Yin Zhu smiled and said, "What's there to thank me for? I merely spoke my mind. Those Dragon Cavalry really are overbearing. Especially that Dragon Knight, it's like he was ordering us around. If the Milan Dragon Cavalry are this arrogant in the Bo Pang Kingdom, would they aim to fly to the heavens at the Milan Empire?"
Ge'en sighed and said, "Brother, you don't understand! The status of Dragon Cavalry on the continent is second only to Mages. And the status of a Dragon Knight is even higher than that of a Mage, with only high-level Mages being on par with them. The number of Dragon Cavalry has even become a standard for measuring the strength between nations. A hundred-man Dragon Cavalry squad like the one we just saw can even hold their own against a ten-thousand-man Heavy Cavalry Corps."
Yin Zhu nodded and said, "Just now, that Viscount really was strong. Are all Dragon Knights that formidable?"
Ge'en replied, "He's not even among the formidable ones. Regardless of the country, the classification of Dragon Cavalry is the same. Ten people make a Dragon Cavalry squad, a hundred make a mid-size squad. A thousand make a brigade, ten thousand make a corps. Do you know why, on the Ryuzakinus Continent, only Milan and Landius have the title of Empire while the other six human nations are all Kingdoms? It's because Milan and Landius each have a Dragon Cavalry Corps. Relatively speaking, the Milan Dragon Cavalry Corps is the most powerful on the entire continent. It is precisely because of their presence that the Beastmen of the Northernmost Wilderness don't dare to cross the line. The Austin we saw just now is a Silver Star Dragon Rider, below him are the squad leaders of the Dragon Cavalry, and above him, there are the Venus Dragon Knights in command of the Dragon Knight Brigades and the Purple Star Dragon Commander in charge of the corps. A Silver Star Dragon Rider has the strength of a Green rank, a Venus Dragon Knight is at least of an Initial Blue rank, and the Purple Star Commander is a Zi rank War Master. It's said that the mount of a Purple Star Dragon Commander is a powerful rank Nine Giant Dragon; even Venus Dragon Knights mount true dragons, not just Dragon Tamers. Within the Dragon Cavalry Corps, an ordinary Dragon Cavalry must have at least a mid-level Orange rank strength, possess their own Dragon Tamer mount, and must have a noble title of at least a Knight. The selection is extremely strict, and the treatment is frighteningly high. Every warrior takes pride in the possibility of joining the Dragon Cavalry Corps. If I had this Green-spined Earth Dragon ten years ago, perhaps, I too would have strived to join the Dragon Cavalry Corps."
"So that's how it is. Such strong individual power, combined with dragons as mounts, no wonder the Dragon Cavalry Corps are so formidable," thought Yin Zhu reflectively. It's just too bad he was a Mage; riding a giant dragon must feel amazing, he imagined.
After the earlier upheaval, the Iron Thorn Mercenary Group set out on the road again. In everyone's heart, Anya's identity became much more mysterious, and nobody would treat her as an ordinary employer anymore.
The rest of the journey went smoothly, and ten days later, the Iron Thorn Mercenary Group finally escorted Anya and her goods to Milan City, the capital of the Milan Empire.
As soon as they entered the city, the goods escorted by the Iron Thorn Mercenary Group were received by more than a dozen youths dressed in green; nobody knew how Anya had notified them - these people were clearly her subordinates.
"Yin Zhu, are you really not going to visit Sister Anya's place for a bit?" Anya looked at Yin Zhu with a hint of anticipation.
Yin Zhu shook his head and said, "No, I've already promised Uncle Ge'en to help their Mercenary Group register as Grade D. Besides, the Milan Magic Martial Academy is just outside Milan City, so if there's a chance in the future, I will definitely come to find you. Sister Anya, thank you for taking care of me along the way, and for all the things you've given me."
A faint sense of melancholy flashed in Anya's eyes, prompting surprise from her green-clad subordinates, who had never seen their beautiful boss show such an expression towards any man before.
