Chapter 282: General of the Queen's Guard - Fiona

Chapter 282: General of the Queen's Guard - Fiona

Among the team led by Zhuo Hong Jun were several former comrades who had served under Lu Heng.

As they entered, these individuals waved in greeting.

During the recent Abyssal Battlefield recruitment event, they were reassigned by their superiors to serve under Zhuo Hong Jun.

Being from a disciplinary force, obedience to orders was their primary duty.

Thus, they had to comply with all of Zhuo Hong Jun's commands, even if it meant putting themselves in harm's way.

Tao Yalun was one of them, and he was the one who had a good relationship with the others.

He was the last one to give up the Flame Messenger's Source Crystal and take the Flame Amplification Crystal Core.

Half a year ago, the Suichuan area was engulfed in mist, and the nuclear power plant faced a mist crisis.

This was the first time that mist appeared in the human world, and the Daxia government lacked experience in dealing with it. Therefore, Lu Heng accepted a mission from the military and entered the Suichuan Mist with Jian Qing, Chen Zi Hang, Tao Yalun, and others.

The objective of that mission was to clear the mist and prevent the nuclear power plant from being engulfed.

The nuclear power technology used by humans still relied on nuclear fission, and if the power plant were to be covered by mist, leading to a nuclear leak, it would cause irreparable damage.

As a result, that mission was a saturating rescue operation.

Lu Heng and Jian Qing each led a team into the Suichuan Mist.

At the time, in addition to Su Muyu and Lin Zeyu, Lu Heng's team also included Chen Zi Hang and Tao Yalun, totaling ten people.

Jian Qing's team consisted of another ten individuals. After entering the mist, the two teams split up to search for the Abyssal Rift.

During that mission, Tao Yalun, the flame-based Psionic, played a significant role.

Especially when the fungal mat, a microorganism from the Abyss, covered the ground and devoured all organic matter, his abilities proved crucial.

This fungal mat was only afraid of flames, and a quick scorching with fire would cause it to retreat rapidly.

Tao Yalun led the way for the team, spraying fire as they advanced.

The two teams eventually met at the Sandstone Hills, where they defeated the Flame Demon and resolved the mist crisis.

During the post-battle distribution of spoils, the Flame Demon dropped numerous materials and crystal cores.

Among them, the most valuable items were the Flame Messenger's Source Crystal and the Black Crystal Forge Stone.

Jian Qing's team also had a flame-based Psionic, so she wanted to obtain the Source Crystal for her teammate.

Both teams had flame-based Psionics, and Tao Yalun was the one in Lu Heng's team.

In other words, from a needs perspective, these two flame-based Psionics required the Source Crystal more, and it should be prioritized in the distribution.

As the captain of the second squad, Jian Qing naturally wanted to secure the Source Crystal for her teammate.

Lu Heng also wanted to help Tao Yalun, as the captain of the first squad, it was his duty to fight for his teammates.

However, the problem was that there was only one Source Crystal, and it could only be given to one person.

In the end, Tao Yalun voluntarily gave up the Source Crystal and took another skill crystal core, the Flame Amplification.

Lu Heng, on the other hand, took the Black Crystal Forge Stone to forge the Aurora Blade.

The mission was executed smoothly, and Lu Heng developed a strong liking for these teammates who had fought alongside him.

However, they were part of the military sequence, and after the mission ended, they rarely kept in touch.

In addition to Tao Yalun, there was also Wu Weibing, a Sensor from Chen Zi Hang's team, who was also present.

These individuals had worked together to resolve the Suichuan Mist crisis, and since Lu Heng had the ability to bring them into the Elven King's City, he was determined to do so.

Even if it meant that Zhuo Hong Jun would follow them into the city, Lu Heng was willing to help them.

Lu Heng quickly made up his mind and stood up, waving his hand as he said, "There's only about ten days left. I'll take you into the inner city first. Gather your belongings and follow me."

"Lu Heng, do you really have a way to get us into the inner city? We've been waiting here for many days, offering rewards, but we still can't find a way in," Tao Yalun's eyes lit up at the news of entering the city, and from Lu Heng's words, it seemed like a simple task.

However, they had been in the outer city for over ten days and hadn't found a way into the inner city.

"Let's go," Lu Heng waved his hand and stepped out of the inn.

