Chapter 171

"In order to further deepen our friendship and future cooperation."

"Our three Marquis Lords have unanimously decided to hold a grand trade conference in the capital of Sunset Province, Sunset City."

"At that time, all the prominent chambers of commerce and nobles in the entire West will attend."

"The three Marquis Lords want to take this opportunity to apologize to you in person."

"And they want to discuss with you in depth about the long-term trade cooperation regarding the strong liquor and—that kind of magical armor."

Finally, the fox's tail was revealed.

Roko sneered in his heart.

After talking for so long, the ultimate goal was still his core technology.

It's just that before, they wanted to grab it by force.

Now that they couldn't grab it by force, they wanted to use "deception".

Inviting him to Sunset City?

What was that if not a trap set to kill?

As soon as he left the solid fortress of Vanguard Valley and entered their territory.

At that time, wouldn't he be at their mercy?

"We invite you, Master Roko, with 120,000 percent sincerity to grace Sunset City as the Chief Honorary Guest of our conference."

Samuel issued the deadly invitation with a smile.

The entire hall fell silent instantly.

Hart and the surrounding guards subconsciously tightened their grip on their weapons.

They all saw that these guys had no good intentions.

Martina also frowned slightly, a hint of vigilance flashing in her eyes.

Everyone's eyes were focused on Roko.

Waiting for his answer.

They all thought Roko would refuse this malicious invitation without hesitation.

However.

Roko laughed.

He looked at Samuel's face, which was full of "sincerity", and slowly stood up.

"Trade conference?"

"Sounds pretty good."

He walked to Samuel and patted him on the shoulder.

"This is a good opportunity to deepen our understanding of each other."

Then, in the shocked eyes of everyone.

Roko said something that almost made their hearts jump out.

"Please go back and tell the three Marquis Lords."

"I accept their kind invitation."

"I will definitely attend on time."

Samuel was completely dumbfounded.

The whole set of rhetoric he had prepared, those words of coercion or inducement, were all stuck in his throat at this moment, and he couldn't say a word.

The script wasn't written like this!

Shouldn't this country bumpkin be furious or panic and refuse?

Why did he—agree?

He agreed so decisively, so easily, as if he wasn't being invited to a dragon's den, but to an ordinary afternoon tea.

"Master Roko—you, are you serious?"

Samuel's voice was trembling, and he even doubted if he had heard wrong.

"Of course."

The smile on Roko's face remained unchanged, but his eyes were as sharp as knives.

"How could I refuse the kindness of the three Marquis Lords?"

"It is my honor to be the Chief Honorary Guest."

His matter-of-fact attitude made Samuel feel even more uneasy.

A foreboding feeling coiled around his heart like a venomous snake.

This young man was too abnormal!

"Good, good—then, I will go back to report."

Samuel felt he couldn't stay for another moment; he just wanted to leave this place that made him feel uncomfortable and take this strange news back.

He led the delegation and practically fled.

The council hall returned to silence instantly.

But the atmosphere was even heavier than before.

"Master!"

Hart couldn't hold it in anymore; he knelt on one knee with a "thump", his voice full of anxiety.

"You can't go!"

"This is clearly a trap set to kill! They just want to trick you into going to Sunset City, which is their territory; at that time, you won't be able to call for help from heaven or earth!"

The surrounding guards also knelt down in unison, their eyes full of pleading and worry.

"Please think twice, Master!"

"That's right, Master, let's fight them! We can't let you take the risk!"

Although Martina didn't kneel, her wise eyes were also filled with confusion and worry.

She walked quickly to Roko's side and lowered her voice.

"Roko, what exactly are you thinking?"

"You know clearly that this is a trap."

"I know Archibald; he is vindictive, insidious, and cunning. Since he has set up this game, it is absolutely impossible for him to let you come back alive."

Roko looked at everyone's concerned faces, and a warm current flashed through his heart.

He reached out and helped Hart up.

"Everyone get up."

His voice was not loud, but it carried an unquestionable power.

After everyone stood up, he spoke slowly.

