I started with a portal, then turned around and handed it over to the nation.

The group quickly arrived at the castle gate! Raine politely informed them that he wanted to see the mayor.

Only three are allowed in.

The captain of the guard held his halberd horizontally across his chest, his gaze sweeping over Long Fei's black exoskeleton armor, his Adam's apple bobbing: "The rest of you, stay outside the drawbridge."

Long Fei didn't speak, but just tilted his head slightly, the tactical light on his helmet flashing in the eyes of the guard captain.

He pressed the communicator: "Han Feng, lead the team to maintain vigilance. Keep your guns pointed downwards, and prevent accidental discharge."

"receive."

Long Fei, Lin Mo, and Raine went inside.

The heavy oak doors of the main hall were pushed open, and a musty smell mixed with the pungent aroma of strong liquor wafted out.

The walls of the hall were covered with animal head specimens, including a huge dire wolf head and a two-headed snake.

In the very center of the hall, behind a huge oak table, sat a burly man.

He was holding a piece of deerskin and carefully wiping a huge double-edged battle axe.

This man was none other than Graham Anvil.

"Raine?"

Graham didn't even look up; his rough, large hands continued to caress the axe blade.

"I heard you led those peasants from Fernwall Village to their deaths? What, you're the only one who came back alive begging me to take you in?"

"Mayor, we didn't go to our deaths."

Raine stepped forward, placing his right hand on his chest in a hunter's salute: "Fernwall Village is still here, and... we're doing just fine."

"Oh?"

Graham finally raised his head.

His gaze passed over Renn and landed on Lin Mo and Long Fei behind him.

"This is the...new friend you brought back?"

Graham put down his battle axe, his massive body leaning back in his chair with a creak.

"That looks pretty intimidating. Is this iron armor a new skill of the dwarves? Or a new invention of those mad goblins?"

"We come from a very far place."

Lin Mo stepped forward, his voice coming through the mask, the translator on his arm carrying a slightly mechanical tone: "I'd like to discuss a business deal with you."

"Business?"

Graham chuckled, grabbed a glass of wine from the table, and took a large gulp:

"In Stonehenge, hundreds of adventurers try to do business with me every day. Some want to sell me dragon dung, others want to pawn their mother-in-law to me."

"What do you want to talk about? If you want to beg for food in town, turn left when you go out. There are bounties posted on the notice board over at the Mercenary Guild. Go kill a few rats and you can get a full meal."

"We want land."

Long Fei interrupted Graham directly: "A huge piece of land. We're going to build a consulate here."

The air in the hall seemed to freeze for a moment.

The surrounding guards placed their hands on the hilts of their swords.

Graham paused for a moment, then burst into a fit of maniacal laughter, sending dust flying from his head.

"Land? Hahahaha! Did you hear that? These few tin can makers want my land!"

He abruptly stopped laughing, leaned forward, and his eyes turned fierce:

"Boy, every inch of soil in Shiguzhen was watered with blood."

Graham curled his lip in disdain:

"Don't think you can scare people by wearing shiny clothes. The cat demons in the Misty Forest can bite through steel plate armor in one bite. Your iron armor is no match for them."

"If it's a cat demon..."

Raine suddenly spoke, his voice calm: "They're almost extinct."

"Huh? What did you say?" Graham frowned.

Raine looked directly into the mayor's eyes: "Last night, Mr. Lin and his team almost completely cleared the ruins."

The hall was deathly silent.

Graham stared intently at Renn for a full five seconds before speaking.

"Are you kidding me, Ryan?"

Graham's smile vanished: "That ruin is a place even regular troops wouldn't dare touch! And you think you can?"

"Don't believe me?" Lin Mo smiled and reached into the pocket of his tactical vest.

"Clatter".

A faint blue light instantly illuminated the dimly lit hall.

That's soil.

But every grain of soil emitted a faint, ethereal glow.

"Moonlight Soil?!"

Graham's breath hitched, and he nearly collapsed onto the table.

He stared intently at the small bag of soil, his eyes practically bulging out of their sockets.

"Such pure Moonlight Soil...it can only be found deep within the Misty Forest, in the heart of that damned ruin! You really went in?!"

"This is just a sample."

Seeing Graham's reaction, Lin Mo knew what was going on.

He pointed outside the gate: "There are still twenty boxes outside."

"Twenty... boxes?"

Graham's voice even changed tone.

He abruptly went around the table, forgetting even his beloved battle axe, and strode towards the door, yelling, "Get out of the way! Get out of the way, all of you!"

Outside the suspension bridge, twenty black, sealed boxes were neatly stacked on the ground.

Dozens of fully armed Snow Wolf team members spread out in a circular defensive formation, their dark gun barrels pointed at the ground, making the townspeople and guards watching the spectacle afraid to even breathe.

Graham rushed out the door, and the first thing he saw wasn't the crates, but the rows of heavy machine guns that still smelled of gunpowder.

"My God..."

Graham was a discerning man.

"Mayor, the boxes are over here." Lin Mo walked over and reached out to lift the lid of a box.

"Whoosh—"

The deep blue light was still clearly visible in the sunlight.

A whole box of moonshine soil, shimmering with light.

A collective gasp of astonishment rippled through the crowd.

Graham lunged forward, scooped up a handful of dirt, and took a deep breath.

That unique coolness made every pore on his body open up.

"Really... all genuine..." Graham's beard trembled.

As the head of the town, he knew all too well the value of this land.

"How is it, Mayor?"

Lin Mo crossed his arms and looked at him with a half-smile: "Can we discuss this deal?"

"Yes! Absolutely!"

Graham whirled around, his face crinkling into a wide grin. He grabbed Lin Mo's hand and shook it vigorously, as if Lin Mo were a long-lost relative:

"Hey, I knew it! You guys are definitely not ordinary people! Your demeanor, your equipment—you're all destined for great things!"

"Land? No problem! The old guard's training ground over there at the East Gate has been abandoned for years. It's a large area with existing barracks! It's all yours!"

"Rent? Talking about money hurts feelings!"

He patted his chest and declared, "As long as you have any good products in the future, you should prioritize trading with Shigu Town. I'll take charge of this land; you can use it for free!"

"Not only that!"

Graham turned and roared at the dumbfounded guards:

"What are you all standing there for? Get out of here and lead the way for our distinguished guests! Clear all the roadblocks at the east gate!"

"From now on, these gentlemen are my brothers in town! Anyone who dares to cause trouble, I'll chop them up!"

Lin Mo and Long Fei exchanged a glance, both seeing a hint of a smile in each other's eyes.

"Thank you very much, Mayor."

Lin Mo pulled his hand away from hers, which was now aching from being gripped so tightly, and pointed to the box on the ground: "Consider this box a deposit. We'll keep the rest for ourselves."

"I understand! I understand everything!"

Graham's mouth watered as he looked at the box of soil.

Even if it's just this one box, he'll make a fortune!

"Guards! Take this box of treasure to my vault! Be careful! If you spill even a single drop, I'll skin you alive!"

Watching Graham direct the guards to carefully move the crates, Ryan leaned close to Lin Mo and whispered with admiration:

"This is the first time in my life I've seen this old miser be so generous."

"He's smart."

Lin Mo looked at Graham's broad back and said calmly, "He knows that making friends with someone who can easily conquer the Misty Forest is much more worthwhile than earning that little bit of rent."