NEC Chapter 82: Safe Return to Cloudmist

The [Shuttle], as an amphibious electric motorcycle, displayed its versatility to the Starry Continent for the first time.

After rushing down the riverbank, the [Shuttle]'s sides deployed two inflatable airtight membranes. The spinning motors pumped air into them, causing the airtight membranes to puff up like life vests, steadily supporting the heavy vehicle body.

On the sides of the wheels, pop-out paddles served as oars. Though the paddle blades were a bit small, they made up for it with their rapid water-beating speed, allowing unobstructed forward movement in the water.

It was precisely with the support of such a system that the [Shuttle] could directly float across the river surface.

Whether it was the scattered elite scouts on the riverbank or the Zircon commanders gathered around the mages' detection eyes in the bridge camps, they could only look at each other helplessly and watch Chen Mo calmly cross the river, go ashore, retract the wing membranes, and ride away with swagger.

Before leaving, Frost even fired a shot toward the south bank, blasting apart the Zircon Three-Tower Flag planted on the riverbank.

The fallen banner crashed heavily into the river, smashing into the rushing waters and instantly being swallowed by the turbid waves.

Thus, this massive manhunt that had mobilized over ten thousand people and consumed equipment, supplies, and magical items worth tens of millions had clearly become a grand farce.

Chen Mo didn't feel much about it. As they'd say back home, when a Ferrari races against a wheelchair, even winning isn't particularly impressive.

However, after confirming their safety, the young countess who seemed to have forgotten everything these past days looked at the land left far behind them, and her eyes involuntarily reddened again.

The little girl performed what appeared to be a standard noble salute toward the opposite riverbank, then mounted the [Shuttle] once more.

"Now that we're here, you should recognize the way home, right?"

Frost nodded gently, "Yes, from the bridge heading north for two hundred arrows' distance, we'll reach Cloudmist Domain’s Violet City."

Converting that, it was merely forty kilometers, not even enough for half an hour at full speed.

Though with these broken roads, full speed wasn't possible anyway.

"What was that salute you just performed? It looked different from all the previous ones."

"That was the noble upper memorial salute, performed when respected elders or honored ones... depart forever."

"From what you're saying, there's also a lower memorial salute?"

"Yes, there's also the noble level memorial salute, lower memorial salute... used for different occasions. There are 262 types of etiquette in total. Aunt Linda told me about them many times, but I only... only remembered a little bit..."

"..."

Chen Mo took a deep breath and offered comfort that wasn't really comfort, "I feel like you've suddenly grown up!"

Frost inserted the long rifle back into the gun bag on her back, turned slightly sideways, and pressed her face against Chen Mo's spine.

"Actually, Grandpa Locke's injuries could have been healed, but he was afraid I wouldn't leave, so he gave up on his own..."

"Uncle Paven... he didn't have to die either..."

"And Linda, I used to find her so annoying, always making me recite lessons... but in the future... there won't be anyone to manage me anymore..."

"They all went to accompany my mother, leaving me alone here..."

Her voice grew lower and lower, finally turning into an almost inaudible sigh, "If I don't grow up, what else can I do?"

Chen Mo felt a warm, damp coolness on his back. After thinking for a long time without knowing how to comfort her, he tried to change the subject, "After returning, do you have any plans?"

Frost paused slightly, seeming very reluctant but unusually determined as she replied, "I want to train!"

"I'm still Iron Badge, I don't even know how to charge... Uncle Paven's charge was the best in the duchy, and I never learned it properly..."

"When I go back, I'll tell father I want to go to Resting Moon Academy!"

The young countess suddenly sat up straight, fingering the corner of Chen Mo's clothes, "When I return from Resting Moon, I'll definitely complete my class advancement awakening! Like Uncle Paven, become a Goldscale Swordsman!"

"When that time comes... when that time comes, will you come find me?"

Chen Mo smiled, "Sure!"

He had a feeling this was the young countess's early farewell and invitation.

