When the Saintess Arrives, No King Exist-Chapter 698 - 656: Horn Town and Red Mill Pier

On January 5, 1447, the echoes of the New Year Festival parade lingered over the Holy Machinery Court.

Colorful triangular flags still hung from the clotheslines strung between houses, and the air was filled with the smell of cheese bread and the sulfur of the Fireball Technique.

Citizens, donning newly spun linen and wool blended short coats from the Holy Machinery Court Textile Factory, took to the streets to enjoy the last few days of the week-long holiday.

However, Horn could not do so; after enjoying five days of vacation, he had to embark on the journey southward.

Horn's convoy heading south was quite grand, comprising twenty-five ships and six hundred accompanying personnel.

This included a guard of five hundred Imperial Guards, twenty high-ranking monks from the Gospel Court for ceremonial and diplomatic affairs, forty service personnel including chefs, porters, and servants, a ceremonial team of twenty, and twenty record officers and clerks.

The ships, with sails full and oars waving, lined up in the icy river water, breaking the floating ice as they advanced southward.

Departing from Joan of Arc Castle, Horn and his entourage made no stops along the way through the unthawed snow, reaching the border of the Thousand River Valley and Black Snake Bay after eight days of sail.

As Horn stood at the ship's bow gazing southward, he could even see the tall walls and towers of Red Copper Fortress.

However, it was presently occupied by Kush Knights, and the black-red sun banner with golden tassel edges had been hoisted on the city walls.

By the pier filled with neatly stacked wooden crates and scattered ropes, various types of boats were moored, ranging from sailboats to small fishing boats.

The sails flapped in the wind, and the crew, sailors, and porters busily loaded goods, categorizing grain, fish, spices, and silk.

Merchants with wheat-colored skin from Black Snake Bay wearing linen vests, and alchemists in black robes came and went on the streets.

"This small town is called Horn Town, and this pier is called Red Mill Pier," Domenico introduced with a grin, "a name completely given spontaneously by the villagers out of respect for you."

Horn nodded noncommittally, while Jeanne couldn't help but frown slightly.

Horn could rationally analyze this as flattery, while Jeanne intuitively felt their sincerity might not be genuine.

At first stepping onto the long street of Horn Town, one could feel a difference; after all, it was a brand-new town full of unique customs.

This Gallar Long Street was paved with cobblestones and mortar, flanked by low wooden houses and shops, with various iconic signs hanging from the eaves.

Blacksmith shops, oil and sugar shops, general stores, cobbler shops, taverns...whatever a small town should have, it was all here.

However, unlike the rest, since it adopted a planning style similar to that of the Holy Machinery Court, the town was composed of precisely organized four districts, with uniform road widths and house heights.

This unique sense of order was what satisfied Horn the most.

The town's houses were mainly constructed of wood, thatch, or brick tiles, bonded with mortar, and most walls were coated with inferior lime that was slightly red in white, with windows made of oiled paper with wooden strips.

The houses emitted smokey scents from wood-burning stoves, along with the everyday nuances of living areas inside—like the smell of salted fish, hay, or greasy soup.

Despite their simplicity, you might find a Kush Knight or his steward among those who walked in and out of these houses.

As Horn made his way from the pier to the Town Hall, he often saw merchants with goods and passing wagons, adorned with cloth, pottery, and soybean oil.

After the independence of the Thousand River Valley and the capture of Red Copper Fortress, contraband trade on the previously narrow waters quickly concentrated in Horn Town.

Many merchants and alchemists from Black Snake Bay brought their goods to Horn Town, some staying here, while others continued northward to transport and sell at Joan of Arc Castle.

Horn Town was essentially a transit and service port, with a positioning quite similar to Xiaochi City.

Though established by Kush Knights, as Horn conquered the entire Thousand River Valley, Grandmother Vivian of the Alco Family slowly relinquished administrative control over Jinhe Town and Ibe Village.

Monks of the Saint Father's Association entered the villages and estates, initiating a slow transformation into Hundred Households Districts.

However, because of the Kush Foundation providing knights with a way out, this area was smoother compared to the intense scenes in Hotam County and Lower Reif County.

Sitting in the specially cleared reception room on the second floor of the Town Hall, Horn changed his shoes first before asking Domenico, "Where is Grandmother Vivian? Just as I'm heading south this time, I'd like to visit the elder and hear some life experiences."

"Unfortunately," Domenico coughed, "the grandmother caught a cold and has been ill this winter, bedridden for the past few days with a hazy mind, afraid she's unable to meet you."

Ill? And at this particular time?

Horn turned his head, his gaze landing on the Cheka Commissioner of this region, Griz.

Griz, who once knelt before Jeanne begging to kill demons, has been serving as a Service Soldier, but after becoming a Blessed, did not choose to enter the military academy, instead switching roles to Cheka.

Because Cheka was the only law enforcer allowed to unrestrictedly interrogate demons.

Commissioner Griz kept his gear behind his back and nodded in agreement at Horn's gaze, indicating what Domenico said was true.

This elderly woman, at such an age, dares to play these tricks, doesn't she fear falling seriously ill and dying? Quite a risk she's taking.

"I see," Horn said with an amused look at Domenico, "That's really unfortunate; I was truly looking forward to conversing with the grandmother."

"Although the grandmother is bedridden, she left instructions while she was clear-headed," Domenico spoke with his head bowed, not daring to meet Horn's eyes. "She said the Kush Foundation's operations are spread too thin, gold pounds are in shortage, and some projects might not be completed on time.

So she hopes to repurchase mortgaged estate and land ownership once more, meaning to continue the perpetual lease payments but with some interest, eventually transferring ownership entirely to the farmers after a certain period.

Exchanging the land ownership on Tbe Plain for a favor extended by Horn?

Horn suspiciously questioned, "Can those knights accept such terms?"

"They will agree," Domenico forced a smile, "since they're the ones proposing to take on more infrastructure projects."

Horn instantly understood, the Kush Knights hoped to get rich through these infrastructure projects, the more, the better; however, when spread too thin, a financial shortage was inevitable.

At this point, proposing to entirely strip away ownership, the grandmother could naturally raise the banner to press the knights into agreement.

Through stripping land ownership, potential threats of regionalism were quite diminished, though Horn thought it wasn't enough.

Because the Tbe Plain lay on the trade route between the Holy Machinery Court and Black Snake Bay.

This grandmother had already made a concession and was sickly, Horn couldn't and shouldn't press further; after all, the Tbe Plain was all Kush, could they forcibly remove all of them?

"If that's the case, let's wait until I return from Black Snake Bay to visit again." Horn snapped his fingers, "I brought quite a few herbs from the Holy Machinery Court, perfect for use now, Jeanne, deliver them to the grandmother personally."

Jeanne nodded knowingly. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

After Jeanne personally visited the grandmother, Horn continued his journey, setting off from Horn Town, and soon after, the surrounding ice and snow lessened, warmth and humidity in the air steadily increased.

As the heat rose, Horn could feel the terrain continuously descending, the surrounding evergreen trees gradually turning into deciduous plants and towering coconut trees.

By mid-January, he had to change into lighter woolen clothing, as if spring had arrived.

At this time, the ships had reached the first stop of his southward journey to Black Snake Bay.

"There is the base of the Ruo'an Faction, the largest town in Northern Black Snake Bay County," said Robert as he stood on the prow, the humid and warm wind brushing across his face, "Long Embankment City," he said, pointing towards the distant dyke that stood over a man high.