Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Just when the soldiers were caught between a rock and a hard place, an army began to swarm out of the city. The person leading the army was a young man wearing heavy, black armor. He was tall and handsome, with well-defined features. He was angry to see the travelers stopped at the gate, with no people getting in to trade or spend their money. But he gasped at the sight of Halalei, his anger falling by the wayside.

“Brother Halalei, when did you arrive at Sitana City?”

“Masseus, we got here a while ago, but I was nearly chopped to pieces by your men, instead of welcomed!” Halalei shouted, letting his exasperation show. “I heard that something has happened in the city. Is uncle alright?”

Masseus looked from Lamada’s slumped form to the soldiers that still surrounded Halalei and his traveling companions. He barked at the team captain to explain the situation. Soon enough, he was up to speed on the day’s events.

“He sure threw the reputation of Sitana City out the window!” Masseus growled, and cracked his whip toward Lamada’s body, ordering the guards to tie him up.

He had rushed to the gate with his guards in tow the moment he caught wind that an accident had occurred at the east gate. He did not expect to encounter his cousin Halalei, or for such a scandal to play out so soon after he’d accepted a promotion to become the leader of the city guards.

“Brother Halalei, let’s go, we will talk about this in detail at the castle!” he called to Halalei. He smiled at Hans, Yang Ling, and the rest, arranged loosely behind him now that the guards had eased up. They followed attentively behind Masseus as they made their way to the City Master’s manor.

If there were many merchants outside the city gates, there were even more within them. The magnificent streets were packed with people. There were many shops, street peddlers selling their goods, and even more bustling commoners…

Yang Ling cracked the curtains of his carriage, and took in the so-called most opulent human city in a hundred mile radius. There were shops on both sides of the streets, from lavishly decorated weapons shops to bars teeming with people. There were even merchants that specialized in selling magic staffs…

Yang Ling counted roughly, and he noticed that there were five weapons shops, two bars and three shops selling magic staffs in just the span of a few dozen steps. Most of the customers patronizing these shops were powerful warriors, or Spellcasters dressed in long robes. He had heard that the Livenza Alliance had forged an empire through its merchants and soldiers. It looked like that was true!

A huge quantity of premium metal ores were needed to forge various weapons and armor. One needed a large number of Magical Beast Essence Crystals or premium crystals to create magic staffs. As he watched the people moving along the streets of Sitana City, Yang Ling was convinced he would have no trouble finding buyers for the resources he transported from his own territory.

“Brother Yuri, this is the territory of Halalei’s family. You can tell him if you want anything, you don’t have to be polite with him!” Fatso leaned in on his horse and whispered, “The young ladies in Sitana City are fair and tender, their skin fairer than even that of a Snow Rabbit on the glaciers. You would remember it for the rest of your life if you try one out! Do you want me to introduce you to a few?”

Yang Ling looked at the lecherous Hans, unimpressed. Yuna turned her back on the conversation angrily, but listened intently for Yang Ling’s reply.

Shaking his head, Yang Ling asked a question of his own. “Hans, isn’t Halalei the son of a commoner, who makes his living by being a soldier? How could he have a connection with the City Master?”

Hans laughed conspiratorially, and said, “Brother Yuri, I won’t hide it from you now that we’re so close to Monston. Halalei’s true identity will knock your socks off!” He smiled mysteriously, and glanced around them for prying ears, before he continued. Then he told Yang Ling who Halalei really was.

As it turned out, the Livenza Alliance was made up of a dozen duchies. The Kaliya Duchy was the largest of them, accounting for more than half of the alliance’s military and economic might.

The capital of the Kaliya Duchy, Montson, had many great merchant associations and armies. They were home to the Aragon Merchant Team and the Boulade Merchant Association, both famous across the Tailun Continent. Many families with long histories called the area home.

Halalei belonged to one of them: the Nicholas family, whose name had spread all over the Tailun Continent. They controlled the powerful Illusory Knights Team, and the family was a pillar of support for the Kaliya Duchy and the Livenza Alliance.

Every knight in the Illusory Knights Team was at least a high level Swordsman. Even though they only had a little over three thousand members, they were formidable on the battlefield. Throughout their history, the Nicholas family had successfully defended against the attacks of the Rossi and Banto Empires using the Illusory Knights Team, made up primarily of warriors from the family.

