In the desert areas of the West, where industrial civilization has not yet reached, it may take months to forge a set of armor by hand, and years to enchant it. Coupled with the continuous cost of maintaining the armor, armor has become a top luxury item, a family heirloom passed down from father to son and from son to grandson.

When comparing the military strength between the nobles in the Western Territory, the number of armors is a very important indicator.

For the Golden Shield Empire, which is qualified to compete on the road to industrialization, the armor forging process is the production process of a stamping assembly line in an armor factory. Even the complex and tedious enchantment is split into many processes, which can produce low-enchantment armor in large quantities and high-enchantment armor at a faster speed.

This time, the Empire launched a war against the Tedega Hills, and all the Imperial military factories were operating at full capacity. The Imperial Army on the southern front ate meat, and Alex also fought for a mouthful of thick soup for his newly reorganized Western Frontier Legion.

Agatha led an embassy to the West. In order to intimidate the nobles in the West militarily, Alex gave the first troops to be equipped to the embassy.

When the two armies met, the contrast in equipment and formations was extremely stark. The Imperial Army lined up like a steel wall, and their momentum absolutely crushed the Sun City Army.

The pressure forced Earl Urd to re-evaluate the military gap between the nobles in the Western Territory and the Empire.

If the Empire decided to use force against the nobles of the Western Territory, they would have absolutely no energy to resist. No matter how magnificent the castle made of sand is, it cannot withstand the beating of the waves.

"Your Highness, the Princess, Governor of Meteorite..." Earl Urd half-rose from his horse and saluted Agatha and Luke. "Welcome friends from afar to Sun City. The Harvest Festival in the West will be held soon. I promise you will have a very pleasant experience here."

Agatha nodded slightly and returned the greeting to Earl Urd: "My Lord Earl, my father asked me to send his regards to you. The ancestors of the Urd family and the Augustin family have always been unbreakable allies. The Urd family guarded the western border for the empire, and the Augustin family has always remembered the Urd family's contributions.

These are the gifts my father asked me to bring to you, please accept them."

Agatha wore a golden armor that matched her status as the eldest princess. Her tall warhorse was also covered with armor and decorated with many gems, showing her wealth and beauty. She wore a crown on her head, a veil made of golden pearls on her face, and her earrings were the precious Stephen's dazzling tear stones.

Even the fingers wearing gold-wire gloves were adorned with several rings inlaid with gemstones.

The attendants brought over several large boxes.

After it was opened, the gems and gold inside were so dazzling under the scorching sun that people couldn't open their eyes.

In fact, Agatha didn't want to meet Count Urd in such an outfit. It showed too much of a sense of nouveau riche and was too disgraceful for the royal family.

But Luke demanded... that it must be worn this way.

In the Western Territory, the nobles do not understand what simple luxury and elegance are. Only real gold and gems can truly blind their eyes.

When we come to the West this time, we should not make winning the support of the nobles our top priority.

Just here to have fun!

Just to show off wealth!

It is to let you Western nobles see how wealthy the Augustine family, who used to carry bricks with your ancestors, is now.

Hearing is not believing, seeing is believing. During this time in the West, I dazzled their eyes with gold and hit them on the head with gems.

It will be easier to do the job only if we blind or knock them unconscious.

Agatha didn't know what big thing Meteorite was preparing to do in the West. Since it was decided when they came that one would be in the light and the other in the dark, she had to play the role of the light bulb.

The brighter the light, the darker the dark.

As expected... Seeing the imperial army's appearance, seeing the imperial princess so gorgeous, and seeing the boxes of heavy gold and gems, Count Urd's heart was constantly filled with worry, awe and happiness.

"Thank you, Your Majesty. The Urd family will firmly guard the western border for the Golden Shield Empire forever. The accommodation has been arranged. Please invite Your Royal Highness the Princess, Governor Meteorite, and your former friends to the Sunny Manor..."

Count Urd waved his hand, and his men came forward to accept the gifts, and then warmly invited the imperial delegation into the city.

Agatha rode in front, with Earl Urd slightly behind and walking parallel to Luke.

"Greetings, Governor Meteorite. Raging Waves City is on the east coast of the empire, and Sun City is on the west coast of the empire. Although the two cities are far apart, the legend you created in Raging Waves City has long been spread to this sandy land.

