Linde rubbed his temples, forcibly suppressing the mental strain brought on by the high-speed operation of the [Deconstruction Halo].
Set aside the five suspicious individuals for now; Lillens' urgent letter deserves our priority.
He skillfully removed the sealing wax seal, unfolded the parchment, and his eyes quickly swept over Li Luns's strong and powerful handwriting.
"Inquiring about me? The target is clearly Blackrock Territory? Disguised as a scholar's follower, his demeanor is sharp and capable..." Lin De muttered the key information, his brows gradually furrowing.
Lilens's description, especially "tall, silent, vigilant, coordinated in action" and "inquiring about his background, deeds, details of his territory, and his relationship with the orcs and the church," closely matched the "suspicious person" that his castle patrol reported was approaching.
"Strange, what a coincidence!"
Lind tapped his fingertips unconsciously on the letter.
Lilens discovered them in the Fortified City, and they have now reached the border of Blackrock Territory. This speed... or rather, they came here specifically for Blackrock Territory.
He closed his eyes and activated the [Activation Aura] once more.
This time, his perception was clearer and broader.
An invisible life energy horizon spread out like ripples, easily covering the entire castle and trading area, and quickly extending to the border.
Five bright and unique points of life, like stars in the night, were clearly reflected in his perception—they had just stepped into the trade zone.
But what made Linde's pupils suddenly contract was not their location, but the light emanating from them!
That was not the soft, life-giving white light of ordinary living beings or plants, but a profound and controllable pure green light that was highly consistent with the core essence of his own [Activation Aura]!
This light seemed to be part of their very life essence, flowing naturally like breathing. Its core frequency resonated subtly with Linde's power. Although its intensity was far less than his, the feeling of "shared origin" was unmistakable!
This is no coincidence!
Linde suddenly opened his eyes, a cold glint flashing in his purple pupils, his previous casualness vanishing completely.
He originally planned to send Astaire with a squad of ordinary soldiers to "inquire" and find out the details.
But at this moment, the green light emanating from these five "suspicious individuals," which originated from the same source as his own, instantly elevated them from "troublesome" to "major mystery"!
"Interesting...really interesting."
A cold, playful smile curved Linde's lips as he lightly tapped his fingertip on the table. "Aster!"
"Yes, sir!"
Outside the study door, Astaire's steady voice immediately responded.
This captain of the guard, whose aura became even more composed after being promoted to the Bronze rank, seemed to be perpetually on standby.
“Take a squad of ‘Rock’ guards to the trade district and ‘invite’ those five ‘scholar’-looking guys who just came in to the castle.”
Be quick, be polite, but don't refuse.
Linde's voice carried an unquestionable command, "Tell them that the lord requests a meeting."
"Yes, sir!"
Aster accepted the order, his footsteps quickly fading into the distance, the sound of his armor scraping against each other carrying the cold, hard texture of metal.
…………
Black Rock Territory Trade Zone.
When Glenhill and his party of five stepped into this bustling place, even with the elves' calm nature, they couldn't help but be slightly shaken by the scene before them.
Looking out, the huge market was bustling with people, like a boiling ocean.
Caravans from all over the human kingdoms waved their flags, laden with grain, cloth, ironware, and spices; orc caravans were even more conspicuous, with rugged rock-armored rhinoceroses carrying baskets of rare ores, shimmering magical beast cores, tough animal hides, and plant roots exuding a strange medicinal fragrance.
Human merchants haggled over prices with great enthusiasm, while orcs communicated in deep, resonant voices. Despite the language barrier, they conducted the transactions with great gusto through skillful gestures or common measuring tools.
The air was filled with the smells of sweat, spices, the smoky aroma of roasted meat, the dusty smell of minerals, and the unique scents of various exotic magical beast materials, creating a rugged yet vibrant atmosphere.
The roads are wide and well-planned.
Linde's tax reduction policy acted like a powerful magnet, attracting countless merchants to flock to it.
Temporary warehouses stood side by side, and the faint clanging of forging could be heard from the workshop area. In the distance, there was a newly built enclosure for large pack animals to rest.
The entire trade zone is like a powerfully beating heart, continuously pumping wealth and vitality into the body of Blackrock Territory.
"Is this... really what a remote territory should look like?"
Lyra Ryan whispered, her grey-blue eyes filled with astonishment.
This was completely different from the barren, chaotic border she had imagined.
“That Viscount Linde is indeed quite capable.”
Tal Salin crossed his arms, his sharp eyes scanning the surroundings, assessing the defensive forces and potential threats.
He saw many well-equipped and vigilant patrol teams, operating in an orderly manner.
Glen Hill nodded slightly, feeling the weight of the assessment report in his heart grow even heavier.
The ability to bring together orcs and humans on such a large scale and in a relatively peaceful manner for trade demonstrates a level of control and negotiation skills that is unmatched by ordinary lords.
They need more in-depth information.
"As planned, disperse and observe, gather information on Viscount Linde's recent movements, the key points of territory development, and..." Glenhill was giving instructions in a low voice when suddenly, something unexpected happened!
"Thump! Thump! Thump!"
A series of uniform, heavy, and extremely imposing footsteps approached from afar, instantly drowning out the hustle and bustle of the market!
The crowd seemed to be separated by an invisible force, and a squad of soldiers clad in strange armor, like a black torrent of rocks, rushed in at an astonishing speed, surrounding the five elves in the blink of an eye!
The surroundings fell silent instantly. The merchants stopped trading in astonishment, and the orcs gripped their weapons warily.
This small team, consisting of only ten people, exuded an aura that seemed to freeze the air.
They were not wearing traditional plate armor, but composite armor covered with a special dark gray coating. The joints were ingeniously designed, with smooth lines that exuded power.
A faint, almost imperceptible stream of energy swept across the surface of the armor. The helmet and visor were lowered, revealing only a cold, ruthless gaze.
What is most striking are the weapons they hold: uniquely shaped, long-handled blades that gleam with a cold metallic sheen, their long, slender tips radiating a chilling aura of danger.
Their movements were perfectly coordinated, their positions blocking all possible escape routes, and a chilling atmosphere permeated the air.
And the leader was none other than Astaire.
He wasn't wearing a helmet; his sharp features were as if carved by a knife and axe, and the solidity brought by his refined bronze-level battle aura made him seem like an unshakeable mountain.
The atmosphere was very tense.
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