Lord: My Shop Connects to Modern Times

A few days after the caravan left, someone delivered a letter to Grayrock Town.

"My lord, someone has brought you a letter." Leon entered with a parchment envelope sealed with wax.

"The messenger said he came from the capital, and the person who commissioned him was young master Kay Fleming."

Lynn was looking at Ivan's first gunpowder test report when she heard this and looked up.

Kay Fleming?

The Fleming family was also a middle-to-lower-ranking noble family in the capital, similar to the Cole family, and was one of the more marginal noble families. They were old friends with the Lynn family.

Kai was a year younger than him. When they were young, they often rode horses and raided bird nests together in the outskirts of the capital. He was one of the few friends who were not alienated by the decline of the Cole family.

Lynn instantly recalled that when he had just arrived here and there was a shortage of technical talent, he had asked the other party for manpower.

I sent Lynn a letter of condolence when the manpower came before, and I wonder what she wants to do by writing this letter this time.

"Where is the messenger?" Lynn asked, taking the envelope.

"Wait outside the door and tell him that if you reply, he can take it back."

Lynn nodded and removed the wax seal.

The envelope contained a thick stack of letters, bearing a familiar emblem—the Fleming family crest.

The handwriting on the letter was messy, but full of energy—truly Kay's style.

"To my dear, poor Lord Lynn Cole, banished to the wilderness:"

The conversation began with the familiar teasing tone. Lynn's lips curled into a slight smile.

"By the time you receive this letter, you will probably be busy in your land of mud and stones."

"However, the three people I sent to you last time—Thorin, Hal, and Ero—should have relieved a lot of pressure for you, after all, they are some of the few talents I have available."

"My stubborn old man almost beat me up when he heard that I was going to send them to this godforsaken southern region."

"I had to coax him a lot before he finally agreed. You can't treat them badly. If they can't stay here and come back, I won't punish them. You'll only have yourself to blame for not keeping them."

"Okay, enough joking around. I'm writing this letter mainly to tell you a few things."

Seeing this, Lynn sat up straight.

"You know, my father has a sinecure at court, and he has to attend those incredibly boring meetings every week. But he says that in recent months, the meetings have become increasingly bizarre—that's his exact words."

"His Majesty Charles VI has missed three consecutive Royal Council meetings, supposedly due to illness. But strangely, whenever there is an important decision, His Majesty's edicts always arrive on time, and the handwriting... well, my father says it looks a bit stiff, unlike His Majesty's usual handwriting."

"What's even stranger is that it's always that court physician, Maurice, who's in charge of delivering imperial edicts. That old fellow used to be practically invisible, but now he's become His Majesty's mouthpiece. My father once tried to see His Majesty in person, but Maurice stopped him, saying that His Majesty needed to rest."

"Rest in peace my foot! I saw His Majesty once in the palace gardens last month. He was sitting in a wheelchair, being pushed by Maurice. He looked like he had lost his soul, and his eyes were unfocused."

"Of course, you mustn't go around telling anyone about these things. My father warned me that I have to be careful what I say in the capital now."

Lynn frowned. Charles VI was in his prime and had always been quite healthy.

Moreover, Lynn had seen Charles VI once before he was exiled to the South, and at that time Charles VI looked radiant. How could he suddenly fall ill? Even his imperial edicts needed to be relayed?

The court physician, Maurice? The original owner didn't have a strong impression of this guy.

After regaining her senses, Lynn continued reading.

"Alright, now that we've finished talking about the mess in the capital, let's talk about the east—that's where things really get lively."

"You know Grand Duke Rhodes of the Eastern Territory, right? The guy who talks like thunder. He's been incredibly busy lately because a lot of monsters have appeared in the Eastern Territory, more than ever before! And that monster surge... something's not right."

"In previous years, monsters would also cause trouble, but they were always in small groups, fighting and looting, stealing some food and livestock."

"But this year is different. Someone from our family who works in the Eastern Legion wrote that those monsters seem to be organized, they cooperate, they ambush, and they even... sabotage specific targets."

"Last month, they attacked three border outposts. They didn't just attack randomly; they first dismantled the fortifications around the outposts before besieging them. This is highly unusual."

"Even more outrageous, someone saw a leader among the monster horde"—not a stronger monster, but a guy wearing armor who stood like a human.

"It's too far away to see clearly, but I can see two red lights on their faces, which must be the eyes of those guys."

"Those things seem to be able to talk, and are clearly giving orders. The Eastern Legion has tried to encircle and annihilate them several times, but each time they have come up empty-handed, as if the other side knew their movements in advance."

"The people in the Eastern Territory are in a state of panic. Grand Duke Rhodes has appealed to His Majesty for help multiple times, but those officials in the Ministry of War are still stalling—saying they have to wait for His Majesty's imperial approval. Imperial approval my foot! His Majesty is in such a state right now..."

A line of the letter was crossed out here; apparently, Kai realized he had said too much and crossed it out.

Lynn frowned.

The monster commander in the letter looked so familiar to him...

That's right! The messenger!

Those three messengers from Gavin's second attack on Grayrock!

