Chapter 837

Chapter 837: Return to Callites

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Chapter 837: Return to Callites

Hopeland, Callites Chamber of Commerce.

Under the uneven purple eaves, the white stone walls showed light white and pale orange patches under the sunlight. This was the headquarters of the Callites Chamber of Commerce, and also their new base after post-war reconstruction. Compared to the past, it seemed much more spacious and clean, with buildings that were taller and more elegant.

Due to their production of warships and firearms during the war, the chamber of commerce had gained significant profits and rapidly developed over the years. The number of members had increased nearly fivefold, making it one of the largest chambers of commerce in southern Cranxia, exerting strong influence in the surrounding areas.

Standing at the gate of the chamber of commerce, Lolan Hill found it hard to recognize this place she once knew due to the tremendous changes.

Firstly, the gate. Previously, the walls and doors were no more than seven or eight meters high. Now, they were constructed like a fortress. The white pillars were extremely thick, standing on both sides, with two purple spires at the top, each with several small gun ports. At the top of the main gate, there was a heavy steel grid that could descend. The solid wooden doors were rarely closed, but judging by their thickness, even a small cannon might not be able to break them.

To mask the solemn atmosphere of the gate, the door and the walls on both sides were covered with light purple vines, some of which had unknown flowers blooming. The white and purple interlaced patterns adorned the walls and pillars.

“Hello, Miss. Are you here to see someone at our chamber of commerce?” A guard approached and asked as he noticed Lolan Hill standing motionless at the gate. He wore steel-colored armor, holding a halberd in one hand, and had a small night flower badge pinned on his chest.

“I would like to find Ms. Chelsea,” Lolan Hill recalled her old acquaintances from the chamber of commerce. The most memorable one was undoubtedly the head maid, Chelsea.

“Ms. Chelsea is currently in semi-retirement and does not usually meet outsiders. Do you have an appointment?” The guard asked patiently.

“This, um… Here, give this to her, please.” The young girl pondered for a moment before taking out a piece of paper and writing something on it.

The young guard hesitated when he saw the ordinary piece of paper, but eventually nodded.

“Please wait a moment.” With that, he walked towards the guardhouse behind the gate.

Creak—

Pushing open the closed wooden door, a soft snore sounded immediately. On the table inside the guardhouse, a sleeping guard lay face down. He looked to be around forty years old, with quite a few whiskers on his face.

“Wake up, Rupert sir,” the young guard shook his sleeping superior.

“Uh, what’s wrong? It’s not time for the shift change yet, is it?” He rubbed his eyes and looked at his colleague.

“There’s a girl outside who wants to see Ms. Chelsea, but she doesn’t have an appointment. She said just to give her this note,” the guard replied.

“Oh, I guess it’s another salesperson or someone like that. Ah, I’ve seen too many of these tricks. Yawn…” He yawned, still looking a bit sleepy.

“But that girl, well, she’s different. I don’t feel like she’s a fraud,” the guard thought back to the young girl in the light white dress, feeling a faint sense of admiration.

“Haha, you like her, don’t you?” He grinned.

“Well, let me see what she wrote. Ah, you know, the prettier women can be more dangerous, just like back then…” He trailed off suddenly.

“What?” Looking at the familiar, delicate handwriting on the note, he suddenly remembered something and stood up abruptly, startling his companion. Without further ado, he quickly put on his helmet and pushed past his colleague, rushing outside.

“Is the girl still there?” he asked excitedly as he walked.

“Yes, she should still be there. What’s going on?” Seeing Rupert, a veteran of the chamber of commerce, so agitated, the guard felt a bit nervous.

“Nothing, is it her?” After stepping out of the door, Rupert pointed to the girl quietly waiting outside.

“Yes, it’s her.”

“Good, very good. You did a great job today. In fact, this might be the best thing you’ve done since working here,” he said excitedly, patting his colleague on the shoulder.

“Um—” Before the guard could react, Rupert strode outside. Seeing this, he hurriedly followed.

“Lady Lacy, you’re finally back!” Rupert took a closer look and immediately recognized her as the former leader of the chamber of commerce, Lady Lacy.

