Mount and Blade System: Start from Pioneer Lords.

Chapter 437 Return
"accelerate."

Having lived in the wild for more than half a month, the two longed for the hustle and bustle of the city. With the coachman's whip cracking, the sound of hooves suddenly became more frequent, and before long, Gunda's style was fully displayed in front of Mir.

This is the capital of Debe, naturally possessing an extraordinary appearance. The towering city walls are built of ancient megaliths, their surfaces covered with mottled traces of time, as if recording thousands of years of legends and secrets.

Two towering iron dragon statues, each over ten meters tall, stand on either side of the city gate. Their eyes are inlaid with shimmering magic gems, as if they might awaken at any moment.

It is said that this was the work of a legendary alchemist, and that once these two iron figures are activated, they will transform into ancient warriors to slay enemies.

The city gate itself was made of thick black iron, inlaid with complex magic circles, and emitted a faint blue light.

Huge banners hung on the city walls, embroidered with the city's emblem—a griffin with its head held high, its silky feathers fluttering in the wind as if it were about to take flight at any moment; this was also the royal family's insignia.

At the city gate, dust billowed, and the sounds of horses' hooves, wheels, and footsteps mingled into a cacophony of noise.

Farmers pushed wooden carts loaded with grain, their faces weathered and their rough hands gripping the handles tightly. Vegetable farmers carried lush green cabbages and their freckled daughters on their backs, preparing to go to town to sell their produce.

The caravan's wagons slowly drove by, their wheels making a dull thud as they rolled over the stone pavement.

The carriages were piled high with goods from afar—silk, spices, gems, and other strange and unknown items, all covered by curtains to prevent prying eyes. Merchants adorned with gold and silver sat in front of the carriages, their faces bearing fake smiles.

The patrolling knights, clad in armor, rode tall warhorses, lances in hand, their eyes piercing.

The mercenaries leaned against the tree, playing cards while sizing up everyone who passed by.

These ruthless people who live on the edge don't mind acting as bandits in crucial moments for money.

Occasionally, one can also see orcs, elves, dwarves, and bards, some traveling in groups, others hurrying along alone, adding even more charm to the royal capital of Debe.

The guards at the city gate, clad in silver armor and wielding long halberds, lazily scanned everyone entering and leaving.

Paya was overwhelmed by all of this, exclaiming in amazement the whole way: "Wow, there's even a pigman wearing a formal suit and sporting a small mustache! Do you Debei have that many orcs?"

Compared to the ancient kingdom of Debe, the newly emerging power of the Kingdom of Sith, although some orcs can be seen occasionally, is no match for Debe.

Elves and dwarves are extremely common here.

“This might be related to policy. Compared to the Holy Sith Kingdom, Debe is much more tolerant of orcs. As long as they are not inherently evil orcs like goblins, they can be accepted as long as they complete the necessary procedures.” Mil explained while peering around.

Even before he arrived in Gonda, he had written a letter to Sister Fatil.

Since we were going to rest in Gonda before returning to High Cliff Fort anyway, we naturally wanted to catch up with old friends here.

The main reason was that the lord's allowance wasn't enough. If he stayed in Gonda, he would have to sleep on the streets. He had no choice but to rest at the Holy Light Church for a few days.

At the city gate, a group of guards with halberds were collecting varying amounts of entry tax from each person.

When it was Mil and his companion's turn...

“This is my friend, why should we pay the city entrance tax?” A female knight suddenly appeared out of nowhere. The guards collecting the city entrance tax obviously recognized the female knight and said respectfully, “Since she is Lady Tannis’s friend, there is naturally no need for any city entrance tax.”

So a group of guards quickly made way for the carriage to pass.

“It’s you, Miss Tanis.” Mil looked at the female knight with some surprise as she removed her helmet, revealing long jacaranda-colored hair.

It was Tennys Edwards, the daughter of Governor Bernard, whom I had met briefly at High Cliff Castle last time.

"Long time no see, Mir." Tanis smiled slightly and asked with some curiosity, "I heard you were taken as a disciple by the Great Sage of the Holy Sith Kingdom?"

She had a good impression of the young man, mainly because he was the younger brother of the dragon knight's wife, and she had also chatted with him a few times at High Cliff Fortress.

