Chapter 522: The Girl Has Grown Up

Leech acted fast. He had already planned on coaxing Tangkx Scholar into returning with him to Porcupine Territory, so they boarded a ship from Iron Valley that same day.

The ship parted the waves.

Also returning with them was the Beast Language user, Pitz, who had been busy in Iron Valley for over half a year. Unfortunately, the armadillos had died. It was hard to say whether the bloodline herbs had been too effective, or if the creatures had reverted to some short-lived ancestral form.

“Is that Porcupine Territory?” Tangkx Scholar asked, joining Leech on deck and following his gaze toward the distant coastline.

The towering watchtower was, from their current vantage point, no taller than the tip of a little finger.

It would still be a good half-day before they arrived.

“That’s right,” Leech nodded, his eyes full of anticipation.

Though his domain had expanded from Porcupine Territory to Iron Valley, with his influence even reaching Waterfall Land and stretching across more than half the desert, Porcupine Territory was the only place that gave him a true sense of belonging. This was where it all began.

It was only the third year since his transmigration, but anyone familiar with Porcupine Territory could attest to the immense changes both he and his domain had undergone.

“I might stay here for a while,” Tangkx Scholar said. “I can also help you teach a few people.”

‘I’ll leave as soon as I’ve saved up enough money, though.’

Of course, she wouldn’t say that part out loud. Since he was a ridiculously wealthy lord, a real cash cow, she had to at least feign some compliance.

“Then I’d be most grateful,” Leech said with a nod, completely unconcerned with her underlying intentions.

‘Thinking of running?’

‘It didn’t matter. Leech was ready to play the scoundrel; he would surely find a way to push past her limits again.’

‘Once you’re here, you’re not leaving!’

The ship slowly drew up to the dock.

As December began, the weather turned severe. The temperature plummeted, forcing Leech to bundle up in thicker clothes for the journey back. While it was true that Transcendents were unafraid of the cold, not fearing the cold and not feeling the cold were two entirely different matters. By the same token, just because his teeth were strong enough to chew rocks didn’t mean he was about to give up his three square meals for a diet of dirt.

Small cabins now stood by the pier. As Leech and his party disembarked, Lacy Sith, who had received the message by raven long ago, was already there to greet them personally.

He had grown a full beard and wore a heavy fur coat over his meticulously maintained plate armor. The Longsword Leech had bestowed upon him during his knighting ceremony hung at his waist. Lacy Sith seemed more mature and steady than when they had last parted. The only issue was that the endless affairs of the territory had caused his hairline to lose its courage and begin a hasty retreat.

“Good day, my Lord!” Lacy said, looking at Leech with excitement.

“Good day,” Leech replied, giving Lacy Sith a brief embrace. “Though it hasn’t been long, seeing you puts my mind at ease. PHEW… It’s a good thing Gelan didn’t come. Otherwise, I’d be buried in reports until next year.”

The two exchanged a look, then burst out laughing.

An inside joke among the Porcupine Territory leadership.

Leech had always kept a close eye on Porcupine Territory’s development, even though he’d spent the vast majority of the year away from his domain.

Red-brick residences had become the standard across all of Porcupine Territory. The old mud houses were largely phased out, and even the large dormitories had been replaced.

Riding his horse down the smooth, wide road, Leech chatted with Lacy Sith about the latest gossip among the nobility.

Everyone loves good gossip, especially when it concerns the marriages of the young nobility. Such relationships were often a direct reflection of the shifting tides of power among the lords.

On a grander scale, take the Eldest Prince’s engagement to Miss Red Rose. With it, he secured the support of the Eastern Gorge, making his ascension to the throne all but certain—unless he were to die before the King, of course.

Then there was Leech himself. His name already carried significant weight, but ever since the news of his marriage alliance with Linta Bay got out, he had instantly ascended to the ranks of the Eastern Gorge’s new elite.

Before, others could secretly dismiss him, pointing to his shallow pedigree and lack of connections, claiming he was all brawn and no influence. Some were even openly cold to him. Leech still remembered being relegated to a corner the last time he visited Roaring Castle in East Port.

But now, no one would dare say such things anymore.

“…So, Philip refused the engagement to that young lady?”

“That’s right,” Lacy Sith nodded. “He told the young lady he couldn’t possibly love her and refused to marry her.”

“Then he should just go crash the wedding,” Leech said casually.

Lacy looked at his lord in shock.

‘As part of their circle of friends, everyone knew that ‘Midnight Sun’ Philip Cavendish was actually in love with Miss Red Rose. But she was engaged to the Eldest Prince now. Crash the wedding?’

‘That wouldn’t be a simple matter of crashing a wedding.’

‘Both the King and the Duke would go absolutely ballistic.’

“Hahaha,” Leech roared with laughter at the dumbfounded Lacy.

“My Lord, your jokes are terrifying,” Lacy complained. He had, however, heard that his lord and the Eldest Prince did not see eye to eye. The fact that the Tuna family of Monkey Island had thrown their lot in with the Eldest Prince was public knowledge. He figured his lord was just blowing off steam.

Leech shook his head. ‘A joke? If I ever got the chance to take out the Eldest Prince, I wouldn’t hesitate for a moment. I’m absolutely going to make a move against the Tuna family. How could the spiky Baron Porcupine, whose island had been invaded and plundered, not bite back with a vengeance? I won’t be satisfied until they’re utterly destroyed.’

‘And to save face, the Eldest Prince would undoubtedly fight to the death to protect the first noble family who sided with him.’

‘A conflict between us is inevitable.’

‘It’s just a shame for Miss Red Rose. After all, that’s her man.’

‘If no one else is going to steal her away… well, I could always consider doing it myself in the future.’

They passed through the widened main road and arrived at the square.