Calais Town

Sunlight quietly leaked through the cracks in the window, gently falling on the foot of the bed and dispersing the slight chill in the room.

Bai Xuan slowly opened his eyes and lay quietly for a moment. As his hazy consciousness gradually cleared, he remembered that he was currently in a guest room at the Wazhuang Post House.

Faint, chaotic voices drifted in from outside the window, mingled with the clattering sounds of objects being moved, breaking the morning silence.

Just as he propped himself up to sit, a soft knock came from the door.

“Sir, it is me,” the post house boss's warm and respectful voice came through the door.

Bai Xuan casually threw on his coat, walked over, and pulled open the door.

The boss was standing at the doorway, cradling a heavy, large basket in his arms. It was piled high with items, nearly overflowing.

The boss stepped sideways into the room, gently set the basket on the table, and then consciously took two steps back, standing to the side with his hands hanging down.

Bai Xuan looked down at the basket on the table. His gaze paused, and he froze instantly.

The basket was filled to the brim with Magic Cores. The large ones were like pearls, while the small ones were like fingertips, all in various colors and glowing with a faint aura.

Besides those, there were also some scattered monster fangs and a few pieces of furry beast hides.

Along with two pieces of shimmering, dark scale armor, they were densely piled in the basket, almost overflowing.

He raised his eyes, looking at the boss with confusion.

“Sir, all the Magic Cores and monster materials that could be salvaged after last night's battle are here.”

The boss quickly explained, “I had people clean up and gather them overnight. Not a single thing was missed.”

Bai Xuan frowned slightly, contemplating in his heart.

This quantity was clearly too much. At least more than half of them did not come from the monsters he had slain last night.

The boss saw through his confusion at a glance. He quickly waved his hands and said with a smile, “Please don't overthink it, these are all for you.”

“Keeping these at our post house is useless. We would have to trouble ourselves to find a way to sell them, which is just a hassle. It's better for you to take them; they might be of use to you.”

Bai Xuan hearing this, immediately reached for the coin pouch at his waist.

This basket of materials was highly valuable, worth a good amount of silver coins at the very least. He did not want to take someone else's things for nothing.

Seeing this, the boss quickly stepped forward to press his hand down, his tone exceptionally earnest.

“Please, don't do this,” he said urgently, his eyes filled with sincerity.

“You saved us last night and protected our entire post house, yet you only accepted two gold coins. We already feel terribly guilty about it.”

“Taking these materials to the town is just a minor matter for you, but to us, they are nothing more than a pile of useless clutter. Please don't refuse.”

Having said that, fearing that Bai Xuan would insist further, the boss turned and walked out quickly. His steps were hurried, and he didn't even dare to look back, terrified that Bai Xuan would chase after him to force the money into his hands.

Bai Xuan watched his figure disappear down the stairwell, then looked down at the heavy basket of materials on the table. He shook his head helplessly, a trace of warmth rising in his heart.

He emptied the contents of the basket onto the table, sorting them roughly. With a wave of his hand, he swept all the materials into his Space Ring.

After tidying up, Bai Xuan went downstairs to the lobby.

By now, quite a few travelers were already eating breakfast in the lobby, the aroma of food wafting through the air.

The boss spotted him at once and quickly gestured to a nearby post house worker, who brought over a plate of steaming hot food.

It was no longer the coarse brown bread and stew from last night, but soft white bread, golden fried eggs, and a small piece of tender roasted meat.

“Please enjoy your meal, sir,” the boss said, coming closer with a smile.

Bai Xuan did not stand on ceremony. After sitting down and finishing his meal, he stood up to settle the bill, casually asking how much the breakfast cost.

The boss waved his hands repeatedly, insisting that the meal was on the house and firmly refusing to accept any money.

Bai Xuan seeing his firm attitude, did not press the matter. Carrying his knapsack, he turned and walked toward the stable in the backyard.

Over at the stable, his Chocobo occupied a spacious stall all to itself, receiving exceptionally premium treatment.

A stablehand was holding a brush, carefully grooming its feathers.

The Chocobo had its eyes closed, its head tilting slightly from time to time.

Occasionally, it would bend down to peck at the feed in its trough. Bathing in the morning light, it was so comfortable that its tail swayed gently.

Bai Xuan stood outside the fence, watching quietly for a couple of seconds, a trace of amusement flickering in his eyes.

This fellow certainly knew how to enjoy itself when given the chance.

Sensing his gaze, the stablehand quickly set down the brush, stood up, and said respectfully:

“Are you ready to depart, sir? The bird has been well taken care of. You may inspect it.”