Because of their valiant contributions throughout history, the Nicholas family had enjoyed the title of Earl for several hundred years, and it could be passed down through the generations by the Duke of Kaliya. The eldest son, who would inherit the family, would be conferred the title of Earl from birth and would receive the respect of everyone from the various levels in the Livenza Alliance.

“Halalei is not the oldest son, but his older brother was born an idiot, unable to count the number of fingers on his hand despite being over twenty years old. According to the law of the Kaliya Duchy, after his rite of adulthood, Halalei will be able to officially take the place of his dull-witted brother, and be the first in line to succeed the family. He will also officially become the youngest Earl in the continent!”

Hans shook his head as he spoke, the rolls of his face jiggling. Yang Ling did not know if he was showing pity for Halalei’s dull-witted brother, or envying Halalei’s luck.

“Well then, what about the identities of Lia, Lobina and the rest?” Yang Ling asked.

“Lia’s father is the master of the Magical Association in the capital, and Maputo has the bloodline of the Orcs, and is the son of the captain of the emperor’s guards. As for the acne-ridden Lobina, she was born into a great family in the capital, and their influence is rather large. In just a few months, we will be able to graduate from the capital’s Royal Institution and take part in our rites of adulthood.” Hans ogled passing women as he talked. He was definitely a pervert, given his lecherous eyes.

Now Yang Ling understood the whole story. No wonder these inept, inexperienced creatures had banded together. It was no coincidence at all, given their mutual ties to aristocracy and the capital’s Royal Institution. He looked back to Hans, and asked, “Lia, Halalei, and the rest have such influential backgrounds. What about you? What’s your story?”

“My old man back home is not a noble, nor is he a powerful Spellcaster. But we do have a lot of money!” Hans boasted. “Actually, my goal in life is very simple. I would be very satisfied if I get to eat and drink every day, and have some beauties on my arm, everywhere I go!”

Yang Ling heard Yuna snort, and begin to laugh. He had a hard time holding back his own laughter. With Hans’ background, it would be easy for him to obtain food and drink daily, but not so much with the beauties. His fat face alone might scare them off, and his basin-like belly was worse.

“Well, Hans,” said Yang Ling, still chuckling, “since we are nearly at our destination, I’ll hide it from you no longer!” He then began mocking Hans, shaking his head in an exaggerated motion. “I’m actually a great leader. A very, very great leader!”

Fat Hans didn’t believe Yang Ling for a minute, and continued watching for beautiful women. He couldn’t imagine the man he knew as Yuri as any great leader. Sooner that Sharo Boars could climb trees!

Many a time, lies were more believable than the truth, it seemed!

Yang Ling looked from Hans to Yuna, and back to Hans again. It looked as if his act as an unimportant merchant on this journey had been too convincing. Hans thought he was lying.

Sitana City bustled around them. As Yang Ling noticed Hans’ gaze drift down the back of a pretty woman walking by, stopping to take in the curve of her rear, Yang Ling turned away from him to take in the rest of the opulent city.

There were many people on the street, but they all made way upon seeing the insignia of the Nicholas family on Masseus’s clothes. Even the lavishly dressed people got out of the way.

And just like that, the group faced no obstructions along the way, despite the huge flow of traffic. They arrived at a gothic-style castle in just an hour’s time. The castle was tall, with arches, large windows, and stained glass depicting the legends of the Church.

Perhaps due in part to the day’s assassination attempt, many heavily armed guards patrolled the castle. In addition, scouts hid all over the area, motionless and waiting. They blended in with the scenery, hiding in trees, among decorative mountain scenes, and even in the water.

Ever since he had attained the level of mid level Earth Wizard, Yang Ling knew his perception had been greatly boosted. He could effortlessly discover the guards hidden along his path. But there were some areas that he could not understand. He could sense strange waves of energy coming from the area, but did not know if it came from Magical Spell Formations or perhaps something else.

After entering the castle, an old man who seemed like a butler soon attended to them, and escorted them to a villa surrounded by trees where they would stay the night. Soon, female servants brought them plates of delicacies. Hans stuffed himself so full that he burped incessantly, his stomach round and protruding. He almost had trouble walking.

After ensuring everyone was settled comfortably, Halalei disappeared and did not return for a long time. Elite guards remained behind, guarding the villa diligently. These were seasoned scouts with decent abilities, not regular house guards. It seemed that the situation was far more serious than anyone had realized.