"Do you think I'd be safe if I refused?"

Everyone was stunned.

Roko's gaze swept over everyone, his eyes deep.

"You can hide for a while, but not for a lifetime."

"Archibald's scheme this time is linked ring by ring. Trade blockade, mountain ambush, and now a trap set to kill."

"He has already regarded me as a thorn in his side."

"Even if I refuse this time, he will use more insidious and vicious means to deal with me and our entire Vanguard Valley next time."

He walked to the window, looking toward the distant Sunset Province, his voice becoming cold.

"Rather than passively waiting for them to make a move, I might as well take the initiative to step onto the chessboard and completely disrupt this game."

"They think they are the hunters and regard me as the prey."

"Then I will let them see who the real hunter is!"

These words made everyone present feel a great shock.

They felt an unprecedented dominance and self-confidence from Roko!

It was a powerful aura that regarded all the heroes of the world as nothing!

Martina's brows remained tightly locked.

"But the risk is too great."

"In Vanguard Valley, we have solid city walls, a loyal army, and familiar terrain. But once we reach Sunset City, our advantages will vanish."

"No."

Roko turned around, a mysterious smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

"Who said we have no advantages?"

He walked to Martina and whispered.

"The biggest advantage is that they all think I don't dare to go."

"They all think that if I go, I'll be walking right into their trap."

"This contempt and arrogance is our biggest opportunity."

"I want to turn their home field into my show."

"I want to slap them hard in the face in front of all the nobles in the West!"

"I want everyone to know that I, Roko Raymond, am not a soft persimmon they can pinch at will!"

Hart felt his blood boiling; he clenched his fists and said loudly.

"Master! I'll go with you! Through fire and water, I will not refuse!"

"Good."

Roko nodded, looking at Martina, his eyes becoming serious.

"Next, I need you to do a few things for me."

"Martina, during the time I'm away, you are fully responsible for all affairs of the territory. The training of the New Wind Legion cannot stop, the trade on the 'Hope Road' must continue, and the surveillance of those old nobles must also be strengthened."

"Yes, Master." Martina nodded heavily.

"Hart, you select twenty of the most elite and reliable Storm Knights to set off with me."

"Yes!" Hart's voice was sonorous and powerful.

Roko paused, then looked at Martina again, a sly smile appearing on his face.

"And the most important thing."

"I need you to help me prepare a 'big gift'."

"A big gift that will make Marquis Archibald 'surprised' enough to remember for a lifetime!"

Inside the study of the Lord's Mansion, the candles were bright.

The map covered the entire table, and Roko, Martina, and Hart stood around the table, their expressions serious.

"Big gift?"

Martina looked at Roko with some doubt.

"What kind of 'big gift' can make that old fox Archibald feel 'surprised'?"

Roko's finger tapped lightly on the map, landing on the location of the Black Mist Mountains.

"Blood Wolf Mercenary Group."

He spat out a name.

Hart and Martina understood instantly.

"Master, you mean..." Hart's eyes flashed with excitement.

"That's right."

A sneer curled at the corner of Roko's mouth.

"Archibald thinks the mercenary group he sent just disappeared in the mountains and vanished into thin air."

"He would never imagine that the head of the Blood Wolf Mercenary Group, Barton, his head is now in our hands."

"Martina, I need you to find the best alchemist to seal Barton's head in the best crystal and make it into an exquisite 'work of art'."

"In addition, put the mercenary contract he signed with Archibald on him inside as well."

"This gift, I want to personally give to Archibald at the banquet in Sunset City in front of all the western nobles!"

Hiss...

Hart gasped.

He could already imagine how wonderful Marquis Archibald's face would look when he received such a "big gift" at his own banquet.

This was no longer just a slap in the face.

This was directly tearing off the other party's skin and throwing it on the ground to stomp on!

Too ruthless!

And too exciting!

"I understand."

Light also lit up in Martina's eyes; she completely understood Roko's plan.

This was not a passive adventure, but a meticulously planned active attack!