The accommodation prices in the outer city were much cheaper than in the inner city, and this group of soldiers only needed one room, all squeezing into one room, feeling that it was too spacious.

After all, for these Psionic warriors from the military sequence, camping outdoors at night was the norm, and staying in an inn was already a luxury.

Tao Yalun, Wu Weibing, and the others quickly gathered their belongings and followed Lu Heng out in an orderly manner.

After Zhuo Hong Jun left the room, he entered another room, probably to pack his belongings, and then hurriedly caught up with them.

Lu Heng led them to the gate of the Elven King's City, and as they passed the bulletin board, he took a look at the posted rewards to see if there was any important information.

Zhuo Hong Jun considered for a moment and said, "We need to leave someone outside the city to relay messages. Tao Yalun, you stay outside. I'll send someone out to contact you every morning."

"I... Yes!" Tao Yalun was a bit reluctant, but as a soldier, he immediately stood at attention and accepted the order.

Lu Heng's eyebrows furrowed upon seeing this.

To be honest, the main reason he was willing to bring them into the city was because of Chen Zi Hang, Tao Yalun, and Wu Weibing, his comrades who had fought alongside him.

Zhuo Hong Jun's casual words about leaving Tao Yalun outside made Lu Heng feel displeased.

imagines, Zhuo Hong Jun was about to throw Tao Yalun outside.

Moreover, during the distribution of spoils after defeating the Flame Demon, the Black Crystal Forge Stone was of high value. At the time, Lu Heng intended to make up the difference and share it with Chen Zi Hang, Tao Yalun, and the others.

However, they declined and readily agreed to Lu Heng's distribution plan.

In other words, during that distribution of spoils, Lu Heng owed Tao Yalun a favor.

Seeing Zhuo Hong Jun trying to control Tao Yalun, Lu Heng's expression darkened, and he shouted an order, "Deputy Commander Zhuo Hong Jun!"

Hearing these words, Zhuo Hong Jun was taken aback for a moment before realizing and standing at attention, "Yes, sir!"

"The task of relaying messages is crucial. You take personal responsibility for it, and the rest of us will enter the city.

Lu Heng finished speaking and strode towards the city gate.

Zhuo Hong Jun's face turned grim as he said in a deep voice, "I am the designated commander for this mission."

Lu Heng stopped and glanced at him sideways, "You can also defy orders if you're prepared to write a self-criticism report upon our return."

Zhuo Hong Jun's expression grew even darker.

He currently held the position of Deputy Commander in the Dragon Valor Sequence.

Within the Dragon Valor Sequence, Lu Heng was an Honorary Commander, and although he didn't usually involve himself in management, his rank held authority.

In the military hierarchy, if everyone defied their superiors' orders, there would be no discipline.

Therefore, when it came to rank, Zhuo Hong Jun had to obey Lu Heng's command.

Lu Heng retracted his gaze and continued towards the city gate.

Everyone present froze for a couple of seconds, unsure of whom to follow.

Chen Zihang, a graduate of the National Defense High School, was not as strict as the others when it came to discipline. He quickly caught up and waved them on, "Come on, keep up!"

The others hurriedly followed but dared not look back at Zhuo Hong Jun.

Zhuo Hong Jun clenched his fists, his face filled with anger. He gritted his teeth and said, "Lu Heng, I am the officially appointed commander of the Abyssal Battlefield. You're overstepping your authority by taking my command. I will report your violation upon our return."

Lu Heng hadn't intended to target him. If he had just followed orders and not caused trouble, Lu Heng had even planned to bring him into the city initially.

But this man always seemed to find a way to mess things up.

Lu Heng had no time to argue. He approached the city gate, presented his Magic Tower badge, and led the team into the inner city.

After entering the city, he assigned them to assist in the industrial zone.

Originally, he had planned for them to earn their keep through work and solve their accommodation problem with their earnings.

Unexpectedly, these soldiers directly settled in the workshops, even saving on accommodation fees.

...

As Lu Heng's reputation among the elves grew, their guard against humans gradually decreased.

The difficulty of entering the inner city naturally lessened, and gradually, other psionicists gained access to the inner city through bounties and tasks.

On this evening, a squad of elven cavalry returned from outside the city. Leading them was a valiant female elven warrior riding an Ironclad Unicorn.

This elven warrior, clad in battle armor, had a tall and robust figure, and it was none other than General Fiona of the Queen's Guard.

