Hopeland, Carites Chamber of Commerce.
Beneath the uneven purple eaves, the white stone walls reveal mottled patches of pale white and pale orange in the sunlight. This is the headquarters of the Carites Chamber of Commerce, its new post-war redevelopment. Compared to the past, it appears more spacious and tidy, and the buildings are taller and more elegant.
Because of building warships and manufacturing muskets during the war, the Chamber of Commerce has made huge profits in recent years and has also developed rapidly. The number of members is nearly five times that of the past. It has become one of the largest chambers of commerce in southern Clancia and has a strong influence on the surrounding areas.
Standing in front of the Chamber of Commerce's gate, Loran Hill could hardly recognize the place where he used to live because the changes were so great.
First, the main gate. Once merely seven or eight meters high, the walls and doors were now built like a fortress. Stout white pillars stood on either side, topped by two purple-spired watchtowers dotted with tiny firing holes. A heavy steel grille could be lowered from the main gate. The thick wooden door was rarely closed, but judging by its several-finger-thickness, it was unlikely even small artillery could crack it.
In order to cover up the overly solemn atmosphere of the gate, the door and the walls on both sides are covered with light purple vines, some of which are blooming with unknown flowers, alternating between white and purple, dotted on the walls and doorposts.
"Hello, Miss, is there anything you need from our Chamber of Commerce?"
Seeing that Loran Hill had been standing motionless at the gate, a guard came over to ask. He was wearing steel-colored armor, holding a halberd in one hand, and wearing a small lacquer night flower badge on his chest.
"I want to look for Ms. Chelsea." Loran Hill recalled the acquaintances in the Chamber of Commerce in the past. The one who left the deepest impression on him was naturally the head maid Chelsea.
"Lord Chelsea is currently semi-retired and generally does not see outsiders. Do you have an appointment?" the guard asked patiently.
"This, um... just give this to her, that's all." The girl thought for a while, then took out a piece of paper and wrote her own words.
Looking at the ordinary note in his hand, the young guard hesitated, but finally nodded.
"Please wait a moment." After saying that, he walked towards the gatehouse behind the gate.
Squeak——
Pushing open the closed wooden door, a slight snoring sound was heard. A guard was taking a nap lying on the table in the lobby. He looked to be in his forties and had a lot of beard on the sides of his face.
"Wake up, Boss Rupert." The young guard who came in shook his sleeping boss.
"Uh, what's wrong? It's not time to change shifts yet." He rubbed his eyes and looked at the colleague in front of him.
"There's a girl outside who wants to see Master Chelsea, but she doesn't have an appointment. She said just give this note to her."
"I see. It's probably another salesman or some random person. Oh, I've seen this kind of trick too many times, ha~." He yawned and looked a little sleepy.
"But that girl, how should I put it, is very unusual. I don't think she is a liar or anything like that." The guard recalled the girl in the light white dress just now and felt a faint liking and admiration for her.
"Ha, you kid, are you attracted to her?" He smiled.
"Okay, let me see what she wrote. Hey, let me tell you, the more beautiful a woman is, the more careful you have to be, just like back then..." As he spoke, he suddenly got stuck.
"This..." Looking at the familiar handwriting on the note, he suddenly remembered something and stood up abruptly, scaring his companions. Then he didn't care about anything, quickly put on his helmet, pushed his companions away, and walked out quickly.
"Is that girl still there?" he said as he walked, his tone a little excited.
"It should still be there. What's wrong?" Seeing Rupert, the old man from the Chamber of Commerce, so excited, the guard also became a little nervous.
"Nothing, is that the one?" After the two walked out the door, Rupert pointed to the girl who was waiting quietly outside the door.
"Yes, it's her."
"Good, very good, young man, you did a great job today. It can even be said that this is the best thing you have done in all these years working at the Chamber of Commerce." He looked at the girl standing quietly, patted his companion on the shoulder, and his words became more and more excited.
"This..." Before the guard could react, Rupert strode out. Seeing this, he couldn't help but quicken his pace to catch up.
"Ms. Lacey, you are finally back!" Rupert walked closer and saw that this was the former head of the Chamber of Commerce, Miss Lacey.
Looking at the familiar face in front of her, Loran Hill didn't react for a moment. After a few seconds, she remembered that this person seemed to be a guard who had been with her when she was in the Chamber of Commerce.
But he was still young at that time and didn't have so much beard on his face, so the girl didn't react at first.
"It's Rupert, long time no see."
In the afternoon sunshine, the blonde girl in the white dress answered quietly, her voice still as peaceful and soothing as before.
When Rupert called out, it attracted quite a few guards at the gate. Soon, everyone gradually realized what was happening. Amidst their surprise, the news of Miss Lacey's return spread like wildfire throughout the Chamber of Commerce. Everywhere was filled with the sounds of running and sudden cheers.
"Really? Is the young lady really back?" An old man with gray hair stood up from the table piled with books and drawings, with a look of surprise on his face.
"Really? It's spread everywhere. Everyone knows about it." An employee wearing a white shirt and holding a book answered excitedly.
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