Six months after dispatching FanTong and WuYou to investigate the rumours surrounding LongTu village, Duke Tan was sitting in his study. Duke Tan, with his graying hair and long beard, exuded authority as he reviewed documents projected by the MagiNet terminal. His warrior physique was a stark contrast to the opulence surrounding him. The sudden, clumsy entrance of FanTong and WuYou disrupted the serene atmosphere.

  "My lord, we have returned!" FanTong declared, striking a dramatic pose despite his disheveled appearance.

  WuYou, equally bedraggled, echoed, "Yes, my lord, we have much to report."

  Duke Tan's eyes narrowed as he took in their mud-splattered clothes and haggard faces. "What is the meaning of this?" he demanded, his voice a mix of irritation and curiosity.

  FanTong, puffing out his chest, stepped forward. "My lord, we have uncovered the truth behind the rumors of LongTu villagers wielding magic. It is far worse than we imagined. The villagers are all expert mages!" He exaggerated, knowing full well that they only saw one solitary villager conjuring water to water the field.

  WuYou nodded vigorously, his voice rising with each claim. “Indeed, my lord! Rain to water their crops! Fire to clear the fields! Lightning to fight off wolves! It was… terrifying!”

  Duke Tan raised an eyebrow, scepticism evident on his face. "Expert mages, you say? And you observed this without being noticed?"

  "Absolutely, my lord," FanTong boasted. "Our superior espionage skills kept us hidden. We are, after all, master spies."

  WuYou chimed in, "But it was not without its challenges. We faced numerous perils—hornets, wild boars, swamps, rivers, and even bandits."

  The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  FanTong nodded solemnly. "Indeed, my lord. We barely escaped with our lives. The journey back was fraught with danger at every turn."

  Duke Tan leaned back in his chair, stroking his beard as scepticism warred with rising dread. These fools had likely fabricated half of what they said—but what if even a fraction of it were true?

  FanTong, oblivious to his lord’s inner turmoil, puffed out his chest. "At one point, my lord, we were surrounded by a swarm of hornets. I heroically fought them off—"

  "While I retrieved the map," WuYou interjected quickly, eager to share credit.

  Duke Tan raised a hand to silence them. "Silence! Your incompetence disgusts me—but I cannot afford to ignore even the faintest possibility of it being true." His voice hardened. "If LongTu’s villagers truly wield such power, they pose a grave threat to the stability of the realm. Leave me. I must consult with the Emperor immediately."

  Duke Tan, terrified by their exaggerated tales and the sight of the bedraggled duo, immediately convened an emergency meeting with the Emperor and the other nobles. The air buzzed with alarm as courtiers whispered and speculated. Duke Tan, pacing back and forth with a deep frown, painted a grim picture of LongTu's magical powers based on FanTong and WuYou's over-the-top account.

  The Emperor, a figure of imposing authority, listened intently. After much deliberation, a decision was made to send Enforcers to recruit the villagers of LongTu into service of the Heavenly Court. However, amidst the frantic discussions and hurried commands, a critical misunderstanding occurred. A clerk, hurrying to convey the rushed verbal orders to Captain Feng, failed to make any mention of recruitment while dispatching the Enforcers on their mission to LongTu village. Captain Feng, known for his zealotry, interpreted the vague instructions through the lens of his own fervour, assuming total eradication was the goal. Thus the Enforcers, renowned for their zeal and unwavering loyalty, proceeded with the intention to totally eradicate LongTu village.

  Captain Feng, a stern and imposing leader, rallied his elite troops with unyielding determination. “We march to LongTu! By decree of the Heavenly Court, all living beings will be dealt with—men, women, children, livestock. Nothing must remain!””

  With that, the Enforcers, clad in their formidable Armor and brimming with magical prowess, set forth on their journey to LongTu.