The Scholar following Orekl nearly collided with him. Old Ray stumbled a step before regaining his balance; a swordsman behind him tried to offer support, but the Scholar waved him off.

"My lord, before you left, I reported the disappearance of three rangers, and there's new progress. A few days ago, Ding Rui returned, but Shao Si and Witt are still missing. When Sir Layla heard this, she sent Shana, Feto, Crooked Brother, and four others beyond the wall to investigate." Old Ray said.

"Is the Great Wall Legion so short-handed that we have to send Shana out? She just got here—she doesn't know anything about the wall! Who will take responsibility if something happens to her?" Orekl's senses sharpened; this smelled like a plot. "Old Ray, why didn't you stop her?"

"Uh… Sir Layla cited the Great Wall Rangers' protocol. I had no reason to object…" the Scholar replied.

Could Shana be the next victim? Orekl bitterly regretted handing over the Vigil Badge to Layla. If the witch came to harm, his guilt would only deepen.

He roared: "Old Ray! Shana is a promising trainee from the Mandala Palace! Before she arrived, the Holy Light Grand Mage of the Palace sent a letter specifically asking me to look after her and her sister! If anything happens to her, I'm responsible—and so are you!"

The old scholar's eyes widened in shock, and he stood rooted to the spot, flustered. Everyone else froze too, especially the two witches, who stared in open-mouthed disbelief.

After speaking, Orekl realized he'd lost his temper. Old Ray had served the legion for thirty years—he was a respected veteran. I shouldn't have spoken to him so harshly. At the end of the day, this is my fault.

Orekl took a deep breath to calm himself. "Where is Layla? I need to see her."

"She… uh…" Old Ray began, when someone nearby exclaimed: "Wow, what's that?"

Orekl looked up involuntarily. High above the towering Great Wall, a brown flying carpet appeared, gliding lightly over the battlements and drawing everyone's attention. Old Ray's eyes went wide; "Big Guy" Basru's mouth hung open; "Sharpshooter" Du Sanyuan pointed a trembling finger at the carpet; "Idiot" A Hei cheered, as if witnessing a miracle.

What's going on? Orekl saw three people sitting on the carpet.

"Move out of the way! Move! We're landing!" He thought he heard Shana's voice.

The carpet traced a smooth, elegant arc, descending rapidly before hovering three feet above the square's ground. Orekl finally saw the three clearly: Feto, Shana, and a burly man.

That man…

"Ray! You're back? What a coincidence!" Shana and Feto held hands as they jumped down from the carpet.

Seeing the witch safe, Orekl let out a quiet sigh of relief—he wouldn't have to take responsibility after all. But then he noticed the guard and witch's intimate gesture, and a strange twinge of jealousy crept into his chest. What's going on between these two…

The two witches rushed over, hugging Shana from both sides and firing off concerned questions. Shana smiled brightly: "Sister Yun, Xiao Li, look—I'm perfectly fine, don't worry!"

Meanwhile, Feto hurried to Orekl's side: "Boss, when did you get back? Did your trip go smoothly?"

You brat are getting more reckless by the day! Flirting around is bad enough, but now you're fraternizing with a witch! If you cause trouble, you won't be the only one suffering! Orekl wanted to scold Feto, but didn't want to make a scene in the crowded square. Instead, he snorted, letting his silence speak for his displeasure.

"Boss, we found important military intel on our mission…" Feto tried to continue, but Orekl held up a hand to stop him.

"Who is that man?" Orekl's gaze fixed on the black-cloaked man behind Feto.

Feto turned back: "His name's Wilder, a black market merchant. He saved us when we were trapped."

The black market merchant shook the flying carpet in his hand; as light flickered, it shrank rapidly into a brown cloth, which he tucked into his coat. A mysterious smile played at his lips.

Hmph! Trivial trickery! Even though some people in the square gasped, Orekl's eyes flashed with disdain—he wasn't impressed by the display.

After stowing the carpet, Wilder said: "I've done my end of the deal—brought you two back to the Great Wall safe and sound. Now it's your turn to hold up your side. The soul-breaking curse reversal you promised?"

Shana pulled away from her sisters and turned: "Witches always keep their word. I'll cast the reversal for the Dreamweaver right now…"

"Wait!" Orekl suddenly stepped in front of Shana and shouted: "Guards! Arrest this man!"

