Watson was unaware of the shock in Sylvan and Antonio’s hearts. If he knew, he would probably just smile. He had been exposed to modern technology since he was a child as his soul was modern. Epoch-making inventions were quite prevalent in the world he lived in for the people of that time.
As he glanced to the side, Watson discovered that every mayor, including Lubin, was taken aback by the magic escalator he had built. He nodded in satisfaction and turned to face the patrolling guards on Torch Town’s wall.
Those bronze-tier guards appeared to be exhausted. The armor on their bodies was rusty bronze items, and some of it was only iron-tier. They were much inferior to the Blackmoon Knights in terms of strength, equipment, spirit, and spirit.
Watson had stayed in Blackmoon Town and had never ventured outside. He had no idea that other towns’ defenses were so inadequate. He had always believed that Blackmoon Town was not strong enough, and he wished to offer everyone a Wish for the World ring. He wanted the citizens in Blackmoon Town to use their three wishes every day to duplicate some sun and moon gems.
His concept was straightforward—from administrators to servants, everyone in Blackmoon Town had to achieve the gold tier and become all-attribute cultivators.
While he was sizing up Torch Town, a few guards observed them from the corner of the wall. They noticed the platinum-colored cavernous passage beneath their feet.
“Where did you come from, bandits? What are those gleaming objects on the ground? They look like roads. Who permitted you to construct a road leading to Torch Town’s entrance?”
A guard raised his spear and shouted at them. As soon as he finished his words, someone slapped him. An older guard beside him pulled his companion aside and looked at Lubin in the crowd in bewilderment. “Mayor Lubin, is that you?”
As a veteran of the City Defense Department, he had seen the mayor more than once, so he could recognize him at a glance. However, did the mayor not go to Blackmoon Town two days ago? He even brought many men with him. Why was he suddenly back? Who were those people with him? Judging from their clothes, they should not be ordinary people.
“What do you think?”
Lubin tidied his garments and elevated his head 45 degrees, presenting a dignified countenance.
The question posed by the soldier was really idiotic. Who else could it be if not Lubin? Of course, he understood his subordinates. Anyone would be startled to see them as they had only left about two days ago. If it had not been for Watson, no technology in that world could transport a person hundreds of kilometers away.
“It really is the mayor! The mayor is back! Quickly! Open the gate!”
As the guards called out, the entire Torch Town quickly boiled with excitement.
In less than ten minutes, a team of 200 cavalrymen put down the sling of the city gate. They rode out of the town on horses with torches held high. A valiant female knight led the way, and she was in fiery red armor. She exuded the aura of a gold-tier warrior. When she came to Lubin’s side, she dismounted from her horse and kneeled on one knee respectfully. Her short, dark-red hair swayed in the wind.
“The leader of the Torch Knights, Elvira, pays her respects to the mayor.”
“Get up.” Lubin waved his hand.
When he left Torch Town, he had numerous silver-tier warriors accompany him. However, he had left a few of them behind due to his concerns about the demon rats or the goldbiter rats. Elvira was one of them. As Torch Town’s famous gold-tier expert, Elvira was equivalent to an army.
After Elvira stood up, she nodded at Lubin. Then, she looked at the few people beside Lubin. One was a handsome young man with purple hair. He had pointy ears, which was one of the characteristics of an elf, and he looked vaguely familiar. Another attractive man with soft platinum hair stood beside the purple-haired young man. Finally, an old man and a young man with gorgeous clothes stood behind them.
Those four people were insignificant. The most important person was the young man in the middle of them. He appeared to be about ten years old. The four people’s positions seemed to be defending the young man in the center. He seemed to be the leader of the group, and Elvira wondered about his name.
As the leader of Torchlight Town’s knights, the Torch Knights, Elvira was already a gold-tier warrior before the age of thirty. Everyone in Torch Town hailed her as a rare genius in a hundred years. However, when she saw the few people in front of her, she could not guess their strength. Other than the slightly younger man, who was obviously not as strong as her, the rest of them exuded an unfathomable aura.
“Elvira, let me introduce you! These people are important figures from the border. That is Lord Sylvan, the border count, and the person next to him is the kingdom’s greatest mage, Master Antonio. As for the remaining two people, one is the mayor of Fairy Town, and the other is the youngest young master of Blackmoon Castle.”
Lubin pointed at the people next to him and made a series of introductions; he skipped Gerant on purpose.
Gerant did not mind that and introduced himself. “I’ve long heard of Miss Elvira from Torch Town. Your gold-tier warrior reputation precedes you. Your strength is not only outstanding, but you are beautiful as well! It’s really unfair for a talent like you to stay in Torch Town. I wonder if you’ll be interested in working in my town? Oh, I almost forgot to introduce myself. My name is Gerant. I’m the mayor of Monte Town.”
Despite the fact that the four border towns were about equal in strength, the situation in each town was unique. Fairy Town, for example, was powerful because it was linked to the border count. Monte Town was a believer in liberty. As a result, the mercenary groups and the Mage Guild were the most powerful forces in Monte Town, rather than the force from the kingdom.
Torch Town was a little different.
