Chapter Twelve: The Governor of Mexico

After landing on the coast of Jinzhou, Mexico, Sun Li and the twin wood elf sisters met with an agent of the Embroidered Guard, arranging intelligence work in the Mexican region and reporting his own situation. Of course, to Princess Yun Yun and Princess Lulu, Sun Li, this young nobleman, merely seemed to be instructing his servants on local business operations. For security, Sun Li temporarily concealed his identity as Emperor of the Song Kingdom from the sisters—not because he distrusted them, but because wood elves placed absolute trust in their kin. If the sisters learned of his true status, it would only be a matter of time before all wood elves knew. Sun Li had no desire for his reckless actions to become public knowledge; who knew what madness the great powers might undertake if they discovered an imperial emperor roaming about with no purpose? Sun Li certainly didn't want to become a hunted fugitive!

So far, Sun Li had hidden his identity exceptionally well. Song was a remote realm; among the European powers, only the Empire of England paid any attention to this nascent kingdom. The other nations barely regarded Song, for the true centers of power lay on the European continent.

For convenience, Sun Li and his companions presented themselves as a wealthy young master accompanied by two wood elf slave girls. On the surface in Jinzhou, most wood elves were slaves; it was common for the wealthy to parade their wood elf servants about as a symbol of status. Sun Li, Su Yun Yun, and Su Lulu had no intention of passing through big cities; this identity was enough to deter petty criminals. Thus, after several days’ journey, Sun Li escorted the two wood elf girls safely through most of their route, arriving at the nearest town to the wood elf leader’s rendezvous point. Compared to other wood elves, Sun Li’s party traveled in comfort: they could sleep in pleasant inns, enjoy delicious meals when hungry. Their lives in Jinzhou were like paradise, especially when compared to the wood elves’ hardships. No wonder the free wood elves fought ceaselessly against the invaders—such disparity in living conditions would drive any intelligent race to resist to the end!

Unable to possess stable housing, forced to scavenge for a decent meal while hiding and being hunted like prey—the harsh life had forged a people who naturally harbored deep hatred for the colonizers who had stripped them of everything.

The ruler of the Mexican colony, the Governor of Mexico, considered Jinzhou to be a veritable paradise for mankind. The reason was simple: he was a highborn English noble, a notorious playboy, and Jinzhou boasted countless beautiful wood elf slaves of all ages. The Governor could take his pick, free from moral restraints. In an age barren of entertainment, was this not the ideal paradise for such a man?

The two burgeoning empires governed their new colonial lands with crude methods. The governors sent from the empires were typically direct heirs of powerful domestic families, wielding astonishing authority—military, administrative, and judicial powers all at their disposal. As long as they refrained from undermining the property of great merchants and nobles, and regularly remitted a handsome sum to the empire’s treasury, they could do as they pleased within their domains.

Of course, aside from their perverse hobbies, those who became governors were shrewd and capable. They treated immigrants from their homeland well—after all, with so much land and so few people, there was no need to oppress them. Population was a vital resource!

Naturally, the burden of oppression shifted onto Jinzhou’s indigenous population. Their feeble armed resistance posed no threat, and the governors enjoyed widespread support among European immigrants. Everyone relished the feeling of being superior; impoverished Europeans arriving in Jinzhou could transform overnight into the privileged class. How could they not support the colonial government?

Although the nobles still ruled above, the wood elves occupied the lowest tier. Human nature being what it is, when there are those beneath you, social tensions are less acute. This was the key reason why relations between the nobility and common folk in the New World were far more harmonious than on the European continent.

Inevitably, this unbridled Governor of Mexico busied himself with two things during his tenure: first, amassing gold to enrich the empire’s coffers and his own purse; second, hunting for beautiful wood elf women through local thugs, offering rewards for any information. Once discovered, he would immediately dispatch men to purchase them. Agents of major powers, out of respect for the Governor, would not quarrel with him over a few wood elf slaves on his turf. Their backing might not fear the Governor, but they avoided unnecessary trouble. If their bosses learned they had made enemies over mere slaves, they would surely face dire consequences.

As for the smaller factions—did they dare resist? The Governor’s guard had arrived with the envoy; they could make their own choice. Indeed, the Governor deployed his entire thousand-man guard for such matters, occasionally even enlisting the local garrison if the harvest proved abundant.

It was easy to imagine how many unfortunate wood elves met their deaths at the hands of this depraved Governor.

Sun Li and his companions, aware of the Governor’s lust, could do little. Apart from those merchants forced to sell, who could have guessed that this lofty official would be so obsessed with such pursuits? Merchants, unless courting death, would never gossip about a high-ranking governor. This was no society of free speech; the colony was under a dictatorship!

Naturally, Su Yun Yun and Su Lulu, the extraordinary twin sisters, had already been reported to the Governor by some opportunistic street ruffian eager for reward. And what measures would the Governor take?

Upon arriving in town, Sun Li checked into an inn, intending to rest for the night and proceed to the rendezvous the next day. While dining, Sun Li, ever sharp, sensed a commotion outside the inn. Soon, a gentleman in a silk suit, flanked by two attendants, entered. He glanced around, his eyes brightening at the sight of Sun Li’s party. He mused that these thugs had good taste; surely this would earn him favor with the Governor—perhaps even advancement. In the envoy’s mind, finding the target was as good as accomplishing the mission.

The young nobleman, clearly of Song origin, gave the envoy confidence. What important figures could possibly hail from such a remote and insignificant nation? With his mind at ease, the Governor’s envoy, proud and arrogant, strode toward the Song nobleman accompanied by two beautiful slave girls.