The wind across the wilderness swept by, bringing the fresh scent of grass and leaves, diluting the salty smell from their long-unchanged clothes, causing both the escaped big boy and little girl to feel involuntarily refreshed.

The last day of November in the Year of Thunder of Resting Moon.

Chen Mo and the young countess, with one gun and one sword, passed enemy scattered checkpoints across the Crystal Plains, swept past Violet City, and continued northward without stopping under the escort of thirty elite cavalry sent by Violet City's garrison, heading directly to Cloudmist Domain’s administrative seat—Cloudmist City.

Upon receiving the news, one of the Emerald Duchy's three pillars, Lord of Cloudmist Domain, Earl Liuyun known as "Blade of Cloudmist," who had rushed back overnight from the western front, personally hosted a grand welcoming banquet.

Of course, it was to welcome his own daughter, the Earl's precious child, the Countess of Cloudmist.

Was Frost's status important? Not necessarily so important.

However, under the current circumstances where the Emerald Duchy was under three-sided attack with large portions of territory lost, the Earl's daughter and her accompanying party had fought through layers of blockades from the Crescent Moon Federation to the Greenspine Kingdom, crossing two enemy nations and returning safely, this event had entirely different significance.

War was a game that couldn't be lost.

Even if completely defeated before, one had to loudly proclaim great victories, let alone this was a genuine legendary experience.

At such times, having such a great "local victory" held enormous value for overall strategic confidence.

Therefore, Frost's achievements had to be greatly celebrated!

As for Chen Mo...

Wasn't he part of the "accompanying party"?

After the grand welcome banquet, the Earl personally received Chen Mo.

The meeting location was the inner hall of the Earl's mansion, where the Earl discussed territorial affairs with his first-level staff chiefs, a place second in importance only to the main hall where all territorial officials gathered for deliberations.

The protocol officer guiding Chen Mo naturally had to express this importance clearly.

"Please come this way, sir!"

"Since the Earl received his duchy honors, aside from the previous visit by His Excellency Shadow Erosion Blade of the duchy, you are the second distinguished guest the Earl has received alone here, truly invaluable."

Chen Mo smiled politely, "Hmm, it does sound quite valuable indeed."

Announcement outside the door, invitation inside.

Just as Chen Mo crossed the threshold, the Earl first performed a very solemn noble salute, bowing at a sixty-five-degree angle.

Chen Mo had also heard the young countess recite lessons, this was the highest courtesy, truly couldn't be more.

One more degree would violate noble etiquette.

"Thank you, sir, for supporting my daughter throughout the journey!"

The Earl was about fifty years old, with bronze-colored skin, iron-gray short hair, and sharp military bearing wrapped in the dignity of one long in high position.

Asking Chen Mo to sit, the Earl's voice was exceptionally resonant, "Originally there should have been a proper welcome for you as well, but some matters, with ten thousand helplessness, I can only ask for your understanding."

"My Cloudmist Domain is small with few soldiers, we truly cannot bear the wrath of a great nation."

With just a few sentences, Chen Mo understood the Earl's meaning.

Though the Emerald Duchy was an independent kingdom, it bordered the Resting Moon Dynasty's sphere of influence to the west and faced the Mistmoon Divine Court's connected nations to the south, positioned at the forefront of conflict between two super powers.

At such times, if rumors spread about connections with this Chen Mo of supposedly unclear identity from the "Sky Empire," it would bring only harm and no benefit to the Emerald Duchy.

Being caught between two great nations while colluding with a third party, only top-level compradors could pull off such things.

Earl Liuyun clearly wasn't one, so Frost had to step forward while Chen Mo had to remain behind the scenes.

The Earl repeatedly expressed his apologies, while Chen Mo actually developed some favorable impression of his straightforward style.

"Whether there's a welcome or not, I don't mind. I completely understand your position and circumstances." Chen Mo pulled out a letter from his chest and placed it on the tea table beside him. An attendant nearby respectfully delivered it to the Earl.

"Previously I had an agreement with Captain Paven. He entrusted me to bring Lady Frost back and promised me two conditions."

"I wonder if they still count?"

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