Chapter 220: 212: Count Solo's Invitation

Chapter 220: Chapter 212: Count Solo’s Invitation

The days of traveling with the caravan passed swiftly, but Lis didn’t feel bored.

Because he had found new amusement.

Every day, he would grab a handful of melon seeds or nuts, sit aside with a big smile, and watch Fink clumsily try to sweettalk Liz.

At first, Liz didn’t realize it, but after several attempts, she quickly understood Fink’s feelings.

However, the naive girl didn’t know how to respond to Fink, so eventually Cress stepped in on her behalf.

Fink didn’t give up and continued to work hard for his first love.

...

After finishing off the seeds in his hand, a content Lis patted Fink on the shoulder, cheered him on, and then sauntered over to the White Wolf Mercenary Group’s carriage and lay down on it to start meditating on the arcane model.

Soon, the Feis caravan arrived at Northwind City.

The long queue to enter the city stretched under the black iron-colored walls, where the neatly dressed guards were diligently checking every traveler and carriage that wanted to enter, while a clerk by their side was keeping accounts and collecting the entry fee.

All of this seemed more official than any of the noble territories they had passed through.

It was worthy of the Solos, the backbone of the Northern lands.

At that moment, the clerk registering entries at the city gate, upon seeing the Feis caravan, changed his expression and immediately approached with respect to greet them.

“Excuse me, are you the members of the Feis caravan?”

“Yes, what’s the matter?”

Roque was somewhat curious, as this hadn’t happened the last time he came to Northwind City.

“Count Solo has ordered that there’s no need for your caravan to pay the entry tax. You may enter the city directly.”

“If there’s nothing else, please go ahead and enter the city.”

“Will your caravan be staying at the Old Jack Inn as usual?”

Observing the clerk who seemed a bit too enthusiastic.

Roque seemed to realize something and nodded with a smile, saying,

“We’ll trouble you, then.”

The clerk nodded, hurriedly directing the nearby City Guard to clear a path for their entry.

The small traders and travelers who were set aside didn’t mind too much; instead, they looked at the people of the Feis caravan with curious eyes.

In Northwind City, with Count Solo around, these common folk weren’t worried about extortion; it was just a minor delay.

The clerk discreetly pulled aside a City Guard captain clad in black Armor, murmured a few instructions, and promptly walked over to Roque to accompany him toward the inn.

Northwind City, as one of Feis Kingdom’s vital strategic cities in the Northern Territory, became more rugged toward the north. The gradual undulating hills and mountain ranges divided the northernmost part of the Kingdom into large and small territories.

The prairie also began to give way to coniferous forests dominated by pine and fir trees starting from here.

Similarly, various special products of the Northern lands, such as precious medicinal herbs, animal skins, and minerals, all converged on Northwind City.

Under the guidance of the current Count Solo, Northwind City had become a necessary stop for many passing caravans. He also invested a hefty sum to hire several Dwarf masters to establish the largest weapons and Equipment forging workshop in the Northern Kingdom.

Because of this, Northwind City grew even more prosperous and thriving, and Count Solo became one of the wealthiest Lord Nobles in the north.

His adequate finances allowed him to build a sufficiently powerful army and Solid fortifications.

Many didn’t realize the Count’s foresight until after the invasion by Dillon Kingdom.

Soon, the caravan reached its destination for the day, the Old Jack Inn.

This was the largest inn in Northwind City, catering specifically to passing caravans.

The servants at the Old Jack Inn also seemed to have been notified in advance. As soon as Roque and the others arrived, everything was arranged very properly without him having to lift a finger.

While the inn’s servants were busy arranging for the caravan’s accommodation, the clerk quietly pulled Roque aside and asked,

“Lord Lis is among the caravan right now, isn’t he?”

“Lord Ignos has already instructed me, and I have been waiting at the city gate these past few days.”

Roque responded with an expression that said, “As expected,” and then silently nodded his head.

After receiving confirmation, the clerk quietly said:

“I must trouble you, for Count Solo may come here later, to invite Lord Lis to attend a banquet especially held at the castle.”

“So…”

“Alright, I will inform Lord Lis.”

Roque naturally understood what the clerk implied.

It seemed that Count Solo held Lord Lis in high regard indeed.

Normally, when Lord Nobles encounter nobility of equal or greater rank entering their territory, they often invite them to their castle for a visit and to dine together, as a suitably proper reception.

And Count Solo had even prepared a banquet at the castle specifically for Lis, which was a clear sign of considerable esteem.

After Roque reported the Count’s preparation for the banquet to Lis, Lis merely nodded to indicate he understood.

He did not particularly care about these nobiliary interactions, yet he wouldn’t purposely decline them either.

It was a good opportunity to meet Count Solo, who was also an important NPC in his former life.

A short while later, the sound of hooves clattered outside the inn, and a middle-aged man in dark brown, luxurious attire entered the Old Jack Inn, escorted by Guards.

This man was Count Andrei Solo.

When Andrei entered the inn, and the well-equipped Guards spread out to the sides, the people resting in the inn’s great hall held their breath.

Some had recognized that the man before them was the Lord of these lands. Others wondered what significant event had transpired to bring this noble personally into their midst.

After a brief wait, Andrei saw Lis descend the staircase, now dressed in noble formal attire.

After all, it would have been impolite to wear his adventurer’s clothes given Count Solo’s genuine invitation.

Count Solo promptly advanced a couple of steps and took Lis’s hand, saying:

“I am Andrei Solo, and it is an honor that Marquis Kane, you have come to Northwind City.”

“I’ve long heard of your illustrious achievements in Bright City, hailed as the hope of the Kingdom by the King himself. Today, seeing you in person, you indeed stand out.”

Lis gently shook the hand he held and replied with a smile:

“Where, Count Solo, you flatter me. I have heard of the fame of the Wild Boar Family in Bright City, and today I finally have the chance to make your acquaintance.”

“Haha, you are too kind.”

Andrei laughed and shook his head. Although he was much older than Lis, there wasn’t a hint of condescension in his demeanor.

A crafty old fox!

Lis quietly noted this in his mind.

Andrei glanced around at the somewhat astonished passersby and nodded, saying:

“This is not a great place for an in-depth conversation, please accompany me to the castle, the banquet awaits you.”

Lis saw no issue with this and joined Count Solo in stepping onto the luxurious carriage parked outside the door, heading toward Solo Castle on the southern side of Northwind City.

Once the two, along with a guard, departed, the great hall that had been quiet for a long while once again became noisy.

Sitting by a table in the corner of the inn, some members of the White Wolf Mercenary Group had witnessed everything that transpired.

Fink, who had been preoccupied with winning Liz’s favor in recent days, seemed somewhat uncertain.

“That man is… Moriarty?”

Magat and the other mercenaries looked at one another and couldn’t help shaking their heads.

This kid, hopelessly clueless!