Chapter 372: Red Flame Sword Guard

Lei En, while Na Ha Zi was speaking, kept silently watching with his Soul Eye.

The centaur chieftain clearly did not tell the whole truth.

Zhuo Ken tribe has more than 30,000 centaurs; once they reach adulthood, regardless of gender they are brave and battle‑ready warriors, at least equivalent to a human first‑grade extraordinary.

Among them, the outstanding ones have reached second and third levels, and Mid‑stage centaur warriors are also not few.

Based on centaur combat power, spreading the 200,000 tax evenly means each centaur would need to pay less than seven Gold Shields; it may be difficult, but it is certainly not as exaggerated as Na Ha Zi claimed.

He was merely using this excuse to demand benefits.

Ai Mi Li Si has dealt with the Zhuo Ken tribe for over a decade, so she knows this well, but she now needs the centaur army to march out and cannot flatly refuse.

Yet she cannot agree lightly.

She showed a hint of displeasure and said, "Na Ha Zi, we already agreed that after retaking Kangjiatuo we can carve out a territory for the Zhuo Ken tribe, enfeoff you as lord, and use that land as a backing to help you sit on the Khan's throne. As for Kas's tax issue with ParrasFloatingCity, I never interfere; you must resolve it yourself."

"Yes, Your Highness." Na Ha Zi's long face showed a wry smile, "If it were 100,000 Gold Shields, I would not dare to ask Your Highness, but the tax has doubled…"

He paused, then said with some implication, "The tribe has handed over 200,000 Gold Shields, which will inevitably affect the people's weapons and gear, lowering combat power; in past years we could endure it. But Your Highness plans to retake Kangjiatuo this year, and I fear it would hinder your grand plan, so I can only shamelessly plead for help."

The centaur chieftain looked as if he were thinking entirely of Ai Mi Li Si.

His expression was very earnest.

If not for the Soul Eye, Lei En would also have been duped into believing the Zhuo Ken tribe truly faced difficulties.

He thought for a moment and did not speak out to expose Na Ha Zi's scheme.

Now Ai Mi Li Si has a request of the Zhuo Ken tribe and must have them send troops; exposing Na Ha Zi's lie would be unhelpful, only heightening tension and harming the cooperative relationship.

Ai Mi Li Si also considered this and could only compromise.

"Fine, this won't set a precedent." She stared at the centaur chieftain and asked directly, "What do you need? Money or equipment?"

In Na Ha Zi's eyes flashed a barely perceptible victorious gleam as he raised three fingers, "Your Highness, could you grant the tribe 300,000 Gold Shields?"

Ai Mi Li Si raised an eyebrow, about to erupt.

This sum clearly exceeded her expectation.

The Zhuo Ken tribe not only shifted the submitted tax onto themselves but also demanded an extra 100,000 Gold Shields—did they really think the treasure of the Zhuo Geng Bao family was inexhaustible?

"Your Highness," Na Ha Zi hurriedly explained, "I'm not speaking carelessly; the tribe's warriors truly need this money now. First, to soothe morale—if anyone falls in Kangjiatuo, the funds will compensate their families; second, I intend to purchase high‑quality curved blades and long bows to boost the warriors' strength, better serving Your Highness in reclaiming the kingdom."

Ai Mi Li Si kept a cold face, not believing his excuse.

She has supplied resources to the Zhuo Ken tribe every year; over more than a decade, the total Gold Shields invested amount to two or three million.

Without this huge sum, the Zhuo Ken tribe would not have risen.

Raise troops for a thousand days, use them in a moment.

Yet when the moment truly required the Zhuo Ken tribe's effort, Na Ha Zi's performance disappointed her, bordering on brazen fraud.

Three hundred thousand Gold Shields isn't much; he can easily produce it.

However, this money revealed Na Ha Zi's true nature; years of loyalty were a pretense, and the centaur chieftain would never be satisfied as a subordinate—he has his own ambitions. When the centaur army lands at Kangjiatuo, she doubts whether she can control them; if she merely invites wolves into the house, even if Kangjiatuo is reclaimed, it will bring endless trouble.

The decision back then to support the Zhuo Ken tribe now appears far from wise.

Ai Mi Li Si's soul color shifted, her emotions fluctuating.

Her complexion was also unpleasing.

Na Ha Zi's outward demeanor seemed anxious, awaiting Ai Mi Li Si's promise, but in fact his emotions were calm, clearly confident that he had the other's hand.

Lei En still remained silent; now was not the time to tear off the mask.

Ai Mi Li Si, having weighed the cause and effect, finally agreed, "Fine, I'll give you the 300,000 Gold Shields. However, I currently have only 100,000 Gold Shields on hand; when your 5,000 centaur warriors reach the dock north of Hai Tuo Ke, the remaining 200,000 Gold Shields will be handed to you."

The Gold Shields she carries total over 500,000, but she isn't foolish enough to pay them all at once.

She must keep a reserve as a safeguard.

Na Ha Zi froze for a moment; his soul turned a flashing red, yet his face showed gratitude as he said, "Thank you, Your Highness, for your support. The centaur warriors have received orders and will certainly reach the dock in time to board."

"It's a promise."

Ai Mi Li Si extended her hand and slapped his hand; Na Ha Zi, invoking the name of the Hunting God, then produced 100,000 Gold Shields and handed them to him.

After the matter was settled, the atmosphere in the tent relaxed.

