Water Mage in the Flame Realm

Outside the reception hall, the expansion project of the entire Wildfire Territory proceeded in an orderly fashion, completely unaffected by the negotiations inside the hall.

Outside the Wildfire Territory, in the seemingly desolate desert with no trace of Desolate Beasts, there was a stranger hidden in the sand.

This person was completely buried in the sand, not moving at all.

Only a pair of eyes were exposed.

The whole person resembled a lizard quietly lurking in the sand, waiting for prey to pass by, then delivering a fatal surprise attack to prey unaware of the danger!

However, the prey in this person's eyes was not any creature in the Inner Sea Desert.

It was the burgeoning Wildfire Territory!

This person, staring from a considerable distance, was focused on the Wildfire Territory!

After the Dual Fire Battle, it wasn't just the team from the Warm Fire Commerce Association that came to Wildfire Territory.

People from the Magic Guild also arrived.

This person hidden in the sand was a "Scout".

Unlike the old mage Humboldt, and different from Rose and Fleur, the orders received by this person were no longer related to Barbara.

There was only one order: Keep a close watch on Wildfire Territory!

Without being detected, gather as much intelligence and information as possible about Andrew!!

Previously, Andrew had specifically asked Barbara to hide information about himself in the letters to her family.

Regarding the personnel sent by the Commerce Association to Wildfire Territory, the only person who truly knew "the Desolate Beast Sand Tide was subdued and resolved by Andrew" was Falk alone.

Leia, and even Havier, along with the members of the Crimson Knight Order, had absolutely no clear idea about what kind of person Andrew was or what crucial role he played in the just-concluded Dual Fire Battle!

Yet, under such circumstances, the Magic Guild still knew.

Such intelligence-gathering capability was simply terrifying.

In fact, it seemed almost unreasonable.

Andrew's idea was: to delay as much as possible the time when his presence would fully draw the attention of the Magic Guild. Completely avoiding it was impossible, but he wanted to extend this "development in stealth" period as much as possible.

However, the Magic Guild's gaze had already fallen on him and his Wildfire Territory.

...

...

At the same time, in the Wildfire Territory, Magic Laboratory.

The door of the reception hall opened, and Andrew, with a smile on his face, escorted Falk out: "Thank you so much, let's settle it as discussed! Again, I'm really grateful, I must thank you, thank the Warm Fire Commerce Association on behalf of everyone in the Wildfire Territory! Thank you!!"

His smile was as bright as a spring breeze.

Falk's attitude also became much more amiable than when he first entered the Wildfire Territory and the reception hall. His face filled with more wrinkles from smiling.

He was not an outgoing person, so such a smile was, in fact, not much different from a spring breeze for Falk.

Leia on the side found it amusing, feeling like she was seeing a little fox and an old fox, arms around each other's shoulders, colluding together... Ah, spit, how could she think of her family elder like that? Leia quickly shook her head to drive out the stray thoughts.

Havier followed closely behind Leia, his face dark, looking as pale as could be!

As for Barbara, An Ya, and Ivan, who came out in succession, they all had expressions of surprise and disbelief.

Not long ago, after Andrew accepted the olive branch extended by Falk on behalf of the Warm Fire Commerce Association, he put forth his condition:

"My condition is for the Warm Fire Commerce Association to station a team—not many, but sufficiently elite—to protect our Wildfire Territory."

"No way!"

Long prepared to seize the opportunity, Havier slammed the table and stood up abruptly.

He felt this time, Grandpa Falk had no reason to stop him from rebuking Andrew: "You greedy punk, dream on—eh?"

Intending to angrily berate Andrew for his "exorbitant demand," Havier, upon standing, realized what Andrew was saying and what requirement he was proposing.

He was stunned.

Although Leia excelled academically and seemed a bit dazed, she wasn't truly naive about the world.

Equally shocked, she looked at Andrew as if she had heard something unbelievable.

Because—

Having the Warm Fire Commerce Association station an army in Wildfire Territory for the long term was actually more advantageous to the Warm Fire Commerce Association!

Normally, it would be the Warm Fire Commerce Association that proactively requested to station their troops.

From Andrew and Wildfire Territory's standpoint, they should be highly vigilant and cautious about such a thing, which aligns more with common human sentiment, right?

Yet, Andrew proactively brought it up.

And as a "necessary condition", too!

This, this, this... What was he thinking?

Indeed, upon hearing this condition, Falk was slightly taken aback, then couldn't help but laugh, asking: "Are you sure, Andrew? This condition is a bit too friendly to our Warm Fire Commerce Association."

While speaking, Falk glanced at Barbara, Ivan, and Anya.

The three of them seemed calm, clearly aware of the conditions Andrew would propose.

"So it's not just Andrew's idea, but a consensus?" Falk thought to himself.

He barely resisted the urge to agree immediately and asked, "May I ask, what does Mr. Andrew have in mind?"

Andrew's thoughts were actually quite simple: ensuring the safety of the Wildfire Territory.

The safety of the territory's residents is always the priority.

"If possible, I also wouldn't want the troops of the Warm Fire Commerce Association to be stationed in my Wildfire Territory," Andrew thought to himself. "One must not be malicious, but one must be wary; the truth proves there are indeed people like Havier in the Warm Fire Commerce Association who lack intelligence, right?