Torch Town’s distinct culture contributed to the town’s high level of cohesion. The Torch Knights were an independent organization from the City Defense Department. Everyone was thrilled to be a member of the Torch Knights, and the town’s youth idolized Elvira. She was supposed to have been born into a commoner’s family. The Campbell family appreciated her because of her exceptional talent, and she was then made an external member of the family.
The Campbell family rewarded Lubin as a result of his recommendation. The Campbell family and the Ptolemy family, Gerant’s family, had always had a strained relationship. Gerant had been attempting to poach Elvira for quite some time. That was why he had said what he had just said.
“The border count and the kingdom’s greatest mage, as well as the two mayors?”
Elvira took a deep breath as Gerant calculated in his head.
According to Mayor Lubin, those in front of him represented 80 percent of the border’s upper echelons, as well as the kingdom’s mages. Even folks on the border knew Antonio’s status as the astrologer. Why were so many important people assembled on the outskirts of Torch Town?
She was pondering that when she noticed Lubin walking to the side of the youngest youth among them. “Young Master Watson, thank you for prioritizing the development of the passage from Blackmoon Town to Torch Town,” he said graciously. “I would like to extend my gratitude to you on behalf of everyone in Torch Town. We will support all of Blackmoon Town’s arrangements! Also, Young Master Watson, what are your thoughts after seeing Torch Town?”
“I will just say what I think. First and foremost, Torch Town’s facilities are deplorable. Second, the soldiers are not strong enough, and their equipment is inadequate. I can help you with that since I’ve decided to aid you. I plan to restore Torch Town as a whole.”
When confronted with the question, Watson responded appropriately.
“Praise to the kingdom, and praise to Blackmoon Castle! We will have to trouble Young Master Watson with the arrangements for that then. Since we now have a route to Blackmoon Town, perhaps you can stay here for a while, Young Master Watson. Maybe for ten days to half a month; you can transform the town in this period.”
Lubin did not feel the least bit disappointed after he was mocked. Instead, he had a giddy expression on his face. Torch Town was in shambles when compared to the magnificent Blackmoon Town. Furthermore, Watson had just waved his hand and somehow built a pathway. Torch Town would prosper if Watson could help transform it.
He could hardly wait for Watson to insult Torch Town a little more. The more he belittled them, the worse Torch Town’s condition would appear to be, and the more areas he could improve.
“Do you have the audacity to say such things, Lubin?”
Gerant and Andre, who stood nearby, curled their lips. What would happen to Monte Town and Fairy Town if Watson stayed in Torch Town? Lubin had vehemently accused Watson of stealing not too long ago. He had appeared to be uninterested in Blackmoon Town then. However, it seemed like he had changed his mind; he was suddenly uninterested in the missing wealth. His expression shifted far too rapidly.
Gerant was considerably more furious than Andre. He was the one who had made friends with Watson and agreed to become Blackmoon Town’s ally. Why should Lubin fight with him?
Gerant continued to say, “Lubin, I think Torch Town is pretty good. You even have a powerful gold-tier warrior like Miss Elvira. As the mayor of Monte Town, I’m already very envious of you! We only have mercenaries, and they would run away at the first sign of danger, as proven when a magical beast broke into the town some time ago. In my opinion, there’s no need for more improvement in Torch Town. It’s better to let Young Master Watson go to Monte Town.”
“Gerant, stop bullshitting me. I heard that you bought a large number of materials from Blackmoon Castle. Now you are living a comfortable life! Besides, what’s so good about Torch Town? The city walls are too low; they are only more than ten meters high. Any random mound would be taller than that. The warriors in charge of patrolling don’t even have decent armor. Not to mention the knights—they are useless. Even the goldbiter rats can defeat them easily—”
Lubin hurriedly refuted Gerant’s words. However, someone cut him off before he could complete his sentence.
“Mayor Lubin, that’s enough. Are you so displeased with Torch Town and our knights?”
Elvira was the one who spoke up. She appeared to be upset.
She has been a dedicated leader for many years. She had worked hard despite the fact that she had little merit. She had no idea Lubin would see her in such a way. Even people from other towns wanted to keep her. Lubin, on the other hand, had belittled her. Even if he were an arrogant man, he should not have said such nasty words. What was his problem?
“Elvira, I think you have misunderstood me. I didn’t mean it that way.” Lubin’s expression was a little awkward. He had deliberately pretended to be miserable so that Watson could rebuild the town, but he had forgotten to organize his words.
“Mayor Lubin, you don’t have to say anything else.”
Elvira took a deep breath, and her expression became solemn. She approached Watson, drew the sword from her waist, and pointed it at the tip of his nose.
“Your name is Watson, right? The mayor only insulted Torch Town because of your words. I do not care who you are or why the mayor is so nice to you; Torch Town is where I grew up. Everyone here works hard for a living, and it is challenging to hear outsiders dismiss them. So, I would like to challenge you to a duel. If I win, you are free to leave. Torch Town doesn’t need help from people like you.”
Elvira was a knight, so she could not get mad at Lubin. So, she took her anger out on Watson.
