The young citizens inside the city either stood on the city wall or hid behind the fence, staring wide-eyed at the army in front of them.

The hot wind lifted the black short cloak, and the fitted black wool-linen blend fabric clung snugly to the body.

The golden glittering gear accessories, although incomprehensible, still exuded a unique metallic exotic charm.

Paired with their upright posture and gait, they appeared so mighty.

Many bold daughters of citizen laborers began tossing flowers to the War Monks, the pink, yellow, and white petals forming a dome in the air.

Beneath this dome, Horn led his warhorse Grape, and slowly walked over to Jeanne.

Horn's dappled horse Grape and Jeanne's black horse Carrot were half-brothers, always finding each other disagreeable.

Upon meeting, they both tilted their heads away, glaring at each other with disdain.

"Brother, how did I do this time? Huh? Pretty awesome, right?"

Seeing Jeanne almost tilt her chin toward the sky, Horn smiled and reached out to ruffle her head, "Pretty awesome, accomplished a great feat."

This time, Jeanne resolved the Noble Alliance Army's issue in Kasha County early, securing at least two days for Horn.

Indeed, it was a great feat.

Jeanne giggled silly and wrapped herself around Horn's back, affectionately rubbing her face against his cheek.

This scene seemed ordinary to the War Monks of the Salvation Army, but to the people of Xiaochi City, it felt as if the sky was falling.

In the eyes of many young people, there was a sense of disillusionment. Where is my Saint Jeanne who, as cold as ice, vanquished enemy armies and, as fiery as fire, spoke for justice?

Who is this silly laughing village girl? Is she really the Saint Jeanne they know?

These days, Jeanne's feats of 600 defeating 3,000 and a night raid on seven camps spread rapidly, establishing her as a benefactor in Xiaochi City.

Jeanne's personality was quite tomboyish in itself,

enhanced by her valiant and virtuous Valkyrie demeanor, she quickly became a goddess-like figure in many Xiaochi City youth's minds.

And now, their goddess was acting like a shy little girl clinging to someone's arms?

Moreover, that person was actually shorter than Jeanne!

Not sure if it was an illusion, Horn felt as if he heard the sound of something shattering continuously.

"I accomplished a feat, is there any reward?"

"What reward do you want?" Feeling Jeanne's chin rest on his shoulder, Horn patted her back and said.

Jeanne wrapped her arms around Horn's neck from behind, tilted her head up, and closed her eyes, puckering her pale pink lips.

"Hm? Are your lips dry?" Horn feigned ignorance and kissed her on the forehead, "If your lips are dry, drink more hot water."

After all, Patrick was watching him like a hawk from the side, so even if Horn wanted to do something, he couldn't go overboard.

At present, before returning home, Horn could only choose to stall.

Alas, Jia Li and Jeanne, what a huge dilemma...

And perhaps even Hilov would be added?

Shaking his head, Horn laughed to himself mockingly, people hadn't shown any affection, why were his tendencies and old habits having a relapse now?

Releasing Jeanne's arm, Horn hugged Jeanne amidst countless pained gazes, "How's the ship's preparation going?"

Though not very satisfied for not getting a kiss, Jeanne remained reserved, not forcing affection like Moliat, but clung to his arm instead, "All set, come, I'll take you to see."

"Since it's all set, no rush." Horn cast a meaningful glance at the group of Holy Path faction city councilors led by Armand, "These city councilors have waited long enough; why don't we get acquainted first!"

What a chance! Skage saw a nearby councilor attempting to step forward, and he immediately hooked his foot sharply, causing the councilor to fall to the ground.

Stepping over the councilor's back, he sprinted to Horn's side.

"Salute to Your Holiness the Saint Sun Pope." Removing his hat, Skage prepared to perform a chest salute to Horn.

Horn, however, made a darting step forward and held his hand, "In the Holy Path faction, we emphasize no distinctions between noble and base, let's perform this handshake ritual then."

Exchanging pleasantries and introductions with the seven or eight city councilors, Horn kept a smile, making sure not to neglect anyone.

The city councilors, ignored by Jeanne for several days, suddenly felt as if they had found their group, feeling like a breath of fresh spring air.

"...Indeed, an outstanding figure of Xiaochi City, since you are locals, why don't you show me around Xiaochi City then."

After several rounds of introductions, Horn got to know the people before him a little, and thus proactively suggested that they show him around.

"And your Holy Knights..." Skage scratched his eyebrows in a dilemma.

If we let the army into the city, what would happen?

Yet some lords force their soldiers into the city, even recruiting soldiers as a benefit for their salaries.

