Four Pillars of the Black Iron City (Part 2)

Quan Jingyi had a refreshing smile as he introduced himself. "Nice to meet you, young warrior. I am the City Governor's representative, Quan Jingyi."

Quan Jingyi was a handsome middle-aged man. He had a thick moustache and a lean body, not much different from the male receptionist from the Green River City four years ago. His outfit was simple, but elegant.

"My name is Fu Tao."

Unlike Fu Tao, Liao Yun didn't introduce herself and pointed at the emptied plate in front of her. "Can I have more of this?"

Fu Tao wanted to face-palmed himself as he couldn't handle the embarrassment in front of Quan Jingyi.

Fortunately, Quan Jingyi didn't feel offended and waved his hand toward the maid behind him.

After Liao Yun was served with another plate of fruits, Quan Jingyi didn't bother anymore as he wore a serious expression.

"I am sorry to summon you in this way, but there is a reason to it." Quan Jingyi, at last, began the conversation. "For every warrior at least Peak Grade Battle Warrior, they are required to come here the first thing after they arrived here. But seeing the big show that you made in front of the city's gate, I reckon that you didn't know about this rule. That's why you were escorted earlier."

"The reason is simple. A little introduction as we check your purpose in this city."

"So, you are suspecting us?" Mingyue blinked her eyes while she swung her legs.

Quan Jingyi was startled by the sharp little girl in front of him, but Quan Jingyi dismissed it as a fluke. "Haha, it's not like that, little girl. In this city, a Peak Grade Battle Warrior is considered a strong warrior in this city. So, we cannot afford to have a fellow Peak Grade Battle Warrior to wreck this city."

Quan Jingyi didn't spare a glance toward Mingyue anymore as he narrowed his eyes toward Fu Tao. "So, what is your purpose?"

There was some intimidation from Quan Jingyi's pair of eye, but the three people in front of him didn't have much reaction.

Fu Tao remembered Mingyue's word before, so he copied Mingyue's word." There is some purpose. The most basic is registering as a mercenary. Mercenary Badge is a convenient thing, hence we sure will go to Mercenary Guild after this."

"The second one is fund. We have used all of our coins for our supplies, we cannot even afford for a carriage. And this problem will be solved if we take some mission from Mercenary Guild."

"Er, to sum it up, we will stay in this city for many days. Is it acceptable?" Fu Tao scratched the back of his head as he looked at the blanked Quan Jingyi.

Fu Tao feared that he had said a wrong thing, but Quan Jingyi laughed heartily. Even the expressionless maid behind Quan Jingyi couldn't hide her astonishment.

"Hahaha, I am sorry for my rudeness." After some time, Quan Jingyi, at last, regained his composure. "So, you wish to stay in this city temporarily? Not a permanent residence?"

"No, we are only playing!" Mingyue shouted before Fu Tao said anything.

"I understand. A temporary residence, right?" Quan Jingyi chuckled a little. "But there are a few things I will add."

"The law in this city is the same with any other city, so I won't talk about it. But, here is the thing that you must remember." Quan Jingyi gathered the four emptied cup on the desk. "There are four pillars of this city."

"The first pillar is City Governor, the one who was tasked to govern this city. And I am included, along with the Black Iron Army and City's Guard."

"The second is the person that you just have a conflict. Red Rage Bear Mercenary. They are a rising mercenary group with a strong backup and foundation. But the opposite of their achievement, their member were all known notorious and vicious. They are even willing to plunder and kidnap people. Their leader, Lian Luoyang is an Elemental Warrior with fire element affinity."

"The third is Lin Family. Different from City Governor and Red Rage Bear Mercenary, this Lin Family has a deep foundation as they are rooted in this city from a long time ago. No one in this city that don't know about Lin family. Also, they also have a lot of store in this city."

"The fourth is the Sword of Light, another mercenary group. Different from the rising Red Rage Bear Mercenary, this Sword of Light is a subsidiary mercenary group of a 4-star mercenary group, Sword of Judgement. Even though this mercenary group didn't have a high achievement, no one dares to make a move on them."

"And the reason I am telling you all of this is for one reason. . ." Quan Jingyi added a silence at the end of the sentence before he continued. "Your presence, your existence in this city destroys the delicate balance of the four pillars."

…

Liao Yun didn't care about the conversation because Quan Jingyi only talked with Fu Tao, disregarding Liao Yun and Mingyue. But Liao Yun was fine because the fruits were always refilled.

"If we exclude Sword of Light, there are three powers which are contending for the City Governor's position. We are in a delicate position, but stabilized. No one has an advantage, and no one is in disadvantage."

