Chapter 631: Familiar Place
Chapter 631: Familiar Place
Leo told Agnivar to lower himself and not come within sight of the city gate guards.
Agni did as instructed and descended to the forest floor at a great distance from the city, ensuring the guards weren’t alerted in the slightest.
"Let’s go through the city gates as high-ranking visitors to check things with our own eyes," Leo said.
By now, Lily comfortably radiated the strength of a Peak 2-star due to the weakening of the veiled woman’s aura suppression, while Leo surprisingly radiated the strength of a Pseudo 4-star. This was because when Agnivar ranked up, the suppression magic failed to properly adjust against the sudden burst of 500 stat points, making his apparent strength jump from Mid 2-star straight to the Pseudo 4-star ranks.
Sylrael was naturally Mid 4-star, but they had her wear a cloak to hide her appearance, especially her ears, which might attract unwanted attention.
After that, they rode Shyra until they were near the city gates, and then she was unsummoned as well.
They started walking toward the city gates, but the first thing they noticed was that the city had actually expanded. The circular walls surrounding it had somehow been pushed outward. If the city had previously been capable of housing 10,000 people, now 30,000 to 50,000 people could easily reside within it.
Even the material the walls were made of looked far better than before.
The number of guards patrolling the walls had also increased, and there was a good amount of people going in and out of the city.
Which meant the city was actually flourishing. The expanded walls were enough proof that some capable Earth mages had come to help the city for producing talented individuals.
Since the city seemed fine from the outside and the letter had reached them, there was a high chance that James and Sera were physically safe.
Lily walked in front while Leo stayed slightly behind her, and Sylrael followed with her head lowered, making the hierarchy between them clear. They didn’t bother standing in line to enter the city and instead headed directly toward a VIP entrance meant for distinguished guests.
The guard stationed there immediately straightened his back and gulped. Just from the trio’s appearance, height, and clothing, he could tell they were extremely high-ranking guests.
When they arrived, he hesitantly asked for their identification. Since Lily was leading, she calmly showed her Silver Badge, signifying that she was a Baron in the Human Empire affiliated with the Beast Hall.
"I am here to meet the City Lord," she said calmly.
The guard quickly nodded before signaling another person to run off and inform the concerned authorities.
At that instant, Leo heard murmurs around them.
"Damn! They are here so quickly? Didn’t our City Lord receive a four-month ultimatum?"
"Shit, I just hope he managed to secure the funds. I don’t want our City Lord to be removed. He’s actually so great..."
"Darn the Milti family!"
"Shhh! Do you want to be killed by them?"
Leo narrowed his eyes as they were escorted by a few guards toward a residence. Apparently, they were supposed to wait until the castle—a newly built one—was prepared to welcome an esteemed guest like a Baron, whose noble status was equal to that of a City Lord.
Though James was just a step away from becoming a Viscount, he was still a Baron.
A four-month ultimatum? Milti family? Funds? They seem to be mistaking us for someone else... Leo thought.
But he understood that there were indeed problems, and they originated from the Milti family.
Zerek Milti... Zolton Milti... both were personally killed by me. Zerek’s disappearance should still be a mystery because his corpse is with me. Zolton died in an official duel. Then on what basis is the Milti family creating problems for Kendru City? Leo contemplated as he took in the scene around him.
The city’s layout had completely changed. The roads were broader, the shops were more organized, and there seemed to be a properly maintained order.
Previously, dirty alleyways, poor drainage, filth and beggars could be seen everywhere, but now everything looked much cleaner. Though beggars were still present, they no longer made the city look nearly as untidy as before.
Before they could watch things further, they reached the guest house, where they were served some fine snacks.
Though Leo and Lily wanted to enter the castle immediately and meet James and Sera, they refrained from using force. Simply by not acting forcefully, they had already learned quite a bit.
Eh? Looks like the academy is teaching something really well... Leo mused. This could be counted as another form of infiltration, and the technique they had used to enter the city had been taught to them during a crash course by one of the professors.
Acting as noble visitor.
Since overhearing the guards had confirmed that James and Sera were safe, they allowed themselves to relax.
But things were the complete opposite inside the castle. People hurried left and right to welcome the guests while James was getting ready against his wishes.
"Sera, I am really unsuited for this title..." James muttered. Beside him, his bear’s robust physique seemed much stronger than before, and it even carried a wild aura.
Sera dressed him in a white-colored shirt to welcome the guests.
"Don’t be like that. We tried our best to secure the funds..." Her expression turned sorrowful as she hugged him from behind.
"Please be safe during the expeditions."
"Don’t worry about that. I’ll be safe. Instead, you should be the one resting." James turned around and gently placed a hand on her belly, which now had a slight bulge.
"Do you really think I’ll allow anything to happen to me before seeing our child?"
"And you’ll allow something to happen after that?"
"Of course not! I promise," James replied with confidence that never truly reached his heart.
Things were actually dangerous.
"I-I am really thinking of asking Leo and Lily for help... They should be very strong by now..."
James immediately shook his head.
"Leave the kids out of this. They have a bright future and shouldn’t involve themselves in these muddy waters. Not to mention... Leo is the one who killed Zerek. If they somehow find out about it, he’ll be executed."
Sera became even more worried.
"Can we not ask for a few more months? We have already collected half the amount..."
James looked down and noticed that Sera wasn’t even looking him in the eyes. Even she knew it was impossible, but her love for him wouldn’t allow her to send him into what was almost certainly a death trap.
"We’ve only managed to collect this much because I embezzled the benefits the city received for producing promising talents... They both even helped before leaving," James sighed as he recalled Leo and Lily’s energetic personalities.
"T-that’s not embezzlement! Most people would have kept everything for themselves. You actually invested 60% into the city... We might have actually managed to repay everything..." Sera clenched her fists.
If James had kept all the benefits the city received, he wouldn’t be in such danger right now and could have paid the enormous compensation demanded by the Milti family.
But the official ruling regarding the compensation had come right after he had invested more than 60% of those resources into the city, as though it had been deliberately delayed.
James let out a weary sigh.
"Like I said... I am not suited for this position."