Mushoku Impact

Though he was charged a steep tariff for transporting 'merchandise' through the checkpoint, Paul wasn't exactly hurting for money. He could always use more, but he(Ningguang) had enough to bankroll the creation of an entire nation if he wanted.
Fortunately, while it was clear the members of Rudigan's Order weren't enthused about escorting a bunch of non-humans, they avoided saying or doing anything to antagonize Dimsaul and his people. Things were pretty tense, but they managed to reach the outskirts of Milishion without any major incidents or mishaps.
Seeing the so-called 'most beautiful city in the world' from a distance, Paul had to admit there was some truth to the claim. He knew with certainty that Milishion was nearly as corrupt as the Kingdom of Asura, but it looked like a city of cobalt blue and white from a distance.
Floating on a massive lake that dominated the city's center was the White Palace, a structure exceeding even the Silver Palace in terms of scale and grandeur. Surrounding it, separated by a large body of water and linked by numerous bridges, was a ring of buildings that served as the estates of various Noble families. Further outward, separated by an even larger body of water, were the city's seven districts, each constructed around massive white obelisks that served as catalysts for the city's world-famous barrier.
With the exception of the Adventurers District, the southernmost region of the city, entering the other districts required filling out paperwork, passing a lie detector test, and paying a hefty fee. Millishion was a city of law and order that considered itself the bastion of humanity, so they were strict to the point of conducting random checks on locals and publically executing anyone deemed to be 'suspicious.'
To Paul's surprise, Rudigan wanted them to enter the city through the northernmost Residential District before guiding him and three of his 'servants' to the Royal District at the city's center. Since he was a foreign dignitary and something of a celebrity, the Crown Prince and King Regent wished to meet him before he continued on his way.
Similar to the Asura Kingdom, the Holy Kingdom of Milis was a veritable cesspool of nepotism and corruption. The previous King had been killed less than a year after his inauguration, so until his son was old enough to wear the crown, the Kingdom was being governed by a representative of the Church. Many believed the Church had disposed of the previous King for being 'too progressive,' so it wasn't difficult to imagine the true reason Paul was being summoned for an audience.
Due to his philanthropy and ever-increasing accomplishments, Paul was considered one of the most 'progressive' people in the entire world. Many believed he was ushering in a new era, so it wasn't an exaggeration to say he was one of the greatest threats to the Milis Religion and its iron grip on the faith of humanity.
With the most common cause of death in the various Knight Orders being assassination, Paul chose Ei, Ganyu, and Yae to accompany him during his stay in the White Palace. Rudigan tried to insist he select someone other than Ganyu and Yae to accompany him, but Paul effectively told him he could fuck off if it was going to be a problem, albeit using marginally more polite language.
Since he didn't have a say in the company Paul kept, Rudigan had no choice but to begrudgingly escort a 'demon' and 'beast person' into an area typically reserved for humans. The Knights at each checkpoint made it clear they didn't want Ganyu and Yae entering the Royal District, but they also had no choice but to allow it as Rudigan was escorting them under Royal Ordinance. As a result, Paul, Ei, Ganyu, and Yae eventually found themselves in a large, lavishly decorated room where they were expected to remain until their audience.
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While lying on his bed and reclining against Ganyu's plush body, Paul lazily remarked, "This is starting to get on my nerves..." with a deadpan expression on his face. He knew they would be compelled to wait before being permitted an audience, but it had already been ten, going on eleven days.
Raising her head from Paul's lap, Yae, in her adorable kit form, playfully mused, "You could always get Ei to perform a dance or play the Koto..."
Hearing Yae's remark, Ei ceased knitting the scarf she was working on, a disproving frown marring her face as she stated, "While I am willing, it's not proper to volunteer someone for something you're perfectly capable of doing yourself..."
Stretching out her body like a cat, Yae responded, "I'm pretty comfortable right now. Besides, this is an excellent opportunity for you to improve our Master's favorability of you. It's not often we get to have him to ourselves for such a lengthy period."
