Chapter 357: Dragon-Blooded Clan

"Yes." Lei En said calmly, nodding, "After the Gunwing Knights become familiar with the castle and the domain, I will no longer hire you."

He invested a large amount of Gold Shield in cultivating the Gunwing Knights, all for this day.

The Dragon Stone Mercenary Corps performed quite well, excellently completing the task, but after all they are a band of mercenaries, whose loyalty is far less reassuring than one's own private army, always leaving a layer of distance.

Although Ai Mili Si had long been mentally prepared, hearing Lei En's admission, her delicate face still froze.

She knew they could not cooperate with Lei En forever; sooner or later it would end, but she hadn't expected it to come so soon. Since moving into the Azure Water High Castle last year, almost a year and a half had passed; the original contract set the fee at one‑tenth of the Ge La Mo Gen domain's tax, earning her over three hundred thousand Gold Shield!

This was the largest sum earned since the mercenary corps was founded.

Moreover, the corps suffered almost no losses; relying on the lord's prestige and the Holy Soul Wizard's reputation, no one dared cause trouble in the domain, so they need not risk life and death—just patrolling and guarding sufficed.

It's literally earning money while lying down.

Life in the castle was also comfortable and carefree; at times, Ai Mili Si even thought that if the lord never managed to build his own Transcendent Legion, continuing like this would be a fine choice.

Those national grudges could be temporarily forgotten.

A few months ago, Lei En bought back a large batch of Kemeier slaves for training; Ai Mili Si sneered in her mind several times, thinking it impossible to succeed, that for at least three years, Ge La Mo Gen would not be able to do without his mercenary corps.

Yet the emergence of the Gunwing Knights shattered that beautiful dream.

Ai Mili Si's mood was complicated; she gave a wry smile and said, "The lord always manages to create miracles; it's a pity—I will never receive a better contract than this again."

"Thanks to the Dragon Stone Mercenary Corps for their contribution."

Lei En made a courteous remark, his smile somewhat uneasy.

Every Gold Shield the Dragon Stone Mercenary Corps earned drained from his own pocket; over three hundred thousand Gold Shield—who wouldn't feel the pinch? Each morning upon opening his eyes, he had to spend six to seven hundred Gold Shield, better to save it and invest in the Gunwing Knights to strengthen them.

He immediately said, "Let's set the contract's end date ten days from now."

Ten days is enough for the Gunwing Knights to become familiar with the task.

Ai Mili Si lightly bit her lip, her violet eyes looking at Lei En; seeing his resolute attitude, after a few seconds she slowly nodded, "Very well, lord, the Dragon Stone Mercenary Corps will withdraw from the castle in ten days."

"Hmm." Lei En replied lightly.

He said nothing more, picked up a document on the desk and began leafing through it.

Ai Mili Si hesitated, then let out a soft sigh, rose, and left the study.

Before she left, Lei En looked up at her silhouette, a barely perceptible expression flickering at the corner of his mouth. He had always understood Ai Mili Si's intent; she gave no disguise, even bordering on blatant temptation, yet he restrained himself.

It's not that Ai Mili Si lacks beauty; her appearance is stunning, blending innocence and sensuality, with an extraordinary, otherworldly aura that incites strong conquest desire in men. Though not tall, her figure is exquisitely curvaceous, a rare breathtaking beauty, only slightly less than Viola and Ao Xi Li Ya.

Such a beauty throwing herself into one's arms, few men in the world can resist.

But Lei En didn't want to get caught in the vortex behind Ai Mili Si; of course, he could hop on the carriage without a ticket, since no promise was made, just pull up his trousers and ignore her.

Though he's no paragon of virtue and many times felt restless, he ultimately couldn't commit such tasteless acts, so he could only refuse.

After sitting in the study for a while, Lei En opened the portal to Fu Kong Cheng.

He spent several days on the plateau, wanting to satisfy his cravings with Ao Xi Li Ya; entering her room, he found her deep in meditation. Within the Rainbow Dragon's soul, vast mana lay deep and calm, yet hidden currents surged, hinting at a breakthrough.

Ao Xi Li Ya is a twelfth‑level mage; reaching thirteenth would usher her into the legendary Mid-stage.

Lei En couldn't help but sigh.

He signed a soul pact with Ao Xi Li Ya, and it seemed her power grew even more; Truth Willpower and the Key of Doors are immensely beneficial to a pure caster.

Yet he gained Ao Xi Li Ya's body and mind, which wasn't a loss.

Lei En didn't want to disturb her, quietly slipped out of the room, returning in disappointment.

After handling domain affairs and meeting a few visiting guests, he spent the evening personally teaching the Extreme Warriors and Gunwing Knights, instructing them in literacy, fostering closeness, instilling ideology, and only returned to his bedroom to rest late at night.

Just after washing up and lying on the bed, footsteps sounded outside the door.

Lei En didn't need to look; just from the soft footsteps he recognized the visitor as Ai Mili Si.

"It's so late; hasn't she given up yet?"

Lei En couldn't help but shake his head, then steeled himself, using original‑body symbiosis to tell the two Extreme Warriors guarding the door not to let Ai Mili Si in.

"Lord."

Ai Mili Si's voice came in, "I have a serious matter to discuss with you." Her tone sounded normal, not as seductive as before.

Lei En hesitated briefly, then went to open the door.

