Merchant From Earth in the Magical World

Yan Xing led his army to the Thunderous Swamp, while in the sky above, large swarms of Poison Flies followed, BUZZING.

Higher up, in the airspace beyond visibility, signal relay drones took turns on duty at regular intervals.

Within the Eternal Domain airfield, the humanoid alchemical automaton Laura launched a fixed-wing reconnaissance drone from the runway.

The drone quickly disappeared into the sky once airborne.

Arlanda witnessed the scene of Yan Xing leading his troops out, standing amidst the crowd of the Lord's subjects bidding farewell.

With a complex look in her eyes, Arlanda observed the unusual military procession passing before her.

All the soldiers from the Eternal Domain were dressed very strangely.

The style of their helmets was vastly different from that of traditional human warriors.

Moreover, they were fitted with many things Arlanda did not recognize and whose purpose she did not know.

While working within the Eternal Domain, she often heard soldiers from the Eternal Domain murmuring to themselves. It was as if they were speaking to someone, yet it was unclear who they were addressing.

Arlanda speculated that this must be some sort of Magic communication technology.

However, such Magic communication was typically used between two Mages and often involved a lot of code in order to convey more information and save on the expenditure of Magic Power.

Yet the Eternal Domain had equipped every single soldier with such advanced Magic communication technology.

It was indeed a luxury.

Luxury was everywhere in the Eternal Domain.

The iron shovels used by the farmers were forged from fine steel.

The farmers' clothing, though not extravagant in appearance, was certainly crafted by some of the finest weavers and tailors.

And the shoes...

Arlanda was surprised to find that the Eternal Domain issued three types of shoes to every farmer.

One pair was leather boots for wearing while working outdoors.

One was sandals for wearing within the Eternal Domain when not working.

One was slippers for wearing inside the dormitory.

Change shoes before entering the dormitory?

Arlanda could not understand if the Lord's mind had been pecked by a Griffon or why he would come up with such bizarre rules.

However, the leather boots indeed were very comfortable to wear, lighter than they appeared, and offered all-around protection to the feet and ankles, making them suitable for outdoor activities.

What baffled Arlanda even more was that the Eternal Domain not only issued three types of shoes for each farmer but also provided two sets of each type.

To wear in rotation!

They also issued two sets of clothing.

Furthermore, all clothing, shoes, and tools could be exchanged for new ones with Lord Gao Sipa if they were damaged, without the need for repair or compensation.

The farmers' meals included meat and eggs at every meal, and they could drink milk freely.

Arlanda racked her brains but could not comprehend why Yan Xing, the Lord of the Eternal Domain, would spend such extravagant wealth on farmers?

And what the farmers did daily was dig ditches, build houses, and walls.

She only needed to follow Aunt Canola's guidance daily with the newly joined farmers of the Eternal Domain or do some odd jobs to enjoy all these benefits.

Is this the life a farmer should lead?

Such a life was something Arlanda had never even dared to dream of before.

Elves lived in the harsh winters of the northern Snowland.

There, aside from the abundant resources in summer, which made the Elves' lives relatively comfortable, during the long winter, they had to endure a severe environment.

A blizzard could wipe out an otherwise prosperous Elf village in an instant.

Since her childhood, Arlanda had never experienced such comfort and ease.

Winter naturally needs no description, with snowflakes drifting through the northern wind's howl.

In the short summer, every Elf must work hard to store supplies for the winter.

All things must be used according to plan; otherwise, Elves might die in their treehouses if summer arrived late.

Clothes and shoes torn? Replace them!

Never mind that Elves couldn't do such a thing; no other race would dare.

Meat, eggs, and milk—eat and drink all you want.

Food that cannot be finished is thrown directly to the chicken coop.

The first time she did this, Arlanda cried.

She found herself very prone to tears lately. The experiences in the Eternal Domain strongly clashed with her understanding of the world.

Sometimes Arlanda even believed she had died and was living in the fabled land of illusion.

This was not an emotion befitting a resolute assassin.

When the crowd began to disperse after bidding farewell to the Lord who was off to war, Arlanda asked Aunt Canola, "When will Lord Yan Xing return?"

At this moment, Aunt Canola was still immersed in the aura exuded by the majestic army of the Eternal Domain.

Upon hearing Arlanda's inquiry, she replied, "I don't know... but I know that the Lord will soon return with victory from the Thunderous Swamp. The Eternal Domain will grow even stronger."

Arlanda did not receive a precise answer—it seemed she would have to wait longer to assassinate Yan Xing.

She needed to continue hiding.

Arlanda looked up at the sky, then at the warriors guarding the Eternal Domain around her.

Her assassin's keen instinct told her that the camp seemed to be watched by many eyes hidden in the shadows, monitoring every move of everyone within the Eternal Domain.

Especially near Yan Xing, this feeling was extraordinarily strong.

Was this the protection from the Thunderous Swamp?

Arlanda remembered her sister's failed assassination.

She secretly reminded herself... In the Eternal Domain, I must be extremely careful and cautious; otherwise, my sister's fate will be my own.

Another surveillance drone took off from the airfield at that moment.

The airfield of the Eternal Domain was heavily guarded.

High walls and towers isolated the area; without Yan Xing's orders, no one could enter.

Arlanda pointed at the drone flying higher and higher, asking Aunt Canola, "What is that? I see many of those flying out every day."

Aunt Canola gazed at the nearly vanished drone and replied to Arlanda, "When the Lord used to watch movies with us, he seemed to say that such things are called airplanes. The airplanes in the movies we saw were much bigger, with many people flying in the sky inside them.

"The Lord said that once he makes those big airplanes, he will let us all ride in them. In the future, if we want to go somewhere, we'll fly there.

"Lord Yan Xing always keeps his word!"

"Lord Yan Xing always keeps his word!"

Arlanda murmured in agreement and looked up at the sky... thinking how wonderful it would be if she could fly over the Thunderous Swamp.

But the stamina of flying creatures was not enough to cross the Thunderous Swamp in one go; they needed to land and rest, and landing could mean never taking off again.

She wondered how far those airplanes could fly.

"Let's go, Jade..." Aunt Canola said to a somewhat dazed Arlanda. "We have much to do. The Lord's fame is spreading far and wide, and new refugees arrive here every day.

"We need to take good care of them, show them how to get used to life here.

"I love to see their surprised faces as they first enter the Eternal Domain. The Lord is too kind to every subject, so kind that I forget that I am the lowliest of peasants."

Arlanda nodded in agreement, "Indeed, Lord Yan Xing is too good to every subject here."