Roger Smith: "Shh, here comes another real beauty from across the way—delicate features, absolutely stunning, elegant and poised. I give her a ninety-eight!"

Ethan Foster: "I give her a ninety-nine, she's a celestial goddess! Just a bit too young."

Henry Clark looked at these two lecherous men with cold eyes, snorted disdainfully, and said, "Look at you two! Like you just got out of prison, no class at all! Look at our Lord Thompson, so composed—he hasn't said a word and..."

David Thompson hadn't said a word, but had already run over.

"Didn't expect the boss to beat me to it. Can't blame him, after being cooped up in the Far East for six years, he's a man of flesh and blood too, must be desperate!"

"Ha, look at him! Suddenly blocking the girl's way, not saying a word, just staring at her—he's definitely going to get slapped!"

"Look how scared the girl is, her face has changed color!"

"Exactly, exactly, look, she's so scared she dropped her handbag—honestly, our boss is pretty pitiful, so unlucky with women, no wonder he's so eccentric! Henry Clark, you should take better care of him in the future!"

"What are they doing just standing there staring at each other? Shouldn't she be screaming for help by now?"

What happened next was beyond their wildest imagination: that noble, elegant, and charming girl suddenly burst into tears and threw herself into David Thompson's arms!

David Thompson gently but firmly held her by the shoulders, gazed into her tearful eyes, and slowly knelt on one knee to perform a hand-kiss.

Roger Smith was dumbfounded: "He proposed that easily?"

Ethan Foster was full of regret: "If I'd known, I would've gone up myself. Turns out women in the imperial capital are really open!"

"You two, stop talking nonsense!"

The three of them jumped in shock—he could hear them whispering from dozens of meters away? David Thompson's voice wasn't loud, but it was as clear as if he were speaking right next to them.

David Thompson's voice was more severe than ever: "This is the only daughter of the family's former Grand Chief, Lord Zichuan Yuanxing, the niece of the current Grand Chief, Lord Zichuan Canxing, and the first in line to inherit the family headship—Miss Olivia Thompson! Pay your respects immediately!"

Roger Smith, Henry Clark, and Ethan Foster all dropped to one knee and bowed their heads in salute.

Olivia Thompson's beauty was otherworldly—her flowing long hair, flawless jade-like oval face, delicate crescent brows, and most captivating of all, those lively eyes, now brimming with tears, which did nothing to diminish her beauty but instead added a heart-wrenching, sorrowful charm.

She walked toward David Thompson, her steps and posture so graceful it was beyond compare, leaving Ethan Foster staring in a daze, Roger Smith drooling, and Henry Clark feeling annoyed (with jealousy).

David Thompson sighed inwardly—at just sixteen, she already possessed such enchanting allure; what kind of spell would she cast on the world when she grew up?

Olivia Thompson: "Brother, you're back!" She had already regained her composure, but the emotions contained in that short sentence were so complex that David Thompson dared not probe deeper.

David Thompson gave a bitter smile and respectfully said, "David Thompson pays respects to Miss! Has everything been well with you lately?"

Olivia Thompson was taken aback, not expecting David Thompson to respond so formally. She gazed at him for a few seconds with her deep, beautiful eyes, then switched to an official tone as well: "All is well! How has Deputy Commander David Thompson been? When did you return to the capital?" But the joy from earlier was gone from her voice.

David Thompson: "This subordinate entered the capital district just this morning. I apologize for not being able to pay my respects to you sooner."

"Oh, then Deputy Commander David Thompson must have had a hard journey!"

"This subordinate does not dare claim hardship, and is honored to serve the family."

Olivia Thompson fell silent, as if unsure what to say. David Thompson was also silent. Even someone as dense as Roger Smith could tell that David Thompson had lost his former ease and spirit, now seeming stiff and awkward—of course, none of them would break the silence, since David Thompson's discomfort was their greatest joy!

Henry Clark thought to herself, "These 'siblings' are really strange..."

"And who are these people?" Olivia Thompson seemed to notice the others for the first time.

"They are colleagues from the Far East Army who transferred to the capital with me. Come, greet Miss."

Roger Smith straightened up and introduced himself: "This subordinate is Roger Smith·Luoyange, originally from Shaga, a bannerman in the Far East Army, young and promising, ambitious, with a bright future, twenty-four years old, unmarried, currently seeking a gentle, virtuous, and understanding fiancée... Ouch!"

On either side of him, Ethan Foster and Henry Clark withdrew their fists without looking, as if that heavy punch had nothing to do with them.

Ethan Foster gave a military salute with great poise: "Ethan Foster·Delian, bannerman of the Far East Army, currently serving under Lord Thompson. It's an honor to meet you, Miss. Please allow me to pay my respects!"

Henry Clark saluted: "Henry Clark·Jianaming, from the West, currently a bannerman under Lord Thompson."

"Oh my." Olivia Thompson showed little reaction to Roger Smith and Ethan Foster, but was very interested in Henry Clark's introduction: "Sister, you're already a bannerman at such a young age, so capable—and so pretty too..."

Henry Clark bowed with dignity: "It's all thanks to Lord Thompson's guidance!"

"May I ask where Sister Henry Clark will be staying in the capital this time?"

"This subordinate just arrived and hasn't been assigned a place yet—probably at the barracks."

"The barracks are no good, dirty and old. Why don't you all stay at my house instead?"