For the entire day, Edmund finished the documents piled on his desk, either approving or rejecting them.

He called for a staff member from the city department and asked her to carry the documents away.

The woman came and took the stack of papers, briefly freeing Edmund from the exhausting routine work.

He glanced behind him, his eyes staring through the glass wall of his office.

The emergency department had successfully extinguished the fire, but Sebastian had not yet returned from the scene.

He was still occupied gathering data regarding the size of the burned wheat fields.

Police officers guarded the area, while several of them questioned witnesses and the people living near the fire site.

Edmund became quite curious about the situation there. Seeing it firsthand would allow him to understand just how severe the condition really was.

He left his office alone, wearing a nobleman’s shirt and cloak to display his status.

Clara entered the Aschwin Mansion after training with her instructor. She noticed Edmund limping out of his office, causing the ten-year-old girl to worry.

"Brother? Where are you going?" Clara asked anxiously as she helped Edmund.

"Hello, Clara. I’m going south to inspect the fire."

"You should stay and rest. Let Sebastian handle the inspection," Clara replied.

"It’s alright. I’m fine. Seeing the location directly will help me understand what I need to do, Clara."

Clara’s instructor, a black-haired woman, agreed with Edmund.

Even though Edmund’s condition had not fully recovered, he was still the city’s leader and the future heir of the Aschwin Family.

"You should let him go, Lady Clara. No matter what, Lord Edmund is doing this for the good of the city and its people," the woman said.

Clara turned to look at the woman, then let out a sigh. Her attention shifted back to her older brother.

"Alright. Please be careful, Brother Edmund."

Edmund smiled and gently rubbed Clara’s head.

He explained that he would be fine and that nothing bad would happen to him.

After saying goodbye, he walked outside. Edmund ordered the guards to prepare his horse, and they immediately carried out the command without objection.

From the direction of the stables, a soldier approached while leading Edmund’s black horse, firmly gripping the reins.

"Please, Lord Edmund."

Edmund mounted the horse and immediately rode off. The gates of the Aschwin Mansion opened, and Edmund sped through the crowd along the city’s main road.

Several people stepped aside to make way for him. Some greeted Edmund, while others shouted to inform him about the fire that had broken out in the village south of Archester City.

The guards at the southern city gate noticed Edmund riding toward them through the streets.

"Move aside. Make way for Viscount Edmund."

Edmund passed them while expressing his thanks with a nod. Even though the fire had already weakened, Edmund could still faintly see traces of black smoke rising into the sky.

As Edmund rode closer to the location, he could smell the distinct scent of burned crops filling the air.

From a distance, he also saw many police officials deployed to secure the situation.

"Viscount Edmund."

The sound of galloping hooves drew everyone’s attention. Sebastian, who was still at the location speaking with Liam, immediately turned around.

Edmund’s arrival came as a complete surprise. Sebastian was shocked because he knew Edmund’s condition was far from stable.

"Lord Edmund?!" Sebastian exclaimed.

Liam and the others immediately knelt and lowered their heads, while Sebastian hurried over to Edmund.

"What are you doing? You should be resting, Lord Edmund."

"I can’t sleep and rest while knowing a disaster has struck my territory."

Edmund stepped down from his horse, and Sebastian moved to help him.

However, Edmund refused when Sebastian attempted to carry him. Sebastian already understood the reason why.

Edmund’s attention shifted forward, staring at the blackened soil and the burned crops that had turned entirely to ash.

Smoke still rose from several spots, though the flames were mostly extinguished thanks to the help of water-element Mages.

"What caused this fire, Liam?" Edmund asked.

"Reporting, sir. We are currently investigating the incident and questioning several witnesses," Liam replied.

"How many hectares of wheat fields were burned?"

"Around two hectares out of the total six hectares in this wheat field area," Liam answered.

Edmund glanced to the side and saw that many of the wheat fields had been saved.

Their color had already begun turning golden, while the stalks looked dry.

According to Edmund, the wheat fields would be ready for harvest within five days to one week.

However, he could not ignore the fact that two hectares of wheat fields had already burned down into nothing but ash.

That indicated there would be a deficit in food commodity supplies.

"Who owns the burned fields?" Edmund asked.

Liam turned and introduced an old man to Edmund. He was Saf, the owner of five hectares of wheat fields, two of which had been destroyed by the fire.

"Did anything happen before the fire broke out?"

"No, Viscount Edmund. The fire suddenly appeared in the middle of my wheat field, then spread rapidly because of the wind."

This is strange.

"Now I’ve lost eight tons of wheat," the old man complained.

"You don’t need to worry. We will thoroughly investigate this case," Edmund replied.

"You better do that, Viscount Edmund. I don’t want my wheat fields to burn again."

Edmund nodded and promised the old man named Saf that he would fully investigate the incident.

As for the losses caused by the fire, if it was truly caused by natural factors, then Saf would receive compensation equal to 25% of the total losses.

"Liam."

"Yes, Viscount Edmund?" Liam responded.

"I want the police officials to patrol and guard this area and the surrounding. Report immediately if anything happens."

"Yes, Viscount Edmund."

Just as Edmund was about to leave the fields, his eyes suddenly caught sight of a faint crimson aura coming from ahead, right in the middle of the burned wheat field.

What is that?

Edmund turned back toward the field, causing Sebastian to become confused and curious about his reaction.

"What’s wrong, Lord Edmund?" Sebastian asked.

Edmund did not answer. Instead, he walked forward toward the source of the crimson mana aura, identical to the energy emitted by Leonor, Morgana, and the Dark Knight.

That crimson-red aura only appeared at that single spot. Edmund did not see it anywhere else, including the parts of the wheat field untouched by the fire.

Could it be...

"Sebastian."

"Yes, Lord Edmund?"

"I want you to go and check whether Leonor and her team have already completed their guild mission," Edmund ordered firmly.

"If they have, bring the girl here immediately."

"I need her help."

Sebastian narrowed his eyes sharply, "Understood. I’ll do it."