"No worries, they'll garrison outside the city. Just keep those Liu Ying and idlers out of the barracks."

Hearing this, Skage breathed a little easier, gestured with his hand, "Your Holiness, this way."

Entering Xiaochi City, Horn found this small town even smaller than Joan of Arc Castle.

The roads were lined with various breweries, grocery stores, tailor shops, all quite dilapidated.

Some of the shop owners were still operating, while others furtively peeked through cracks in boarded-up doors, cautiously observing these Salvation Army members.

"Why is there almost a beaver statue or ornament in front of every shop?" Horn pointed at the beavers, either exquisite or absurd, and asked.

"Beavers are the mascots of Xiaochi City, known as the builders of Xiaochi City," Skage smiled and explained, "If not for them building a dam upstream, Xiaochi City would still be a swamp today."

In this era, almost every free city has its small mascot; a shadow of the Lion-bodied Hogo Statue flashed in Horn's mind and a bitter smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

"Tell me about the history and municipal structure of Xiaochi City, mainly the last ten years."

Through the narration of Skage and others, Horn gradually understood.

Several decades ago, Xiaochi City was just a town, primarily established with the help of the Juanist Faction (then known as the Enlightened Faction) Bishop.

The highest administrative institution in the city is the City Council, elected from the citizens.

Voters are required to have at least three years of stable tax payment records, 40 gold pounds of assets or property, and an annual tax payment of more than 1 gold pound.

Who can be elected and what kind of people will be elected is quite apparent.

Most of the City Council includes wealthy merchants, notaries, priests, guild representatives, and noble members, many younger sons of noble families seek City Councilor jobs.

These younger sons are often the representatives of the nobles in the city's industrial and commercial activities, residing in the city for years, even causing incidents of betraying their families.

However, as Xiaochi City is the secular base of the Juanist Faction, the lower-level workers haven't completely lost their voice.

For this reason, the mayoral position of Xiaochi City's council has been vacant for seven or eight years, because whenever elections are held, it's easy to elect someone from the Juanist Faction.

If the election rights are further liberalized, it's counterproductive.

The mayor of a free city is not a fixed position; sometimes there isn't one, and sometimes there can be multiple mayors at the same time.

Due to the short flourishing period of the city's structure, many political systems have yet to mature, with many loopholes.

For example, Branded City once had a case where the mayor was elected using a cock's drawing, resulting in an extremely pure "soul as pure as a child but trapped in an adult's body" mayor.

Ironically, his seven-year tenure was the most prosperous period of Branded City's development.

Looking at the street's packed rows of shops, Horn suddenly asked, "What is your main business?"

"Main business? You mean the main source of income?" Skage scratched his head, "We haven't specifically quantified that, probably river trade and the brewing industry."

Unlike Rapids City's main industries in finance and dyeing, Xiaochi City mainly thrives on wine production.

The church that preceded Xiaochi City had several famous wines, and after obtaining the church's 99-year wine franchise, this city flourished around the brewing industry.

Later, due to Xiaochi City's franchise rights, many brewing monasteries or merchants would set up agents in Xiaochi City.

Relying on intermediaries and the convenience of riverborne cargo transport, alcohol processing and related industries became the backbone of Xiaochi City.

As for river trade, as a downstream city of Nao'an River's tributary, the largest river trade is the import of minerals and grain into the northern part of Black Snake Bay.

In other words, a significant portion of it is implicit smuggling.

Xiaochi City's small scale, supported by these two industries, is enough to sustain about five to six thousand residents.

"The industrial structure is too singular." Horn looked at the beaver statue with outspread arms in front of City Hall, the marble beaver holding a boat in its left hand and a wine jug in its right.

"The primary industry is entirely a single crop, grapes; the secondary industry has a relatively small market share; the tertiary industry, services, is thriving, but all dependent on so-called franchise rights.

In other words, it lacks competitiveness in a free market; if it weren't for your exclusive sales rights, those alcohol merchants would have sold it themselves."

"Indeed, much of Xiaochi City's resistance stems from the church's unwillingness to renew the franchise rights but instead transfer them to Feiliu Castle." Skage sighed, stroking the wine jug in the beaver's hand, "We can't sustain over six thousand residents on river trade alone."

Horn stood on the steps, looked back, seemingly pondering, or lost in thought.

He looked for a moment before proceeding up the steps and stood beside the guiding Skage.

"I do have a little business to discuss with you, but it's too early now." Horn patted Skage's shoulder, "Get the boats ready, and we'll depart the morning after tomorrow."

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