Though she knew Yae was being lazy and passing responsibilities to her, Ei couldn't refute her words. It was true that Paul was often 'preoccupied' with other women, so the past ten had been fairly pleasant, at least from her perspective. She enjoyed peaceful, quiet, and unchanging settings, so she wouldn't mind if things remained as they were a while longer.
Seeing through Ei's thoughts, Paul adopted a wry smile and said, "We'll be sure to take it easy once we reach the Capital. With the amount of info we collected on the Demon Continent, no one will be able to complain about my designation as a Special Envoy. Not without risking censure."
Following his words, Paul annoyed Yae by leaning forward and picking her up from his lap. It was clear at this point that the King Regent, or whoever was pulling his strings, just wanted to flex their authority. He had far more important things to do, so he set Yae aside before getting up from the bed and saying, "We're leaving." in a decisive tone.
Returning to her human form, Yae asked, "Are you sure that's wise? We've already waited this long. What's a few more days?"
Shaking his head, Paul replied, "A person can yield their pride in just a few seconds. We've waited long enough. At this point, they're either 'trying' to piss us off or simply looking down on us. Regardless, I've completely lost interest in this little 'game.'"
Finished with what he had to say, Paul approached the door to the room, ripping it from the hinges. The door locked from the outside to keep them from wandering around the palace, but his physical strength had reached the point where he could even trade blows with Atofe. Unless they were made from Adamantine or concrete mixed with powdered dragon bones, few doors could stop him.
Reacting to Paul's vandalism, the veritable platoon of heavily armored Knights in the hallway readied their weapons. Paul was famous as the youngest Water King in history, so there were no less than fifty Knights out in the hall, more so as a deterrent than anything else.
Representing the group, a surprisingly beautiful woman with golden hair and blue eyes stepped forward to question, "What is the meaning of this? If there is something you require, we will bring it to you."
Unlike the heavily armored Knights, the golden-haired woman was garbed in a cloak and what could best be described as a white bodysuit. It was comprised of two distinct pieces of fabric, but there were golden clasps and a zipper at her waist, fusing the skin-tight outfit into a singular piece. It was quite the sight to behold, especially with her voluptuous figure, but Paul's attention was primarily focused on the lance-like staff in her right hand.
Adopting a faint smile, Paul remarked, "I wasn't aware that the Order of the Temple employed Mages. In fact, I'm fairly certain they string people up for practicing anything other than Healing, Detoxification, and Barrier Magic..."
Though others might not be able to sense it, Paul's Mystic Eyes of Death Perception allowed him to perceive the woman's Mana as a bluish, flame-like aura radiating from her body. A faint bluish color would have denoted her as having a natural affinity with Water Magic, but her aura was more a deep, sapphire blue. Based on Mana's density, Paul suspected she was at least a Water Saint-Ranked Magician.
Furrowing her brows, the golden-haired woman replied, "I am Ophelia Laskaris Leos, Sub-Commander of the 3rd Order of the Temple, Oracion. House Leos has been permitted by His Holiness to research and practice Magic as a countermeasure against Demons. Do not insult me by lumping me in with those who practice the mystical arts for personal gain..."
Angering Ophelia further, Paul made a show of clapping his hands as he replied, "I'm happy for you. Now, mind showing us the way out, or do we need to find it ourselves...?"
Frowning deeply, Ophelia's expression and tone hardened as she said, "You are presently a guest of the Crown Prince and King Regent. Leaving before you've been permitted an audience would be a grave insult to both the Church and Crown..."
Adopting a deadpan expression, Paul asserted, "Your people have been insulting me and my people since you intercepted us at the Blue Dragon Mountain Range. His Majesty, the King of Asura, is awaiting my arrival, so I would appreciate it if you got out of my way. I didn't come here to have a dick-measuring contest with the Holy Church, nor do I give a rat's ass about currying favor with the Pope."
