Traveling alone through the Knight Territories of the Country of Yonglan was already second nature for Mivana. After parting ways with her Clan brethren, the Lady Knight donned a hooded windbreaker to hide her defining features, concealing her fluffy beast ears and wolf tail. Disguised as a Ranger, she infiltrated Jinquan Territory.

This territory was subject to extremely repressive control measures. Watchtowers and strongpoints could be seen everywhere, standing guard over vast settlements of serfs. Checkpoints restricted the main roads, and even Free People needed travel permits to come and go.

However, none of this mattered to a Knight Lord. Mivana didn’t even need to make an effort to hide; she only needed to reveal the hilt of her sword, and the guards along the way would bow respectfully without asking a single question.

Even if she was clearly not a Knight from Jinquan Territory, as long as she was in the Land of Yonglan, the privileges of a Knight Lord were limitless.

They didn’t even need to check; one could tell if someone was a Knight Lord at a glance. And even if there was an impostor, it wasn’t a common soldier’s place to get involved.

A Knight Lord would make anyone who defiled their honor understand the meaning of regret.

Thus, Mivana’s infiltration was remarkably easy. The moment she set foot in the heartland of Jinquan Territory, she witnessed firsthand the ’harmonious relationship’ between the military and the civilians.

"Everyone out! Time to pay the expedition tax!"

In the first small town Mivana encountered, troops of armored soldiers filed in. After posting notices, they began forcing their way into homes, house by house, to plunder money and valuables.

Their movements were frighteningly efficient and well-rehearsed; clearly, this was not their first time. Masses of civilians knelt by the roadside, wailing in despair. Some clung to a tax officer’s leg and pleaded:

"Sir, Sir... please, have mercy. This is the last of our savings for food rations."

"At least... at least leave us a little. We can’t possibly make it through winter otherwise."

The tax officer kicked the supplicant away.

"Cut the crap! This is to gather supplies for the expedition! Instead of contributing to the building of the Riding God’s kingdom, you spend all day just thinking about yourselves? What a bunch of insatiable wolves!"

"I truly don’t understand. Contributing to the expedition benefits both the country and the common folk, so how can some people be so dense!"

"The very fact that you’re allowed to live is the greatest gift from the Lord!"

After a flurry of beatings, curses, and plunder, the expedition tax force finally swaggered off, leaving devastation in their wake.

Mivana took it all in, clenching her fists as rage burned within her:

’Is this... famine again? No, this is plunder to gather supplies for the expedition.’

’They leave these settlements to their own devices, only to bleed them dry when they need resources.’

However, anger was all she could afford to feel. Facing the official troops of Jinquan Territory, Mivana couldn’t take action. It would bring utter ruin upon Dusk Lamp Territory. The Lady Knight had never felt so powerless.

’If Westheid were here, he would have intervened. He doesn’t let anyone he dislikes get away with anything.’

But Mivana could only wait for the soldiers to leave before she entered the ravaged town.

"K-Knight Lord? We have nothing left here, really, there’s nothing at all."

Seeing a hooded figure approaching, one wearing a Knight’s longsword, the townspeople were on the verge of despair. They thought they were about to suffer a second round of torment—being taxed repeatedly due to administrative chaos was a local ’specialty’ one simply had to endure.

"I’m no ’Lord,’ and I’m not here to collect taxes."

"You don’t need to despair. You can survive this winter. For now, head toward the border. Aid will come for you later."

’Dusk Lamp Territory’s food reserves can last for a while, and it’s certain that Westheid will arrive soon—within a few months at most. When he does, he’ll surely open up a supply line. Mivana had seen for herself just how incredibly resourceful Qinghui Territory was.’

’As long as we wait for Westheid to send support, everything will be all right!’

"The border? But that’s Dusk Lamp Territory. Those Beastmen..."

Mivana pulled back her hood, revealing her true appearance.

"You don’t need to worry about your safety. I am the Lord of Dusk Lamp Territory."

"A B-Beastman?"

The townspeople were stunned for a moment, then exclaimed with delight:

"So you’re a good Beastman, just like Aschena!"

Mivana’s eyes lit up, and she quickly asked:

"You know Aschena?"

"Yes, that young girl with the fox ears is a good person! All of those Beastmen are good people! If they hadn’t helped us with the farming, we would’ve starved to death last winter."

Mivana smiled, "In that case, could you please tell me where Aschena is?"

"Of course! Of course! If you’re a friend of Aschena’s, then you must be a good person too."

With clear directions, Mivana followed the trail left by her Clan brethren across the lands of Jinquan Territory. The path they took steered clear of Jinquan Territory’s urban settlements, leading entirely through remote, mountainous regions—this was only natural, as they couldn’t have avoided detection otherwise.

Along the way, she met many serfs who had come into contact with Aschena and the others. Without exception, they had all received help from the group of Beastmen.

The young Beastmen of Dusk Lamp Territory had received Viona’s careful tutelage, and their combat abilities and other skills far surpassed the level of the serfs in the Country of Yonglan. They were adept at everything from farming and guarding to establishing trade routes.

’Such signs of activity... maybe they’re all still alive.’

Mivana even found herself entertaining such an optimistic thought.

Her journey led her to an extremely remote corner of the great mountains. Gazing at the barren, infertile wilderness before her, she clicked her tongue and muttered to herself:

’They must have come this way, no doubt about it. I’ll look for a village first. As is their custom, they’re probably lying low in one of the smaller ones.’