Commander Simon

“These days, it seems there aren’t many who dare to trouble you, are there? Thanks to your Death Empire, our Elven Kingdom has enjoyed peace as well—no one dares to provoke us either,” the Elven Queen said with a smile.

“Mother, the capital of the Empire is so beautiful now. I don't even want to leave,” Eileen said wistfully.

“You little imp, you’re not even married yet and already you don’t want to come home?” The Elven Queen playfully tapped Eileen’s nose.

At her words, everyone burst out laughing.

“So, where are you all off to this time?” the Queen asked, still smiling. “Planning to travel around some more?” She knew Mo Fei had a deep yearning to see the wider world.

“Yes, Mother,” Mo Fei replied. “Elder Orph and the others are handling things in the Empire. There’s nothing for me to do now that everything’s stabilized, so we decided to set out.”

After presenting the gifts he had brought for the Queen, the three didn’t linger long in the Forest of Death. Soon, they set out for the Doma Empire.

Riding in a carriage drawn by magical beasts, their journey soon brought them to Flower City, a small border town of the Doma Empire.

Flower City was aptly named. Carpets of lush grass were dotted with clusters of vibrant blooms, each releasing a beautiful and alluring fragrance.

As they crossed into the Doma Empire, the air grew noticeably more humid, tinged with a salty freshness from the sea breeze. Though the ocean was still out of sight, it felt as if its presence surrounded them already.

“Brother, it’s so beautiful here,” Eileen and Vivian exclaimed, laughing as they ran along the roadside, enchanted by the blossoms.

The local flower farmers, tending their precious plants, were delighted to see two lovely young women so taken with their handiwork. Feeling their year’s labor had finally been rewarded, they hurried to pick bouquets for the girls, filling their arms with blooms. The girls’ laughter and words of thanks echoed down the road.

Just then, Mo Fei heard the sound of hooves approaching from behind. He turned, about to look, when a familiar voice called out.

“Mr. Mo Fei, is that you?”

“Captain Simon, is that you?” Mo Fei turned to see the bearded captain and was overjoyed. Years had passed, and Simon was now a master of the Grand Sword Sect.

“Mr. Mo Fei, it really is you!” Simon exclaimed, overjoyed. “How have you been?”

“Very well, thank you,” Mo Fei replied, equally delighted. “And you all?”

“We’re fine. There have been some close calls these past years, but the Gale Mercenary Company has pulled through. We just miss you—on our adventures…”

“Are you on a mission now?” Mo Fei interrupted, eager to change the subject.

“We’ve been hired to pick someone up from a border city and escort her to the Dragon Empire.”

“That’s great! If it’s convenient, I’d like to come along,” Mo Fei said with a smile.

“Welcome back to the team!” The mercenaries applauded. If not for Mo Fei, none of them would be alive today. With him, nothing seemed impossible.

Eileen and Vivian returned to Mo Fei’s side, their arms full of flowers.

“Let me introduce you,” Mo Fei said. “This is Captain Simon of the Gale Mercenaries. These are my wife Vivian and my sister Eileen.”

Simon, recognizing Eileen’s noble elven attire and the refined air about Vivian, quickly bowed in the noble fashion. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“Captain, there’s no need for such formality. We’re pleased to meet you as well,” Vivian and Eileen replied politely.

“Captain, I’m traveling with them now. May we join you?” Mo Fei asked.

“No problem at all, Mr. Mo Fei. We may be relying on you again this time,” Simon replied with a laugh.

So Mo Fei and his companions fell in step at the rear of the mercenary group.

“Mr. Mo Fei, could you tell us about your experiences these past years? Your strength is now truly unfathomable,” Simon said. Even with his Grand Sword Sect mastery, he couldn’t gauge Mo Fei’s abilities.

“There’s not much to tell. I’ve been studying magic under Headmaster Mars at the Academy,” Mo Fei responded. He had agreed with Headmaster Mars, should anyone inquire, to say he’d been learning magic at the Academy.

In truth, those from the City of Death bore a subtle insignia on their collars, known only to a select few. Mo Fei’s collar bore it too, but unless mentioned, no one would notice. Even Simon, well-traveled as he was, had never heard of this secret; the City of Death had never revealed it beyond its own borders. The mark had been devised originally so those from the City could distinguish friend from disguised foe. Later, it was shared with key officials from allied countries, so they could offer aid if necessary.

“I see,” Simon replied, pleased and a little surprised. He was happy for Mo Fei, to have received the favor of the illustrious Headmaster Mars. “No wonder you’ve made such progress in just a few short years.”

“Oh, by the way, Captain, who exactly are we escorting this time?” Mo Fei recalled Simon’s earlier words.

“It’s a steward of a wealthy merchant. I don’t know what he’s carrying, but we’re only required to deliver him safely to Howling Dragon City, a port in the Dragon Empire.”

“A port city?” Mo Fei was momentarily lost in thought. “Once we meet the client, will we go by land or sea?”

“We have to go by land. Cargo ships won’t take on passengers.”

“So the route is up to you, Captain?” Mo Fei mused. The Death Empire sent ships out every day—who knew where they’d go, but a sea voyage would offer some pleasant scenery.

“That’s right. The mercenary team decides the route, so long as we deliver him safely.”

“I know people from the Death Empire. Perhaps we’ll see if one of their ships is passing through—maybe we can hitch a ride.”

“You know people from the Death Empire? That’s impressive. I’ve heard their ships are the largest on the continent. We rarely get assignments near the sea—this one only came to us because another team turned it down. If we get a chance, I’d like to see one of those ships myself.”

“Wait, Captain, you mean this job wasn’t originally meant for our team? They only came to us after others refused?” Mo Fei asked, surprised.

“That’s right,” Simon replied. “Apparently, they approached many mercenary companies here in the city…”

“How strong were those other teams?” Mo Fei had a bad feeling about this mission.

“The first ones were all large companies, much stronger than us—at least, before you returned. With you here, no one can compare,” Simon said, recalling Mo Fei’s enhancement magic. Back then, their warriors were only of Swordmaster rank, but with Mo Fei’s spells, they had managed to defeat enemies far stronger than themselves.

“Captain, I have a bad feeling about this mission,” Mo Fei muttered, disheartened. He’d only wanted to hitch a ride, not end up in a mess. It looked like this journey would be far from uneventful. If possible, they’d take the sea route—at least their foes wouldn’t anticipate that. But that would also mean the interception at their destination would be all the more desperate and dangerous.

“Really?” Simon hesitated. But a job was a job—what could they do now? No wonder the stronger teams had all refused, and no wonder the pay was so high. Why was he always the last to realize these things?

“There’s definitely a catch, and it’s with this steward. When you meet him, Captain, ask what his business is or what he’s carrying—you’ll understand.”

“But he might not tell us.”

“Just explain how dangerous the journey is, that the enemy will be waiting along the road. If we don’t know their purpose, it’ll be hard to protect him. I think he’ll have to tell you.”

“Alright, I’ll be sure to ask. But how did you figure out there was a problem?”

“It’s not that hard. From Doma Empire to Dragon Empire, the Death Empire keeps the route safe. The Dragon Empire values this route as well, so the only real danger is near the border with the Dragon Rock Empire. So, until they enter the Dragon Empire, they should be safe. And if the legends about the Dragon Empire are true, they’re safe there too. Why would they need such an elite mercenary team for an escort? And, Captain, I imagine the pay for this ‘easy’ job is substantial, isn’t it?” Mo Fei explained with a wry smile.