Leveling her lance-like staff at Paul's face, Ophelia shouted, "You dare speak of His Holiness in such a manner!? Such brazen disregard cannot be overlooked...!"
In response to Ophelia's outburst, the platoon of Knights charged forward with swords in hand. When the Knight closest to him aimed for his throat, clearly intending to kill rather than capture him, the emotion drained from Paul's face and an icy glimmer flashed across his eyes.
As the strongest among the group was merely Advanced-Ranked in the Sword God Style, Paul's body appeared to flicker, leaving behind a series of afterimages as he zig-zagged through the Knights faster than most of them could perceive. Ophelia was one of the few that could, but she had made the mistake of approaching him before the skirmish broke out. For a Mage without Teleportation, that was tantamount to a death sentence.
Interrupting Ophelia's chant, Paul sliced through one of the three Lines of Death that denoted her lance as a fairly high-ranking Artifact. The number of Enchantments applied to it would have been enough to finance several estates, but Paul cut through it like soft tofu before leveling the tip of his sword at Ophelia's throat, stating, "Your men just tried to murder a Special Envoy of the Asura Kingdom. Is it the will of His Holiness to start a war...?"
Recovering from the shock of losing one of her family's heirlooms, Ophelia glared menacingly as she asserted, "You may be a Special Envoy, but there are many in the Asura Kingdom who oppose that status. Do you honestly believe your King would go to war against us to avenge such a volatile individual?"
Catching Ophelia off-guard, Paul instantly replied, "He would." before spartan kicking her several tens of meters. He held back to avoid killing her, but she would be nursing at least seven broken ribs and a bruised sternum until someone showed up to heal her.
Turning around, Paul regained his smile as he saw Ei standing amid the unconscious bodies of the fifty Knights. He had knocked out several of them when he initially passed through, but the rest were dealt with by Ei, with a little help from Yae. Their Electro Energy was remarkably effective at disabling people without killing them.
Extending his hand to the purple-haired beauty, the corners of Paul's smile curled upward as he asked, "Shall we~?" in an overtly casual tone. His actions were bound to have tremendous fallout, but anyone not a part of the Milis faith knew they had it coming...
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(A/N: Nb4 Milis accuses Paul of being the resurrected Laplace, causing Perugius to come for him...)

As the sound of an alarm bell echoed in the distance, Yae, appearing in her adult kitsune form, moved closer to Paul to ask, "Are you certain this is the wisest course of action? I'm all for cutting loose, but antagonizing the world's second-strongest superpower may not be the best idea."
Adopting a faint smile, Paul replied, "Just as there are factions within the Asura Kingdom, the Holy Kingdom of Milis is politically and ideologically divided. The King Regent just so happens to be affiliated with the Order of the Temple, much like the majority of Knights we've encountered. If I was a gambling man, and I most definitely am, I would wager the Order of the Temple is colluding with Prince Grabell to impede or outright eliminate me before my return to the Asura Kingdom."
Since the Order of the Temple vehemently opposed humans coexisting with Demons and other non-human races, Paul's survey of the Demon Continent was a tremendous threat to the message they were attempting to ingrain in the minds of their devotees. They 'needed' people to believe the Demon Continent and its inhabitants were the origin and propagators of evil, so they opposed any efforts to present it in a positive light.
Turning a corner, Paul was about to explain his reasoning but remained silent as a phalanx-like formation of Knights came into view. Unlike most of the Knights they had encountered thus far, however, this group wore predominately white armor, denoting their affiliation with the Order of the Church.
Dematerializing his word, Paul raised his hands to indicate he wasn't going to attack as he mused, "I was wondering when the Order of the Church would show up. Send out your representative."
Though the initial response to Paul's words and actions was stalwart silence, it wasn't long before a white-haired woman with pristine white armor adorned with a priest's stole emerged from the formation, stating, "I am Sioux Laurian, Platoon Commander of the 3rd Order of the Church, Robustus. Tell me, why are you rioting within the White Palace? What are your intentions?"