"If that's the case, then let's not worry about it. Take this with you, and when you have time, come find me at the Floating Orchid Villa in Milan City. I'm still waiting to hear you play the zither." As she spoke, Anya gently placed a blue crystal ring carved and shaped onto Yin Zhu's left middle finger.
"Ah! Sister Anya, this is too precious. I, I can't accept it." The blue crystal ring was elegantly styled, with a silver base, and it was unclear what material it was made of. A teardrop-shaped sapphire was inlaid on top, with a gentle blue light softly flowing like rippling water, flawless. What was even more precious was the magical fluctuation coming from it. Yin Zhu knew very well that this was a Space Ring! As soon as the ring was placed on his finger, his spiritual power had already automatically connected with the ring. He was shocked to find that the space within this Space Ring was even larger than his original one. Inside, there were even five hundred Gold Coins.
"Are you still saying such things to your sister? This is just a small keepsake I'm leaving for you. Besides, you'll need it to find me when you come to Floating Orchid Villa. If you don't accept it, Sister would be angry," Anya said, feigning anger effectively, a tactic that never failed to work on Yin Zhu.
Yin Zhu helplessly said, "Fine, I'll take the ring for now, but I absolutely cannot take your money. Grandfather once said that a man must never accept a woman's money, otherwise he would become a kept man. I still remember Grandfather's stern look. Sister, please take back the money. It's a matter of principle." His voice was a bit loud, causing those nearby to look over.
With a blush on her pretty face, Anya, with great composure, managed to suppress her emotions and whispered softly, "You little fool, do you even know what being a kept man means? And you're talking nonsense. How can you manage outside alone without money?"
This time, Yin Zhu shook his head resolutely and said, "Sister, I really can't take it. If you don't take back the Gold Coins, then I won't dare to accept the ring either."
With a helpless sigh, Anya's right hand brushed over Yin Zhu's, and as the ring that was inlaid with a green crystal stone flickered, the five hundred Gold Coins in Yin Zhu's blue crystal ring vanished into thin air, "You little fool, I'm leaving now. You need to be careful this time. Don't lose the ring again, okay? If you run into any trouble, remember to come find Sister."
Yin Zhu stood by the roadside, watching Anya's carriage slowly distance itself under the escort of the green-clothed youths, an inexplicable sense of loss welling up inside him, reminiscent of when Zi had left.
The Milan Empire, as the most powerful human country on the Ryuzakinus Continent, borders the Northernmost Wilderness to the north, the Ascoli Kingdom to the west, the Flore Empire to the east, the Palermo Kingdom to the southwest, and the Bo Pang Kingdom to the southeast. To its direct south lies the heart of the Ryuzakinus Continent—Faran. Bordered by four countries and the Northernmost Wilderness, it is destined to maintain a mighty military, otherwise, how could it stand tall amidst the surrounded by so many rivals?
Milan City, an ancient yet civilized city, is home to nearly six million permanent residents and is the political, cultural, and commercial center of the Milan Empire. As the capital, it is also the Empire's primary stronghold. With a standing army of three hundred thousand, which includes three Dragon Knight Brigades.
Ge'en and Yin Zhu walked through the streets of Milan City, as Ge'en pointed out the buildings around them, "Milan City is known as a paradise for nobles; its architecture is the crystallization of the wisdom of the continent's finest craftsmen. Here, as long as you have money, you can buy anything you desire. There are places to spend gold everywhere. At the same time, Milan City is also the safest city on the Ryuzakinus Continent. Tell me, who would dare to commit crimes in a city defended by three thousand Dragon Cavalry? This city is very large; if you were to walk from the north to the south end, it would take at least three days." He had arranged for the Iron Briar Thorn Mercenaries to stay at a budget inn—after all, they didn't need to bring everyone just to go raise their mercenary rank; having Yin Zhu, a Red-rank Mage, was enough.