Chapter 860: This is to establish our prestige

Cai Tong frowned tightly: "You all hurry and leave, while there's still time; I don't even know when they'll act."

He paused: "Kui Yi is ruthless; he might arrive any moment."

He glanced at Tuan Tuan: "You still have a child; you can't fight head-on."

Xiao Ze set down his chopsticks, the corners of his mouth slightly curving: "No problem, Mr. Cai, eat your meal in peace; after we finish, we'll go back to the ship."

"Then, I want to visit Governor Kui Yi."

Cai Tong's face full of disbelief: "Visit him? Going to Relanzhecheng now is practically walking into a trap."

Xiao Ningxun lifted his teacup, took a sip, a hint of cunning flashing in his eyes: "Don't worry, it won't happen."

Cai Tong opened his mouth, but didn't pursue the question further.

He had long since learned how meticulous this young master's mind is.

Since he said it wouldn't happen, he must have his reasons.

After finishing lunch, everyone mounted their horses and headed toward the port.

In the distance, Xiao Er narrowed his eyes: "These red-haired devils really don't waste time."

Everyone looked toward the cargo ship.

But the scene on the dock was completely different from when they arrived.

Dozens of Red-haired Barbarian soldiers held their muskets, lining up along the dock, their dark muzzles neatly aimed at the cargo ship.

The ship was silent; not even a shadow of the crew could be seen— they must have all hidden below deck.

Luo Zhenjiang pulled Tuan Tuan tighter into his embrace.

Tuan Tuan furrowed her little brows: "Why are they surrounding our ship?"

Luo Zhenjiang patted her: "They're basically bandits."

Everyone came up close, sitting on their horses and coldly staring at those Red-haired Barbarian soldiers.

Cai Tong dismounted, quickly stepped forward, and said a string of gibberish Hollander to the leader.

That person tilted his head to listen, occasionally glancing at the crowd, and finally waved his hand impatiently.

Cai Tong spoke a few more sentences, his tone noticeably firmer; only then did that person purse his lips and step half a pace aside.

Cai Tong walked back, his face grim: "They said at most two people can go up."

Xiao Ze dismounted: "I'll go up with Xiao Ningxun; you all stay here, don't act rashly."

Everyone nodded.

Xiao Ningxun dismounted, walked to Xiao Ze's side: "Let's go."

Having said that, the two turned and headed toward the ship.

"Big Third Brother! Third Brother!" Tuan Tuan shouted: "Hurry back!"

The two turned in unison, smiling at her.

Xiao Ze said: "Don't worry."

Xiao Ningxun said: "Soon, be good, wait a moment."

The two walked past those dark muzzles, stepped onto the gangway, and boarded the cargo ship.

Moments later, they returned, without a word remounting their horses.

Xiao Ze nodded at Cai Tong: "Mr. Cai, please take us to the Relanzhecheng Governor's Office; trouble you to arrange an introduction."

Cai Tong gritted his teeth: "All right!"

Everyone galloped all the way, arriving before the highest three-story small building in the center of Relanzhecheng's north side.

The small building was entirely built of red brick, with a white stone column on each side of the main gate, the column tops carved with an unknown Europan divine beast, wings spread, crouching beneath the eaves.

A tricolor striped flag snapped loudly on the roof.

Cai Tong reined in his horse and stopped: "This is the Governor's Office."

Two Red-haired Barbarian soldiers stood at the entrance, their long muskets upright beside them, bodies ramrod straight.

Seeing everyone dismount before the door, the two immediately raised their muskets.

Cai Tong stepped forward quickly, speaking a few sentences in Hollander to them.

The two eyed the crowd dubiously, then slowly lowered their muskets.

Cai Tong turned his body, slowly scanning the crowd; his gaze finally settled on Tuan Tuan.

He looked at Luo Zhenjiang: "Watch the child well."

Luo Zhenjiang felt a stir in his heart.