"Besides this gift, we need to make more preparations."

Martina quickly entered the role of a military advisor, pointing at the map and saying.

"From Vanguard Valley to Sunset City, the journey is long, passing through several provinces with complex terrain. It's impossible for Archibald not to set up an ambush on the road."

"Hmm."

Roko nodded.

"So I'm not taking a large army this time. Only the elite."

He looked at Hart.

"Besides you and twenty Storm Knights, I'm also taking Fura."

"Fura?" Hart was a bit puzzled.

Although Fura's strength was good, she was a girl after all, and her combat experience was still shallow.

"Fura's perception ability is sharper than any of ours."

Roko explained.

"Her Frostfire Battle Qi has a natural restraint against certain dark things. Moreover, her heterochromatic eyes might play an unexpected role at a critical moment."

"More importantly..."

Roko's gaze became deep.

"Scorpion Society."

"Archibald's conventional means failed, so he will inevitably seek help from these venomous snakes hiding in the shadows. And the assassins of the Scorpion Society are best at poisoning and illusions. Fura is our trump card against them."

Hearing this, Martina immediately expressed her agreement.

"That's right, taking Fura will make the safety factor much higher."

She added.

"You don't need to worry about the defense of the territory."

"I will have Zewen and his Red Leaf Forest tribe maintain vigilance on the edge of the Black Mist Mountains."

"At the same time, I will send someone to notify Patriarch Bagelumu of the Stone Hammer tribe to have him prepare. Once there is any movement in Sunset City, the dwarves' warhammers and the Red Leaf Forest's arrows will immediately make them have a fire in their backyard!"

"Very good."

Roko nodded with satisfaction; Martina could always think of what was in his heart.

"What about intelligence?" Roko asked.

"I have already sent out our most elite scout team, led by Captain Buck himself, to infiltrate Sunset Province in advance."

Martina spoke very fast, her thinking clear.

"They will figure out the defense of Sunset City for us, investigate the strength of Archibald's subordinates, and most importantly, find out all the strongholds and activity patterns of the Scorpion Society in Sunset City."

"Before we arrive in Sunset City, a detailed intelligence network will be laid out in front of you."

Roko looked at the woman who was planning and strategizing in front of him, full of appreciation in his heart.

With Martina there, he could safely entrust his back to her.

"Thank you for your hard work, Martina."

"This is what I should do." Martina smiled slightly.

"Master, I'll go pick the people now! I guarantee they will all be the strongest warriors in our legion!"

Hart couldn't wait.

"Go."

Roko waved his hand.

Only Roko and Martina were left in the study.

"Are you really—sure?"

Martina's voice finally carried a hint of worry.

Roko walked to her and gently held her hand.

"Don't worry."

"I never do things I'm not sure about."

"This time going to Sunset City, not only will I retreat unscathed, but I will also bite a huge chunk of meat off that old fox Archibald!"

In his eyes, a flame called ambition flickered.

At the same time.

At a temporary post station outside Vanguard Valley.

The messenger Samuel was pacing back and forth uneasily. An alchemy crow with pitch-black feathers flew in from outside the window and landed on his arm.

Samuel hurriedly took a note from the small bamboo tube on the crow's leg, unfolded it, and saw only a line of small characters.

"He has agreed. The fish has taken the bait."

Samuel let out a long sigh of relief, and that hypocritical smile appeared on his face again.

He walked to the window, looking at the brightly lit Vanguard Valley in the distance, his eyes cold.

"Hmph, ignorant brat."

"No matter how monstrous you are, once you enter Sunset City, you'll have to coil if you're a dragon, and lie down if you're a tiger!"

"Lord Marquis's inescapable net has already been prepared for you."

"Just wait to die without a burial place!"

He brought the note in his hand to the candle flame and burned it to ashes.

Sunset Province, Governor's Mansion.

Inside Marquis Archibald's study, the atmosphere was so oppressive it seemed to have frozen.

He sat behind the newly replaced, more precious black gold nanmu desk, his face as heavy as water.