Chapter 147 : Chapter 147

Chapter 147. You Pass!

After ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍leaving the Mercenary Association, the group headed straight for the core area of Thorne City—La Roche Square.

This ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍was the heart of the city, open and solemn. On ordinary days, it was where citizens gathered and where major events were held.

The ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍ground was paved with neat stone slabs, and sculptures and monuments representing the history of the Western Frontier and the glory of the La Roche Family stood around it.

At ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍this moment, quite a few citizens had indeed already gathered in the square.

Some ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍hurried through, while others gathered in groups of two or three to talk. The air was filled with a restlessness different from usual.

Even ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍though the news of war had not been officially announced, it had already quietly spread through the city by various channels.

Count Habe signaled for the officials who had come with him to begin moving.

They quickly set up simple tables and chairs in a relatively conspicuous spot on one side of the square and raised an eye-catching banner.

A few large words were written clearly on it: “Patrol Team Recruitment.”

This movement immediately attracted the attention of the surrounding crowd.

Quite a few people gathered curiously around them, most of them young people filled with curiosity toward anything new.

They looked at this sudden recruitment point, their faces carrying doubt and inquiry.

A young man who seemed rather bold squeezed to the front and asked loudly,

“My lords, what does this patrol team recruitment mean? Are we going to war?”

Eli, who was standing beside the recruitment table, took the initiative to explain.

He stepped forward, swept his gaze over the gathered people, and his voice spread clearly.

“Residents of Thorne City! Just as this friend asked, Thorne City is about to face a war!

The Federation remnants entrenched in Storm City intend to invade our home!”

He did not conceal the truth, and this instead caused the restless crowd to quiet down slightly. Everyone held their breath and listened.

“We have been ordered by the Governor of the Western Frontier, Lord Lucius La Roche, to recruit a patrol team!”

“Our mission is to maintain public security within the city and prevent chaos.

At the same time, we will also transport necessary supplies for the warriors fighting bloody battles on the front lines and ensure the stability of the rear!

For the Western Frontier, for our homes and loved ones, I ask everyone to join eagerly!”

He likewise borrowed the greater cause of the Western Frontier, but this time the target was hot-blooded young people, and it was clearly more persuasive.

When many of the young people heard words like “war,” “for the Western Frontier,” and “home,” expressions of excitement and interest instantly appeared on their faces.

The hot blood of young people was easily ignited.

“War?! Is that true? I want to join!”

“How dare they attack Thorne? Lord Lucius is still here!”

“That is right! We cannot let those Federation bastards look down on us!”

The crowd began to stir, and the discussions carried anger as well as an awakened sense of responsibility.

At the side, Ron watched as Eli handled the crowd with ease.

Understanding dawned in his heart, and he sighed softly, realizing that although he might not lose in military matters,

When it came to experience and flexibility in dealing with people from different classes, he was indeed lacking compared to Eli.

Clearly, he was even older than Eli by more than a little.

After figuring this out, Ron no longer hesitated. He took a deep breath and also joined the recruitment effort.

He immediately learned and applied what he had seen, adding the most crucial part.

“That is right! Joining the patrol team is not only for defending the glory of the Western Frontier. There is also pay! Ten days! One gold coin!”

The crowd, which was already somewhat tempted, heard the word “pay,” especially such generous pay.

For ordinary citizens and even some small property owners, this was a rather considerable income.

Those who had still been hesitating immediately hesitated no longer!

“One gold coin for ten days?! My lord! I want to sign up!”

“Count me in! My lord, I am strong!”

“And me! I know every alley in the city!”

The crowd immediately became even more enthusiastic, surging toward the registration table one after another. The atmosphere grew heated.

Count Habe, who was sitting on a chair behind them, watched this scene gently, his face carrying an approving smile.

He spoke at just the right time, making the noisy crowd quiet down a little.

“Brave warriors who are interested, please come this way and register with these officials.

This recruitment will be limited to three hundred people.”

He then turned to the officials, as well as Eli and Ron, and reminded them in a low voice,

“Pay attention and distinguish them carefully. We need those who are strong, know the rules, and obey orders.”

“Yes, Count Habe!” everyone answered in unison.

More and more people gathered in the square.

The patrol team’s duties sounded relatively low in danger. Not only could they truly contribute to defending Thorne,

but they could also obtain such generous pay. Naturally, everyone’s enthusiasm was stirred to its highest point.

People competed to display themselves.

“My lord! I served as a knight’s squire before! I know the rules!” a sturdy young man shouted.

Eli looked at his physique and posture, then nodded. “You pass! Go over there and register your name and address!”

“My lord! My lord! I am a Mid-Black Iron Tier knight!”

Another middle-aged man wearing old but clean leather armor squeezed forward.

Eli’s eyes lit up. “Mid-Black Iron Tier? Good! You pass!”

