New World(4)

After walking for a while, they finally emerged from the dense jungle, and a rocky road came into view.

"Ah," Lex suddenly remembered. "I could've gotten some information from those bandits before killing them."

"Should we turn back, my lord? We could still use some means to get information from their dead bodies," Dabrius suggested.

"Yes, my lord. I could even make their dead souls speak if you wish," came a hoarse voice—Varus, speaking for the first time.

Lex shook his head. "No need. It would be a hassle. We're heading to the city anyway; we can gather information there."

"Yes~, yes~, let's go to the city! I'm tired of being stuck in a place like this with nobody to play with," Fruede chimed in, flashing a sly smile at Dabrius.

Dabrius clenched his fists, forcing himself to stay calm. First, because he knew he couldn't defeat Fruede. Second, because he refused to make a bad impression in front of their lord.

After this brief exchange, they continued on their way.

As they drew closer to the city, faint traces of wheel marks began appearing on the road. Step by step, the distant silhouette of the city became clearer.

After some time, they finally arrived at the city gates, where a line of people waited to register and gain entry.

By the time they reached, only a single carriage remained ahead of them, which soon passed through the gates.

As they stepped beneath the massive gate—made of some kind of black material—a guard clad in full-body silver armor approached. His grip tightened around the spear in his hand, prepared to act if anything out of the ordinary happened.

The guard looked at them, his muffled voice echoing from beneath his helmet.

"Who are you, and what business do you have in Lepez City?"

'My lord, shall I handle this?' came Dabrius's voice in Lex's mind.

'Go ahead,' Lex replied through a basic thought communication skill.

Dabrius stepped forward with a composed smile, his posture exuding confidence. He met the silver-armored soldier's gaze and spoke in a slightly haughty tone.

"We've come to Lepez City to procure supplies, as well as a horse and carriage. The one our lord lex was traveling in was unfortunately destroyed when some blind bandits dared to attack us on the way."

He paused before adding, "As for who we are— this is our lord lex and we are retainers of our lord, accompanying him on his journey." Dabrius glanced at Lex with deep respect, reinforcing his words.

The silver-armored soldier observed them carefully, as if piecing together something.

"So… is your lord traveling to Aurelious Academy?"

"Hmph, mind your own business," Dabrius replied coldly, his tone sharp and dismissive. He didn't confirm nor deny the question, but a faint pressure emanated from his body, pressing down on the soldier. A bead of sweat trickled down the guard's forehead beneath his helmet.

"Y-yes, you may all pass after registering your names and paying two copper coins per person," he stammered, regaining his composure as the oppressive aura faded.

As the soldier finished speaking, Dabrius stepped toward the registration table at the side, where a copper-armored soldier sat. Without much fuss, he wrote down their names, handed over eight copper coins, and rejoined the group.

With that done, they stepped through the city gates.

Inside, the soldiers stationed within wore copper armor, their auras noticeably weaker than the silver-armored guard at the entrance. However, to Lex and the others, the difference was meaningless—one was an ant, the other just a slightly stronger ant. Paying them no mind, they continued forward into the city.

—

Unbeknownst to them, a pair of greedy eyes watched their every move from atop the massive city wall, where copper-armored soldiers patrolled.

One of the soldiers, a copper-armored man named Gaphor, watched them with a greedy glint in his eyes.

"Gaphor, you idiot. Don't even think about messing with them unless you have a death wish."

A muffled yet authoritative voice came from behind him as the silver-armored soldier, who had just conversed with Dabrius, approached.

"Commander!" Gaphor snapped his head around before quickly saluting. Then, with a confused expression, he asked, "What do you mean by that, commander?"

"Hmph, don't take me for a fool. I know exactly what kind of people you usually walk with. If not for the fact that your father died protecting this city's gates when monsters attacked from Feryl Forest, and you were his only son, I wouldn't have let you take this job. Hell, even a damn dog would be more suited for it than you."

A flicker of anger passed through Gaphor's eyes at the commander's harsh words, but he clenched his jaw and kept his head lowered, hiding his emotions.

The commander shook his head with a regretful expression, as if sensing what Gaphor was thinking. But it was his duty to ensure his soldiers' safety, so he continued,

"And do you really think those people in luxurious clothes are just some helpless nobles? Just the fact that they came from the Feryl Forest side—crawling with monsters and bandits—without so much as a tear in their robes should tell you enough. Not to mention their noble bearing and... the faint deathly feeling that emanates from them."

He let out a slight scoff before adding in a low voice, "Otherwise, Why do you think I personally went down to talk to them? Do I look like an idiot to you?"

A shudder ran through him as he recalled the suffocating pressure Dabrius had released.

"So it would be best if you harbored no ill intentions toward them," he said faintly before turning to walk back to his post.

"Yes, Commander," Gaphor replied obediently, his head still lowered.

But the moment the sound of the commander's footsteps faded into the distance, he lifted his head, his eyes burning with hatred beneath his copper helmet.

'Who do you think you are, old man? How dare you talk to me like that—again and again? My father died because of you, and yet you think you have the right to scold me?'

Without hesitation, he left his post, heading toward the soldier sentry to report that he had urgent business. Then, without looking back, he slipped into the city.

Watching from above, the silver-armored commander let out a sigh, shaking his head.

"Don't blame this old man, Larry..." he muttered, his voice tinged with exhaustion. "I gave advice to your son, but he refuses to listen."

He exhaled deeply, a weary smile tugging at the corners of his lips inside the silver helmet.

"Haah, I really am old now."