After a peaceful winter, the army of the Crimson Empire swept in again, and the atmosphere in Hopeland became increasingly tense.

There were countless ships with white sails docked in the harbor, some of which were carrying various war supplies and food, while others were carrying some residents and valuables to other places.

In the harbor where seagulls were circling and crying, a dense crowd of people stood on the dock. Many horse-drawn carriages were pulling newly unloaded wooden boxes to the military camps in the city and the outlying garrisons. The scene was busy and full of shouting.

In a small cafe not far from the pier, two people who were about to part were sitting.

"Letty, this is your reward for the past few months." An aunt put a bag full of gold coins on the table.

"This...maybe it's too much." Lettice looked at the owner of the clothing store in front of her, a little surprised.

"No, Lettice." The aunt looked at the girl who had regained her beauty and shook her head slightly.

"At the beginning of the year, you helped the store get a sewing machine, which made the production of coats countless times faster. Later, the store even hired a dozen people to work together, and we quickly used up all the furs."

"We made a lot of money this time despite the cold weather. It's only right that I give you these." After saying that, she pushed the bag over again.

Lettice took a quick look at the bag of gold coins. There were probably about 70-80 in it, which was a huge sum of money for an ordinary person. She had worked in the spinning mill for ten years before and still might not have earned that amount.

"Okay, don't refuse anymore." Looking at this weathered but still beautiful girl, the aunt shook her head with a little pity.

"You must have suffered a lot over the years." She knew that this girl looked like a wealthy young lady, but there were many small scars on her arms and body. She must have gone through a lot of hardships over the years.

The two recounted the past few months. At the beginning of the year, Lettice had helped the shop improve and manufacture a new sewing machine, greatly improving efficiency and earning a considerable profit. But now, with furs running out and the Crimson Empire's army approaching again, Hopeland was on the verge of collapse, and many residents and refugees had begun a new round of evacuation.

"Hopland is no longer safe. You can use this money to go to other cities, such as the Northern Sanctuary, the Southern Islands, or even Solander, the capital of Clansia. You can settle down there and live a good life."

"Maybe you can also open a clothing store to make a living. I see that your style and concept in clothing design are very avant-garde, much better than me, an outdated old man." The aunt helped Lettice analyze her future prospects.

"When the time comes, you can settle down and find a suitable husband. A beautiful girl like you should have no shortage of suitors. You just need to be careful not to be deceived by bad people."

"Thank you, ma'am." Lettice nodded, feeling very grateful to the aunt in the clothing store. If it weren't for her, she would probably still be squeezed in the noisy and crowded tent camp like other refugees.

"Okay, I won't nag anymore. My daughter thinks I talk too much, so she hasn't been home much in the past two years."

"Do you have another daughter?" Lettice asked with a little curiosity.

"Yes, she's been very smart since she was young. She graduated from Emenas a few years ago and should be in Falcon territory recently. Anyway, I don't have to worry about her now. She's very good at making money and living on her own."

After the two of them talked for a while, the time to say goodbye came.

"It's time to board the ship. The whistle has already started blowing over there." Through the glass window of the cafe, the two saw that the ironclad passenger ship in the harbor began to emit white steam and prepared to warm up.

Lettice picked up her newly bought suitcase and walked out of the cafe. She waved goodbye to the lady sitting inside the store, then pressed the sun hat on her head and walked towards the large passenger ship where the crowds of people were.

The moist sea breeze blew her white skirt, and her golden hair shimmered in the sunlight. Now she was about to embark on a new journey. This time, her destination was Solander, the capital of Clansia. Perhaps she should follow the old lady's advice and open a clothing store to make a living. Once she had earned enough money, she could consider alchemy.

The waves kept hitting the thick side of the ship. The large passenger ship broke through the white waves and headed west. It would go north along the coastline to the west coast of Clancia.

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In the eastern part of the Canghong Empire, Wanglong Port.

This is the most prosperous port in the eastern part of the empire. In the past, ships heading to the east would stop here, bringing with them a large amount of wealth. Oriental people who came to the western continent would also look back at their homeland here, so it was named Wanglong Port.

Despite the empire's widespread recruitment and preparation for war, this city remained peaceful. Having lived in this prosperous commercial city for so long, the people had grown accustomed to engaging in trade and earning lucrative profits, and naturally had little interest in violence.

After all, when life is rich and abundant, who would be willing to risk their life on the battlefield? This is also the case. Among the four dukes, the Landsworthy family has always been a dove, hoping that the situation will be stable and there will be fewer conflicts.

The wealthy life also allowed the nobles in the eastern part of the empire to live a leisurely life, with plenty of time to dabble in art, opera, painting, etc. The jewelry and clothing sold by the Landsworthy family have always been the trend setters in the empire.

A top-notch family, artistic temperament, elven blood, and wealth that rivals a country. With so many halos, it is not difficult to imagine how popular the Landsworthy family is in the empire.

'Golden Flame Tulip' is a famous pastry shop in Wanglong Port.

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