Looking at the somewhat familiar face, Lolan Hill took a moment to recall, realizing this was likely a guard she had met during her time at the chamber of commerce.

Back then, he was younger, with fewer whiskers on his face, which was why the girl didn’t recognize him at first.

“It’s Rupert, isn’t it? Long time no see.”

In the afternoon sunlight, the golden-haired girl in the white dress answered quietly, her voice as tranquil as ever, bringing a sense of peace.

When Rupert called out, many guards nearby turned their attention to her. Soon, news spread throughout the chamber of commerce like wildfire. Excited voices echoed everywhere.

“Really? Is the Lady back?” An elderly man with graying hair stood up from his desk piled with books and blueprints, his face filled with joy.

“Yes, it’s all over the place. Everyone knows,” a staff member in a white shirt, carrying a book, replied excitedly.

“Quick, take me to see Lady Lacy. It’s been over ten years. I wonder how she looks now, whether she’s married, if she has children. She must be a mature lady by now,” the old man remarked as he walked.

“Back then, we fought with the other three families of Tisifon. That night, we almost flattened Hopeland.”

“You don’t know how beautiful and wise Lady Lacy is. Many young men in the chamber of commerce admired and liked her.”

“But Lady Lacy is not an ordinary person. She won’t stay in this small place forever. She went far away afterward, and only sent letters occasionally, reassuring us.”

A few people walked through the corridor of the mansion, heading outward. From the windows beside the corridor, one could see the bustling figures in the courtyard of the chamber of commerce.

Amidst the clamor, many people crowded toward the gate.

Seeing the increasing crowd, Lolan Hill felt a bit anxious but couldn’t push them away.

Just as she was at a loss, a clear voice sounded behind her.

“Step back a bit, don’t make Lady Lacy worried.” The head maid in black-and-white uniform slowly walked over and stood next to the girl. She pushed her glasses up and scanned the crowd with a warning glance, gradually calming everyone down.

Among the employees of the Callites Chamber of Commerce, there was no one more experienced or authoritative than the head maid. She had met Angus in her youth and later joined the chamber of commerce, witnessing its entire development from scratch.

Seeing the scene gradually calm down, the head maid bowed respectfully beside Lolan Hill.

“Welcome back, Lady.”

“Yes, I’m back again, Chelsea,” the girl looked at the still energetic head maid, feeling a mix of joy and nostalgia.

Back then, when she first left the Tisilin Mountains, she knew little about the current world. It was the head maid who accompanied her, answering her questions and teaching her about managing the chamber of commerce.

After a brief conversation, Lolan Hill entered the chamber of commerce once again, protected by a group of guards.

That night, the Callites Chamber of Commerce was lit up brightly. Everywhere was decorated with lanterns and streamers. Even in the central courtyard, an outdoor stage and tables were set up.

Inside the splendid hall, the night flower chandeliers hanging from the ceiling shone brightly, and gold candles were lit at various corners. Long tables were placed on the usually empty stone floor, with a purple throne at the end.

The throne was made of dark wood with a soft hue, with a deep purple backrest adorned with black wooden nails resembling stars.

Now, the long tables were filled with sumptuous dishes, neatly arranged wooden chairs on either side. On both sides of the hall, nearly a hundred maids in black-and-white uniforms stood, bowing slightly and welcoming the guests.

Looking at this scene, the girl walking into the hall couldn’t help but recall the day she first arrived in Hopeland. It was that night that she confirmed Angus’s successor in the chamber of commerce and began to manage it.

“Welcome Lady Lacy~” All the maids spoke together, then revealed genuine smiles. Compared to other places, the Callites Chamber of Commerce truly provided a more stable environment for its employees, which was why everyone sincerely thanked Lady Lacy.

Dressed in a black and purple night flower gown, golden hair cascading over her shoulders, Lolan Hill slowly walked to the past throne. Gently touching the items left by Angus, the girl felt a sense of daze.

Who would have thought that a chance encounter years ago would lead to such profound impacts?

Angus, Eileen, Sares, Chelsea, Jerick, Rachel, and others—the faces in her memories gradually blurred over the years.

What will the next decade bring? Perhaps by then, some faces will fade away, never to be seen again.

Life is like a journey, always moving forward, always parting ways.

