Chapter 191: Chapter 191

After submitting the official document, Owen Bertram walked out again with his hands behind his back.

Military officers on patrol in the outpost had grown accustomed to Chief Flag’s casual attitude to retreat, as if it were just a game:

Retreat, I’m going in.

Retreat, I’m going out again.

An officer politely asked, "Are you going out, sir?"

Owen Bertram nodded, "To feed the fish."

The officers exchanged puzzled glances, to feed the fish?

Owen Bertram strolled to the Riverside, secretly checking the entire Heavenly Eye system along the way to make sure no one was following him. Then he took out the remaining magical instruments from last time, scattering them into the river.

He couldn’t feed the Little Loach treasure materials this time, as he needed to keep them for himself.

Little Loach leaped out, opened its mouth and swallowed up all sorts of magical instruments. Then it affectionately came ashore, rubbing its elder brother’s trouser legs, wanting more.

In order to appear more like the size of a big dog, it shrunk its body, though there was still some deviation, being the size of a calf. This rubbing almost pushed Brother off balance.

Owen Bertram patted its head: "Alright, alright."

"You should give me back what you owe me, not just keep eating!"

Little Loach looked clueless - Owen Bertram was sure that if Verna made this expression, he would definitely pinch her ears. But Little Loach had no ears.

So Elder Brother ruthlessly grabbed a whisker in each hand, "Pretending to be stupid, huh? No way you’re fooling me! Last time you ate the beast bone and bowstring, you said you had another magic treasure. Hand it over!"

Little Loach’s feigned confusion failed, so it continued with the full performance, showing expressions of "suddenly remembering", "I really forgot", and "I didn’t mean to rip you off", before spitting out an object.

Owen Bertram took a look at the object in his hand, which turned out to be a bone-made card.

"Certain Victory Card?"

"Wear it on you, and you’ll win every gamble."

Owen Bertram was full of doubts, looking at Little Loach... He wondered whether this fellow had just found an undigested piece of a fierce beast bone in its stomach, and made this thing to fool him.

Little Loach repeatedly signaled to Elder Brother with its eyes: this is a good thing.

Owen Bertram thought about it, let it go. He had benefited from raising his realm and Nurturing Spirit Skill, so he decided not to push Little Loach further.

But there was still another matter to attend to today.

He took out the alchemy furnaces. Little Loach’s eyes lit up immediately, and it leaped forward and tried to eat. Elder Brother raised the furnaces higher, and Little Loach’s body also grew longer and larger... slap!

Elder Brother slapped it on the forehead, knocking it down.

With a stern face, Owen Bertram maintained his elder brother’s authority: "First, let me make it clear, after you eat this time, I don’t want anything else, just an alchemy furnace."

Little Loach’s eyes were somewhat stubborn; it seemed to question Elder Brother’s recent requests, possibly misunderstanding its position in the family.

Previously, you just took what was given, but now you want custom-made stuff?!

Owen Bertram continued, "I’m not being unreasonable. It’s for your benefit as well. Think about it, giving me an alchemy furnace means I can refine spiritual pills. Selling spiritual pills for money means I can buy you and Alexia more delicious food... "

Little Loach had already surrendered at the mention of "refining spiritual pills" without listening to the rest. Spiritual pills were great; they were the best to eat!

Little Loach nodded quickly, and Owen Bertram laughed, handing over the furnaces. Little Loach swallowed them eagerly and then slugglishly slid back into the river, slowly sinking down.

It didn’t even say goodbye to Elder Brother.

The capital of the Wood Dynasty was exceptionally prosperous, with the essence of the entire empire concentrated here. Over half of the top talents and cultivators from the vast nation were gathered in this place.

The constant population of the city had reached an astonishing 20 million.

This did not even include the population outside the city walls, which was estimated to be at least 10 million.

Only in a place like the Capital, where various cultivation methods were used to improve people’s lives, could the needs of such a massive city be met.

For tens of thousands of years, the Capital had experienced several wars, with the armies of foreign cultivators at its gates, yet none had ever breached the city. Today, in the hearts of the people of the Wood Dynasty’s Capital, it was considered a city that would never fall.

Residents of the Capital had an innate sense of superiority.

When outsiders came to the Capital, even high-ranking officials had to be cautious, as they never knew who on the street might be related to a dignitary in the court.

Even in the influential-filled Capital, the state’s assistant was undeniably among the highest-ranking individuals.

Adonis Dunn returned home in a low-profile sedan after his duty. Abner Lane was waiting for him.

Adonis Dunn’s face was tired. A servant girl brought him a hot towel, and he wiped his face, feeling a little better. Abner Lane said concernedly, "Sir, take care of your health."

As a mortal, Adonis Dunn’s body was nearly breaking under the strain of heavy national affairs.

Adonis Dunn waved his hand gently, "With His Majesty’s trust placed in me, how can I pity myself? And with the spiritual pills you made for me, don’t worry, I can endure."

Abner Lane, unable to persuade him otherwise, said bluntly, "There is strong resistance everywhere."

He took out a summary report, "Although Guardian Halls have been established, it is difficult for them to function. When cases are encountered, the various levels of government, and the Horizon Bureaus underneath, are uncooperative and even secretly obstructive."

"The situation around the Capital appears to be very favorable, as we have forcefully pushed for the Guardian Halls to start working. But recently, there have been reversals, with people constantly going to the courts to sue local Guardian Halls with all sorts of charges.

Even though these are false accusations, it entangles the courts, and cases at hand have to be put aside, leaving no way to investigate when leads are broken."

Adonis Dunn smiled indifferently, "Wasn’t this within our expectations?"

Abner Lane sighed, "These are hard times."

"No matter how hard, we must do it!" Adonis Dunn was firm as iron, "Now is the time to struggle. We face difficulties, and those behind us are not at ease. As long as we break through, things will be much easier later.

The emperor entrusted this heavy responsibility to us, and we must not fail his grace!"

Abner Lane said bitterly, "I never feared hardship, but it’s difficult to break through."

Adonis Dunn also frowned, looking at the report in his hand; there was some progress everywhere, but far from "breaking through." After reaching this point, various obstacles had emerged.

He saw many familiar names on the report, individuals handpicked by himself, very promising candidates who still hadn’t made much progress.

Looking closely, Adonis Dunn sighed quietly; it wasn’t their fault, as their environments were indeed tough.