CHAPTER 208: CHAPTER 206: THE SPIES_1

The construction costs for Nuta City were borrowed by Marquis Anderson from the principality’s treasury. After the city was completed, the Marquis no longer had the funds to develop the economy and could only invite other nobles and guilds to settle in Nuta City, working together to build the logistical system for the Wildwind Highlands Legion.

Duke Silvermane made significant investments in Nuta City. The principality’s assets were used to build farms and workshops, and a palace was constructed within the city, named Rose Court. He arranged for a multitude of servants and guards in Rose Court, making it a place beyond Count Theodore’s control. Rose Court also relied on its special status to become the principality’s main intelligence hub in the Wildwind Highlands.

As the Duke’s envoy, Lady Karol resided within Rose Court, fully managing the intelligence system for the Wildwind Highlands.

This time, with the Orcs and Elves joining forces to attack the Wildwind Highlands Legion, the principality’s attempt to seize military authority from Marquis Anderson was undoubtedly akin to pulling chestnuts out of the fire. To seize the moment, regain control of the Wildwind Highlands Legion, and avoid losing Storm City and Nuta City, it was essential to have someone capable and trusted by Duke Silvermane holding the fort at Rose Court. Lady Karol’s appearance here at this time was enough to show her standing in Duke Silvermane’s esteem.

A long-prepared plan began to unfold, with the Duchy’s secret agents becoming exceptionally active in the Wildwind Highlands. Many dormant agents were activated. Among them, some had become residents of Nuta City from the onset of its construction, living like true civilians, waiting for the moment to be called into action.

Lady Karol placed her room on the top floor of the east tower of Rose Court, from where she could see the castle of the Lord’s Mansion.

When Yan Xing’s invitation arrived in Lady Karol’s hands, she was on the terrace of the tower receiving one of her subordinates. Lady Karol, dressed in ceremonial court attire, sat on a floral chair on the terrace. She glanced through the contents of the invitation and then left the card on the woven vine side table next to the armrest.

Yan Xing, serving as the envoy from Thunderous Swamp to Nuta City, had already been officially proclaimed throughout the city by a decree signed by Count Theodore, which permitted foreign troops to be quartered, granted diplomatic immunity, and even allowed Yan Xing to continue serving as Nuta City’s Peace Officer.

It seems this old fox is truly cornered, Lady Karol thought. Regardless of the accusations these measures might bring upon him, his priority was clearly to secure Storm City’s logistics.

Naturally, the extreme measures taken by Count Theodore had an immediate effect. Yan Xing’s Eternal Commerce Guild had already started a new round of recruitment and began issuing mercenary tasks wholesale. With too many people building roads north to south, they switched to constructing them east to west. Work also included constructing new manors, breaking new ground for cultivation, digging wells, and building canals. Large amounts of seeds were delivered to various manors in preparation for planting. Even more grain was brought into the warehouses of the Eternal Commerce Guild in Nuta City, and then distributed as wages to workers and mercenaries.

Upon arriving in Nuta City, Yan Xing dealt a decisive blow that smashed the rising grain prices, causing them to plummet even further. The number of idle mercenaries in Nuta City decreased, and public order improved considerably.

However, grain merchants who had previously stored grain at high prices were now washing their faces with tears. Many nobles looking to speculate were cursing Yan Xing in their private chambers. Even the business operated by Rose Court was in the red.

However, Lady Karol didn’t care for such money; in the face of land and power, money was insignificant. What she valued more was the impact Yan Xing’s sudden arrival in Nuta City, after having gone missing for two months, would have on her plans. Lady Karol didn’t waste time on the invitation. Attending the banquet would be the perfect opportunity to probe this person’s background.

"Li Jiya... have you taken care of everything I asked you to do?"

The woman standing opposite Lady Karol at that moment was the very owner of the bar where Yan Xing and Grey Mouse had made contact. Clad in the garb of a common civilian woman with a hood, Li Jiya replied with utmost respect, "My Lady... the safe house has been prepared. The secret agents tasked with its protection are operatives who have been in deep cover since the foundation of Nuta City.

"We are absolutely loyal to the principality.

"Once the Elf Envoys arrive at the safe house, we will ensure their security.

"Please be assured, my Lady!"

Lady Karol glanced at Li Jiya and then nodded slightly.

"The Duke, of course, trusts your loyalty; otherwise, he would not entrust you with such an important task.

"Still, I must remind you. The Elves sending Elf Envoys to Nuta City concerns the national security of the entire Silvermane Principality.

"If anything goes wrong, causing the principality to lose the Wildwind Highlands, then you and I, even in death, could not wash away our responsibility."

"Yes, Lady Karol," Li Jiya pledged earnestly. "We are Duchy’s secret agents who have undergone the strictest training. We will not disappoint the Duke or you."

Lady Karol indeed had great trust in these Duchy’s secret agents. They were orphans recruited by the principality’s secret agent organization, trained from a young age in various skills like infiltration, espionage, and assassination. Only those with the most resilient spirit and the most meticulous minds were selected for such extensive deep-cover missions. That they could remain undercover in Nuta City for so many years, simply waiting for this call to action, was enough to prove their loyalty.

"Hmm, when the Elf Envoys enter Nuta City, I will let you know." Lady Karol then asked, "Has there been anything unusual in Nuta City lately? The Farsight Mercenary Corps seems to be getting restless."

As a Duchy’s secret agent, it was also Li Jiya’s duty to gather other intelligence. Speaking of the Farsight Mercenary Corps, Li Jiya immediately reported the intelligence she had collected to Lady Karol.

"It is highly likely that the leader of the Farsight Mercenary Corps is one of the Temple’s people. One of his trusted captains, in his cups, let slip that Donald would restore his family’s title before long. And the one who revoked Donald’s family title... was the Imperial Emperor of the Gryphon Heart Empire. Therefore, only the Imperial Emperor can reinstate his title."

That the Farsight Mercenary Corps was affiliated with the Temple did not seem to surprise Lady Karol.

The priests of the Temple, accustomed to flattery, are ill-suited for such sly operations, she mused. Donald has been stirring up trouble with the mercenaries, but as soon as Yan Xing arrived in Nuta City, he hired all those idle mercenaries for construction work. Donald doesn’t dare directly attack the Lord’s Mansion... It seems his chances of regaining his title are fading further away.

Li Jiya then said, "I’ve heard that a task to assassinate Yan Xing has been issued, offering a hundred thousand gold as a reward.

"And now the Farsight Mercenary Corps is searching the city for a thief named Terence, who once appeared in my tavern.

"He had a secretive talk with a mercenary known as Grey Mouse. He cast Soundproof Magic, so I didn’t eavesdrop, as I feared raising suspicion.

"However, I saw from their lip movements that the word ’Orc’ appeared repeatedly.

"And Grey Mouse once worked for ’Shortgun,’ a Mercenary Organization known for its dealings with the Orcs."