Chapter 27: The Hotel’s ‘Intelligence’

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Li Mingxing glanced at the nearby soldiers and the Crusader, then looked again at the Blackstone Warrior and nodded slightly. Another bag of gems was then destroyed in the Blackstone Warrior’s hand.

When Li Mingxing asked the Blackstone Warrior to produce a third bag of gems, a person of authority finally appeared—a seasoned Crusader who had arrived with thirty Crusader warriors. Yet Li Mingxing still smashed the third bag of gems into dust on the spot.

Without even looking up, he instructed the Blackstone Warrior to bring out the fourth bag of gems. At that moment, the Crusader who had suddenly appeared here spoke loudly, “Please stop smashing them. If you continue, your losses will only increase.”

“It’s alright,” Li Mingxing replied indifferently. “Someone demanded half of my gems in one breath. That half no longer belongs to me. I won’t feel any sorrow smashing them.”

Hearing this, the Crusader swiftly turned around and struck the one claiming to be the city lord’s son, sending him flying. Then he removed his helmet and addressed Li Mingxing, “I apologize. I am the only son, and when such matters arise, it is natural for me, as the father, to take responsibility.”

Upon hearing this, Li Mingxing glanced again at the man who was likely the city lord. His hair was entirely silver now, and although his face bore few wrinkles, his demeanor conveyed a deep sense of age.

For some reason, upon seeing this elderly figure, all the aura surrounding Li Mingxing vanished like smoke in the wind. At that moment, Li Mingxing had only one thought: to accept this old man’s request.

After observing the old man for a long while, Li Mingxing turned to the Blackstone Warrior and said, “Place half of the gems we brought on the ground.”

The Blackstone Warrior said nothing and immediately began to lay the bags of gems on the ground. Seeing the piles of gems, Li Mingxing looked up at the elderly man, likely the city lord, and said, “These are the goods I brought. However, I will raise the price a bit—I won’t forget what just happened.”

“That’s acceptable. I will buy them at twice the normal price.”

“Actually, that’s not necessary. I need items suitable for transport or trade, or things that can benefit my activities in this area. The local currency isn’t very useful to me.”

“No problem. I will arrange everything for you, rest assured.” The city lord spoke while turning his head, but the warm feeling Li Mingxing had sensed disappeared instantly. A chill crept across the city lord’s face.

“You lot, who ordered you to act this way? Don’t you know you are soldiers protecting our city, not bandits here to steal. Now, run fifteen laps around the city walls. Don’t stop until you finish.”

Hearing this, the halberdiers and archers dispersed. Then Li Mingxing saw the city lord’s gaze shift to his son.

Perhaps because of his son’s situation, the city lord hesitated briefly but finally said, “You run thirty laps. Don’t come back to see me until you finish.”

After speaking, the city lord turned back to Li Mingxing and asked, “Are you satisfied with how I handled this?”

Li Mingxing smiled faintly, “My lord, isn’t this a bit excessive?”

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“Not at all. I once served as the Sword Saint’s attendant. It was precisely because of that that I was able to become the city lord. Therefore, I know my capabilities and understand that to govern a city well, fairness and justice must come first. If I fail to handle this matter properly, I would have no face to hold this position.”

As he spoke, all the nearby residents watching the scene showed expressions that seemed to say, “This is only right.”

At that moment, Li Mingxing felt something—a desire to learn leadership skills. Perhaps he could find that in this city lord.

After parting with the city lord, Li Mingxing finally entered the city’s inn. Of course, this inn was different from the mysterious tavern where Li Mingxing and his apprentice heroes used to drink. This inn was quite small; aside from a male owner polishing glasses at the bar, only two customers were drinking a yellow liquid.

Upon seeing Li Mingxing enter, the two customers continued drinking, while the owner glanced up and said, “One silver coin per person, no food, but drink as much as you want.”

Li Mingxing turned to look at his followers, knowing the owner thought he had brought too many people. But at this point, Li Mingxing didn’t care about the cost. He waved his claw, and the Blackstone Warrior tossed a gem onto the counter.

Then Li Mingxing’s troops found seats inside the inn. He realized that he had perhaps brought too many people; the inn could not comfortably hold them all.

Li Mingxing felt helpless. As an outsider, he could not allow his men to run wild in the city, or fewer than half might return in the end.

Leaning halfway over the bar, Li Mingxing gently tapped the table and said, “Bring me the best drink here, and tell me the news of this city.”

“I’m sorry. This is an inn, not an intelligence station. If you want news, go to the Seventh Military Intelligence Office. It’s not far, right by the market,” the owner replied without even moving his head, not bothering to pour Li Mingxing a drink or share any information, even ignoring the gem the Blackstone Warrior had tossed onto the counter.

Seeing the owner’s stubborn attitude, Li Mingxing grew more curious about him. He tapped the table lightly again and asked, “Are there any missions here to take on?”

At that, the innkeeper slammed the glass he was polishing onto the table. “Do you ever stop? Because of that kid’s lousy book, my business has already suffered greatly. What more do you want? Do you want me to give this place to you?”

Li Mingxing was somewhat confused by the outburst and about to ask more when the owner started chasing them out.

Li Mingxing didn’t want to cause trouble for the owner. His men showed no reaction and were escorted out of the inn.

After Li Mingxing was also forced out, one of the customers who had been drinking approached him. “Don’t blame him; he’s been furious lately.”

“Oh? Can you tell me what’s going on?”

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“Someone wrote a popular knight novel about a mercenary group. This kind of mercenary group operates by gathering intelligence and accepting missions from inns.”

Hearing this, Li Mingxing understood why the innkeeper had reacted as he did—he had probably been mistaken for someone who came here to play after reading a popular novel.

Though he had gained no intelligence from the inn, Li Mingxing learned from the drinking customer the residence of the young writer of the knight novel and headed there with his men.

Before going, Li Mingxing skimmed through the young man’s writings. Many details resembled traditional Western fantasy. Li Mingxing suspected that the young man, like Aisha, might be a human who accidentally entered the inner world. If he could recruit him, perhaps Li Mingxing could gain another follower.

However, upon reaching the young man’s residence, Li Mingxing realized recruiting him would not be easy.

Many people were waiting nearby, and several troops guarded the area.

Seeing Li Mingxing arrive, the civilians showed little reaction, but some soldiers stepped forward.

“Hey brother, you’re here to get the book too, right?”

“Yeah. I just finished reading it and want to meet the author, but judging by the situation, I guess I came at the wrong time,” Li Mingxing said, quickly thinking up an excuse.

“Ah, so that’s the case. Looks like you and our young master share the same idea. But you’re unlucky. See those? Those are private guards of the city’s nobles, watching closely. Once the book is written, copies get sent to each noble house. I suggest you do the same—find a place to wait for the book. You know, the author writes sometimes fast, sometimes slow—there’s no set schedule.”

“Oh? Can you tell me more about this author?” Li Mingxing asked.

Perhaps because Li Mingxing brought over a hundred men, the soldiers assumed he was some sort of noble and began to explain.

After listening, Li Mingxing learned the young man had not originally been a writer. He started this profession about half a year ago and was quite eloquent. After finishing his novel, he promoted it to several minor nobles.

His luck was good; his work resonated with the city’s second-generation nobles and quickly became popular. Many of these nobles planned to establish mercenary guilds or various associations based on the novel’s content.