But, comparatively, the safety of the Wildfire Territory is still a bit more important."

Andrew did not know that the scouts of the Magic Guild had already infiltrated the desert outside the Wildfire Territory at this time.

Nor did he know that the gaze of the Magic Guild had already noticed his presence, noticing the Wildfire Territory.

Andrew just felt that: during the time he would leave the Wildfire Territory to go to Warm Fire City, he truly couldn't rest assured about the safety of Anya and others staying behind in the Wildfire Territory.

"Although there is indeed a risk of 'being overshadowed by guests'," Andrew thought, "but... I trust Barbara."

Yes, if it weren't for the kiss three nights ago, even if Andrew eventually allowed the Warm Fire Commerce Association to station troops to protect the Wildfire Territory, he would never propose it voluntarily.

However, now that the kiss was taken into consideration, Andrew felt this condition could indeed be proposed actively.

Again: all actions are centered on the safety of the Wildfire Territory residents.

As long as it is beneficial to this, compromises can be made in other aspects.

"—That's roughly my thought process." Andrew laid out his concerns frankly, with no reservation and with sincerity.

After listening, Falk regarded Andrew for a while with a peculiar look, as if truly understanding him for the first time.

Then Falk slowly shook his head, "No."

"Grandpa Falk!" Barbara called out.

Even Andrew furrowed his brows slightly, puzzled.

Thinking to himself, is this kind of advantageous offer really something I dare to make, and you actually dare to refuse?

But then he heard Falk continue, "Stationing the troops is off the table; I know even if Mr. Andrew doesn't mind, the residents of the Wildfire Territory would still be affected. And this is detrimental and not beneficial to our mutual business cooperation."

Having said this, Falk paused, seemingly making some decision, and said in a deep voice, "I do not accept the proposal of stationing troops.

However, I have a better proposal: I will, on behalf of the Warm Fire Commerce Association, lease a 'Fire God Magical Motive Armor' to the Wildfire Territory to replace the stationed troops. This way, while ensuring the safety of the Wildfire Territory, we can also avoid some unnecessary trouble."

"—What? No way! Absolutely not this time!!"

Upon hearing "Fire God Magical Motive Armor", Havier just about jumped a meter high, yelling.

Even Leia hesitated, saying, "Grandpa Falk, this… this isn't quite appropriate."

Andrew was a bit perplexed by this.

He couldn't help but turn to look at Barbara.

Yet, Barbara's expression was also rather strange.

After taking a moment to compose herself from the shock and surprise, Barbara finally explained to Andrew—

The "Fire God Magical Motive Armor", like the Magic Guild's "Fire God Space", isn't actually current magic technology; it's a legacy from ancient times.

Back then, there was no division between Warm Fire and Earth Fire in this world; there was only one kind of Fire Mage.

Be it Fire God Magical Motive Armor or Fire God Space, they were all creations of the ancient Fire Mages from that time, passed down to today, and remain unparalleled in power! Moreover, they are non-replicable; once a unit is broken, there is one less unit.

"A single 'Fire God Magical Motive Armor' is enough to replace the most elite troop," Barbara said slowly. "During the lease period, the armor is under the control of the Wildfire Territory and not under our Warm Fire Commerce Association's control. So, it becomes… entirely the Wildfire Territory's power!"

Upon hearing this, Andrew fully understood.

Simply put, in terms of ensuring the safety of the Wildfire Territory, an "Fire God Magical Motive Armor" is only stronger, not weaker, than an army!

And a better point than an army is that leasing the armor completely respects the Wildfire Territory's sovereignty.

It avoids the "guest outshining the host" issue that would almost certainly arise if troops were stationed!

For a while, Andrew couldn't even focus on inquiring about the specifics of the "Fire God Magical Motive Armor"—in fact, he was incredibly curious! This world has such extraordinary things?—He turned to look at the elderly man opposite, and exclaimed, "Grandpa Falk, you..."

Unwittingly, Andrew just like Barbara and Leia this time, also referred to him as "Grandpa Falk".

Falk smiled, "Since Mr. Andrew has taken the initiative to request stationing troops to protect, with such sincerity, our Warm Fire Commerce Association cannot refrain from a reciprocal gesture, right?

However, the 'Fire God Magical Motive Armor' needs a controller. May I designate who will control it?"

Without waiting for Andrew's response, Falk directly pointed at Anya present, "The 'Fire God Magical Motive Armor' leased by the Commerce Association to the Wildfire Territory will be entrusted to this little girl Anya to control, is that acceptable?"

Andrew had been a bit worried, thinking the other party might nominally say they wanted to protect the Wildfire Territory while respecting its sovereignty, but in practice, assign the Fire God Magical Motive Armor to someone who would effectively be reporting to the Warm Fire Commerce Association, which would actually be more unacceptable than stationing troops.

Hearing the opponent assigned it to Anya, the last trace of worry in Andrew's heart was also dispelled.

He beamed and stood up, "This is indeed a big surprise! Ah, then I'll thank Grandpa Falk in advance!"