The Ai Mili Si stopped by the Extreme Warrior was dressed in a black robe, tightly wrapped, her silver‑gold long hair neatly tied at the back, her expression solemn, indeed not seeming to come to tempt a man.

Lei En gave her a once‑over, "Come in."

In the spacious bedroom, beside the floor‑to‑ceiling window stood a comfortable large sofa; he sat down, leaned back casually, half‑reclining as he watched Ai Mili Si turn, close the door, and sit opposite him.

The Soul Eye saw Ai Mili Si's current emotion.

A mixture of colors swirled, constantly shifting—nervous, uneasy, hesitant… Clearly her heart was in fierce conflict.

"What is it?" Lei En broke the silence.

Ai Mili Si's soul color finally settled; she took a deep breath, reached for a box, and said, "A few days ago, Mr. Shi Weifute came from Thus: Thus: Shengangcheng; the lord was absent then, and he entrusted me to deliver the items to you."

Lei En nodded.

Shi Weifute managed the Li Zi Mountain ash coal mine in Thus: Thus: Shengangcheng, vigorously extracting Source Crystal Ore; each month he would transport it to Mo Du, personally delivering the Source Crystal Ore to the castle while reporting on the ash coal mine's operations.

The first two times he came, Shi Weifute had met Ai Mili Si, so they knew each other.

Lei En deliberately avoided many matters from Ai Mili Si, not wanting her to know too much; the collection of Source Crystal Ore was no exception.

Yet Shi Weifute apparently misunderstood his relationship with her, letting her handle it.

The box containing the Source Crystal Ore was unlocked; Ai Mili Si had surely opened it and looked inside.

"Apologies, lord."

Ai Mili Si voluntarily confessed, apologetically saying, "Mr. Shi Weifute didn't tell me what it was; I couldn't resist my curiosity…"

"It's fine." Lei En raised his hand, cutting her off, "Look if you must; I hope you keep it secret for me."

"Rest assured, lord; I will not reveal the employer's secret." After Ai Mili Si's assurance, she showed no intention of leaving; she hesitated, then finally gritted her teeth and asked, "Lord, are you collecting large amounts of heavy silver ore?"

Lei En thought to himself, indeed, she recognized the Source Crystal Ore.

Heavy silver ore is very scarce in the Empire, has few uses, and even many alchemists are unaware of its existence.

He didn't deny it, smiling: "You actually know about heavy silver ore, have you seen it before? If you can obtain heavy silver ore, I'll take as much as I need, and any information about it as well."

Ai Mili Si's eyes instantly lit up.

She nodded lightly, "I know a place that can produce heavy silver ore, with an annual output of over fifty thousand pounds. Do you have any interest?"

Lei En listened, then was momentarily stunned.

Annual output fifty thousand pounds!

Even though this source crystal ore is of lower grade, far inferior to the Liz Mountain ash coal mine, as long as its purity matches the Empire's overall ore purity, it can still yield over two thousand pounds of source crystal per year!

It should be noted that after refinement, the output of the Liz Mountain ash coal mine amounts to less than two hundred pounds of source crystal per year.

Two thousand pounds of source crystal a year, and the Thunder-forged Giant Statue is no longer a dream.

That Legend Grade Dragon-slaying Sword can also be looked forward to!

Lei En flustered for a second, quickly regained composure, yet could not hide his eager smile: "Of course I'm interested; where is the place you mentioned?"

Ai Mili Si slowly uttered a word: "Kangjiatuo."

Lei En furrowed his brows, staring at Ai Mili Si without speaking.

Kangjiatuo is indeed Ai Mili Si's hometown, a subcontinent at the northeastern tip of the Old Continent, covering an area one quarter of the Empire, but due to its cold climate it is perennially covered in ice and snow, with a population less than one tenth of the Empire's, only a little over thirty million.

Back when he first met Ai Mili Si, Lei En, prompted by Ao Xili Ya's hint, had already guessed her background.

The Kangjiatuo continent was once ruled for over three thousand years by a draconic lineage called "Zhuogengbao," a history longer than that of the Empire, until it was overthrown a few decades ago; Ai Mili Si is the last descendant of the Zhuogengbao family.

She has been scheming in every possible way to lure him, nothing more than to use his power to launch a counterattack on Kangjiatuo, thereby restoring the nation and reclaiming the throne.

The issue touches the rulership of a vast kingdom, and behind the dynastic change there must inevitably be the influence of deities.

This is not something a mere Count Lord like himself can meddle in.

Lei En does not wish to invite trouble, so he pretends not to know.

"Is she deliberately saying this, using heavy silver ore as a ruse to lure me?"

Lei En thought to himself, his Soul Eye carefully observing Ai Mili Si, could tell she was not lying. Even though he could already verify the truth, he said in a deep voice, "You'd better tell the truth."

"I wouldn't dare lie in front of you, sir."

Ai Mili Si's expression remained calm; she had long noticed that Lei En seemed to possess a method to see through people's hearts, able at a glance to uncover hidden treachery among servants or territorial officials, and that even the mercenaries under his command could never conceal a lie.

She continued, "This place is one of the world's largest mythril ore deposits, and it also contains abundant heavy silver ore. It originally belonged to my holdings; if you can help me reclaim it, the entire mythril ore site will be your reward."

After speaking, Ai Mili Si stared intently at Lei En, her violet eyes full of expectation.

(End of Chapter)