“Hmm, you’ve made a very good point, Zhang Caidong. I will seriously consider your suggestion.”
Shen Mu also nodded in response to Zhang Caidong.
After all, if he wanted to expand his territory further, he would need the help of these Blue Star Humans.
If he could truly emulate the Diesel Company and the Orc Tribe, by selecting suitable Blue Star Humans to act as a stepping stone for external expansion and interaction with other Blue Star Human forces, he could have them lead Mount & Blade Soldiers disguised as Lingjie Human Race soldiers.
This would be used for tactical and strategic deception against other Blue Star Human forces, making them mistakenly believe he was also a Lingjie Human Race Lord.
That would be quite excellent.
However, Shen Mu was still somewhat at a loss as to how to specifically implement it.
After all, the Mount & Blade System and Mount & Blade Rules were entirely new rules and systems, completely independent of the Blue Star and Fantasy Crystal Wall System rules.
They simply couldn't be lumped together.
They looked similar in many ways, but in reality, they were fundamentally different. After all, the Mount & Blade Rules and Mount & Blade System were entirely derived from the mount & blade game.
How could they be the same in essence?
“This is just my humble suggestion, Lord Shen Mu. If you need it, I can always select a group of Blue Star Humans willing to pledge allegiance and serve you.”
Zhang Caidong still appeared quite respectful at this moment.
“Hmm, I will consider it.” Shen Mu nodded, not revealing that he had no way to respond to Zhang Caidong’s suggestion.
Although he felt a bit guilty inside, he absolutely could not let it show on his face, as this was Shen Mu’s deepest secret.
No one could know.
After exchanging a few more words, Zhang Caidong also noticed that Shen Mu was clearly distracted and had other things he wanted to do, so he had no intention of lingering.
After bidding farewell, he turned and left the Noble Residence, continuing to busy himself with his own affairs.
After all, for Zhang Caidong, there were many matters concerning the Blue Star Humans at the moment, and he needed to be diligently busy.
If he made a mistake, it would be embarrassing for him.
After all, countless Blue Star Humans below him envied his current job and power, and countless others secretly wanted to see him make a fool of himself.
He understood this very well.
Even those with closer relationships, who were now calling friends and brothers like family, harbored feelings of jealousy towards him in their hearts.
There were even some individuals he had known for a short time, who had previously had disagreements or conflicts, and who now outwardly submitted to him, but in reality, might still want to see him make a fool of himself or drag him down from his high position.
None of this mattered to Zhang Caidong, for this was simply human nature.
“Want to see me make a fool of myself? That’s definitely not going to happen.” Zhang Caidong’s lips curled into a disdainful smile at this moment, but looking at the Swadian Sergeant behind him, fully armored and holding a long spear, appearing quite formidable.
Zhang Caidong’s eyes also held a mix of awe and envy.
This was also why he had proposed this suggestion.
He had truly had enough of those cunning and cruel Gnolls!
If he could also acquire such powerful and well-equipped soldiers to pledge allegiance to him and become his followers, Zhang Caidong would definitely no longer tolerate those smelly, filthy Gnolls.
Gnolls, how could they be as easy to lead as the Human Race from the Spiritual Realm?
“Besides, those Gnolls are truly insatiable!” Zhang Caidong recalled the extremely negative impression of the Gnolls he had encountered before—their impoliteness, constant demands for meat, and their malicious two-faced behavior—and his heart couldn't help but grow more indignant.
But now it was better; after pledging allegiance to Shen Mu, he might have the opportunity to lead Human Race soldiers as powerful and well-equipped as these.
Zhang Caidong was in a very good mood now.
So, after he left the street near the Noble Residence, he went to attend to his own matters.
However, in a tent just around the corner, not far from the street, a pair of eyes were tightly fixed on the direction of that street.
Or rather, on the outline of the Noble Residence deep within the street.
