"Huh?"

George was completely dumbfounded.

"Now then, inventory and receive my spoils of war."

"Yes, my lord."

Everyone immediately lifted the overturned wagons back up and began packing away the supplies.

George looked like he was about to cry. He had thought they had encountered noble knights, only to realize they were actually bandits.

Tisiana suddenly seemed to sense something and pointed toward an iron chest inside one of the wagons.

"There’s something with holy light properties in there."

The guards opened the chest and found a circular translucent gemstone inside, amber in color.

"This is a newly discovered ore of ours. Extremely rare. Just as venomous snakes are often found near antidotal herbs, this unique stone contains the power of holy light. It was discovered within Nightfall Domain, though only a single piece has ever been found, near the western lake."

Tisiana shook the stone in her hand.

"That part is true enough. Though what’s inside isn’t divine holy power, just ordinary holy light energy, similar to a priest’s Holy Light spell. But unlike holy light gemstones, there seems to be liquid inside it. Perhaps it can even be consumed."

"Interesting."

Phield had not expected these lunatics to possess any actual talent.

"We named it Turtle Stone."

Phield coughed dryly.

"That’s enough. Why does everything you people name have to involve turtles?"

He weighed the gemstone in his hand.

"Since this came from my territory, naturally I’ll be the one naming it. It’ll be called Star Stone."

"Huh?"

George looked extremely unwilling, but after meeting Phield’s oppressive gaze, he reluctantly muttered,

"I have no objections."

The group thoroughly searched the wagons.

The wagon carrying daily necessities held nothing particularly noteworthy. Another was filled with flour and dried fruits, modestly replenishing the territory’s food reserves.

But the contents of the final wagon immediately caught Phield’s attention.

Inside were all sorts of plant seeds sealed in glass bottles.

The most unique item was a magical plant stored inside a crystal sphere, the only magical plant in the entire caravan. It resembled a shrub, with snow white branches and leaves lined with beautiful purple patterns.

"And what is this?"

Phield carefully picked it up.

"This plant originates from the distant East. A Tea Plant, and a very special magical one at that. Those white headscarf wearing heathens call it the Thunder Patterned Snow Tea Tree. We, however, call it the Turtle Tea Tree."

"That’s enough. We’ll stick with Thunder Patterned Snow Tea Tree."

Phield wiped away cold sweat. By now, he fully understood the naming conventions of these lunatics.

"Looks like they do have some value after all. They know botany."

Phield had finally discovered their redeeming quality.

"It belongs to me now, and all of you have been incorporated under my command. The gray mist contains endless plants and animals for you to study. As for the Empress’s mission, I doubt there’s any urgency."

"Then does that mean we won’t have to go to prison?"

George rubbed his hands together with a flattering smile.

Phield sighed speechlessly.

"Of course you’re still going to prison. You’re my prisoners now."

At the very least, they needed thorough interrogation. Otherwise, who knew whether spies might have slipped in among them?

Once the inventory was complete, Phield found that he had acquired five scholars from the Turtle School, one of whom seemed to have been dragged into the group unwillingly, as well as two absurdly bold mercenaries who had somehow survived the corpse attack.

"The group’s becoming too bloated. Let’s end this excursion here."

He no longer had the spare attention to protect both the students and the scholars. There was no need to rush the exploration of the remaining villages and checkpoints.

Mounting his horse, Phield pointed toward the Grand Manor.

"Let’s head home."

The group began their return journey.

Back in Nightfall Domain, Alice stared at Charlotte in shock, disbelief written all over her face.

"Miss Alice, why are you looking at me like that? Is there something on my face?"

Charlotte touched her cheeks in confusion.

"Mm... maybe I was mistaken. Sorry."

Alice rubbed her brow before sighing softly.

"I never expected to run into someone from the same homeland here. Were you captured and brought here too?"

"Not at all."

Charlotte proudly curled her lips upward and spread her arms wide.

"Nightfall Domain is my territory now. Every crop here exists thanks to my efforts, including the bread you’re eating."

"Ah..."

Those words made Alice let out a long sigh as she slumped into her chair, staring silently at the bread in her hands.

It was not that she missed her former lord, but Wind Orchid City had once been her fief. It was the place where she had grown up, filled with countless precious memories she could never forget.

"What’s wrong? Why the long face?"

Charlotte bent forward, trying to see Alice’s expression, though all she could really see was Alice’s impressive cleavage.

"Wow, so big. Not quite on Miss Tisiana’s level, but pretty close."

"..."

Alice was rendered speechless.

The emotional atmosphere she had managed to build up was instantly shattered. She rolled her eyes in boredom.

"Nothing. I don’t want to think about anything or do anything anymore. I don’t even feel the desire to leave this place. I’ll just decay here."

With that, she stuffed bread into her mouth, propped up her chin, and drifted off into blank thought like an idiot.

Though both women had once belonged to the Purple Gold Empire, they had very little to talk about. The atmosphere quickly sank into awkward silence again.

Melancholy was contagious. Even Charlotte started feeling uncomfortable.

She thought to herself: Phield is way more interesting. This woman is so boring and depressing. But she lost her home just like I did, so I can’t be too harsh on her.

Knock knock knock.

Someone knocked on the door.

"Charlotte, got a moment? Help me study a magical plant."

"Huh? My lord, you’re back!"

"Miss Alice, get some proper rest. I’m going to work now."

Charlotte instantly revived at full energy. Cheerfully running out, she leapt into Phield’s arms like a sloth, clinging tightly to him.

"What magical plant? Leave it to me."

"Good. Hearing that puts me at ease."

Once they entered the study, Phield revealed the Thunder Patterned Snow Tea Tree inside its crystal sphere.

"Can you cultivate it?"

"It’s a genuine magical plant, and quite a delicate species too."

Charlotte carefully accepted the crystal sphere and examined it from every angle.

"Although I’ve never grown tea trees before, the knowledge I inherited contains plenty of principles that can be applied universally."

"The only unfortunate part is that the magical energy drifting through Nightfall Domain’s air is far too weak."

Charlotte changed her tone slightly.

"If you want to cultivate these on a large scale, it won’t be possible anytime soon. Magical plants don’t just require water and sunlight. They also require magical elements."

"Magical energy?"

Phield frowned thoughtfully.

"I remember that Courtship Vine is also a magical plant. So why can Courtship Vine be cultivated so easily?"

Courtship Vine was the core ingredient used to create Vigor Elixir.

"Oh, I get it now. The magical element Courtship Vine needs is the gray mist itself."

The realization struck him immediately after asking the question.

"The gray mist has always been some form of energy."

"Mhm."

Charlotte nodded repeatedly.

"In any case, we’ll need an artificial magical environment if we want to cultivate this tea tree. My lord, I’ll need magic cores to support it."

"No problem."