"Deal... and also." The Demon Hunter nodded in agreement, looking like he had more to say.

"What else?" The village chief, who had already turned away, had to turn back. "Do you have any other requests?"

"I haven't eaten since noon yesterday..." The Demon Hunter felt somewhat embarrassed, as he was very hungry. He had spent all his money, leaving only a few pieces of black bread. He wondered if he could get credit for now.

"What is your name?" The village chief suddenly asked.

"My name is Abel, from Hemgart," the Demon Hunter replied.

"Mr. Abel... How can you complete your task on an empty stomach? I'll have the inn in the village prepare some food for you, and the cost will be deducted from your commission."

"Alright!" Abel was very grateful for the village chief's understanding and nodded his thanks repeatedly. "Thank you very much."

"No need for thanks, just don't arrest me as a heretic or a Chaos Cultist." The village chief turned again, intending to return indoors.

At that moment, a dense sound of hooves came from the village entrance, forcing the village chief to turn back once more, feeling a bit dizzy.

Experienced Demon Hunter Abel immediately realized that some Great Noble had appeared.

At the village gate, a group of Noble Knights on high horses was entering the village. The leading Great Noble rode a Pure-blooded Elf Warhorse, clad in a Brittania Great Noble silk gown and a white fox fur cloak, wielding a lightning-imbued Warhammer, with a Holy Grail Knight Badge hanging on his chest.

Beside him were two Rick Guard Knights dressed in silver full-body plate armor, lavishly decorated.

The Iron Cross, skull, and laurel wreath patterns on their Knight Corps badge were enough to let them pass through any guard post in the Empire immediately.

As expected, the previously indifferent village chief quickly changed his demeanor, grinning widely with an expression full of fawning and admiration. Leaning on a wooden cane, he ran up and knelt in the snow. "Very, very, very welcome! Emperor's Guards! Welcome to Wicked Smile Village."

"Hello, village chief, we have orders from the Emperor to escort a distinguished guest to Hemgart. We will stay here today; please prepare your two best houses." A Rick Guard spoke haughtily, pulling two Gold Marks featuring Carl Franz's portrait from his pocket and tossing them in front of the village chief, motioning him to get up. "Hurry up."

"Yes!" the village chief loudly replied. Filled with excitement, he eagerly picked up the gold coins and stumbled through the snow, running while shouting at the top of his lungs, "Rick Guard is here! Rick Guard carrying the Emperor's mission has arrived at our Wicked Smile Village!"

"Wow~" The whole small village burst into life, akin to celebrating the Midsummer Festival, with over three hundred villagers rushing out to gather around the two Rick Guards. They surrounded them, cheering and greeting. Many villagers even knelt down, trying to present some exquisite handicrafts.

The two Rick Guards merely smiled and waved in greeting, conveying the Emperor's will, comforting the villagers' production, while also inquiring if the nobles were excessively taxing.

In the Empire, the status of Rick Guards is like that of the Holy Grail Knights. They are not only one of the Empire's core forces but also have the authority to inspect places and report directly to the Emperor's ear. Since their inception, they have accompanied the Emperor in endless battles against evil, earning them the respect and admiration of the peasants.

"At least, on the surface, people here seem to be doing alright," the Rick Guard said to Laine, who was walking beside him.

After Winter Festival had passed, the now thirty-one-year-old Laine had become more composed after marriage, losing some of the impulsiveness and sharpness of youth and gaining a considerable measure of Great Noble gravitas.

"I'm surprised you actually gave money to the villagers," Laine said with a slight smile upon hearing this. "When I was in Nord, it was considered a privilege for Kingdom Knights to stay in a peasant's home."

"Savior Ludwig taught us that everyone deserves to be rewarded for their labor—at least in the Southern Empire's Rick Territory and Avey Territory, that's how it is." The Rick Guard speaking was actually a new recruit named Rudolph Lichtenstein, the eldest son of the Duke of Lichtenstein's Family, sent to serve in the Rick Guard.

"Yes, or rather, only the Southern Empire is like that," another Rick Guard remarked. "In reality, in the Northern Empire, there is still the saying, 'You are what you're born into.' If you're born a peasant, you'll be a peasant for life; if you're born a noble, you'll remain noble for life."

This Rick Guard recruit was named Wagner Schmidt. These two recruits were appointed by Emperor Carl to escort Laine as far as the border from Hemgart to Axe Bite Pass. Although they were new, Rudolph brought along eleven Knight's Squires, Wagner had five, and with Surya, Veronica, Teresa, and Surya's attendants, it was truly a grand cavalry entourage.

"I always thought only Brittania so strictly distinguished between serfs and knights," Teresa inquired with curiosity, riding a Half-Elf Warhorse, the coldly beautiful female sorcerer.

"The circumstances differ from place to place, Lady Trovik," replied Rudolph, noticeably less enthusiastic with Teresa, being the noble firstborn of a Duke's Family. "Many nobles dislike this rule because it hinders their ventures. They always secretly undermine while publicly complying, persistently resisting His Majesty Ludwig's teachings. But we must thank the Savior; without him, you wouldn't be walking so openly in the streets."