White Violet City’s stationed forces launched a deterrent military strike against Teransi.

Sedans flying foreign flags frequently pulled up in front of the municipal building, where business elites and news correspondents—or simply travelers claiming to “gauge public opinion “—gathered to spectate the marching parade as if it were a curious novelty.

The fervent and impassioned populace naturally became sources of intelligence for the lurking schemers in the shadows, weaving nets of news; even farmers bringing vegetables into town to sell, hotel bellhops, and waiters were not immune.

In this city, filled with the shouts of protesters and the arrival of spies, crates of reports were packed daily—mingling scorching truths with biting lies—either stuffed into mailbags or transformed into airwaves racing toward distant lands.

The flames of the protest illuminated the hopes of those under siege, as well as countless interweaving gazes.

Teransi withdrew its troops swiftly!

Following that, amid the jubilation, honors were bestowed upon those who had made great contributions to this patriotic movement.

When the members of the Qingying Commune saw the “Fogperson ” again, their eyes were like those of excited children catching a glimpse of a figure from their textbooks appearing before them in the flesh.

Long Huogang gripped Yang Zicang’s hand tightly, his lips trembling so violently that he couldn’t utter a single word. He just stared intently at the Fog-folk man’s face, his eyes unconsciously welling up with sour, red-rimmed tears.

Meeting again felt like a dream.

“Brother Bucheng,” Milena and a few others, who had noticeably thinned down, clustered around him, wiping away their tears. “We had no idea, boohoo, boohoo… that you could actually… boohoo…“

“Everyone, don’t be like this… It wasn’t really my doing.“

Kim Crest, whose clothes were torn, laughed from the side. “Mr. Fog-folk, if you keep telling such lies, do you think these kids will believe there’s a single honest word coming out of your mouth?“

“We really thought you were gone… boohoo…“

“Alright, alright, this time it’s all thanks to Reporter Crest. Without him, none of us would have been reunited.“

Yang Zicang finally managed to squeeze through the crowd and walked over to Kim Crest’s side by the house. Looking at the bruises on his face, he asked, “Are you alright?“

Jean Ussy, who didn’t look much better, grinned weakly. “Just some soft tissue damage. No big deal.“

Kim Crest, who had been about to boast about his heroics, could only grunt a couple of times instead, glossing over the fact that he had been thrashed by the Teransi navy and nearly dragged aboard a ship.

Once the meet-and-greet was over, Yao Xiaoqin, with pointy-eared headphones, an old cloth shirt, and her face smeared with dirt, pretended to meet the hero for the first time and came to Yang Zicang’s side.

“Hero~ ” she called out softly, piteously, “You’re really the hero who saved us, aren’t you? “

With that, she giggled and leaned close on tiptoe, nearly stumbling into Yang Zicang’s arms.

Suddenly, a cheer erupted. The two glanced back at the newly arrived commotion caused by the reporter at the door, and Yao Xiaoqin quickly said enviously, “The prince is going to give you a special commendation. Did you know? “

“It’s His Highness the Grand Crown Prince. “

“Humph, it’s still the same thing. “

Yang Zicang was well aware of this. The synchronization rate of the Saint’s Memoir had already dropped below sixty percent yesterday and had fallen to forty-five percent this morning.

“What’s a commendation matter for? You can’t eat it, and it’s not like I’m starving. “

“Wrong! ” A blonde-haired man walked over. It was Schmidt, the “Regional Affairs Liaison, ” who had left the Fogfolk Settlement to be here and witness the return of the “heroes. “

“Mr. Buchen, on this point you are thoroughly mistaken. A service medal is crucial for our credit rating within the Fogfolk community, y’know. In the future, as long as you flash those medals while walking through any continent, they’ll count as proof of your glories. “

Yao Xiaoqin was suddenly startled and turned to look at Schmidt, stunned and amazed.

“Now cheers are everywhere. The founders of the Qingying Gazette, the benevolent warehouse innkeeper and his grandson, and the journalist Jean Conrad, who has made heroic contributions, are all to receive medals from His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.“

Schmidt glanced at the crowd, which was gradually making way for the journalist, and turned back to speak quickly:

“So, how could we miss out on the ones who started it all? Miss Xiaoqin, right? If you’re willing, I can provide your identity as a secret agent. Just like ‘Mr. An,’ who secretly protected the journalist, you and Mr. Yang can share the honor of receiving this ‘Justice Medal of Herzen Holstburg’ from the Duke.“

“But, won’t that expose our identities?“

The blond liaison officer smiled, “Which identity do you mean?“

Yao Xiaoqin’s eyes were twinkling with stars.

