"Right now, I just want to safely transport this batch of gold out of Nuta City."

"If the Orcs capture this place, I'm afraid my gold will be lost."

"The Orcs couldn't possibly reach here; they can't even break through Storm City," Li Jiya confidently stated. "I look forward to your response and to working with you again. Farewell, Terence."

"Goodbye..." Yan Xing waved to Li Jiya and said, "If you need me for anything, you can find Grey Mouse; he knows how to contact me."

"Goodbye..."

Li Jiya bowed to Yan Xing, then left.

Only Yan Xing and Grey Mouse remained, the latter clutching a bag of gold, reluctant to let it go.

"Lord Terence, I..." Grey Mouse looked around nervously, his voice trembling as he spoke. "Walking around with so much gold, I estimate I won't last three days in Nuta City. My lord, do you have any solution?"

Grey Mouse didn't know exactly how many Gold Coins he had, but he knew the amount was enough to cost him his life.

Maybe even several lives.

Seeing Grey Mouse's greedy yet frightened demeanor, Yan Xing couldn't help but laugh. "Improve your strength to safeguard the wealth you possess. Spend some money on decent equipment for yourself, and deposit the rest at the Eternal Grain Bank, then transfer it to a 'Creed Card.' You can withdraw as much as you need."

Grey Mouse was shocked to hear Yan Xing suggest depositing the gold at the Eternal Grain Bank.

He couldn't help but ask, "If I deposit so much gold with the Eternal Grain Bank, what if they don't give it back to me?"

Yan Xing laughed. "They are a large and established business; why would they cheat you out of such a small amount of gold? Rest assured... if the Eternal Grain Bank dares to cheat you out of your gold, let me know, and I'll steal it back for you."

With that assurance, Grey Mouse immediately said, "Yes, yes, yes! I'll deposit this gold at the Eternal Grain Bank first thing at dawn."

Yan Xing reminded Grey Mouse, "Keep a low profile these days. Many in Nuta City probably know you're associated with me. Since I've robbed the Orc Treasury, someone will surely come looking for you to find out my whereabouts. If they do catch you, don't be afraid. Tell them whatever they ask, and if they tell you to find me, just notify me. You know how to reach me, don't you?"

Grey Mouse adjusted his slipping backpack and answered, "I know, Lord Terence. If I need to find you, I'll go to the Eternal Intelligence Exchange, booth number 1024, where you've left a sound-recording magic. I'll speak there, and you'll know when you check the sound-recording magic."

Yan Xing patted Grey Mouse on the shoulder. "If necessary, tell them you're my man. If you get into trouble, Terence will avenge you. Now go!"

"Thank you, Lord Terence."

Delighted, Grey Mouse left with the gold in his arms.

Having the promise of the thief Terence was like adding an insurance policy to his life. Anyone who thought of touching him would now have to consider whether they could escape Terence's retaliation.

Grey Mouse left as well.

Yan Xing instructed Chui Chui to remove the electric net and wires. He then placed his hand on the pile of gold, and both he and the gold disappeared on the spot.

Subsequently, Yan Xing reappeared in his apartment in the real world.

He then returned alone to the Magic World, to the underground treasury of the embassy, and transferred all the Gold Coins there.

With that, the unexpected windfall fell entirely into Yan Xing's pocket.

The news about the thief Terence robbing the Orc Treasury of one million Gold Coins overnight spread rapidly throughout Nuta City as if it had grown wings.

Another legend was added to the feats of the legendary thief.

Meanwhile, this wealth attracted countless people looking for Terence. Defeating Terence meant not only securing one million Gold Coins but also achieving lasting fame.

The incident of the Orc Treasury being looted added to the tension in the already uneasy Nuta City.

Two mercenary forces began to seize some civilian districts, and some nobles' private armies frequently mobilized under the pretense of military exercises.

The City Defense Force, controlled by Count Theodore, gradually contracted, focusing its defenses on important city facilities.

With law enforcement diminished, underground powers emerged, and the crime rate soared.

Meanwhile, Yan Xing spent his days with Li Jiya inside his embassy, enjoying romantic interludes.