Keeping his hands up, Paul maintained a relaxed smile as he replied, "I am Paul Greyrat, Special Envoy to King Ansalem Anemoi Asura. I am currently on a return voyage to the Asura Kingdom, but members of the Order of the Temple have insisted on delaying me for the better part of two weeks. Simply put, I am not trying to cause a riot. I am simply attempting to leave and fulfill my duty."
Telling Paul everything he needed to know, Sioux blinked in surprise, a look of disbelief marring her delicate features as she asked, "You're Paul Greyrat, the King's Greatsword...?"
Nodding his head, Paul replied, "Indeed. Now, if you would be so kind as to make way, my people and I will depart without further incident."
Furrowing her brows, Sioux shook her head, stating, "I'm afraid I cannot oblige. Regardless of the circumstances, the fact remains that you caused an incident within the White Palace. We have no choice but to apprehend you until we've verified your identity and completed our investigation."
Lowering his hands, Paul's smile gradually faded as he stated, "Envoys of the Asura Kingdom have diplomatic immunity within allied nations. Unless His Majesty has rescinded my title and issued a warrant for my arrest, you have no basis to arrest me."
Frowning deeply, Sioux asserted, "Diplomatic Immunity doesn't allow you to enter another country's palace and perpetrate a massacre! Even if you are who you claim to be, you will be held accountable for your actions...!"
Raising his brows, Paul asked, "What are you talking about? We haven't killed a single person, much less perpetrated a massacre."
Leveling her sword at Paul, Sioux exclaimed, "Lies! We received a report that more than fifty members of the Order of the Temple were found dead outside the room allotted for foreign dignitaries!"
Adopting a severe expression, Paul questioned, "Who made the report? And did you actually see any of the bodies?"
Though she didn't believe there was any meaning in continuing the conversation, Sioux eventually answered, "The report was made by the sole survivor of the massacre, Sub-Commander Ophelia Laskaris Leos. You left her for dead, but she was able to survive by consuming Angel's Tears and administering Healing Magic to herself..."
Inhaling a deep breath, Paul took a moment to comb his fingers through his hair, muttering, "Motherfucking religious zealots..." while imagining the scene of Ophelia attempting to frame them by killing her own men. There was even a chance they had taken their own lives, dedicated to upholding their beliefs(read as lies) to the very end...
Sending shivers through the bodies of everyone in his field of vision, Paul stared at Sioux with his Mystic Eyes of Death Perception, stating, "I'll say this one last time, so open your ears and listen closely. We have not killed a single person. If you want to find the actual murderer, I suggest looking into the causes of death and questioning Sub-Commander Ophelia before her superiors have the opportunity to silence her. As for my companions and I, we'll be leaving right this instant. Attempt to stop us, and you'll find out what 'really' happened to those men..."
Activating his Electro Vision, purple lightning crackled around Paul as his dichromatic brown and white hair became noticeably spikier. His actions caused Sioux and her men to tense, but the white-haired Paladin didn't back down, shouting, "Saint Milis protects us!" before taking the initiative to charge forward.
In the midst of Sioux's charge, several of her subordinates used buffing spells to enhance her striking power, speed, and durability. She was only Advanced Rank in the Sword God Style, but the buffs put her on par with someone a half-step into the Saint Rank.
Unfortunately, while Buff/Support Magic was incredibly powerful, there was a reason it wasn't mainstream. It placed a tremendous strain on the recipient's body, so much so that Sioux was bleeding from the nose by the time her sword collided with Paul's. It also didn't miraculously increase a person's skill with the blade, so Paul used Sioux's uncontrolled momentum against her, deflecting her sword to the side before striking her forehead with the pommel of his own.
Though a pommel to the forehead would ordinarily scramble a person's brain, leaving them with a painful concussion, Sioux's body exuded a faint golden aura the moment Paul's attack landed. The priestly stole adorning her armor was an artifact blessed by Saint Milis, so it could thwart three Saint-Ranked attacks or Magic Spells before needing to recharge. Since Paul had held back, Sioux still had all three uses as she stepped back and attempted to slice through his wrist.
