Chapter 549: Funding and the Holy Flame

In truth, this was not a particularly dignified or proper meeting.

The Stormwind City delegation arrived with extreme haste, far sooner than the letter had promised—"a few days hence."

As a result, the welcome preparations in Shi Ying Town had barely even begun.

Fortunately, the Argyle Estate provided a suitable venue for banquets and receptions, sparing Shi Ying Town from appearing too shabby.

Then again.

Stormwind City probably didn't care either way.

Baroness Lam was a widow, and since laying eyes on Luo De, she had seemed utterly bewitched.

Though nearly forty, she gazed at Luo De like a young maiden, clutching her cheeks and giggling sweetly.

And Cliff.

As Baroness Lam's favorite retainer and city administrator, he found this entirely unremarkable.

One doesn't become a city administrator solely through bedroom skills.

He began boasting and chatting casually.

Amid the pleasantries, he steered every topic toward Luo De, unquestionably elevating Luo De's status as the guest of honor.

Cliff had likely once been a bard.

He even composed a song on the spot to praise Luo De's virtues.

His flattery was painfully obvious.

If he kept this up, he'd soon be offering to build a temple for him.

Luo De had to interrupt the man.

Just as he opened his mouth, the Banshee beside him spoke.

This creature always loved such scenes; somehow, she'd heard Stormwind's nobles were visiting and immediately insisted on tagging along.

Luo De didn't mind.

After all, Chris had performed well and caused no trouble during the last two banquets, so he let her come.

"It's not as optimistic as you claim, Mr. Cliff."

The Banshee, now in solid form and wearing smoky makeup, spoke with concern.

Dressed in a dark purple silk gown, her fingers painted with obsidian nail polish, lips crimson as blood, skin pale as a drowned corpse.

The dark aesthetic was complete.

Cliff was no stranger to the unusual.

During their brief introduction and handshake, he'd already learned this icy, eerie beauty was a corporeal undead.

And worse—a Banshee, tied to death itself!

The favored retainer felt fear but dared not show it.

This undead lady followed Luo De with unsettling boldness; it was hard to say what their relationship was.

He'd also heard some men disliked their women speaking to other men.

So he subtly nudged Baroness Lam beside him, hoping she'd respond to the woman's words.

But there was no reply.

He turned—and nearly fainted.

Baroness Lam was gazing at Luo De with sultry eyes, biting her finger and batting her lashes wildly.

Cliff swallowed hard and asked:

"Ms. Chris, what do you mean?"

"Mr. Cliff, the damage to Coral Bay is far worse than you imagine. Though my lord cleared out the dark elves, the civilians and infrastructure were utterly slaughtered and destroyed. For a port city, this is catastrophic."

"Oh heavens! Those cruel, vicious dark elves and hell demons!"

Chris pressed her slender hand against Luo De's muscular arm, expressing affection and pity.

"Look—my lord Luo De may be mighty in battle, but he's no good at making money. Shi Ying Town is still under expansion and has no spare resources to spare—unless things change, we'll all be begging on the streets."

"Hey? Stormwind City isn't far. You big cities are rich and wealthy—you won't be troubled by money~~"

Cliff couldn't miss the threat and manipulation in the Banshee's words.

He opened his mouth to reply.

But Baroness Lam interrupted urgently: "I'll pay."

Then she turned sweetly to Luo De.

"Coral Bay's failure to recover is our fault. I will apply for reconstruction funds and personally sponsor a team of mage engineers to assist."

Luo De knew it was his turn to speak.

He feigned gratitude, gently clasping Baroness Lam's hand: "The dead of Coral Bay will remember you."

Of course, mainly for abandoning them.

Eat the food, take the money—then you're bound to be silent.

Stormwind City's past decisions had been vile.

But business is business—they've given money and resources. A temporary pardon won't hurt.

Baroness Lam felt the heat in her hand.

She gasped, then fainted backward in excitement.

Cliff caught her just in time, sweating as he forced a smile: "Baroness Lam is frail and ill—she must be exhausted from traveling overnight."

The elderly gentleman Humbert signaled several maids to escort Baroness Lam away to rest.

With Stormwind's representative now withdrawn,

there was nothing left to discuss.

The tone in the reception hall grew lighter.

Cliff even claimed he'd brought a group of specialized healers, knowing they'd just fought a battle—capable of medical aid and even plague control.

Cliff even said he knew they had just been through a battle, and had specially brought a group of skilled medical personnel to assist.

These people could achieve magical-level healing without using magic or spirit.

That was intriguing.

It sounded almost like a circus act.

Especially Demia, the witch who had been listening silently—she, the only mage present, flatly disbelieved it.

It sounds a bit like a circus.

everyone maintained decorum, laughing and moving outdoors.

Along the way, Chris nudged Luo De's arm.

Her smoky dark face beamed with pride: "Just a few words and you've secured major funding. How's that?"

Luo De smiled.

Stormwind City feared him so much that even the acting baron raced here overnight—no wonder a few words did the trick.

Then again,

girls need to be coddled. Giving her credit was no problem.

"Reward you with a visit to my cottage tonight."

Chris's face fell: "Pick something else. I don't want wormwood. Besides, I can't handle you alone."

As a regular at the Cannon Room, the undead lady had never truly faced Luo De one-on-one.

Mainly because someone in the Cannon Room was terrifyingly strong—six against one—and she dared not challenge them.

"Then what do you want?"

"Ten storefronts after Coral Bay is rebuilt! I'll open an insurance company! First, I'll scare people at night, then sell them undead insurance—guaranteed fortune!"

Typical Chris.

"After Coral Bay is rebuilt, give me ten storefronts! I'm opening an insurance company! First, go knock on doors at night to scare people, then show up to sell undead insurance! We'll make a fortune!"

"No. One storefront. And no illegal activity."

"Ahh—how can I make money without breaking the law?"

"No, I'll give you one storefront, and no illegal activities."

As they spoke,

the group moved to the front courtyard outside the reception hall.

There, along the trimmed stone path, flanked by neat lawns and rose bushes, stood a group of figures in yellow, stiff fabric robes, their faces obscured.

On their robes was a clear, simple torch emblem.

Nothing unusual—slightly mysterious, almost religious.

Still normal for the continent today.

What made Luo De frown:

Each of them held a torch at least three meters tall.

"Holy Flame Corps?"

(End of Chapter)

"Holy Fire Team?"

(End of Chapter)