FATE: Target of Grand Master

It must be said that Feng Yan's mind works very quickly. Xia Yan immediately prepared to return to the safe house to inform the two of them.

"This must be your first time back here. You and your Servants have a good time exploring. I'll go inform them. We'll meet at the market in the city later."

The two had already shared a life-or-death bond, so Xia Yan naturally didn't stand on ceremony and gladly accepted Feng Yan's kindness.

While waiting for the others to arrive, Xia Yan accompanied Tiamat as they strolled around Uruk City.

As for Ereshkigal, she returned to the Underworld alone to oversee its related work.

"Little one, what's this?"

Tiamat's gaze was fixed on a small stall in the market.

Xia Yan followed Tiamat's gaze and saw rows of yellow, animal-shaped solids stuck in wooden sticks and placed in a shady spot that blocked out the sun.

"This is maltose," Xia Yan replied.

"As expected of the former governor, you are indeed knowledgeable. That's right. This is a sugar-making technique that the King recently taught us; he calls it maltose. Little sister, would you like one?"

"Waaaaah...waaaah...waaaah..."

When Tiamat heard the human in front of her call her "little sister," she immediately puffed out her cheeks to correct him, but Xia Yan covered her mouth.

"But boss, we didn't bring any money."

Gilgamesh recently implemented a monetary system in Uruk, and Uruk gradually transitioned from a barter system to a money-for-goods system.

"Former governor, there's no need for you to pay. You helped the king and saved Uruk; how could I possibly charge you for a mere piece of malt candy?"

Despite the boss's enthusiasm, Xia Yan did not feel entitled to it.

"That won't do. Boss, you're in business. If I don't pay, it means you'll lose money. If I take it for free today, won't other powerful figures in Uruk also be able to take it for free tomorrow? I can't set that bad precedent."

"But..."

The boss was clearly not expecting Xia Yan to refuse his kindness, and was at a loss for what to do.

"Lord Xia Yan is right, we can't take things from the citizens of Uruk for nothing. I'll pay for this malt candy."

A gentle female voice suddenly came from inside.

Xia Yan turned his head and saw Xi Duli wearing a veil, smiling as she took out two copper coins and placed them on the stall owner's table.

"Lady Siduri!"

When the boss saw that the visitor was Siduri, he quickly prepared to kowtow, but Siduri waved her hand to indicate that it was not necessary.

"Lady Tiamat, please take this."

Siduri handed Tiamat a malt candy shaped like a goat, and then handed Xia Yan a lion-shaped one.

"I don't need it," Xia Yan declined.

"I just paid for two. If Lord Xia Yan doesn't take them, I'll have overpaid."

Seeing that Xiduli had said so, Xia Yan had no choice but to accept it.

"Siduly is a good girl."

Tiamat, who had already put the maltose in her mouth, praised Siduri with satisfaction.

"Thank you for the compliment, Lord Tiamat."

Seeing that Siduri showed no sign of leaving, Xia Yan realized that she had obviously come to find him, so he and Tiamat walked together in a direction where the crowd was less dense.

"Lord Xia Yan, please don't misunderstand. I'm just here to convey the King's message. The King said that as heroes who saved Uruk, he has not yet expressed his gratitude, which is beneath his dignity. Therefore, he invites Lord Xia Yan and three other lords to a banquet at the temple tonight."

Not long after Xia Yan and Feng Yancai decided to call Lan Muyan and Diao Yunshang over, Gilgamesh found out, clearly having used his clairvoyance.

Xia Yan naturally wouldn't refuse the king's invitation, but he was worried that Gilgamesh would use his clairvoyance even for such a small matter. Wasn't he afraid of overworking himself to death again?

But thinking about it, Ereshkigal isn't in the Underworld most of the time, and even if Gilgamesh goes there, he can probably sneak back on his own, so Xia Yan decided not to worry about it.

"Yes. Please tell the King that we will be there on time for the banquet."

"Lord Xia Yan, these are the copper coins currently used as currency in Uruk. Please don't think it's too little; consider it a small token of the King's appreciation."

Siduli handed Xia Yan a bulging bag of copper coins.

This time, Xia Yan did not refuse. After all, Gilgamesh was not short of money. Refusing would offend the king and displease Gilgamesh.

Have a great time, both of you.

After Siduri left, Tiamat had already finished the goat-shaped malt candy.

Despite her girlish appearance, Tiamat didn't show any childishness in wanting to eat Xia Yan's candy. Instead, she insisted on learning how to make maltose from the boss she had just met, and then she wanted to make some for Xia Yan when she returned to the safe house.

Xia Yan originally wanted to continue showing Tiamat around, but seeing that "Mother" insisted, he gave in to her wishes.

He was there to help Tiamat relax, so the way they relaxed should naturally be based on Tiamat's opinion.

Tiamat has an exceptional learning ability and quickly mastered the production of maltose. The price she paid was that Xia Yan's sugar intake today was several times higher than usual.

To ease the burden on her stomach, Xia Yan deliberately avoided the food stalls and turned to the handicrafts area.

However, Tiamat preferred simple, practical knots to fragile pottery.

After quickly learning how to make several knots, Tiamat made eleven in one go, preparing to give one to each member in Xia Yan's safe house.

According to Tiamat, even troublesome and naughty children are still her children, and as their mother, she must give them love.

Of course, Xia Yan still has the right to choose first.

Looking at the eleven knots Tiamat was holding in her hands, Xia Yan could feel that each one contained a faint divine aura.

As a Chinese, Xia Yan still chose the combination of Chinese knot and jade pendant, tying it around his waist.

Seeing this, Tiamat also put another similar pair of Chinese knots into her pocket, and put the remaining nine knots into a cloth bag.

As evening approached, Feng Yan, Lan Muyan, and Diao Yunshang arrived in Uruk with their respective two followers.

Without further ado, Xia Yan immediately relinquished ownership of the two formal attires, which were then given to the other two individuals.

After the formal attire was handed over, the four of them, along with the eight Servants accompanying them, attended Gilgamesh's banquet.

"I will not engage in pleasantries. As for your merits in protecting Uruk, I will order them to be engraved on stone tablets and passed down for eternity."

Gilgamesh looked at Xia Yan and the other three, a slight smile playing on his lips.

"If this world continues to develop to your modern era, perhaps your names will be discovered by archaeologists of your time, and then you will become famous."