I feel very honored that you are accompanying Her Royal Highness the Princess on this diplomatic mission to the Western Territory. If there is anything you need me to do in the Western Territory that Her Royal Highness the Princess cannot say directly, you can tell me."

Luke couldn't help but sigh. Earl Urd was really good at building relationships. He treated a young new nobleman like him without any of the high-handedness of the old nobles. He was as kind as an elder next door.

But this kind of person is more difficult to deal with.

Luke whispered to Urd, "When the Earl was young, he suppressed the rebellion in desperate situations, and in a short period of time, he turned the Sun Oasis into the richest place in the West. He is also a household legend in the Empire.

To be honest, many of the things I did in Raging Waves City were inspired by you.

Please rest assured, Count. Our mission to the Western Territory will undoubtedly create disputes. When the Harvest Festival is over, we will complete the mission given by His Majesty, and the mission will leave when the time is up. "

Count Urd whispered back, "What is your majesty's mission?"

Luke looked around and said cautiously, "Some things are known to everyone, so I don't need to explain them too clearly. The Brotherhood of Blades made His Majesty very upset, so he gave us the Secret Service this task.

In order to avoid misunderstandings, I think we can set up a line of communication on behalf of both parties. If anyone has anything to do, just quietly send a message and don't make things out of hand."

Urd didn't completely believe what Luke said, but the fact that the two ultimate bosses of the Secret Service came to the West meant that the Secret Service must have big moves in the West.

The Brotherhood of the Blades is deeply rooted in the West. If a large-scale conflict breaks out between the two sides, Sun City will definitely be the first to bear the brunt.

Now, according to Governor Meteorite, they came to the Western Territory this time because of His Majesty's order. How to properly manage the losses is also something that the Secret Intelligence Bureau must deal with.

Establishing a communication channel is beneficial to both parties. Everyone is a person of status and no one wants to die in a sudden assassination.

Earl Urd said to Luke: "The Governor's suggestion is very good. The situation in the empire is tense now. Both Her Royal Highness the Princess and you are of noble status. We are most afraid that some extreme guys will create an uncontrollable situation.

I will send someone to establish our communication line and keep the Blade Brotherhood informed of their movements, so that the Harvest Festival can proceed peacefully."

Luke smiled and replied, "Thank you for your assistance, Lord Earl. I will also keep you informed of the actions of the Secret Service in the Western Territory. We are all people of status. There is no need to put ourselves in danger. The most important thing is to protect Her Royal Highness the Princess and return her safely to the Imperial Capital."

"Yes, protecting Her Royal Highness the Princess from leaving is the most important thing."

The common topics allowed Luke and Count Urd to quickly become familiar with each other, and when they arrived at the Sunday Manor, their relationship was as good as that of close friends who had not seen each other for many years.

Agatha, who was walking in front, couldn't help but look back frequently. Could it be that this kid Meteorite had infiltrated the enemy so quickly?

This scene was naturally seen by more caring people.

The news that the first stop of the imperial delegation's mission to the western border was Sun City and that they would move into Sun Manor was quickly spread via carrier birds.

Everyone realized that something would happen during this Harvest Festival that would affect the entire Western Territory.

In the Sun Manor, Count Urd vacated the central island for Agatha and the members of the delegation to live in. The original people on the central island, including the count himself, moved to the buildings on the shore of the artificial lake.

The central island was surrounded by water, so the lake would be a natural barrier for anyone who wanted to harm the delegation. At the same time, the lake also trapped the delegation. If the Western nobles decided to respond to the Celtic Duke with force, it would be difficult for Agatha to escape.

In the castle on the central island, Agatha stood on the terrace of her room and admired the view. She took off her heavy armor, put on a plain satin dress, and lay on the fence, her golden hair loose and casually draped over her shoulders. Every strand of hair shone brightly under the sunlight.

Below the terrace, guards were taking over the castle's defense. In the four corner towers, mages were resetting the Mage's Eyes; inside and outside the walls, imperial spies were checking every inch, and setting up magic traps at important locations; in the artificial lake, people were diving underwater to detect and record underwater features, and then placing alchemical detectors evenly around the central island.

This time when she came to the West, Agatha was not afraid of the Western nobles and the Brotherhood of the Blades here. She was just afraid that the Celtic Duke's people would use extreme means to force the West to become an enemy of the Empire.