"Do you know why there are four pillars? Not more or less?"

Fu Tao didn't answer because he blanked out. Fu Tao tried hard to remember everything that was just said by Quan Jingyi. It had overloaded his brain processing already.

Quan Jingyi didn't mind. "Do you remember him? The leader of the Red Rage Bear Mercenary?"

A figure that was followed by a big man flashed in Fu Tao's mind.

Seeing Fu Tao nodded, Quan Jingyi continued his question, "Do you find him strong?"

"Very."

"Lian Luoyang is the only Elemental Warrior in the Red Rage Bear Mercenary. Even though the Red Rage Bear Mercenary had some of Peak Grade Battle Warrior, they cannot be compared with an Elemental Warrior. There is an unsurpassable bridge between Peak Grade Battle Warrior and Elemental Warrior. Even though Lian Luoyang is the only Elemental Warrior in the Red Rage Bear Mercenary, that cannot be said the same as this city."

Quan Jingyi smiled and pointed at one empty cup. "This, this is Lian Luoyang. From Red Rage Bear Mercenary."

"This one is City Governor, Lady Chen Meilin. From Lin Family, there is their patriarch, Lin Pinghan." Quan Jingyi pointed his index finger toward each emptied cup for every pillar. "There is no Elemental Warrior in the Sword of Light, so we can skip this one."

"Three Elemental Warriors, with each of their agenda."

"And you, maybe you will become the hammer to destroy this balance." Quan Jingyi waved his hand and the maid behind him came forward and refilled the tea.

After sipping hot tea, Quan Jingyi sighed as he stared at Fu Tao, "You are talented, yet you are still young. I reckon you are not twenty, right?"

Not waiting for any reaction from Fu Tao, Quan Jingyi continued, "No need to answer, but that is what Lian Luoyang thought earlier, in front of the City's Gate. A young, rare talented, and moreover, you have your own Battle Technique. By recruiting you, Lian Luoyang will hit two birds with one stone. Not only Red Rage Bear Mercenary would have a promising and young talent, but also additional Battle Technique."

"But, isn't he only inviting me to spar?" Fu Tao felt something wrong about the flow of conversation. Fu Tao felt that Quan Jingyi was vilifying Lian Luoyang on purpose.

Fu Tao didn't have any bad impression toward Lian Luoyang, but it was the same as the person in front of him.

He fell in dilemma.

Quan Jingyi chuckled when he realized the change of Fu Tao's expression. "There is a way for a general to win the fight without sacrificing any life. And there is a way for someone to gain riches without even moving a finger."

"I am not asking you to be enemy with Lian Luoyang, but to be careful of any machination and scheme. I am not worried about you too much since you are Peak Grade Battle Warrior at the very least. You can take care of yourself, big boy." Quan Jingyi swept his gaze toward Liao Yun and the sleeping Mingyue. Both of them were akin to a pair of a sister. "But, how about your companion?

". . . Why is it related?" Fu Tao furrowed his eyebrows not only because he was thinking about Quan Jingyi's sentence, but also he felt the various meaning behind those sentences. Even though Fu Tao didn't feel any coercion from Quan Jingyi, he still felt uncomfortable.

"Are you threatening me?"

…

Shaking his head, Quan Jingyi only smiled, "We are only talking about Red Rage Bear Mercenary. Then, how about the other pillars? City Governor may not interfere as long as the safety of the residence is not disturbed, but Lin Family will. No matter what you do, whether joining any pillar or not, you and your companion will not have a good time in this city."

". . . Even though it is only for temporary?" Fu Tao felt a headache. He was thinking to leave for another city. Staring at the hungry-monster Liao Yun, Fu Tao's eyebrows were twitched.

[No, little ancestor will not care as she sure will suggest making a crap out of those who challenges her.]

"Even if it is only for temporary. When you take a step in, you are already dragged into this mess." Quan Jingyi had an apologetic expression pasted on his face.

". . . The, should I go to another city then?"

"No matter where it is, every Mercenary City is in the similar condition."

Hearing that, Fu Tao massaged his temple. Going to a Mercenary City was not his plan at all. In the end, he took a peek toward Mingyue.

Mingyue opened her mouth and asked, "Just tell us your proposal, it is boring to stay here!"

Quan Jingyi coughed in embarrassment because it was what he was doing. Holding back the proposal as he was observing the reaction of the man before him. But he didn't expect a nonchalant sentence from a little girl made him lost a little composure.

After regaining his composure, Quan Jingyi opened his mouth. "Yes, I have an idea. It should be effective if you are planning to stay in this city temporarily."

Quan Jingyi smiled.

"Leave this city temporarily."

…