Bai Xuan nodded slightly, pushed open the gate, and walked in.

Hearing the movement, the Chocobo slowly opened its eyes to glance at him, then lazily closed them again. It lowered its head to continue eating its feed at a leisurely pace, completely ignoring him.

Bai Xuan reached out and gently patted its head.

The Chocobo merely shook its head impatiently, continuing to focus on its food, not giving him any face at all.

Bai Xuan smiled slightly. Reaching out, he grabbed its neck and lifted it up with a gentle pull.

The Chocobo instantly panicked, its four legs flailing wildly in the air, with a few blades of unfinished grass still dangling from its beak.

It stared blankly at Bai Xuan, its round eyes seemingly asking, “What are you doing?”

Bai Xuan leaned in close with a smile, his tone gentle yet carrying an undeniable authority.

“We're leaving,” he said softly. “You'll have to work hard again on this journey.”

Looking at the smile on his face, the Chocobo shivered slightly, a flash of fear instantly crossing its eyes.

Although it couldn't understand what Bai Xuan was saying, seeing that smile of his brought a bad premonition to the Chocobo's heart.

It was all too familiar with this smile! Every time it saw Bai Xuan smile like this, something bad was bound to happen.

It was like that when they first met, and also on the way to the post house yesterday—this person had smiled just like this.

And then, it had been influenced by something to sprint madly all the way, screeching as it ran, completely unable to control itself. It had utterly disgraced the Chocobo name.

Ignoring the bird's inner thoughts, Bai Xuan nimbly fitted the saddle and harness onto it.

Then, leading it out of the stable, he swung his leg over and mounted it steadily.

The post house entrance was much tidier than last night, having clearly been cleaned up, but the ground still bore clear traces of last night's battle.

There were still a few crooked fences that hadn't been propped back up yet, and the ground was covered in craters and furrows of varying depths—marks left by the strikes of the staff last night.

The monster corpses had been cleared away, but the blood that had seeped into the soil had coagulated into dark brown patches.

A few people dressed as adventurers were standing near the entrance. Seeing Bai Xuan ride out on his Chocobo, they immediately hurried forward to meet him.

“Where are you heading, sir?” the leading adventurer asked with a smile, his tone carrying a hint of probing.

“If it's convenient, we could travel together as companions. We can look out for each other on the road.”

Bai Xuan shook his head slightly, his tone calm.

“I have urgent business and must make haste, so my pace will be very fast. I'm afraid I won't be able to travel with you all.” He paused, then added.

“May we meet again if fate permits.”

With that, he lightly patted the Chocobo's neck.

The Chocobo immediately stretched its long legs, sprinting out of the post house at a trot, quickly leaving the building far behind.

The adventurers behind him watched his departing figure, some unable to resist whispering among themselves.

The Chocobo ran faster and faster, the wind whistling past his ears. The Wazhuang Post House gradually shrank into a tiny black speck before finally vanishing completely beyond the horizon.

Leaving only a road stretching into the distance, guiding Bai Xuan toward his next journey.

...

Afternoon sunlight bathed the streets of Calais Town.

In the distance, the spire of the church was gilded with a warm golden light, shimmering softly in the wind.

In the center of town, the mansion of the White family stood in quiet grandeur.

The stone walls were covered in deep green ivy, which, layered thick and dense, exuded the steady and heavy dignity unique to old-money nobility.

The windows of the second-floor study were wide open. The thin curtains billowed slightly in the wind before gently falling back down, bringing in a hint of warmth from the outdoors.

Edmund White stood in front of the window.

His fingers tapped unconsciously on the windowsill, the rapid, fragmented rhythm betraying an irritability that was difficult to conceal.

Nearly fifty years old, his temples were already frosted with white, yet his back remained straight. Settled between his brows was the dignity of one who had long held a position of authority.

Only now, that dignity was tinged with a lingering gravity.

Upon the desk, several sealed letters lay scattered at random.

Beside them lay a newly delivered report, its ink still damp, evidently having just been passed into his hands.

Edmund's brow was furrowed deeply. As his gaze fell upon the report, his expression grew increasingly gloomy.

Just then, a soft knock sounded, breaking the silence of the study.

“Come in,” his voice was deep, carrying a hint of impatience.

The door was gently pushed open, and the steward, Jesse, walked in with a brisk pace and a solemn face.

He walked quickly to the desk, bowed respectfully, and spoke with a hint of urgency in his tone.

“My Lord, something has happened outside the town. The situation is rather troublesome.”