Sitting comfortably in this familiar seat, Lolan Hill looked at the faces around the table, some familiar, some unfamiliar, reflecting on the passage of time.

“Let’s start the banquet. Let’s spend a wonderful evening together,” Lolan Hill rarely drank, raising her glass filled with light purple liquid to toast everyone.

“Yes, our eternal Lady Lacy.”

Everyone seemed to have agreed, responding in unison. Those upright figures exuded pride and honor.

They were part of Callites. They loved this place. The chamber of commerce not only provided for their families and ensured their security but also gave them a sense of purpose. Whenever a new warship or durable cargo was launched, a sense of contentment and pride welled up in their hearts.

Perhaps it was inappropriate to overly praise Lady Lacy, but it was undeniable that without her, the chamber of commerce might have ceased to exist a decade ago. And they wouldn’t know where they would be now.

“Then, let me raise my glass to Lady Lacy once more!”

“Cheers!”

Laughter and cheers continued in the hall and courtyard. Today, after the war ended, everything had finally settled down. They no longer moved around, fleeing the chaos. Now, it was time to celebrate.

The banquet lasted until late into the night. Lolan Hill’s fair cheeks were slightly flushed from drinking. She listened intently to everyone’s stories of the past years—resistance during the war, painful relocations, rebuilding on islands, the joy of launching warships, and the peace and joy of returning to Hopeland.

“You’ve worked hard,” holding an empty wine glass, Lolan Hill leaned back slightly, her gaze hazy as she looked at the people sitting in front of her. Some of them shed tears, immersed in memories.

Finally, when a hint of white appeared on the horizon, the banquet came to an end.

Afterward, Lolan Hill stayed in the chamber of commerce for a while. Upon hearing the news of her return, many members came overnight, and the internal banquet lasted nearly a week before gradually subsiding.

Another morning, in the quiet bedroom.

The girl’s silver hair was scattered on the pillow, her rounded shoulders peeking out from her nightgown, her body gently rising and falling under the covers. After a while, as the pale sunlight illuminated her face, her trembling eyelashes finally opened.

Morning already. Lolan Hill rubbed her eyes and sat up.

Since Chelsea started taking care of her, she had become somewhat lazy lately and no longer woke up early as she used to.

It’s because the bed is too comfortable. Maybe this is the magic of the quilt, sealing people inside.

The girl thought to herself, then got out of bed and began to get dressed.

A while later, looking at herself fully dressed in the mirror, Lolan Hill nodded slightly. That’s it.

She had been in the Callites Chamber of Commerce for nearly half a month, finally sorting out and handling all the matters, allowing her some free time.

Today, she planned to visit Lady Phyllis, her former music teacher, and bring back the playful Ye Ling and the two birds.

After meeting Lanlier and Fengnai, considering she would go to the chamber of commerce and it wouldn’t be convenient to bring Ye Ling along, she temporarily housed Ye Ling at Fengnai’s home. Currently, Lanlier and Lingxin were also staying there. Fengnai’s house, which was spacious and included a large courtyard and garden, was left for her by Melu, making it very comfortable.

Ye Ling must be having a blast these days.

The girl looked at herself in the mirror, her silver hair slowly turning golden, then tied up with a light red ribbon. Prepared, Lolan Hill stepped out of the room, finished her coconut-scented bread and raspberry juice breakfast, and boarded the carriage, heading to the former headquarters of the Anemeyi Chamber of Commerce.

Before visiting Lady Phyllis, she needed to meet Lanlier and the others at Fengnai’s house.

As she was about to get off the carriage, she looked up again and saw another woman preparing to visit as well. This woman held a parasol and wore a floral dress with a mix of deep green and pure white, holding a child around six years old.

Gazing at the mature and gentle figure, Lolan Hill exclaimed in surprise.

“Melu?”

The woman turned to look at Lolan Hill and soon smiled warmly.

“Yes, it’s me. Long time no see, Lacy.”

“Come, call her Sister Lacy,” she reminded the child softly.

The little girl with chestnut-gold hair hid behind her mother, looking at Lolan Hill nervously for a while before slowly coming out.

“Sister Lacy, hello.”

Good evening 0 0/~

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(End of Chapter)