Imperial Inspector

"My family... My parents are long gone. It's just me now," Rina Chu said.

Grace gave her a sympathetic look.

Who would have thought this cheerful, pretty girl had such a sad background?

"Meeting our Alliance Leader is the luckiest thing that's ever happened to me!" Rina Chu didn't seem bothered at all, and said cheerfully, "I get two hundred silver each month! The work is easy, too. And—"

She picked up a piece of roasted spirit beast meat, eyes sparkling with excitement. "The food here is absolutely delicious! Today's meat is amazing! Good thing I didn't bring my Antler Serpent!"

"Oh? Why not?" Grace asked.

"That little guy! He's always trying to steal my food."

"Antler Serpents are really smart, you know. You should take good care of him—never let him go hungry, or he'll never be truly tame!" Grace said.

Rina Chu laughed, "Haha! I'll buy him some meat once I get my monthly pay!"

"How about this—when you head home today, I'll ask the kitchen to pack up a meal for you to take back for him. Sound good?"

"Haha! That's awesome! Grace, you're the best!"

The two girls exchanged a smile.

Rona Zhu, sitting nearby, asked with a smile, "Rina, where's your family from?"

"Me? Actually, I'm not from the Vermilion Kingdom."

"Oh? Then where are you from?"

"I'm from the White E Nation."

The White E Nation, like the former Blue Moon Kingdom, was a vassal state of the Vermilion Kingdom.

"Ah... That explains it! White E Nation is the poorest of all Vermilion's vassal states," Rona Zhu nodded.

Grace glanced at Rona Zhu.

"Really? I left home young and trained with my master, so I don't know much about that." Luckily, Rina Chu didn't seem offended.

"So, what rank are you in spiritual cultivation?"

"I—"

Just as they were chatting, Elder Conrad's apprentice, Xiao Shun, came in to report: The Imperial Inspector has arrived and requests the Alliance Leader's presence.

"Imperial Inspector?" Grace was confused.

"Didn't the court ask the Spirit Alliance to refine Soulveil Sand? The army sent an Imperial Inspector to check the progress," Xiao Shun explained.

Recently, the Vermilion Kingdom and the Azure Dragon Nation have had several run-ins.

After the new year, Evan Xiao had already led the troops to guard the border.

The border between Vermilion and Azure Dragon is plagued by toxic miasma.

So the court gathered lots of Soulveil Bamboo and asked the Spirit Alliance to refine Soulveil Sand for anti-poison masks.

"Oh!" Grace nodded. "Just have Vice President Conrad handle it. I don't need to go."

Elder Conrad was in charge of refining the Soulveil Sand, so it made sense for him to handle the reception.

But Xiao Shun whispered, "The visitor is Prince Zane Tuoba. He's a big deal—you should greet him yourself!"

"Prince Zane Tuoba..." Grace frowned. "Alright, Rina, you're coming with me!"

Rina Chu stuffed a huge piece of meat into her mouth, wiped her lips, and quickly got up to follow.

...

Ever since King Skyroc died, Prince Zane Tuoba had become the most powerful prince in the Vermilion Kingdom.

He's not only brave and skilled in battle, but also serves as the Left General of Vermilion.

With someone so powerful visiting, it would be rude for the Alliance Leader not to greet him personally.

She and Elder Conrad accompanied Prince Zane Tuoba on a tour of the alchemy lab.

The medicines were still being refined. Judging by his quick, cursory inspection, he probably didn't understand much about it. After a quick look, he headed back to his guest room.

On the way, he said, "Vice President Conrad, go ahead and take care of your business. I have something to discuss with the Alliance Leader."