Protecting yourself is the most basic condition for carrying out work.

Behind Agatha, the personal maid reported to her the progress of the delegation's entry into the Sunny Manor.

"Rooms have been arranged for all members of the delegation. Colonel Greg of the Western Frontier Corps is in charge of the outer defense of the central island, and the internal defense of the castle is in charge of the Internal Security Department of the Secret Intelligence Bureau.

The main force of the Western Border Legion's envoys' guards, led by General Valk, were stationed outside Sun City, and the civilians were now building a camp. Sun City provided the guards with water and food, but General Valk did not accept them.

The merchants from Crescent Oasis who came with the delegation were allowed to enter Sun City, and the goods they brought were very popular among the people here..."

At this time, Luke walked in from outside. He also took off his armor and put on traditional aristocratic clothes.

When the lady-in-waiting saw Luke, she was about to bow, but Luke waved his hand and let her go.

Agatha didn't know what she was thinking, and she didn't even notice that someone had changed behind her. She said to herself, "The Crescent Oasis is connected to the heart of the empire by rail. Merchants in the Crescent Oasis can purchase goods at very low prices and then sell them at very high prices in various parts of the Western Territory.

But they are also a favorite target of sand bandits.

This time they followed the Imperial Army and came safely to Sun City to participate in the Harvest Festival. We should collect a tax from them."

Hearing this, Luke couldn't help but laugh: "As expected of the most diligent princess in the empire, even in the enemy's hinterland, she is still thinking about how to increase tax revenue for the empire."

Agatha turned around when she heard Luke's voice, leaned against the fence and said, "The long-pile carpets that the West is famous for are really soft. I didn't even notice you coming in. When we entered the city, you and Earl Urd were whispering behind me. What did you say?"

Luke, who could use magic, used his magician's hand to take a bottle of red wine and two wine glasses from the wine cabinet next to him. He placed the wine glasses on the fence, pulled out the cork from the bottle and poured the wine.

At the same time, he looked at the scenery outside and said, “I can smell the unique bloody smell of the Abyss Mage. They and the Celtic Duke’s envoys are in this manor.

Maybe they are watching us from somewhere.

I have established a certain degree of mutual trust with Earl Urd, and we have exchanged limited intelligence. He is a nobleman and a businessman, which is very different from other nobles in the West. Before deciding to rebel against the Empire, he will prioritize protecting our safety. "

Hearing that there was an Abyss Mage here, Agatha picked up the wine glass and quickly glanced at the outer gardens.

"Urd gave us this place to live. It seems that he is really protecting us. The Blade Brotherhood here is very powerful. The Abyss Temple dare not do anything excessive without confidence.

You are dressed so formally, are you going out?"

Agatha looked at Luke's clothes and it was obvious that he was going out.

Luke smiled as he drank his wine and said, "The sunshine in the Western Territory is very sufficient, and the wine produced here has a special aroma not found in other places. And the carpet that you just praised, Your Highness, is also a good thing unique to the Western Territory.

I am the governor of Raging Waves City, so of course I have to investigate the market here to see if there are any profitable businesses that can be developed."

Agatha couldn't help but laugh: "You said I was the most diligent princess in the empire, but I think you are the most diligent governor in the empire.

I'm just thinking about collecting taxes, and you're already preparing to take action to expand the market.

Go ahead...if you find anything good, remember to buy it back for me."

Luke drank the rest of the wine in the glass in one gulp. "What's the point of me going alone? You are the protagonist of this harvest festival.

I am here to invite you to go shopping in the Sun City market. You are responsible for spending money, and I will be responsible for checking out suitable goods."

Agatha understood what Luke meant.

"You want me to attract attention so that you can cover up other things."

Luke shook his empty glass and said, "Don't be so blunt. How can you show the wealth of the empire if you don't go out and make big purchases?

All your expenses today will be charged to Raging Tide City. I'll have my people follow you with the money box, and you won't come back until all the money is spent."

Agatha drank the wine in her glass in one gulp and said generously, "With the Governor of Raging Waves paying the bill today, I can buy the entire Sun City."

Luke placed the empty glass on the fence. “It’s my pleasure.”

Agatha placed her wine glasses side by side: "This is the first time I can spend money so happily... Let's go!"

"Please, Your Highness the Princess!"