Edmund slowly turned around, his gaze falling upon Jesse, his eyes bearing the distinctive glint of a ruler.

“Speak clearly.”

Jesse took a deep breath, suppressing the heaviness in his heart, and said in a low voice, “Hundreds of refugees have swarmed the town gates, all of them having fled from the surrounding villages.”

“The monster tide has swept in again, and several villages have been affected. Those who could escape are all rushing here, as for those who didn't make it in time...”

He paused mid-sentence, the pity in his eyes impossible to hide. The implication was already painfully obvious.

Edmund's brow furrowed even tighter, his tone carrying a touch of gravity.

“Why would they flee to our Calais Town?”

Jesse smiled bitterly and shook his head, his tone helpless. “They said that other nobles have either shut their doors or driven them away directly. With nowhere else to go, they could only come to our Calais Town to try their luck.”

“After all, our White family has a somewhat better reputation in the surrounding areas.”

Edmund remained silent for a few seconds, looking out the window, his fingertips unconsciously rubbing the windowsill.

After a moment, he withdrew his gaze and instructed, “Set up a temporary camp on the open ground outside the town first. Dispatch tents from the mansion's storehouse.”

“Allocate a portion of our grain reserves as well, but do not distribute it freely. Have them work in exchange for food; this will also help share the town's labor burden.”

He paused, then added, “Also, have someone tally the labor shortages in the town's shops and manors, and recruit a batch of refugees.”

“Settle the rest outside the town for now, and we will make further plans later.”

Jesse nodded quickly, noting down the orders rapidly without daring to miss a single detail.

Edmund looked at him, and his tone suddenly turned a few degrees colder as he shifted the topic.

“As for the church, are they still refusing to budge?”

Jesse's face darkened further. Setting down his pen and paper, his tone carried a mix of resentment and helplessness.

“They came twice. After trying their holy magic, they refused to return, saying that the young lady's illness is not something that ordinary holy magic can cure, and that they are powerless.”

“Since then, they have shut their doors. No matter how many times we visit, they refuse to come out.”

Edmund's fist clenched tightly, his knuckles turning white, before he slowly released it a moment later. The coldness in his eyes was almost overflowing.

“Do they really think I am completely ignorant of their backroom dealings with the Cross family?”

He gritted his teeth, his voice kept extremely low but bursting with rage. “It seems they have lived too comfortably over the years, to the point of forgetting their proper place.”

Jesse looking at his furious state, opened his mouth, wanting to say some words of advice.

But the words died in his throat. He knew his master's temperament well; speaking further at this moment would only add to his vexation.

Edmund fell silent for a moment. Gradually suppressing his anger, his tone softened slightly.

“The traveler who appeared to be an outsider cleric you mentioned before—is there any news of him?”

Jesse shook his head, his tone carrying a hint of uncertainty. “At the time, we gave him the mansion's honored guest badge, but he didn't seem to care and left right away.”

“However... that man is indeed extraordinary. The church's clerics were completely helpless against the curse in the mine, yet he resolved it with ease.”

Edmund's eyes flickered slightly, a trace of hope flashing through them, and his tone became solemn.

“Send more people to keep an eye out for his whereabouts. If he comes to Calais Town, you must personally invite him to the mansion, and be sure to show the utmost respect.”

He paused, a trace of exhaustion creeping into his tone as his voice softened further. “Julia's illness has dragged on for too long without any sign of improvement.”

“The church's path is blocked, and the Cross family is watching us like a hawk from the sidelines. Since that man could lift the mine's curse, perhaps... perhaps he really can cure Julia.”

Jesse bowed his head and replied softly, “This subordinate understands.”

“No matter what conditions he sets, or what price he demands, agree to it.”

Edmund's voice was filled with resolve. “As long as he can bring Julia back to her senses, no matter how much we must pay, it will be worth it.”

Jesse nodded heavily. “This subordinate will arrange it immediately.”

With that, he bowed and withdrew, gently closing the study door behind him.

Silence returned to the study once more, leaving Edmund all by himself.

He walked back to the window, his gaze sweeping over the town's rooftops and the thick defensive walls, finally landing on the temporary camp that had just begun to be set up outside the town.

Dense crowds of dark figures moved back and forth on the open ground, like a swarm of ants driven by fate, struggling to survive in their desperate situation.

He thought of his daughter hiding in her room all day, of the church's evasiveness and excuses, and of the Cross family's increasingly brazen underhanded maneuvers. The weight in his heart grew heavier and heavier.

He shook his head gently, all his emotions bottlenecked in his chest.

Ultimately, leaving only a long, deep sigh.