The unicorn stopped at the city gate, and immediately, a human psionicist from behind hurried forward, kneeling on one knee respectfully beside the unicorn, hands clasped together, palms up, and held above his head.

Fiona lifted her leg, stepping on the psionicist's palm with her iron battle boots. She dismounted the unicorn and tossed the reins to the psionicist.

This human psionicist was none other than Blake Feld.

Ten days ago, he had encountered General Fiona of the Queen's Guard in the wilderness and joined her in hunting Abyssal Summoners on several occasions, earning him the role of Fiona's horse attendant.

Blake Feld, through this role, gained access to the inner city.

In truth, the Ironclad Unicorn did not require a dedicated beastmaster for its care.

After leading the unicorn to the stable, Blake immediately rushed back to Fiona's side, bowing and awaiting her orders.

Within the entire elven race, General Fiona of the Queen's Guard was one of Queen Aureana's most trusted individuals.

Establishing a good relationship with Fiona would ensure a smooth mission in the Abyssal Battlefield.

As he followed Fiona through the commercial district, he spotted two people strolling through the streets, appearing like tourists on a sightseeing trip.

Lu Heng, now a Master Tempering Master, had little work left at the tempering workshop and could take a day off.

After earning a substantial amount from his work at the tempering workshop over the past few days, Lu Heng decided to take a break before the impending crisis. He wandered through the commercial district of the Elven Capital with Su Muyu, hoping to find useful weapons and equipment.

Elven civilization boasted a long heritage in tempering, blacksmithing, runecrafting, tailoring, and various other fields.

This was quite different from human civilization.

Humans also had a civilization spanning thousands of years, but the world's laws were not the same.

Humans were a technological civilization.

In terms of technology, human civilization's products were undoubtedly superior.

In magic, however, elven civilization held the upper hand.

Su Muyu held a B-Grade Inscription Gemstone with +4 Mental Power, which he had used to pay for their accommodation. The reason they couldn't stay in the Elven Capital's inn for long was the vast price difference between the two civilizations for the same items.

In the human world, advanced runecrafters were few and far between, and the B-Grade Inscription Gemstones they produced were incredibly rare, each worth a fortune.

Elven civilization was different; their runecrafting tradition spanned thousands of years.

With such a long history, the number of produced inscription gemstones was countless, and even B-Grade gemstones were not considered rare treasures, making their purchasing power incomparable to that in Bluesphere.

After strolling through the commercial district for a while, they entered a leatherworking shop.

The shop assistant introduced, "We sell leather products here. Today's best item is this pair of Kodo Beast Leather Boots, crafted with double-layered Kodo Beast hide for both the upper and lower parts. They won't be damaged even in the most intense battles."

Lu Heng's interest was piqued by the assistant's description.

Ever since his running speed broke the sound barrier, he had been wearing out shoes rapidly.

Even when running with Origin Energy covering his feet, he couldn't prevent the shoes from deteriorating.

Lu Heng had long sought a pair of boots to reduce the daily hassle of changing shoes.

Su Muyu, aware of his need, picked up the Kodo Beast Leather Boots and squatted down, saying, "Try them on."

Lu Heng, indeed wanting a pair of boots, didn't hesitate. He slipped his feet into the boots, and then something magical happened.

These Kodo Beast Leather Boots seemed to contain some magic. As he slipped his feet into them, the boots tightened, perfectly conforming to his feet.

It left no gaps and wasn't overly tight.

Lu Heng could hardly find any flaws.

Of course, while comfort was essential for a pair of Kodo Beast Leather Boots, their attributes were even more crucial.

[Kodo Beast Leather Boots]



[Item Grade: B-Grade]



[Specifications: 28cm length, 32cm height, 1282g weight]



[Attributes: Foot Armor +120]



[Special Effect: Movement Speed +10%]



[Evaluation: These sturdy boots are meticulously crafted from the resilient hide of a Kodo Beast, with no visible seams, showcasing the artisan's exquisite craftsmanship. The soles are studded with durable hoof plates, enhancing traction and providing a stable, mountain-like stride. Wearing them, one can almost feel the indomitable spirit of the Kodo Beast, bestowing endless courage and protection.]



The attributes were excellent, and it even increased movement speed.

Although the speed boost wasn't exceptionally high, it could synergize with skill acceleration, making the actual effect better than expected.

