The carriage wheels rolled over the damp earth, and the Golden Lark Troupe's caravan finally arrived at the gates of Lone Rock City.

Looking at the uneasy and frightened eyes of the passersby through the city gates, Barbara frowned and said to Randall, "I thought we would receive a grand welcome. It seems that art is not welcomed here."

“This has nothing to do with art.” Randall looked at the sharpened spear tip of the city gate guard and stroked his chin. “Something’s not right.”

With these questions in mind, the troupe's motorcade slowly drove into the city built on the mountainside.

Lone Rock City, also known as Lookout City during the Taro period a thousand years ago, is a city built high in the mountains, serving as a natural barrier separating the northern and southern worlds. There are no smooth roads within the city, only rugged slopes and winding paths. Even so, the city's inhabitants have lived here for generations, accustomed to life on the mountain ridge, and few intend to leave.

After escorting the Golden Lark Troupe to the upper plaza of Lone Rock City, Knight Commander Horn rode up to the troupe leader and said, "The mission entrusted to me by the Knights is half complete. I have safely brought you here. However, since this is foreign territory, I cannot lead the troops to protect you. Therefore, for the next few days, most of the army will remain at the camp at the foot of the mountain, while a small elite force will stay behind to protect you. Just send someone to let me know when you wish to return."

After exchanging a few more words with the troupe leader, Horn approached Randall, first taking out a silver badge the size of a coin and shaped like a protective umbrella from his pocket, then placing it in Randall's hand and whispering, "Before I left, Lord Cumberland specifically instructed me to fully cooperate with you in completing the mission. If anything happens, take this badge with you; you'll know where to find me."

Randall nodded, put the badge in his pocket, and was about to speak when the sound of rapid hoofbeats caught his and Hossen's attention.

A dozen or so cavalrymen, riding the unique mountain ponies of Lone Rock City, with lacquer tubes hanging on their chests and horns at their waists, roared out of the inner city gate and headed towards the outer city gate.

Randall and Horn exchanged a glance, and the former whispered, "Something really isn't right..."

After bidding farewell to Knight Commander Horn, the members of the Gold Lark Troupe found an inn in Lone Rock and rested for the night. The next morning, everyone, as usual, began setting up the stage and scenery in the city square, preparing for that evening's performance.

As for Randall, he took a few companions and disguised himself as members of the theater troupe, walking through the streets, distributing flyers about the troupe's performances while learning about the religious situation within Lone Rock.

To his surprise, the city's residents talked more about the war.

“I heard from others that the army of the Southern Empire is coming.”

A cobbler with an honest appearance took the flyer from Randall and said cautiously to him, "I heard there are thousands of intruders."

The shoemaker's wife, a plump woman with a small mouth and small eyes, tapped her husband's head with a large wooden ladle and said irritably, "Every year they say the southerners are coming! But what happens? Every year it's a lie!"

The cobbler touched his head, swallowed his rebuttal, and shrugged dejectedly.

The plump woman picked up the flyer, her eyes lighting up. Pointing to the beautiful woman on the paper, she exclaimed, "Is this the legendary actress from Muxi City—Miss Barbara?!"

Randall nodded: "Today is the Golden Lark Troupe's first performance in Lone Rock City. If you arrive early enough, we've arranged excellent seats for the first hundred audience members and will waive half the ticket price..."

The plump woman flipped through the flyer repeatedly, unable to contain her joy, and said, "My sister went to Muxi City, and ever since she came back, she's bragged to me about everything there, including the Golden Lark Theater Troupe... This is perfect..."

Randall glanced at the plump woman in front of him, then at the cobbler beside her, adjusted his hat brim, gave a bow, and began to walk toward the next house.

At 7 p.m., bonfires and oil lamps were lit in the small square of Lone Rock City. Hundreds of citizens arrived early at the venue and, under the arrangement of the staff, sat in the audience seats made of wooden steps.

Barbara, busy adjusting her makeup in front of a small mirror, glanced at Randall by the door and said casually, "You really should look in the mirror. The way you look right now is more like a debt collector than a bodyguard."

Randall turned his head to look at Barbara in the dressing room and said in a low voice, "I went to town this afternoon and all I got was bad news."

"Southern invasion?" Barbara took a small piece of birch wood, lightly dipped it in a little glitter and applied it to the base of her eyebrows. "I've heard about those things before. Every year, rumors of a southern invasion circulate in Lone Rock City, but in fact, every time it turns out to be a rumor."

Randall sighed. "I hope this time I'm just overthinking it."

Dressed in her finest attire, Barbara listened intently to the voices on the stage, carefully placed the mirror she was holding into a box, locked it, and then walked smilingly to Randall: "I noticed that quite a few nobles from the city are among tonight's guests. Perhaps you don't know, but even the young queen from the palace, who loves excitement, has come here in disguise. Through tonight's performance, if we can successfully infiltrate the upper echelons of social circles, our mission will be completed quickly..."

Randall embraced Barbara and gently kissed her forehead: "I hope so."

Barbara laughed and pushed Randall away: "Don't ruin my makeup."

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