Henwell is momentarily stunned as he sees the woman before him dressed in traditional Eastern attire, performing the full kowtow while wearing a veil.

  He shifts his war spear to his left hand, raises his right hand to his chest, intending to return a noble’s greeting.

  But then his hand freezes midair.

  Finally, recalling scenes from Chinese martial arts dramas, he offers a fist-and-palm salute. “Henwell, greetings, Lucy!”

  Lucy studies the tall, heavily armored Henwell with curiosity.

  After a pause, sensing Henwell’s awkwardness, she covers her mouth and giggles softly. “Alright! We haven’t met before, but we’ve chatted a lot in the group. We’re half-acquainted, so no need to be so formal. Just call me Lucy. From now on, I’ll call you Henwell. Consider this our first offline meetup as online friends!”

  With that, Lucy bows again. “Thank you, Henwell, for coming to my aid!”

  Henwell replies, “No need to thank me! We’re all just trying to get by. Maybe I’ll be asking you for help one day! I’ve got my hands full. You know, I’m about to get married! Who’s the target? How many people? What’s their strength? When and where’s the strike?”

  Lucy waves her hand. “Henwell, don’t rush. Once reinforcements arrive for this mission, I’ll fill everyone in. As for timing, rest assured, I’ve already consulted the higher-ups. They’ve adjusted the flow of time here. Even if you stay a whole year, only a day will pass back home.”

  ”The tasks I’m handling will be wrapped up within six months once all our people are here. During that time, Henwell, you can rest easy in the manor I’ve arranged. I’ll send trusted aides to take care of your daily needs.”

  Henwell nods, understanding. He follows Lucy out of the city.

  They arrive at a man-made, renovated cave filled with traps and byrinths. It’s a fairly hidden location.

  Led by Lucy, Henwell steps up to the mountainside.

  Night has fallen, but Henwell is still stunned by the sight before him.

  Several kilometers away stands a sprawling city abze with lights.

  It’s rger than any city Henwell has ever seen, with walls soaring dozens of meters high.

  From his vantage point halfway up the mountain, looking down at the city’s countless glowing windows, Henwell feels genuine awe.

  By rough estimate, the city houses at least two million residents.

  In a feudal era, a city with over two million people. That’s truly magnificent!

  For the first time, Henwell truly grasps the power of this world’s so-called Tudor Dynasty.

  The night breeze stirs Lucy’s robes, causing her veil to flutter and briefly reveal a breathtakingly beautiful face beneath.

  Lucy speaks softly, “Isn’t it magnificent? When I first arrived, I was stunned by this miraculous city for a long time. This is the capital of the Tudor Dynasty—Hongfeng City!”

  ”It has over 2.6 million registered residents, not counting those hidden in the bck market or forgotten corners. This city is nothing short of a miracle—both dangerous and enchanting. For a thousand years, countless heroes and legends have perished trying to cim it.”

  Henwell falls silent for a long moment. He recalls Guardian City and Lake Wheat City, both grand cities in their own right.

  Yet, compared to the city before him now, those two seemed to ck something.

  Henwell finally realizes what’s missing: the bustling life, the vibrant energy!

  No matter how magnificent a city is, it’s ultimately a pce for people to live.

  Only with a lively popution can a city truly prosper and possess a soul.

  After gazing at Hongfeng City for a while, Henwell furrows his brow. “How many troops do you have? What’s the size of the city’s garrison? If there are reinforcements inside, I’ll need at least ten thousand armored elites to storm the imperial city!”

  Lucy rolls her eyes. “Henwell, I’m not asking you to help storm the imperial city! Rex. The mission isn’t as hard as you imagine. I just need a few experts—trusted ones at that!”

  She then links her arm with Henwell’s. “Come on! I’ll take you to the manor I own. I can’t be gone too long.”

  Henwell doesn’t find anything unusual about her intimate gesture. On the Forgotten Continent, women tend to be quite open.

  So, Henwell arrives at the foot of the mountain and boards a carriage. After about half an hour, they reach a quiet manor just outside the city.

  The estate covers over ten acres. For someone to own such a rge property outside a city like Hongfeng City speaks volumes about Lucy’s business acumen.

  All the servants and workers in the manor are mute, clearly carefully selected.

  Many of the household staff are visibly shocked by Henwell’s towering stature.

  Once Henwell is settled, Lucy takes her leave.

  The only person in the manor who isn’t mute is the steward, a man in his forties named Number Eight.

  Being entrusted to care for Henwell shows just how much Lucy trusts him.

  Number Eight asks, “Young Master Henwell, would you like something to eat? The kitchen has prepared a meal.”

  Henwell, deciding to try the taste of Eastern cuisine, nods in agreement.

  Soon, a carefully prepared feast is brought to the sitting room outside Henwell’s bedroom.

  Once the dishes are all id out, the steward politely excuses himself.

  Henwell then pushes aside his armor, removes his helmet, revealing his distinctly European features, quite different from those of the East.

  After a moment of adjustment, he manages to use chopsticks.

  Henwell thoroughly enjoys the meal, nearly finishing every dish.

  When he puts his helmet back on and signals the steward to return, the steward notices the empty ptes.

  In a tactful tone, he asks, “Young Master Henwell, was the meal to your satisfaction? Would you like another set?”

  The phrasing is artful—not directly asking if he wants more, but if he wants a new set, avoiding any implication that Henwell has an enormous appetite. The steward pys his role perfectly.

  Henwell waves his hand, indicating he’s full.

  The steward immediately orders the dishes cleared and says, “Young Master Henwell, the bathwater is ready. Would you like to change and bathe now?”

  Though it’s summer, a hot bath feels even more refreshing.

  While the steward prepares the bath, Henwell removes his armor and puts away his weapons.

  The steward notifies Henwell when the bath is ready, and at no point does anyone see Henwell’s face.

  After a rexing bath, Henwell lies on the bed, beginning to ponder the mission ahead.

  Lucy hasn’t revealed the details yet, but Henwell already suspects it has something to do with the sprawling Hongfeng City outside.