"Yes!"

At the Commander's order, four swordsmen immediately surrounded Wilder from all directions.

Wilder glanced left and right, shrugged, and said flatly: "What's this about?"

"Ray?" Shana looked stunned.

Orekl declared loudly: "The Great Wall is the northern border of the United Kingdom. No one may cross to the outer lands without official documents. Do you have the required pass?"

Wilder sneered: "I'm a merchant from Golden Harbor, with a trade license from the Golden Harbor Merchant Guild. I can trade anywhere in the kingdom."

"So you don't have a legal border pass." Orekl paused, then continued: "Crossing the Great Wall without authorization is a felony. Lock this man in the Bunker's dark cells!"

Feto looked shocked: "Boss, under Golden Harbor's Free Trade Law, merchants do have the right to trade beyond the wall."

Orekl said coldly: "The Commander of the Great Wall has final authority over all matters within the wall's jurisdiction. Whether the Free Trade Law applies here is up to me."

"But…"

"Don't plead for him! I have records of all merchants who travel beyond the wall, and this man's name isn't on them."

As Orekl spoke loudly, he thought to himself: That's not the truth. In reality, black market merchants crossing the border was common. Orekl usually turned a blind eye to it, but today, an inexplicable rage had seized him—he had to punish this man.

"Take him away." Orekl ordered.

"Yes!" The four swordsmen moved forward to seize him.

Wilder shouted: "You're abusing your power! I'll report you to the Golden Harbor Merchant Guild!"

"Go ahead and complain to the Royal Palace if you want." Orekl said flatly. It doesn't matter anyway—I won't be Commander much longer.

"Who dares touch me!" Wilder pulled something from his coat and pointed it at the swordsmen, who stepped back in confusion.

Orekl frowned: "Do you intend to resist?"

"I'm the new Lord of Awakening City—Count Wilder! By kingdom law, I deserve proper respect."

Orekl's body jolted, his eyes widening. What in the world? Everyone else froze, their shocked gazes fixed on Wilder.

"What nonsense are you spouting!" Orekl roared: "Mocking the Commander of the Great Wall is an additional offense!"

"Heh heh, you think I'm joking?" Wilder held out a yellowed scroll to the Commander.

Orekl hesitated for a moment, then nodded at a nearby swordsman, who took the scroll and handed it to him.

Orekl unrolled it, and lines of ancient script came into view. Queen's Commission! The scroll contained the Queen's formal appointment of the Earl of Awakening City, detailing land grants, privileges, and title rights.

As someone who had been awarded the title of Earl of Luminara City by the Queen, Orekl was familiar with the script, content, and official seal on such commissions. It was real… Why is this happening?

Orekl was thoroughly embarrassed. He stood frozen in place, unable to squeeze out a single word for a long moment.

"Have you finished reading, my lord?" Wilder chuckled.

"Um…" Orekl slowly rolled the scroll back up.

This was bad. The man held the same rank as him. Worse still, he was the Earl of Awakening City. Excluding Shieldhold, Awakening City was the kingdom's northernmost fortress, long the Great Wall Legion's main supply hub—they were as interdependent as lips and teeth.

The former lord of Awakening City had been Lord Renly Charles of House Charles, nicknamed "Spiral Blabbermouth." Two years ago, Renly's sister had become entangled in royal court intrigue, leading to the entire Charles family being stripped of their lands and title. Since then, Awakening City had been ungoverned, managed temporarily by the Silver Knights.

Orekl thought to himself: I'm the Earl of Luminara too, but that's just a small fortress on the Western Peninsula—my title is more honor than substance. But Awakening City is a critical northern military stronghold. Why would the Queen appoint someone like him as its lord?

"Now, can you tell your men to stand down?" Wilder chuckled again.

Orekl was bewildered, but since the commission was real, he couldn't afford to turn hostile. For the sake of the kingdom… I'll leave an opening today; we may need to deal with each other later. I'll investigate how he became lord of Awakening City another time.

"All of you, stand down." Orekl handed the Queen's commission back to Wilder.

"What's going on here?" A voice rang out from the side of the square.

Orekl's eyes snapped open. He turned and saw a valiant female knight clad in golden armor, standing on the spiral staircase of the Oracle Spire.

Layla! You're just in time! I've been waiting for you!