are simple and clear, easy for anyone to understand. After hearing this tale, everyone knows that Young Master Richard is a caring lord who loves his people.”

“Then, shall we return to Snowfall City and start crafting some stories of our own?”

Sander asked, still unsure. This storytelling style wasn’t difficult to learn, and with the resources at Lint’s disposal, perhaps he could even surpass Young Master Richard’s performance.

“Are you planning on telling stories about me, my father, or the elders of the Lancelot Family?”

“Er…”

Sander also found himself at a loss for words. Unlike the Hunter family, whose situation was rather straightforward, the Lancelot Family, having existed for centuries, was much more complicated.

A minor noble family could count itself lucky if one of their knights inherited the title, but the Lancelot Family produced a dozen or so knights every generation, naturally leading to many more power struggles and disagreements.

Shaking his head, Lint took a bite of food, intending to listen to more stories—but it was then that the voice of a youth came from behind him.

“You two have quite a bit of space at your table. The private rooms are all occupied, might I join you?”

Turning around, Lint saw a handsome young man approaching, a bulge beneath his clothing that indicated he carried a weapon.

Sander stood up defensively, placing his hand on his sword.

“Easy, Sander.” Lint waved his hand, gesturing for Sander to sit back down. “There’s no harm in sharing a table, but we’ve already ordered quite a few dishes…”

“That’s no issue; add two more. May I join you for a drink? We’ll call it even.”

“Then, please have a seat.”

The young man cupped his hands in gratitude, then casually sat down across from Lint. Sander remained standing, staring at the young man, looking as though he was ready to attack at any moment.

“I don’t recognize you. You must not be from Tie Mu City.”

“We’ve come from Snowfall City, here to do a bit of business.”

The two began to converse, both wearing smiles, though each secretly called the other a little fox in their mind.

They spoke of various topics, seeming to hit it off, though Sander remained on the outskirts of the conversation, unable to follow along.

“Sir, what are your thoughts on the current state of the kingdom?”

This question, which Lint had been mulling over for some time, finally made its way out, and he stared intently at the young man.

“As expected, it’s a splendid age, full of prosperity and growth. Under His Majesty’s wise governance and the assistance of all the wise men in court, the dragon knights protect the kingdom like a steadfast rock.”

The young man’s shower of compliments left Lint momentarily stunned. He lifted a finger, pointing at the young man. “I’ve never wronged you in any way. Why would you go out of your way to call me a fool?”

“Ah.” The young man paused, glancing around, as if checking to see if there were any signs in the vicinity warning against discussing politics. Then, as if having made a decision, he said, “The kingdom’s prosperity is like a magnificent castle in the sky.”

“Oh? And why’s that?” Lint finally showed genuine interest.

“The dragon knights are both the cause of and solution to everything.”