The more Lynn read the description, the more plausible it seemed, and he broke out in a cold sweat.

Are they the same people again?

What exactly are they going to do?

First it was directed at me, saying it was because of the special nature of my bloodline, and then it was the Eastern Territory?

Why was Charles VI so reluctant to send troops? Why did he fall ill at this critical juncture? What was his bloodline? What was his connection to the monsters and the people behind them? What was the relationship between the church's special aura and himself?

All the mysteries seem to have woven together in the air into an invisible giant net, and this net is slowly tightening...

Lynn continued reading.

"In short, the situation in the Eastern Territory is dire. My father says this could be the worst monster tide in nearly twenty years. So—"

Lynn paused for a moment when she saw the next paragraph.

"So, your best buddy, Kay Fleming, has decided to do something really cool—join the army! Join Grand Duke Rhodes' Eastern Legion!"

"Don't glare at me, I know what you're thinking. That spoiled brat Kai, who can't even hold a sword properly, is going to war? Ha, let me tell you, I haven't been idle for the past six months. I found the best swordsmanship teacher in the capital and practiced for two hours every day. Now I can easily defeat my family's captain of the guard—although that guy might be going easy on me."

"My father initially disagreed, but I told him: rather than watching those noble lords scheme against each other in the capital, it would be better to go to the border and fight a real battle. He was silent for a whole day, and finally said: 'Fine, a man must see blood.'"

"So, by the time this letter reaches you, I'll probably already be on my way to the East. Father arranged for me to be an adjutant in a cavalry squadron—don't laugh, I know it's through connections, but you have to start somewhere, right?"

"I'm writing to you for two reasons: first, to tell you about this, and second... well, as a farewell. Swords and spears have no eyes on the battlefield; what if I'm unlucky..."

The handwriting in this section is noticeably heavier, revealing a rare seriousness from the writer.

Lynn tightened his grip on the letter.

This guy...

"If I don't come back, remember to pour me a drink every year on the anniversary of my death—the strongest ale from the Golden Oak Tavern in the capital, don't try to fool me with your sour wine from the South."

"Alright, enough with the serious stuff. Now, let's talk about you, Lynn. I heard you took Ironstone Castle? Really? I met that Gavin Hossman once, he was so arrogant, and you beat him up? Well done!"

"Also, there have been some rumors about you in the capital lately... the not-so-good kind. They say you used forbidden weapons, the power of demons. I know that's all bullshit; you wouldn't even dare kill a chicken when you were a kid. But you have to be careful, some people believe these lies, especially those around Count Karl, who are spreading rumors about you everywhere."

"But speaking of which, if you really have any powerful weapons, could you... um, lend me a few to take to the Eastern Territory? Just kidding, I know the rules."

"That's enough for the letter. The courier is someone I hired; he's reliable. You can have him deliver any messages you have—if I still receive them."

Take care, my friend. I hope we'll both live to see the day we meet again.

"—Your forever, brave, soon-to-be hero, best friend Kay Fleming."

At the end of the letter was a poorly drawn knight's helmet.

Lynn put down the letter and remained silent for a long time.

Kai is going to the battlefield. The Kai who used to follow him around as a child, always crying because he fell down from climbing trees, is now going to face real monsters that can kill.

The letter also revealed information about the unusual situation in the capital, Charles VI's "rest" and the abnormal organization of the monsters in the Eastern Territory...

He recalled the unusually violent and frequent monsters in Grayrock Town, and the methods Gavin and his companions had used to guide those monsters.

Could the monster tide in the Eastern Territory also be...?

"My lord?" Joel's voice brought Lynn back to his senses. "The messenger asked if you've replied?"

Lynn shook his head: "Tell him there's no reply. But give him double the reward and tell him to be careful on his journey."

Joel nodded and left.

Lynn unfolded the letter again and read it once more.

Although Kai tried to remain relaxed in his writing, a subtle unease and worry still shone through.

Grand Duke Rhodes of the East… Lynn searched his memory for the name.

I've met the original owner a few times. He's a typical military nobleman, with a rough but upright personality and loyalty to the royal family.

If even he finds it difficult, it means the situation is really serious.

Meanwhile, in the capital, due to Charles VI's strange illness, the central hub of Dawn City is likely also experiencing problems.

Lynn rubbed his temples. One problem after another.

He returned to his desk, spread out a new sheet of paper, picked up a pen as if to write something, but ultimately put it down.

There's no point in writing to Kai now. He's already on his way.

Lynn put away Kay's letter and locked it in the drawer. Then she called Leon over.

"Send someone to Ironstone Fortress and tell Roland to speed up food stockpiling. Also, starting tomorrow, double the intensity of militia training in Grayrock Town and Ironstone Fortress. We need more men who can fight."

"Yes." Leon paused. "My lord, what has happened?"

"Perhaps," Lynn looked out the window, "perhaps it's just the calm before the storm."

He recalled Kevin's line, "I hope we can both live to see the next time we meet."

I hope so.

As one of the few true friends in this other world, Lynn didn't want this guy to die so easily.