Reading Sioux's intentions, Paul stepped forward as she stepped back, preventing her from swinging her sword as he said, "That's a neat piece of cloth..." before punctuating his statement with a headbutt. It didn't deal any damage, but it caused Sioux to flinch and instinctually close her eyes, allowing him to snatch the sword from her hand.
Bereft of her sword, Sioux leaped back to create some distance, retrieving a replacement sword and receiving some healing while the crossbowmen at the back of the formation opened fire. She didn't believe they would be able to overwhelm the defenses of someone rumored to be the protege of the Water God, but their victory was assured so long as they could stall a few minutes longer.
Instead of using the Water God Style to knock down the projectiles, Paul lowered his stance and allowed them to impact against the Saint-Ranked Magical Barrier Ganyu had summoned. Virtually every one of Sioux's men realized what he was doing, but they could only stare wide-eyed as Paul's Touki surged outward, far beyond the levels of an ordinary person.
"Hold the li-"
Before Sioux could finish giving her men a pointless order, Paul appeared behind them in an instant, bright purple Electro Energy crackling around him. Immediately after his appearance, accompanied by the sound of a thunderclap, shields, spears, and fully armored men went flying, propelled by the shockwave produced by Paul's variation of the Longsword of Light, Thunder God's Approach.
With their formation shattered, Paul expected Sioux and her men to stand down and let them pass. Instead, he abruptly found himself trapped in a hemispherical barrier, courtesy of Sioux and the few among her men who could still move.
Adopting a slight frown, Paul looked back and remarked, "You don't know when to quit..."
Catching Paul a little off guard, Sioux returned a smile as she replied, "We are the sword and shield that protects the people of Milishion. Even if our bodies are broken, we will never yield."
Clasping her hands together like a maiden offering a prayer, Sioux made the barrier around Paul shrink. Her plan was to restrict his movements as much as possible, but Paul had other ideas, holding out his sword with a relaxed posture.
Though it was easily Saint-Ranked due to Sioux and several of her subordinates supplying it with Mana, the tip of Paul's sword pierced the contracting barrier like a thin pane of glass. Even without his Mystic Eyes of Death Perception, he could perceive the flaws in the barrier due to the amalgamation of various energies. With them, the barrier looked like a fractured globe. He just needed to point his sword at the intersection of multiple fractures, and it invariably crumbled to pieces.
While Sioux stared at him with her mouth slightly agape, Paul rested his sword on his shoulder and questioned, "Are we done here? Contrasting the bullshit in that report, I'm not particularly keen on injuring those who have never crossed me. I also have no intention of fleeing the city, so you can always come looking for me once your investigation is completed."
Coming to her senses, Sioux used her sword for support, forcing herself to her feet as she joked, "Sir Paul must be hard of hearing...I just told you that we would never yield..."
Though her head was pounding and her body was exhausted after using most of her Mana in the barrier, Sioux managed to assume a shaky stance with her sword leveled at Paul. Her resolve left a deep impression on both him and her men, so, even though he should be on his way, Paul raised his sword in acknowledgment of Sioux's conviction.
Mustering what remained of her strength, Sioux charged at Paul before leaping through the air, a loud war cry emanating from her throat as she swung down on his sword with a vertical slash. She couldn't muster any power, so she was using her weight, the weight of her sword, and gravity to try and break through Paul's defense.
Catching Sioux by surprise, Paul remarked, "You're a good woman..." the moment their swords overlapped. Unfortunately, while he subsequently took her breath away, the method he used was kicking her in the ribs with enough force to send her crashing into the nearby wall. The effects of her stole had been depleted when Paul used Thunder God's Approach, so she hit the wall fairly hard before collapsing to the floor in a slump.
Noticing that Sioux was still conscious, a look of surprise colored Paul's face as he sincerely remarked, "You impress me more with each passing moment. If you get up after taking a blow like that, I might turn myself in out of sheer admiration..."
