Chapter 270: Chapter 255: Return to Nuta City_1
The city gates of Nuta City were wide open to Yan Xing.
Even the City Defense Force had a hard time during the war. Count Theodore was out of funds, and the soldiers’ salaries had been overdue for a month. The quality of the troops’ food had also significantly decreased. Everything was dedicated to supporting the war effort on the battlefields, leading to low morale among the Nuta City Defense Forces.
Fortunately, the long-delayed salaries were finally distributed—two months’ worth paid out at once. The soldiers who received Grain Tickets from the Eternal Grain Bank were overjoyed. For days, they had enviously watched employees of the Eternal Commerce Guild carrying large bags of food home, and many had even considered working for Lord Yan Xing themselves.
With money in hand, the morale of the Nuta City Defense Forces was significantly boosted.
Upon seeing Yan Xing enter the city with his Guard Squad, they lined up, saluted, and shouted, "Lord Yan Xing, generous and merciful!"
The sight of those Werewolf Warriors in their magnificent armor filled their hearts with immense envy.
Lord Yan Xing is truly wealthy!
And Lord Yan Xing’s warhorse is so majestic!
Yan Xing, riding Flying Shadow and accompanied by his Guard Squad, entered the city smoothly. He waved in response to the cheers from the civilians lining both sides of the road, like a general returning in triumph.
The city had already accepted him; the Eternal Commerce Guild and the Eternal Grain Bank were deeply embedded in the hearts of its residents.
However, this also made some people anxious.
Although Yan Xing had traveled between Nuta City and the Eternal Domain frequently in recent days, he had maintained a very low profile. Riding Flying Shadow, he would hurry to and from the city from the air, often returning to the Eternal Domain before anyone even noticed his presence.
This time, however, Yan Xing entered the city with great fanfare through Nuta City’s northern gate, making a high-profile procession all the way to the Thunderous Swamp Embassy.
Everyone saw the Werewolf Raiders he brought with him.
These were not mere infantry temporarily using mounts for transportation; they were true cavalry.
Furthermore, the Thunderous Swamp forces stationed at the Nuta City Embassy had reached 500, the maximum troop limit Count Theodore had granted him.
While 500 Werewolf Warriors might not seem like a large number for Nuta City, they represented a force not to be underestimated.
For those who were already restless, this added another unpredictable variable to their calculations.
A stream of directives was secretly issued from the Temple in Nuta City.
According to information from Imperial spies, Lady Karol of the Silvermane Principality was holding secret talks with the Elf Messenger in Nuta City. Whatever they were discussing, it was detrimental to the Empire—they had to be stopped.
All mercenaries and private forces of nobles loyal to the Empire were to enter a state of combat readiness, prepared to cooperate with the Temple in seizing Nuta City. Primary targets: the Lord’s Mansion, Rose Court, the Jufeng Mercenary Group, and the Thunderous Swamp Embassy!
Simultaneously, the Jufeng Mercenary Group was also mobilizing for war. Target: the Temple.
Lady Karol continued her discussions with Prince Elrado about partitioning the Wildwind Highlands. To distract Yan Xing, she specifically arranged for Li Jiya to "arrive" in Nuta City at this precise moment.
Count Theodore was already too preoccupied with the war for Storm City to concern himself with anything else.
Two of the three fortress cities defending Storm City had fallen. Marquis Anderson was leading his troops in a desperate defense of the last stronghold, and the war situation was perilously critical.
Orcish Werewolf Cavalry had already been spotted near Storm City, and many supplies destined for the front lines were being destroyed.
With his own kin on the front lines, the pressure on the old Count was enormous.
He had considered asking Thunderous Swamp for military support at the front several times, but ultimately restrained himself.
He could not allow Thunderous Swamp’s influence to expand further; otherwise, the Theodore Family would truly earn infamy in human history. Nuta City had to remain the southern boundary of Thunderous Swamp’s influence.
Back at the embassy, although Yan Xing was unaware of the various factions’ activities within the city, he could sense that the city was like a tightly drawn bowstring, stretched to its breaking point.
The Intelligence Exchange’s big data analysis highlighted several developments:
The city’s mercenaries were unusually quiet. The Jufeng Mercenary Group and the Farsight Mercenary Corps, which had been openly hostile, had maintained an unspoken truce for several days.
Fewer mercenaries were taking jobs from the Eternal Commerce Guild, as unknown benefactors were offering higher bounties to recruit them.
Some claimed to have seen Elves.
Rumors circulated that Orcs were on the verge of capturing Storm City.
Other messages claimed that the army of Thunderous Swamp was about to attack Nuta City, and that the "evil" Swamp Tribe would slaughter and devour all its inhabitants.
What kind of ridiculous rumors are these!
"Chui Chui, lower the credit scores of those spreading rumors and slandering the people of Thunderous Swamp. Ban the accounts of serious offenders."
Spreading rumors in my Intelligence Exchange—have they lost their minds?
Yan Xing also realized that since he was seeing these rumors now, it meant these slanders against the Swamp Tribe and himself had likely been circulating in Nuta City for some time.
As the saying goes: "It takes but one mouth to spread a rumor, but a hundred legs to stamp it out."
He had to curb these rumors before they spread too widely.
Moreover, there was undoubtedly a reason for these rumors emerging at this particular time.
Therefore, Yan Xing gave Chui Chui a final instruction: "See if you can determine the origin of these rumors."
"Yes, Master."
Something big must be about to happen, Yan Xing said to himself.
But for now... I’ll see Li Jiya first.
Lady Karol was still staying at the Thunderous Swamp Embassy. Whenever she had free time, she would stroll around the embassy grounds, meticulously observing every unfamiliar item. Sometimes, she would even sketch the things she saw.
Yan Xing knew what Lady Karol was up to but didn’t stop her. If she wanted to look, he let her look. If she wanted to sketch, he let her sketch.
The more she sees, the more she’ll want to buy.
Yan Xing met Lady Karol once more. She was in the embassy’s rear garden, sitting under a large sun umbrella and drinking tea with Li Jiya, who was dressed in a different attire.