The physician pressed his left hand down on the major general’s arm, then took a metal syringe from his portable medicine box and swiftly fitted a needle onto it. With a cold gaze, he used one hand to push out the air inside. Suddenly, the weakened major general shoved his hand away.

Major General Ross raised his arm again, pointing toward the doorway: “Mist… person… “

“I’ll go get one. ” The pilot stood up, ready to rush out.

Lange, as if having anticipated this, blocked his path. “We cannot let the Fogfolk get involved. “

The pilot was taken aback.

Haili Koni looked into the distance, countless legends about the Fogfolk surfacing in her mind. Several banquet hall guards were subtly blocking the path.

In that instant, she suddenly understood everything!

That man was helping her!

He had long known this would happen!

“What are you waiting for! The Major General’s orders are absolute—get out of our way! “

Her voice was like a sharp blade, tearing a rift through the oppressive gloom!

Lange, exuding a faint aura of intimidation, swallowed hard but didn’t utter another word. Even if this officer was now a cornered beast, as long as he was still here for a single second, he embodied an invisible authority.

No one could defy his commands, not even the clan leader, let alone her.

The pilot, who had originally halted, startled and broke into a run. He’d actually been frozen by that man with the cursed bloodline! Thank goodness for Haili Koni. But before he could take more than a few steps down the hallway, another person came rushing towards him, clutching an Ability Sphere.

“Lan. Kaosi, you’re here! “

“Quick, take this! “

Lan. Kaosi thrust the “Secret Fruit ” in his hand forward. The pilot turned back in surprise, and as he saw the Major General’s deathly pale complexion from just a few steps away, his heart jolted with alarm.

This was no simple case of food poisoning!

The pilot nervously looked down at the small, warm, and moist fruit-like thing in his hand. It now seemed all the more precious!

He stepped out with a bound, suddenly feeling his body become light, and returned to the table in almost two steps, his outstretched hand steadily delivering what he held into the Major General’s grasp.

｛You can use the “All-Poison-Expelling Elixir. “｝

The Major General felt his body stiffening, from the inside… from the very source of his veins.

｛You lack the requirements to activate them.｝

｛But you can ponder the Holy Origin’s Source, as you have done in the past.｝

“I… pray… that I can… “

｛I have obtained the authority to use the “Secret Fruit. “｝

Just before the double vision blurring his eyes grew worse, the small fruit-like object in his hand was crushed into a tiny cloud of expanding air.

｛I have used the “All-Poison-Expelling Elixir. “｝

A refreshing sensation spread from his heart like a whirlwind throughout his entire body.

General Ross, who had nearly collapsed, propped himself up by bracing against the close-by pilot.

Everyone around them held their breath as they watched, and the man slowly lifted his head.

“Are… you okay? ” Ka. Yunni said, one corner of his mouth twitching convulsively, looking at Major General Ross.

Ross’s gaze darkened as he raised his eyes; he nodded slightly, “I am fine, my friend. “

After resting for only a few breaths, he stood up, leaning on Hailikoni’s arm for support.

“I think it is time for me to leave. The chief is still waiting for the reply regarding your… request. “

“This… why not stay one night to observe? ” the Island Lord said, his tone full of concern.

Hailikoni felt a surge of joy, but only now did a sense of lingering fear truly creep into her heart.

If this civil service major general really died right under her watch, not to mention herself, even the entire young nobility of the Haili family could kiss all promotion opportunities on this line goodbye.

As they talked, she looked up toward the entrance, where the islanders were crowding around three Fogfolk people as they walked outside.

Many were inquiring with the man holding the statue, asking if they could buy the miraculous “Myriad-Poison Purification ” fruit in his hand with Silver Coins or anything else.

That guy hadn’t come over at all.

Haili Koni’s spirit, which had just brightened a moment ago, faded again. Right, that was just how Fogfolk were, just like what her family’s elders had said—they only cared about solving other people’s troubles.

Once it was over, no matter how warm they seemed on the surface, they had little more connection with the locals.

“Sir, we used their… uh, this thing. Need to thank them? “

But Haili Koni still felt that, as a matter of courtesy, she should thank him in person.

“Ha, I used their stuff. The Fogfolk should be more than happy for that. “

Ross cast a glance at the woman, who still carried a hint of youthful charm.

“But Koni, it’s also good if you want to thank them. Those Fogfolk actually need everything we need, maybe even more. They’re just preoccupied with other things. “

He patted her wrist. “Go ahead. We’ll be leaving soon. Write them some checks that can be cashed at any bank in Heivenzike—I’m sure he won’t refuse. “

Hailikoni’s expression lit up with joy. She immediately closed her long legs lightly, stood ramrod straight, and raised her arm in a salute.