Though she managed to clench her hands into fists and force a smile, both Paul and Sioux knew she wasn't getting up. She could barely rise a few moments ago, so there was no way she could stand when most of the ribs on the right side of her body were fractured or broken. It was taking every ounce of her willpower just to avoid curling up in a ball and crying...
Realizing that Sioux was down for the count, Paul exhaled a faint sigh of relief, his expression softening as he said, "That's it, then. I hope that the next time we meet, it will be on friendlier terms."
Since none of Sioux's men had half as much backbone as she did, they couldn't even meet Paul's eyes as he looked around to observe their conditions. To be fair, most people avoided looking directly at his Mystic Eyes of Death Perception, but Paul still felt disappointed since they were predominantly burly men yet couldn't hold a candle to a woman half their size...
Shaking his head, Paul turned to Ei, Yae, and Ganyu with the intention of leaving. Even a fool could tell that Sioux was stalling for time, so while he was interested in seeing who would appear, he decided to change venues first. With Ophelia presumably killing off her men, he didn't need an active imagination to guess what might happen if someone powerful showed up and decided to fight in an area populated by the wounded and impaired...
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(A/N: Paul isn't the only one flexing...)

Feeling it would be rude to leave after eating, Paul accepted Gustav's invitation to spend the evening in Doldia Village. He didn't sleep, but he enjoyed the crisp evening air, the sounds of the forest, and the pristine, unpolluted sky.
Sitting next to him, or, more accurately, curled up at his side, Ghislaine abruptly muttered, "You didn't have to do that..."
Understanding that Ghislaine was referring to her nomination as the Delodia Tribe's Representative, a faint smile developed across Paul's face as he softly replied, "I don't 'have' to do anything, muscle cat. I 'choose' to care for the people closest to me..."
Though Ghislaine had yet to reach the 'muscle mommy' status she was known for in the Mushoku Tensei community, she still had an eight-pack, pronounced obliques, and well-defined back and shoulder muscles. As a result, Paul had taken to affectionately calling her muscle cat, albeit only when they were alone.
Catching Paul a little off guard, Ghislaine abruptly questioned, "Want me to suck your dick...?"
"..."
As enticing as the offer was, Paul eventually replied, "Not right now. Let's just stay like this for a bit..."
Nodding her head, Ghislaine issued an affirming "Nn..." before snuggling a little closer to Paul. She still wasn't very good at ascertaining what people wanted from her, and Paul almost always carried at least a subtle scent of arousal. Not because he was constantly in the mood for sex but because he was surrounded by beautiful and sometimes voracious women...
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Early the next morning, Paul found himself witness to the iconic yet incredibly awkward situation of Ghislaine's brother, Gyes, lying on his back in a submissive posture. He had an exceedingly reluctant look, but he forced himself to say, "I was wrong...please forgive me..."
Though she was tempted to stomp on her brother's stomach, indicating she didn't forgive him, Ghislaine ultimately crossed her arms and looked to Paul before replying, "Whatever..." in a dull monotone. She didn't truly forgive him, but she was willing to accept his apology to avoid making things difficult for Paul.
Climbing back to his feet, Gyes glared at Ghislaine with clenched teeth before averting his eyes when she turned to meet his gaze. The tensions between them were palpable, but the beatdown Ghislaine had given him was enough to dissuade Gyes from seeking further conflict. Instead, he hesitated for a moment before asking, "How did you get so strong...?"
Narrowing her eyes, Ghislaine briefly considered remaining silent. She didn't share Paul's sentiment of helping others grow as giving power to those outside your control invited misfortune unto others. However, as Gyes was her brother, she eventually answered, "Find something you want to protect and train with the notion the most powerful people in the world are planning to take them away from you..."
Directing his gaze to Paul, a frown marred Gyes's face as he asked, "Are you protecting this man...?"