A figure walked over. Jean Conrad and Yang Zicang met again, locking gazes with mutual understanding before stepping forward and shaking hands.

……

April 9th. Sunny.

Waving colorful flags fluttered. The Royal Ceremony Chair, representing the Duke and the Crown Prince, came specially to White Violet City to hold a medal ceremony for the foreigners and those who had set foot out of their villages.

Under the open-air grand stage, after the speeches, representatives from all sides stepped forward to receive the Ribanda that the Chairman hung around their necks.

“Our friends from the Fogfolk, as always, have inherited the fine virtues of our compatriot continent, injecting a powerful dose of confidence into our people who were in danger. “

The crowd below shouted loudly, waving their flags—so that was the man!

Yang Zicang, wearing the Hero Trilogy Outfit, felt the gazes of thousands upon thousands focused on him. Many in the crowd below were dressed in attire resembling his, as if they were his doppelgangers. And amidst this scene, a faint voice suddenly echoed in his mind.

｛I have acquired the ‘Wish Charm,’ Thousand-Person Level.｝

“What… ” Yang Zicang’s mind quivered slightly.

｛I have acquired the ‘Wish Charm,’ Thousand-Person Level.｝

He took a deep breath; it was truly unbelievable that a single investiture ceremony had given rise to two Thousand-Person Level Wish Charms!

Yet there was still a gap from the Ten-Thousand-Person Level, likely because people didn’t have a stronger, more urgent desire for him to fulfill.

“What are you thinking about? “

The refined, square-jawed man before him smiled and looked at him. Yang Zicang gave an apologetic nod. “Nothing, Your Excellency the Distinguished Ceremony Speaker. I simply have little experience with such occasions. “

“You’ll have more and more of them in the future. ” The warm hand of the Ceremony Master encouraged him with a pat on the shoulder. “Carry on forward with the blessing of His Highness Leonhard. “

Saying this, he hung the “Justice Medal of Herzen Holstburg “—a golden piece edged with light red and inlaid with several broken sapphires—on Yang Zicang’s chest, and raised his right hand.

Yang Zicang followed the twist of his wrist, turning to face the audience.

Amidst the roaring cheers, colorful flags fluttered in the wind.

The masses gazed upon the rugged hero—who sported a small mustache, hair reaching his ears, and thick, bushy eyebrows—standing aloft on that distant stage. His mere presence radiated a bold and heroic spirit, driving the crowd to cheer even louder.

“Hero! Hero!“

｛I have obtained the “Wish Talisman, ” thousand-person level!｝

“Such a grand investiture… can have this kind of effect too.” Yang Zicang struggled to suppress his growing excitement.

……

In the crowd, a father and daughter watched the man on the distant platform. The girl, with a delicate, fair face and pointed ears, grabbed her father’s arm tightly in excitement.

“Daddy, Daddy, can we hire this Fogman as a bodyguard? Pwease, oh pwease?“

The man glanced at his daughter. Even while she tugged at his arm, he couldn’t bear to put down the newspaper he’d been clutching for days.

He hesitated for a moment.

“A Fogfolk this excellent… his price must be sky-high.“

“Aren’t we supposed to find the best?” The girl’s glittering eyes fixed on her father.

“But he might not be available to take a job right now…“

“Mmm, nooo~ I want him!“

The father, in his forties, took off his black hat. “Well, alright. Let me think, it’s just… Lena, Fogfolk are not to be trusted, ” he said, fixing his gaze on the girl’s gem-like, pure eyes. “You must keep this firmly in mind. “

……

The sun climbed higher.

As soon as the award ceremony ended, Yang Zicang stepped down from the stage and made an excuse to slip away from the ensuing banquet at the venue. He washed his face in the restroom, glanced at himself in the mirror, then checked his surroundings. No one else was there. He took a tissue to wipe his face as he walked into the toilet.

｛Tip: I paid 10 N for the unlocking tool fee at COSTELLA HOTEL.｝

With a jolt of energy, the barrier enveloping Yang Zicang teleported him back to the room in the Rate Hotel.