“Yes, sir. “

“By the way, and… ” Major General Ross called out to Hailikoni, who had already started to step away. “The price must match my status. “

“Yes, sir, understood! “

“Don’t tell the Fogfolk anything about us. Anything, do you understand? And stay far away from them from now on. “

“Yes… “

……

Li Senrui could finally manage to move his feet now.

His heart was filled with elation, not just because he’d taken part in this inexplicable operation.

But even more because of the passionate girls by his side.

It was a shame that many of them didn’t speak his language. Their enthusiastic cries left him feeling quite regretful. It wouldn’t be missing out on some interesting encounter tonight, would it?

“I only have twenty copper coins. Can you sell one to me? This thing shouldn’t be that hard for you Fogfolk to get again, right? “

“Sir, could I buy a few more? But a hundred silver coins a piece is way too expensive. That simply isn’t something normal people can afford. “

Li Senrui looked around at the people present. “Friends, you’re all islanders who come into constant contact with the Fogfolk. You should know that this kind of thing—or at least have heard of it—can only be obtained by spending more than ten years of one’s life. “

The faces around him showed their difficulty.

Paying ten years of life for something? To them, that was simply a fantasy. But the Fogfolk could manage it.

They often fantasized about what the mysterious Mistland across the sea was really like, how the immortal people living in that realm survived, and why these individuals, who sounded like celestial beings, ended up here appearing mostly half-starved and poorly clad, even worse off than themselves.

“If it’s a hundred silver horses, forget it. “

“I know you Fogfolk have plenty of other intriguing abilities. If you won’t lower the price, we’ll go buy ability fruits from someone else. “

As the haggling was in full swing, a pair of hands parted the crowd.

They turned to look and saw a tall, broad-shouldered man in military uniform. By his side stood a woman with sharp, clean shoulder and neck lines; her strong shoulders were well-defined under the uniform, and the crisp jawline of her face was both powerful and graceful.

“Pǔ Yì Wéi~ ” Yang Zicang greeted them, using the newly learned polite expression.

“Hello. ” Lan Kaosi gave Yang Zicang a big hug.

After embracing He Yishu and Li Senrui in turn, he stepped back and said with a smile to the three:

“Our adjutant Haili wants to thank you for appearing. Now, let her… “

The woman abruptly interjected: “Sī kǎ rě yì me… mǎ tuō mī ní yā… “

Lan Kaosi shot a puzzled glance at Haili Koni. This woman knew even more Fogfolk language than he did—why did she make him speak for her?

But since that was what the adjutant wanted, he might as well go along with it.

“Our adjutant says… well, she wants to give you all a little reward. “

The woman moved with a lithe, resilient stride to stand before Yang Zicang. He raised his hand. She fixed her gaze on his palm, then lifted her own slender hand to meet his in a courteous, formal handshake.

A stream of lilting, mellifluous notes poured from her lips, like the cooing of doves. The young man’s eyes met the woman’s, and they exchanged a greeting of knowing smiles.

“Our adjutant says this cheque was authorized by the young Major General. “

“She says she’ll give you thirty thousand rounds of Heivenzike Silver Horse… standard currency—as a token of gratitude. It should be enough to buy yourselves a house… “

-｛The Golden Emerald indicates: February. Di’an is observing the degree of the glorious prelude now gestating within me.｝

-｛The glorious prelude is composing new turning points.｝

Yang Zicang asked Lan. Kaosi, “May I ask if you’ll be leaving? “

The man glanced at the adjutant, who signaled with her eyes for him to say no more. Lan. Kaosi replied:

“Our itinerary is set by special personnel; I’m afraid that’s not something I can disclose. All in all, we’re very grateful for your help this time. “

-｛Distributor February. Di’an, drawing on his extensive experience, states that this prelude continues to gestate.｝

-｛Distributor Di’an expresses his wish to pre-order this radiance of glory.｝

-｛Di’an recommends continuing the gestation of the radiance of glory.｝

As he spoke these words, Lan Kaosi couldn’t help but marvel—the legends he had once heard about the Fogfolk were now playing out before his very eyes, exactly as the tales had described.

Yang Zicang and his companions listened to the swift murmur of thoughts racing through their minds.

He Yishu said, “If you’re truly planning to leave, I think you should give that gentleman who just suffered food poisoning a thorough check-up. “

He didn’t feel it was appropriate to say more.