Eli and the officials busied themselves, doing their best to maintain order. They quickly and carefully selected people and recorded the applicants’ information.

Ron also threw himself into the work, speaking with the applicants and judging their conditions and reliability.

Time passed amid the bustle. The quality of the applicants was unexpectedly good.

Before long, all three hundred slots had already been filled.

Eli looked at the list in his hand, which was filled with names and simple information, and could not help feeling somewhat moved by the foundation of the Western Frontier.

Among these three hundred people alone, after preliminary confirmation, there were twenty-one formally ranked knights.

There was even a wandering knight whose strength had reached the Mid-Bronze Tier who had come to register. This was undoubtedly no small aid.

He raised his head and spoke apologetically to the crowd still surrounding them.

“Everyone! Thank you very much for your enthusiasm!

But I am sorry. The three hundred people we planned to recruit are already enough!

Those whose names have already been registered, please be sure to report to Count Habe’s residence before dusk today and gather there on time to receive further instructions! Those who are late will not be waited for!”

A wave of disappointed sighs and discussions immediately rose from the crowd.

“Ah? It filled up so quickly?”

“My lord! I do not want money! Just let me join too! I want to contribute to Thorne as well!”

A young man shouted anxiously, his face flushed red.

Count Habe smiled and stood, walking to the front. He spoke to everyone in a gentle but firm tone.

“Everyone’s loyalty and hot blood have already been seen by me, Aesop Habe, and by Lord Lucius as well!

I will report today’s events in detail to Lord Lucius. He will surely be proud of all of you!

However, the number of people in this patrol team has indeed already been fully planned, and we cannot increase it any further. I ask everyone to understand and return for now.

If there is a need, there may be other opportunities to serve the Western Frontier in the future!”

After hearing Count Habe’s personal explanation and praise, especially when he mentioned that Lord Lucius would be proud of them,those who had failed to register still felt regretful, but their emotions calmed considerably.

They no longer insisted and began to leave slowly in groups of two or three while talking among themselves.

Count Habe watched the dispersing crowd, then turned to Eli, Ron, and the officials, who had been busy for half the day, and said,

“You all did well. We will return first, and after lunch,

we will begin preparing the initial reorganization and training of these newly recruited people.”

“Yes!” everyone answered. Although they were tired, the task had been completed smoothly, so they all breathed a sigh of relief.

......

The group returned to Count Habe’s residence.

As soon as they reached the entrance, they saw a middle-aged man with a serious face and proper attire speaking quietly with Count Habe’s butler and a young man outside the door.

When he saw Count Habe return, the middle-aged man immediately ended the conversation.

He quickly came forward and bowed respectfully. “Count Habe, you have returned.”

“Ah, Baron Nathan?” Count Habe recognized the visitor, then saw the young man standing behind Baron Nathan.

When the young man saw Count Habe, he also immediately called out respectfully, “Grandfather!”

“Nick? Why have you come as well?” Count Habe looked at his grandson, and a helpless smile appeared on his face.

“Do not all stand outside the door. Come in and speak.”

“Yes!” Baron Nathan and Nick answered in unison, then followed Count Habe and the others into the residence.

After they arrived in the sitting room, everyone took their seats.

Baron Nathan did not exchange many pleasantries and went straight to the point. He spoke to Count Habe with a solemn expression.

“Count Habe, Lord Lucius urgently assigned me to assist with the allocation and transportation of some logistical supplies.

I have come this time under orders to formally hand over the internal public-security defense zones of Thorne City to you.”

As he spoke, he immediately took a rather detailed map from the leather pouch he carried and spread it across the table.

The map clearly marked every district of Thorne City, the main streets, important buildings, and the patrol routes and key areas handled by the constabulary office.

Baron Nathan pointed at the map and introduced the patrol priorities of each district and the places that required attention to Count Habe in detail.

These included granaries, armories, intersections between noble districts and civilian districts, and other such areas.

In addition, he also shared some experience from handling sudden incidents in the past.

Count Habe listened carefully, nodding from time to time and occasionally raising one or two questions, which Baron Nathan answered one by one.

After the introduction was finished, Baron Nathan carefully rolled up the map.

He handed it solemnly to Count Habe with both hands, his face carrying apology and helplessness.

“I am sorry, Count Habe.

The situation is urgent now. Most of the original combat-capable force of the constabulary office has also been transferred by the counts to assist with the defense of the city gates.

Lord Lucius has also assigned logistical matters to me, so I truly cannot take care of both sides.

From this moment onward, the heavy responsibility for public security within Thorne City is officially entrusted to you and the patrol team you have recruited!”

Count Habe stood solemnly and reached out with both hands, accepting that heavy map and… that responsibility.

He answered in a deep voice, “Rest assured, Baron Nathan. I will do my utmost and will not fail Lord Lucius’s trust.”