Shaking her head, Ghislaine answered, "It's different for me. I got strong to fill my belly. Paul seeks strength to protect those closest to him and to ensure everyone, regardless of their race, has the opportunity to succeed. His potential is far greater than mine..."
As he couldn't tell how strong Paul was, Gyes had a look of incredulity on his face as he asked, "Seriously?" in a disbelieving tone.
Nodding her head, Ghislaine left her father, brother, and even Paul at a loss for words as she casually revealed, "I'm not even in the top ten of Paul's subordinates. I consider myself fortunate to be able to stay at his side..."
Smiling wryly, Paul remarked, "That sentiment goes both ways. There's only been a few instances where I wasn't grateful to have you at my side. And even those were enjoyable in their own way..."
Though it took her a moment to understand what Paul was referring to, Ghislaine's ears perked up and twitched once she did. He was obviously alluding to her behavior when she was in heat, so a faint red hue colored her cheeks as she looked away in embarrassment.
Seeing his sister with such a 'maidenly' expression, Gyes's mouth opened in disbelief. In his mind, Ghislaine was all muscle, no brain. She only knew how to lash out and take what she wanted, so he wouldn't have been able to fathom her looking embarrassed if he hadn't seen it personally.
Noticing her brother's reaction, Ghislaine raised her right fist and asked, "What the fuck are you gawking at?" with her teeth bared.
Furrowing his brows, Gyes thought, 'there's the Ghislaine I know' as he replied with a faint, "Nothing..."
Snorting through her nose, Ghislaine muttered, "Whatever..." before turning to Paul and saying, "I'll be waiting at the edge of the village..."
Before Ghislaine could take off, Paul shook his head and said, "We'll go together." He didn't have much else to say, so the impromptu sibling spat was a reasonable excuse to hasten their departure. Thus, after a few parting words with Gustav, Paul bid the cat-eared duo farewell before climbing atop Ganyu and having her race back to the convoy's campsite...
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As Ganyu had returned the previous night to inform Dimsaul they would be returning early that morning, the convoy was packed up and ready to depart the moment Paul's party arrived. They had picked up an additional thirteen children by then, bringing their total count to twenty, but the Beast People within the convoy were doing an excellent job keeping them in line using food prepared by Xiangling.
Though the Beast Race had its own unique cuisine, a lot of the meat they consumed was either raw or lightly smoked to kill parasites. Their staple foods were fish and fruit, so many of the children collected by the convoy had never eaten a cooked meal in their entire life. Xiangling took this into account, preparing sashimi, sushi, and other fish dishes, but the quality was so far beyond anything the children had experienced that many burst into tears.
After exchanging recipes with the current Food God, Demon Lord Bagura Hagura, Xiangling's cooking had risen to another level. The piggish Demon Lord even offered to take her in as an apprentice, but she refused on the grounds she was Paul's personal chef. The notion of preparing human and demon meat also wasn't particularly appealing to her, so most of their recipe exchanges occurred when Atofe invited Bagura and other Demons over for a meet-and-greet with Paul.
With direction and oversight from Xiangling, even the simplest dishes prepared by and for the convoy were comparable to the meals served to high-ranking Nobles and Kings. More importantly, any dish Xiangling had an active role in preparing carried various effects, the most useful among them being Lesser Regeneration and Stamina Recovery. This even applied to the roughage she prepared for the horses, allowing the convoy to cover much greater distances than a typical procession.
On average, convoys escorting multiple carriages and stagecoaches traveled around 13km/h. Thanks to Xiangling, their marching pace was closer to twenty kilometers per hour, and they could travel upwards of fourteen hours a day compared to the usual ten. As a result, a journey that typically took other groups around a month only took the convoy escorting Paul seventeen days. Considering they had picked up a total of 73 children during the journey, it wasn't an exaggeration to say Xiangling's influence on their progress was immense, borderline god-like...
