"Elara, since you run a business and often travel far and wide, you must frequently encounter unexpected dangers. It just so happens that the Artificer's Pavilion recently created many secret mechanical devices that can be installed on carriages and convoys. They are quite powerful."
Frederic pointed at the attendants holding various mechanical devices.
"These thirty boxes of hidden arrow platforms, ten arrow turrets, ten concealed dagger-arrow sets, ten hidden weapon belts, ten hairpin darts, ten jade bracelet sleeve arrows, five pairs of agate earring weapons, and five gold-and-jade capes made with golden silk armor will all be gifted to Miss Elara as a thank-you."
Elara looked at the arrow platforms, turrets, and other devices in the attendants' hands.
The arrow platforms and turrets at the front especially stood out. Both their complex structure and the number of arrows they could hold were much more advanced and massive than the portable ones Lucian had used in battle earlier. Their power seemed significantly greater.
Lucian glanced at the devices again, then stepped back to Elara and quickly explained how to use each type of hidden weapon.
"Elara, these are the most commonly used mechanical hidden weapons by the Artificer's Pavilion. They're stronger than the ones I just used earlier. Once the arrows inside are used up, you only need to reload them, and they can be used again."
"You can mount the arrow platforms and turrets anywhere on your trade convoy. They're easy to activate. Even if you encounter thousands of bandits or enemies, these devices alone can protect you. Ordinary experts will struggle to avoid the continuous mechanical attacks, and others won't dare come near you."
After that, Lucian pointed at the luxurious hidden weapon accessories that looked like normal gold hairpins or jade bracelets.
"The way to use these accessories is simple too, and their lethality is just as high. You just need to wear them like regular jewelry in daily life. When needed, a simple touch will activate them. They can silently launch over ten needle-like projectiles at once. A single one aimed at a weak spot can easily take a life and protect your safety."
Elara listened carefully as Lucian explained everything.
She had earlier thought that if she could bring these hidden weapons from the Artificer's Pavilion back to Plumera and install them on the city gates, it would be perfect. And now, these highly lethal mechanical devices were really being gifted to her as a token of thanks.
No matter how many tests or motives were hidden behind Frederic's gesture, such valuable items could not be refused. Elara naturally accepted them.
Besides, the assassination attempt had nothing to do with her in the first place. She had no reason to be afraid of his probing.
When Lucian finished explaining the usage and safety precautions, Elara finally raised her hand and gave a slight bow to Lucian and Frederic.
"In that case, thank you both."
Lucian saw that she didn't decline and smiled slightly.
Perhaps it was because she had saved him several times tonight. Even though they had only met today, he had already developed feelings of warmth he had never experienced before.
He wanted to repay her.
The jade token his brother gave and these hidden weapons were just an initial return gift.
Lucian's worth far surpassed these items. So in the future, as long as she needed help, he would be there for her.
Seeing Elara accept the gifts without hesitation, the coldness in Frederic's eyes softened a little more.
He raised his hand again, and those standing around Lucian approached to escort him back for a medical check.
"I'll appear at the Rare Treasures Banquet tomorrow. If you wish to find me, just go there. It's too late today, so I'll go back with my brother now. You... stay safe."
After saying that, Lucian mounted his horse with the help of the attendants. Even as he got on, his deep blue eyes remained fixed on Elara.
Frederic also got on his horse. His gloved hand held the reins, and his blue eyes also looked at Elara.
"The Artificer's Pavilion will investigate those responsible for tonight's assassination attempt. Until the end of the Hundred Nations Banquet, we will also tighten security across Geranium Capital. I will make it known that your presence in the pavilion was purely coincidental and remove you from suspicion."
"As long as you remain in Geranium Capital until the banquet ends, you won't need to worry about being pursued. If you're still concerned after the banquet ends, you may come to Lucian or me, and we will have someone from the Pavilion personally escort you home."
That he could say all this meant most of Frederic's suspicions about Elara had been cleared.
But everything still had to wait until they examined Lucian and confirmed that he had truly taken the medicine from the Valley of Divine Healers and received her help.
Only then would everything be clear.
After speaking, Frederic gave Elara a slight nod and then left on horseback with Lucian and the rest of the Artificer's Pavilion.
Elara and Uno returned to the merchant camp outside Geranium's royal city just before dawn.
There were quite a lot of hidden weapons left behind by Frederic, especially the arrow platforms and arrow turrets. Each turret was half as tall as a person, and the two of them couldn't carry everything by themselves.
Fortunately, the Wei clan members who had always stayed by her side quickly rushed over from a hidden forest a few hundred meters away after confirming the others from the Tiangong Pavilion could no longer sense them. In a short while, they carried all the large and heavy mechanical devices and brought them back to the merchant convoy site outside the city without alerting anyone, hiding the mechanisms inside the convoy's carriages.
Elara didn't rush back to the inn. She led Uno into the carriage storing the devices and checked the larger ones first. Then she inspected the smaller hidden weapons, confirming everything was in good condition.
After picking the best-looking belt and concealed weapon sword, she handed them to Uno and told him to wear them tonight to test them out.
She then summoned the top ten guards of the Wei clan and had each of them choose one belt and one sword to wear and practice with until they became skilled.
After that, Elara took a pair of amethyst-colored ornamental earrings shaped like weapons and wore them on her ears.
They were indeed beautiful and practical.
But since she usually found earrings troublesome to wear, she thought about it and decided to put them away. Instead, she picked a fork-shaped weapon similar to her usual gold hairpin and placed it on her head. She also wore a purple jade bracelet on her wrist before having the guards hide the rest of the weapons. Only then did she and Uno finally return to the inn.
They returned to the inn silently. Elara washed up and changed back into the sleepwear she wore before leaving. Then she lay down on her bed, ending a night filled with unexpected events and gains.
Early the next morning, she woke up at her usual time and went downstairs with a calm expression to have breakfast with Mr. Yu, Gareth, Mr. Gong, Emory, and the others.
That day was the second-to-last day before the grand banquet of the hundred kingdoms began. Visitors from all over the continent continued to pour in through Geranium's gates.
The city became livelier. There were more merchants on every street selling all kinds of unique items, and the roads for the rare treasures fair became increasingly crowded.
According to the information Gareth had received, Leland's crown prince, Leland Hanhe, wouldn't arrive for another two days.
Coincidentally, the envoys from the Kingdom of Stone Tranquility and several of its third-tier vassal states were also due to arrive in two days.
So Mr. Yu, Gareth, and Elara decided to continue exploring the rare treasures within Geranium, gathering information from different nations, waiting for the official opening of the grand banquet, and for Leland Hanhe's arrival.
That day, Elara returned to the rare treasures fair and used a little squirrel to send a message to Lucian, who was still seated behind the curtain in the main seat.
She didn't ask to meet him again. She only briefly inquired about the results of his physical examination and shared with him the method for solving the issue of the "tricycle."
Since he now counted as one of her people, Elara didn't mind offering him some benefits.
As expected, Lucian replied that the Tiangong Pavilion had found nothing abnormal in his body. It was confirmed that he did have the medicinal energy from the Valley of Divine Healers in his system and that Elara had indeed saved him. The focus of the Pavilion's investigation had now shifted to the identity of the assassination organization's forces.