“That’s right.” Mil paid the driver’s fare, got off the carriage, and said with great curiosity, “I thought you had gone to fight, Tannis. I didn’t expect to see you in Gonda.”

“My father said that guarding the gates of the capital is more important than beheading ten enemies on the battlefield.” Tanis shrugged, her tone more resigned than genuinely complaining. She had clearly accepted the arrangement, though she was still somewhat unwilling.

She was dissatisfied with the fact that the swordsmanship she had learned since childhood could only be used against wooden dummies every day. She wanted to go to the battlefield and make a name for herself, but Bernard blocked her dream.

Her azure eyes swept over Mill and a minotaur who had just stepped out of the carriage, his eyes brimming with curiosity. A hint of surprise appeared on her face, but she quickly concealed it.
"It's nice to run into acquaintances here. Have you just arrived in Gonda? Where are you headed?"

A barely perceptible hint of embarrassment crossed Mir's face as he pondered how to bring up the idea of ​​"asking for lodging" at the Holy Light Church without sounding too awkward. Peiya quickly answered for him, "Yes, yes! We just came out of the wilderness. Mir said he knows someone in Gonda and is going to the Holy Light Church to find them, but..."

She winked slyly at Mil, "He seems a little worried that he doesn't have enough money for a hotel."

"He clearly has a very wealthy senior sister here, but he just can't bring himself to ask me, a beautiful woman, for a loan. What a proud young man."

Mir blushed slightly when her thoughts were exposed, and coughed lightly: "Senior Sister Peiya, don't talk nonsense. I just wanted to visit some acquaintances first."

He turned to Tannis and introduced Paya:

"This is my teacher's disciple, and also my senior sister. She used to be a very beautiful girl, but she turned into what she is now because of some problems with alchemy."

"Little Mir, your senior sister's impression of you has changed a lot now." Peiya wrapped her arms around Mir's neck with one arm and frantically rubbed his head with the other.

Seeing the minotaur, a creature made of iron and dressed in a skirt, casually kneading and squeezing Mil, even the usually composed Tannis couldn't help but twitch her lips, though she still maintained excellent manners: "Hello, Miss Peya."

Mir slapped his hand on his head helplessly and continued, "Sister Fatil is at the Vatican; I want to go see her first."

Tanis nodded in sudden realization. She had long heard that the Holy Maiden of the Holy Light Church and the lord of High Cliff Fortress had an ambiguous relationship, and it seemed to be true. A mischievous glint flashed in her eyes, clearly seeing through Mil's predicament. "Your Highness Saintess Fatil, she is indeed at the Church. However, since we've arrived in Gonda, which is my territory, how can I let you go to the Church?"

She patted the sword at her waist and said in a cheerful tone, "There are plenty of empty rooms in the governor's mansion. My father isn't here either, so it's just me. You can all stay here and keep me company so you won't be too bored. I'll also show you around Gonda City."

Upon hearing this, Paya's eyes immediately lit up like stars in the sky, and she exclaimed, "The Governor's Mansion?! Wow! Miss Tanis, you're so kind! Mil, let's stay at the Governor's Mansion! It'll definitely be much more fun than the church!"

She gave Mil no chance to object, and nimbly jumped off the carriage, standing next to Tannis, looking like she was determined to follow her.

In fact, Peiya noticed that her junior brother seemed to have a special feeling for this female knight, and being a gossip, she naturally went over to him.

Looking at the excited Peya and the genuinely smiling Tannis, Mil's embarrassment about freeloading instantly vanished.

He suddenly realized that if his brother-in-law were here, he wouldn't just eat and drink for free, he probably wouldn't even blush with shame if he ate or took things.

“Miss Tannis,” Mill hesitated for a moment, glanced at her bright smile, and finally said, “Thank you very much for your hospitality.”

"Just call me Tannis." The female knight waved her hand generously. "Let's go, let's settle your luggage first."

She gestured to a waiting soldier to lead her warhorse, and then, with Mir and Peya, walked into the busier inner city streets.

Sunlight streamed through the gaps in the towering buildings, illuminating the bustling crowd.

The air was filled with the aroma of freshly baked bread, the scent of horses' sweat, and the rich aroma of the spice market in the distance.