This Cai Tong is really not bad; he knows to look after Tuan Tuan.

He nodded, holding the little Xiao Tuanzi in his arms even tighter.

Tuan Tuan smiled, eyes crinkling: "With big brother and uncles around, I'm not afraid!"

Cai Tong glanced at the musket in the Red-haired soldier's hand, worriedly shook his head, then turned and quickly went inside.

Moments later, a Red-haired Barbarian officer walked out.

He stared straight ahead, bypassing everyone, and strode toward the Training Ground.

Not long after, he led dozens of musket-wielding soldiers into the Governor's Office.

Tuan Tuan clung to Luo Zhenjiang's neck, curiously staring at the soldiers' faces over and over.

She leaned close to Luo Zhenjiang's ear and whispered: "Uncle Luo, they're so pale! Their eyes are green too, just like my little cat Snow Tuan."

Luo Zhenjiang chuckled, looking down at her: "Could your cat also have come from Europan Continent? That would indeed be a rarity."

He reached out and gently pinched Tuan Tuan's little cheek: "Someday bring it over for Uncle Luo to see, and I'll knit you a scarf."

Tuan Tuan quickly shielded her neck, eyes wide: "Uncle Luo, why are you just like Second Brother? He always wants to turn my fox into a shawl."

"You want to turn Snow Tuan into a scarf too! You're all so awful!"

"Is that so?" Luo Zhenjiang looked at Xiao Ningchen, "Indeed, heroes see things similarly."

Xiao Ningchen smiled faintly.

Tuan Tuan clenched his small fist and struck Luo Zhenjiang's shoulder once.

Everyone laughed.

"Everyone." Cai Tong's voice came from the doorway.

Everyone looked up and saw him standing beside the white stone pillar, his expression stiff, his tone having reverted to the original official demeanor: "Governor, please come inside for a chat."

He stepped aside and raised his hand: "Please."

Everyone followed him across the threshold, then understood where his expression came from.

The first floor was a spacious hall, extremely wide, with a high ceiling.

The passage was on the left side of the hall, with a Red-haired Barbarian soldier standing every few steps on either side, a musket resting at his side, its butt on the ground.

Everyone passed through the passage and stepped onto the stairs.

On the second floor, the passage ran down the center, with several closed wooden doors lined on either side.

As on the first floor, the Red-haired Barbarian soldiers stood rigidly on either side of the passage, staring straight ahead as they walked past.

Xiao Ningxun whispered to Xiao Ze beside him: "This is to show our strength."

Xiao Ze gave a slight nod, his expression unchanged.

Everyone followed Cai Tong and stopped before a heavy wooden door at the innermost side.

Cai Tong raised his hand and lightly knocked twice on the door panel, then said something respectfully in Dutch.

From inside came Mei Er's voice, noticeably deeper than before in the shop: "Let them in."

Cai Tong pushed the door open and stepped aside.

Everyone filed in one after another.

This room was much larger than the office hall of the shop.

In the center stood a long table, its corners inlaid with dark-gold bronze edging.

A man in his early fifties with gray-white hair sat upright at the head of the table—it was Kui Yi.

Behind him on the wall hung a tricolor striped flag, and beside it was a large sea chart.

Along both sides of the long table stood Red-haired Barbarian soldiers one after another, their muskets held at chest level, the dark muzzles aimed at the table.

On the side table by the window lay a strange mask, carved of wood, bearing an eagle with a ruby set in its forehead.

Cai Tong stood behind Mei Er, lowering his head silently.

Mei Er lifted his head, glanced over everyone, and his gaze finally settled on Xiao Ningyuan.

He spoke with a false smile: "Boss Xiao, weren't you just playing on the island? Why did you decide to visit the Governor?"

He raised his hand and pointed to the empty chairs opposite the long table: "Please have a seat."

Everyone took their seats in turn.

Kui Yi, however, didn't even lift his eyelids.