Na Ha Zi showed a cheerful side, constantly offering drinks, speaking humorously; even the bronze dragon Chi Tong Long Jia La De Luo Si was drawn in, occasionally chatting with him. He was adept at reading the room, sensed that Lei En didn't want to talk much, so he didn't get overly enthusiastic, yet he also didn't neglect him.

Xin Da La remained cold‑faced, saying nothing.

Ai Mi Li Si recalled Lei En's earlier words and, pretending to be casual, asked, "Na Ha Zi, what's the situation with that airship outside? Which Wizard from ParrasFloatingCity is aboard?"

"There are several Wizards on the airship."

Na Ha Zi didn't consider it a secret and replied lightly, "Parras regularly dispatches airships to collect taxes; reportedly there are four or five of them, and the Wizards on the airships keep rotating. We are only a centaur tribe; how could we dare ask about the Wizards' origins?"

In his eyes was a hint of yearning, whether for the might of the floating city or the Wizards' power, "This time the representative is a beautiful female Wizard who calls herself Lady Feilis."

"Feilis?"

Lei En saw an arrogant, overbearing face flash before his eyes.

"Your Count, do you know Lady Feilis?" Na Ha Zi's face paled briefly, then relaxed, "I almost forgot, Your Count comes from Weizelan Floating City, so it's normal to know the Wizards of Parras."

"I've seen her once before," Lei En said lightly, "My impression of Feilis is strong."

"No wonder…" Na Ha Zi's eyes widened, and he continued, "Besides Lady Feilis, there's also a legendary Wizard named Luo Kannan on the airship, but Master Luo Kannan only appeared once, showed us ParrasFloatingCity's credentials, and then vanished."

He looked at Lei En, "Your Count, do you intend to greet them?"

"No need." Lei En shook his head, "I'm not familiar with them; this outing is a covert operation, and I have other matters to attend to."

"I understand." Na Ha Zi immediately grasped the meaning and said nothing more about the airship.

After drinking and eating their fill, Ai Mi Li Si stood, politely declined Na Ha Zi's offer to see her out, and left the great tent discreetly.

The airship was still moored on the open ground a short distance from the great tent.

Lei En kept listening to the sounds from the airship; at this moment he saw several tall guards in red armor on the deck, patrolling the pedestrians passing beneath the airship.

They are the famed Red‑Flame Sword Guard.

Duke Hong Shi founded the Spirit User branch and also merged the Iron Guard with the Flame Magic Swordsman, cultivating the unique Transcendent profession of Crimson Flame Sword Guard.

Crimson Flame Sword Guards possess both the Iron Guard's defense and the Magic Swordsman's offensive power, but they require massive resources—Demon Souls, Enchanted Armor, Weapon—and have high Talent requirements; even the wealth of ParrasFloatingCity cannot support many Crimson Flame Sword Guards.

According to Lei En, the publicly known number of Crimson Flame Sword Guards in ParrasFloatingCity has never exceeded five hundred.

When the Wizards of Parras travel, they always take Crimson Flame Sword Guards along.

This has almost become their standard equipment.

Lei En scanned with his Soul Eye; several Crimson Flame Sword Guards on the airship deck each possessed Mid-stage Transcendent strength.

They fused four to five Demon Souls, each person's Demon Soul being identical; while having robust physical qualities, they gained a Fire Affinity Element, allowing fire elements to attach to their swords and unleash power. Apart from insufficient speed, there are no other drawbacks, making them far stronger than ordinary Transcendants.

The Demon Soul combination of Crimson Flame Sword Guards is a secret of Parras.

However, Lei En saw through it at a glance; as long as he wishes, he could turn back and cultivate a batch of Crimson Flame Sword Guards, but it is time‑consuming, labor‑intensive, and has poor cost‑effectiveness.

"Do not approach them," Lei En whispered.

Ai Mi Li Si understood instantly, and as usual walked outward toward the Ka Si Camp, without attracting the Crimson Flame Sword Guards' attention.

Lei En did not look at the airship; a sphere of iron the size of a fingertip materialized in his hand.

The iron sphere rapidly elongated, transforming into a tiny shuttle‑shaped dart.

Lei En passed a Centaur's tent that blocked the Crimson Flame Sword Guards' view from the airship, raised his hand, curled his finger, and with a gentle flick sent the dart silently soaring into the sky.

The dart instantly vanished into the heights, and seconds later fell back, tracing a perfect parabola and landing precisely on the top of the airship's gasbag. Given its size, it could not pierce the gasbag, only lodging tightly on the surface, unable to detach.

From start to finish, no one noticed Lei En's subtle action.

A party of four left the Ka Si Camp of the Zhuo Ken Tribe; Ai Mi Li Si summoned a phantom warhorse, and the group mounted it, quickly vanishing over the grassland. After traveling dozens of li away from the camp, Jia La De Luo Si and Xin Da La revealed true dragon forms, carrying Lei En and Ai Mi Li Si northward.

The Si Ta Nuo Shan Mai rose again before their eyes; once they crossed this mountain range, they would enter the orc tribe's territory, heading toward the lair of the third great dragon.

"Stop first," Lei En suddenly said.

Jia La De Luo Si hovered high in the sky, Xin Da La also approached, and Ai Mi Li Si asked, "Lei En, what's wrong?"

Lei En glanced back toward the Zhuo Ken Tribe's direction and said softly, "You go to the deep mud swamp first; I have business that will keep me away for a few days, but I'll catch up later."

I went out for something yesterday and only came back quickly; sorry, sorry. There's also Chapter Two tonight.

(End of Chapter)