Occasionally, they prepared a hot pot.

"This is called tripe. If you blanch it in the boiling broth for 15 seconds with chopsticks, it's ready to eat—it's especially crunchy. Don't blanch it for too long, or it won't taste as good."

Inside the pot, the spicy oil broth bubbled vigorously.

The rich scent wafted with the steam, filling the entire backyard of the embassy.

Yan Xing placed the blanched tripe into Li Jiya's dipping sauce bowl, reminding her to eat it quickly while it was at its best texture.

As an excellent thief, Li Jiya had quickly learned how to use chopsticks. However, she still pretended to be a bit clumsy as she picked up the tripe and put it into her mouth.

"Wow… it's so spicy!" Li Jiya hurriedly took a sip of water. Then, savoring the flavor, she asked, "What is this? It's really good. Everything here becomes very delicious after being blanched in the pot. Hot pot is truly amazing!"

Yan Xing slid a plate of neatly sliced beef into the pot, adding some potato slices, tofu, and duck blood…

"Don't worry about what it is; just eat more if it's tasty. In the Thunderous Swamp, we don't have so many rules about eating, nor do we make gourmet dishes—we just boil whatever is edible in a pot. I never thought boiling things could make them taste so good. Oh, right, you must have beer with hot pot! Come on, let's have a toast."

Yan Xing lifted his beer glass, its amber liquid crowned with a layer of white froth.

Li Jiya also raised her glass to clink with Yan Xing's. After a generous gulp, she exhaled deeply and said, "It's really fun being with you. In the capital of the principality, it's all rules and etiquette, with someone constantly reminding me to be 'ladylike, ladylike.' I've never drunk so heartily before, nor have I eaten so many delightful foods I'd never encountered. You've shown me the civilization of the swamp and a hero who, until now, existed only in my imagination."

During this time, Li Jiya became increasingly adept at playing the role of a noble lady.

Her interactions with Yan Xing were no longer as resistant as they had been in the beginning.

She was starting to enjoy this kind of life: conversing with a fascinating man in a romantic atmosphere.

Every day, Yan Xing came up with different ways to date Li Jiya, acting as if he was so infatuated with her beauty that he couldn't extricate himself.

He refused to see anyone, even declining invitations from Count Theodore, focusing all his energy on Li Jiya.

This made Lady Karol lower her guard, allowing Chui Chui to successfully tail her movements completely.

When Yan Xing saw the Elf in a green military coat, he was so shocked that he spat out the beef ball in his mouth.

Li Jiya quickly asked, "What's wrong?"

Yan Xing covered it up, saying, "It's nothing, nothing... I was just looking at you, got distracted, and accidentally scalded myself."

Li Jiya blushed, avoiding Yan Xing's gaze, and asked with concern, "You're not burned, are you? Let me use magic to treat it."

"Alright..." Yan Xing stretched out his mouth.

Li Jiya conjured a healing light ball on her fingertip and gently touched it to Yan Xing's lips…

Meanwhile, Lady Karol and Prince Elrado were conducting their final round of negotiations.

According to the peace agreement between the Silvermane Principality and the Snow Elves, the Silvermane Principality agreed to secretly provide a large amount of war reparations to the Snow Elves, along with an annual supply of winter provisions.

All of this would have to pass through Prince Elrado's hands before being transported to the northern Snowland.

After Prince Elrado's return, the Snow Elves would prepare for war against the Orcs.

The newly reorganized Elf Great Army would launch a surprise attack on the Orcs' Highland City, cutting off the connection between the Orc Great Army and their barbaric homeland.

Then, the Elves would coordinate with the Wildwind Highlands Legion—which had already completed the coup within the Silvermane Principality—to encircle and annihilate the remnants of the Orc army. The former Orc-controlled area would be divided equally between the Silvermane Principality and the Snow Elves.

Highland City would belong to the Elves.

In subsequent agreements, the Silvermane Principality would discuss forming a military alliance with the Snow Elves to strike from both the south and north at their common enemy: the Barbaric Orcs.

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