“Stop looking, we can’t get through. Do you see those Human Race soldiers in chainmail at the entrance? They’ll be guarding there; unless you’re a high-level manager, you simply can’t get in.” A muffled voice came from inside the tent.
At the same time, a hand slowly reached out and pulled the tent flap wider, allowing the sunlight from above to shine in.
Inside the tent were four or five men smoking cigarettes.
Now, with the tent pulled open, plumes of smoke also wafted out through the gap.
This made the men smoking in the tent appear even more dejected.
In fact, they were indeed dejected, especially when they had just seen Zhang Caidong leave that street through the gap, their faces showing even more helplessness.
“I say we should just be straightforward and tell the New Lord of Human Race, Shen Mu, that we have a special holy artifact to give him.”
Among these middle-aged men, a man in his 40s spoke, “We had a brief encounter with Shen Mu before, and he was the one who invited us here. Using that brief encounter, perhaps we can truly establish a connection with him, at least better than our current situation.”
“That’s right, I agree. After all, we’re already here, and our wives and children are here too, so what else is there to worry about?” Another middle-aged man also nodded, looking at the leading middle-aged man and saying, “Before, the Diesel Company wanted to privately swallow our holy artifact, which is why we didn’t dare contact anyone from the Diesel Company, fearing retaliation from their official employees. After all, even before the apocalypse, our industry was at odds with the Diesel Company and had conflicts. But now, this Shen Mu we know has no bad relations with us.”
“Exactly, I think so too.” The other middle-aged men all nodded.
They were all good partners and old classmates from before, which was why they had been able to maintain good relationships for three years since the apocalypse began.
They were among the few true, heartfelt friends who could work together after the apocalypse.
Therefore, they spoke their minds directly.
“Since everyone agrees, then I agree too.” The leading middle-aged man pursed his lips at this moment, looking at his partners and old classmates, slowly nodded, and assented to their suggestion.
At the same time, he reached to his lower back and felt a heavy, wrapped object.
It was about the size of two fists.
It was tightly wrapped in silk at this moment.
However, if one looked closely, one could still vaguely see faint, shimmering light emanating from within the silk.
It was quite peculiar.
“Then how do we approach Lord Shen Mu?” Another middle-aged man raised a question at this point.
Everyone’s gaze turned towards the street entrance.
At the street entrance, five Swadian Sergeants stood, holding long spears, fully clad in chainmail, their helmets obscuring their faces. From their heavy chainmail gauntlets to their chainmail boots, they appeared almost like cold, humanoid machines.
Around these five Swadian Sergeants, there were also ten Swadian Infantrymen in somewhat simpler chainmail, but still equipped with long spears, German Swords, and kite shields, standing guard.
In addition, there were occasional patrols composed of Swadian Light Infantry and Swadian Militia.
This almost made the street a very tightly defended area.
Any Blue Star Humans daring to approach would be unhesitatingly reprimanded by the Lingjie Human Race soldiers, told to leave and retreat, and not to advance further.
If a Spiritual Realm Follower approached these Human Race soldiers rashly, they would even draw their weapons directly, looking sternly as if they would attack if anyone dared to move forward.
And no one doubted the Human Race soldiers' intention to attack directly.
After all, to verify this would be to gamble with one's life.
Looking at it this way, it was indeed a bit troublesome.
“Then I’ll give it a try.” The leading middle-aged man slowly sighed, “At least it seems those Human Race soldiers aren’t impossible to talk to. Perhaps there’s still a chance.”
“Then be careful.” The other middle-aged men also pursed their lips, watching him rise and walk out of the tent, a hint of worry in their eyes.
This middle-aged man then arrived at the street entrance.
In his hands, he held the holy artifact wrapped in silk.
“Stop, stranger! You are now entering the area of the Lord’s Noble Residence. If you don’t want trouble, then leave immediately!”
As the middle-aged man reached the street entrance, just about to approach the Human Race soldiers, the leading Swadian Sergeant immediately spoke in a deep voice, responding.