The minotaur, Peya, was like a bird just released from its cage, looking around curiously at every vendor and every strange race that passed by.

Elf mages, dressed in magnificent robes and with pointed ears, were talking in hushed tones at the entrance of the apothecary.

A dwarf blacksmith with a beard that almost reached the ground was glaring at the sword blank being forged by his apprentice, while several dragonborn dressed in scholar's robes, covered in scales and horns, hurried by, carrying thick scrolls.

As the capital of Debe, Gonda is indeed a place of wealth and prosperity that other cities cannot match.

The Governor's Palace is located in the relatively quiet northwest corner of the inner city of the capital, some distance from the bustling main road.

The thick granite walls enclosed a solemn territory, and the guards standing at the gate had gleaming armor and sharp eyes, a stark contrast to the lazy guards at the city gate.

When the guards saw Tani return with a young man and a strangely dressed minotaur, a hint of surprise flashed in their eyes, but they still stood up straight and gave a standard military salute.

"Miss Tanis!"

“Hmm.” Tannis nodded casually and led the two through the spacious courtyard.

In the center of the courtyard was a training ground with a flat sandy surface. Various training dummies and weapon racks were placed around it, and the air seemed to still carry the smell of sweat and metal.

Several tall, ancient trees cast deep shadows, adding a touch of solemnity and tranquility to the area.

The main building of the mansion has strong lines and a distinct military aristocratic style, but the details reveal the heritage of an aristocratic family.

The carved oak door was pushed open, and a calming aroma mixed with leather, old books and a faint scent of incense wafted out.

The interior furnishings are equally simple yet powerful, with huge family crest banners and several oil paintings depicting famous battles hanging on the walls. The corridors are lined with knight armor from various dynasties, polished to a shine. The dark solid wood furniture is heavy and sturdy, and although it is not made by a master, it clearly has a sense of age.

"Wow..." Peya exclaimed in amazement. Her hooves made a crisp "clatter" sound as she stepped on the smooth stone floor. She curiously turned her metal head and looked around, especially interested in the armor and the greatsword decorations on the wall: "These things would be perfect as alchemical materials!"

Anything that could be collected by a powerful governor must be something extraordinary. Even the most unassuming dagger was made of mithril and was once the weapon of an elven guard.

Mir examined the description next to the dagger, which even listed who had crafted it.

Is this the true essence of nobility?
Mir suddenly felt like a country bumpkin compared to the other person. It was a pity that his brother-in-law was a dragon knight while the other person was not. Thinking of this, he straightened his back again.

"Don't be shy, make yourself at home." Tanis casually unfastened her sword and handed it to the approaching servant, her movements natural and fluid, clearly a routine she was accustomed to. "Miss Peya, are you interested in those weapons? I can take you to the armory later when we have time. They have even more there, some of which are spoils of war that my grandfather brought back from the battlefield."

The governor's daughter had clearly not met anyone who could make her happy in a long time, and she enthusiastically introduced everything to the two of them.

“Miss, I’m sorry to bother you for a moment.” A butler in a tailcoat with her long hair tied in a ponytail approached. She glanced apologetically at Mir and Tannis, then whispered in Tannis’s ear, “Just now, the royal family arrived. His Majesty summons you to the palace.”

"What is it?" Tanis raised an eyebrow. Although she was the commander of the garrison in charge of the city walls, if you disregarded her father's connection, her position was not very high, and it wouldn't warrant such a sudden summons from her uncle.

“I don’t know.” The housekeeper shook her head. “I only know that His Majesty summoned not only you, but all the officials of Gonda City.”

Tanis was taken aback. Summoning so many people, was her uncle planning something big again?
However, it's clear that this arrangement has left her with no time to catch up with Mil and the other man.

"I'm sorry, Mir, Peya." Tannis looked at the two apologetically, "You'll have to stay here by yourselves for the time being. I have to go to the palace first."

“Tannis, you go first.” Mill nodded quickly.

So Tanis put her armor back on, a hint of doubt in her eyes, and hurried toward the royal palace in the center of Gonda.

……

As the sun and moon went by, just half a month later, on a morning with heavy snowfall, Gaoyabao finally welcomed its true owner.

(End of this chapter)