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Staring up at the vast Blue Dragon Mountain Range, named as such due to their distinct cobalt hue, Paul felt a sudden urge to ascend the tallest peak. Ganyu sensed this, asking, "Would you like me to carry you up?" but Paul promptly shook his head, replying, "Some other time. Besides, there wouldn't be much meaning in ascending the peak if someone else carried me to it..."
Adopting a slightly apologetic expression, though it was difficult to tell due to her animalistic features, Ganyu replied, "I see..." in a muted tone. Her reaction caused Paul to feel a pang of guilt, but rather than changing his mind, he gave her a firm pat and said, "Don't worry. The two of us will eventually explore this entire world once we begin actively spreading the Teleporation Network. For now, let's focus on the road ahead."
Feeling better, Ganyu responded with a happy-sounding "Understood~!" before proceeding forward with a discernible pep in her steps. They were coming up on the checkpoint separating the Great Forest from the Holy Milis Kingdom, but Ganyu remained chipper even as the sights of a dozen anti-wyvern ballistae came to bear on her.
Fortunately, while the tensions at the checkpoint could be felt from more than a kilometer away, none of the soldiers manning the ballistae opened fire. Dimsaul had dispatched a herald to announce Paul's arrival, so there was even a reception waiting for him, led by a golden-haired man bearing the plate armor and sigil of the Holy Knight Order.
Waiting until Ganyu had approached within twenty meters, the golden-haired man abruptly shouted, "That's far enough! Dismount your beast and approach on foot...!"
With Ganyu turning sideways to allow him a better vantage of the man and his troops, Paul's expression soured as he said, "I'll get down, but I don't appreciate you calling my companion a beast. The next time you do, don't expect me to be courteous..."
Though Ganyu was technically an Illuminated Beast, Paul knew the man was attempting to denigrate her as if she were some ordinary pack mule. His navy blue armor and the clasp keeping his cape in place denoted him as a Captain in the Order of the Temple, but Paul wasn't going to tolerate him being racist or xenophobic towards anything that wasn't human.
Narrowing his eyes, the Captain remained silent as Paul slid down from Ganyu's back. When the latter abruptly transformed into her human form, a fierce glimmer flashed across his eyes, but he held his tongue since Milishion and the Asura Kingdom were currently allied. Seeking trouble with their Envoy, especially one bearing the title 'King's Greatsword,' was a good way to cause an international incident.
Waiting until Paul was within speaking range, the golden-haired man caught him a little by surprise as he stated, "My name is Rudigan Latreia, Captain of the 22nd Order of the Temple. I have been tasked with seeing your group safely to Milishion."
Raising his brows, Paul questioned, "You're from the Latreia Household...?"
Nodding his head, Rudigan stood a little straighter as he replied, "I am the Third Son of Ralkan Latreia, the current Head of House Latreia."
Though he couldn't recall the specifics of the Latreia Family, even after researching them in his youth, Paul had heard of Ralkan Latreia. He was a Company Commander of the Order of the Temple and had been given the status of an Honorary Bishop for his service. His efforts had raised House Latreia from a mid-tier family to one of the most powerful in Milishion, but Paul only remembered him because he was Zenith's Grandfather...
Adopting a practiced smile, Paul remarked, "I've heard of your father. His accolades have even reached the rumor mill of the Asuran Nobility. If the opportunity presents itself, I would like to meet him."
Feeling marginally less confrontational, Rudigan adopted a practiced smile of his own as he replied, "I am certain that can be arranged. For now, please cooperate with our customs officers so they can get you through the checkpoint as swiftly as possible."
Though he could pressure the group to let him pass with only a cursory inspection, Paul nodded in affirmation before exchanging a few parting words and returning to the convoy. Just as Rudigan didn't want to cause an international incident by overly antagonizing him, Paul wanted to avoid a confrontation with Milis. He was planning to stay there for several days, if not weeks, so getting into a skirmish at their border probably wasn't the best idea.
So long as the other side didn't start it...
...
..
.
(A/N: Praise the muscle cat...!)

Chapter 205: Action