And around him, the Swadian Sergeants and Swadian Infantrymen all raised their long spears, their eyes glaring menacingly at the middle-aged man.
An absolute coldness and killing intent immediately projected directly onto the middle-aged man through their gaze.
“I mean no harm.” The middle-aged man slowly spread his hands, trying to make his tone as gentle as possible: “Previously, I had a brief encounter with Lord Shen Mu, the Lord here, and he was the one who invited me to this town called Deherim. And now, I have a very important matter to report to Lord Shen Mu.”
“…” However, these Swadian Sergeants and Swadian Infantrymen were not swayed by his words.
They continued to glare at him menacingly.
They were especially mindful of the middle-aged man’s distance from them.
“This is true.” The middle-aged man couldn't help but show a bitter smile. He, of course, understood that at this moment, for anyone to simply say a few words and be able to report to Shen Mu was simply a fantasy, a joke.
After all, Shen Mu was now in a high position of power, the primary leader of the entire New Lord of Human Race.
If everyone who claimed to know Shen Mu wanted to meet him, it would be chaos.
But the reason this middle-aged man dared to step forward was precisely because the special holy artifact he held was the source of his confidence.
So, under the vigilant gaze of the Swadian Sergeants and Swadian Infantrymen, he slowly and gently raised the special holy artifact in his hand and carefully unveiled the silk covering it.
‘Om!’
A special white light immediately emitted as the silk was removed, enveloping an area of approximately 5 meters around the man.
It carried a gentle and special power of light.
It even directly merged with the light emanating from the Holy White Council's Holy Light Torch Tower, which was releasing halos in the Castle District.
“!” This immediately caused the Swadian Sergeants and Swadian Infantrymen, as well as the patrolling Swadian Light Infantry and Swadian Militia around them, to reveal surprised looks.
This was truly too peculiar.
“Everyone, this is the gift I wish to present to Lord Shen Mu, a holy artifact possessing the Spiritual Realm’s light inheritance.”
The middle-aged man spoke earnestly at this moment: “Therefore, please allow me to meet Lord Shen Mu, and I also hope that you all can convey my earnest desire to see Lord Shen Mu.”
“Wait.” At this moment, the leading Swadian Sergeant slowly spoke, taking a deep look at the middle-aged man and the white-glowing holy artifact in his hand.
He had already seen that within the light, the holy artifact appeared to be a statue of a figure holding a long spear, broken into two pieces but still joined together.
It was indeed quite extraordinary.
“I will report this matter to Lord Shen Mu. You all keep an eye on this middle-aged man and maintain order on the surrounding streets.” The leading Swadian Sergeant slowly said.
“Understood.” The other Swadian Sergeants and Swadian Infantrymen immediately responded.
These fifth-tier and fourth-tier Swadian Light Infantry were quite elite.
Without saying much, they immediately became secretly vigilant.
Including the patrolling Swadian Light Infantry and Swadian Militia, all held their weapons, protecting the middle-aged man and forming a subtle cordon to prevent other Blue Star Humans on the surrounding streets who noticed the light from having any ill intentions.
They all understood the gravity and urgency of the situation.
They also understood that if someone was presenting a treasure to Lord Shen Mu, then they must protect that person and the treasure he was offering.
This was their duty.
And at this moment, a dialogue box suddenly popped up in front of Shen Mu, who was still in the Noble Residence.
It was a temporary system quest dialogue box.
A temporary system quest had been issued.
【Ding! The system has detected an event, temporary quest issued — Treasure Bearer.】
【Quest Description: Due to your excellent management of Deherim, a group of Blue Star Humans who entered your town have perceived your generosity and benevolence, and have finally decided to offer you their treasured item in exchange for sanctuary within your territory.】
【Quest Requirement: Accept these Blue Star Humans and fulfill their requests.】
【Quest Reward: Unlock special module.】
【Hint: The requests of these Blue Star Humans will be very simple and not troublesome. If possible, please gain their trust, as they will be your best assistance after unlocking the special module.】