"How does it feel?" Su Muyu crouched down, tugging at the seams of the boots to check their quality.

After trying them on, she realized this action was unnecessary.

B-Grade equipment wouldn't have quality issues.

If there were quality problems, these boots wouldn't be B-Grade, and the attribute panel might even display [Damaged].

"It's okay. They automatically tighten and fit perfectly," Lu Heng admitted, more concerned about the price than the boots themselves.

The shop assistant explained, "These boots are the work of a Master Leatherworker, crafted from the finest Kodo Beast hide and using our Elven Race's unique tailoring techniques. They're guaranteed to fit perfectly unless you're a giant, in which case your feet might not fit at all."

Jian Qing also found the boots impressive and asked, "How much are they?"

"2,500 Crystal Coins," the shop assistant replied.

Lu Heng was taken aback by the price.

According to the pay of the Elven Tempering Masters in the Tempering Forge, they earned 100 Crystal Coins per day, meaning these Kodo Beast Leather Boots would cost nearly a month's salary for an Elven Tempering Master.

Moreover, this couldn't be compared to a human's monthly salary.

The Elven Civilization was affluent, and the race lived a leisurely life, resulting in high wages.

The accommodation price in the Commercial District of Colossus City was also 100 Crystal Coins per night.

In other words, a day's work at the Tempering Forge could cover one night's stay in the Commercial District.

Naturally, this was because the Commercial District of the Elven Capital was the world's most prosperous business center, and the high accommodation prices were to be expected.

Staying in the Outer City would be much cheaper, even as low as one-tenth of the price in the Inner City's Commercial District.

Lu Heng had been highly efficient at the Tempering Forge, capable of completing the work of three people alone.

In the five days he spent there, he earned 1,500 Crystal Coins, which wasn't enough to buy these Kodo Beast Leather Boots.

After spending so many days in the Elven Capital, Su Muyu had learned that haggling was not a common practice among the Elves.

For the Elves, haggling was considered an ungraceful act.

So, after clarifying the price, she took out her purse and started counting the money.

"Are you really buying them?" Lu Heng leaned in close to her ear, questioning her decision.

The Kodo Beast Leather Boots were indeed excellent, but the price was a bit steep.

Lu Heng had only earned 1,500 Crystal Coins, which wasn't enough to cover the cost of the boots.

Without hesitation, Su Muyu counted out 2,500 Crystal Coins, all in 100-denomination coins, a total of 25 coins, and placed them on the counter, asking, "We'll take them. Can we wear them right away? Do we need to write any receipts or something?"

"No need, payment in full. Thank you, and please come again," the Elven shop assistant politely accepted the coins and bid farewell.

Su Muyu had also earned a small fortune from working in the forge these past few days, enough to purchase the boots.

However, after buying them, her Crystal Coins were nearly depleted.

Money was meant to be spent, and these boots were genuinely excellent, so she didn't hesitate to make the purchase.

"Alright, let's go. Do you want to keep shopping?" Su Muyu pulled Lu Heng's hand and happily headed out.

As they stepped out, they came face to face with Fiona and her vanguard, Blake Feld.

Lu Heng didn't recognize Fiona, but her armor and powerful aura immediately indicated her high status.

Seeing Blake Feld behind her, Lu Heng was a bit surprised.

Blake Feld followed Fiona respectfully, looking like a mere attendant.

Noticing Lu Heng and his companion strolling happily on the commercial street, Blake Feld's expression darkened, and he spoke to Fiona, "General, I'm concerned that allowing non-Elven races to roam freely in the capital might cause unnecessary chaos."

As the General of the Elven Queen's Guard, Fiona's primary duty was to protect the Queen and the safety of Colossus City.

Hearing Blake Feld's words, Fiona became alert and signaled her guards to approach Lu Heng and his companion.

An Elven guard stepped forward and began questioning them, "Who are you? Why are you wandering around the city?"

Lu Heng glanced at Fiona and replied with a smile, "We are Tempering Masters. The lance you use, General Fiona, the Triple Piercing Armor with its secondary Soul Infusion, was my work."

Fiona, pleased with the recent upgrade to the Triple Soul Infusion effect, couldn't help but smile with delight upon hearing Lu Heng's words, "So, you're Tempering Masters from the Alliance. On behalf of the Elven Queen, I welcome you."

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end