Chapter 229: City of Outlaws (1)
BJ00njnAlthough the long winter was coming to an end, a cold atmosphere still lingered in Sturma.GdVfFrj
Hj2WnGXWhile this could be explained by the northern characteristic of resisting winter’s retreat, it wasn’t enough to justify the melancholy that permeated the mansion.Sbtf
8XdAO“…There are so many documents.”GFrP7zH
32bPOKQIt was daytime, but the office was dark, and there wasn’t enough sunlight.7mrZb
pnaRutiger, who was holding a pen there, looked again at the piles of documents stacked on both sides of him, and his face hardened once more.dRCPN5
GVm0j5E“It’s endless, endless.”uekpnOS
HzK5Even though he had spent the night resolving matters, more tasks had already accumulated for the day.RLs00
rmdtLooking at the documents waiting for him, Rutiger rubbed his face with both hands, exasperated.Va3f
zmRRKnock, knock, knock.YIbR
f20PjS“Come in.”76Zs9d
qrBjThe sound of knocking on the door was small but lively.67HB
ZBsTRutiger, who had already figured out who was visiting by the sound of the steps, spoke without even raising his head.uyQR61
STILW“Lord Rutiger, here it is.”59Ws
CeGpaV“Lately, I’m always here. It seems you’ve lost interest in me, Dorothea.”0JM
z6ujejHe said it jokingly, but the corners of his smiling lips actually seemed bitter.yAVnA
asDsktThe tasks increased as the situation changed rapidly.15r
YOsN8uKDorothea, standing in front of Rutiger, pursed her lips for a moment at his seemingly depressed attitude.YC15Ky
t8w“I have a telegram for you.”JRT
QpawB39“From whom?”mvvVvhP
yX8“It’s a telegram from Lord Vlad.”9Ri
EdhaPIRThat’s why she hurriedly mentioned Vlad’s name.BAd6
QzIThough it felt strange to add the title “Lord” to a young man who barely knew how to ride a horse, Rutiger’s surprised expression made her feel the effort was worth it.svMiKw
MFLUlOC“What’s happening? Did he ever contact me separately?”Wd1
7LqTo Rutiger, the name Vlad was certainly welcome, but it was also a name that worried him.dS6BHE
3TNlmBecause he knew very well that the depression currently hovering around the mansion started right next to Vlad.xRbbq
IJ3“…Is it about Joseph?”jKDFZl9
vFjSvk“No, it’s not that.”sPnc2
gGwDorothea carefully placed the notes she brought and spoke.EPb
azE1IE“I don’t know why, but he asked about the tribe I was born in.”FI5j
w1o“Your tribe?”BdE
EUaCVlURutiger’s eyes narrowed at the completely unexpected response.NRYK
cYO5It wasn’t a matter related to Joseph, nor to Radu and Pedro, but something about Dorothea, which was surprising.pn25bJC
t2C“Did you answer him?”SluW
fhx2b7A“…There was no reason not to.”6b0Ri
Q7eniXUnlike other races living in a fixed place, the beastmen, who had lost their homeland, wandered from city to city.eo34Bj
pQxSAIgTo find the whereabouts of such beastmen, they inevitably needed the help of tribe members.RObvHwp
68PEQxh“This year they are in the city of Namarka.”emtgJOo
TPbHIThe finger pointing at the map spread out on the desk stopped at a place.nUMni
nRvTRmThe city of Namarka.gB4
3nA5A city located near the south of the central region.HtwN2
VmmUVkHowever, Rutiger’s gaze did not focus on Dorothea’s finger but on Vlad’s telegram that she had left.Lrzxopz
DUdw4“…I don’t know what he plans, but I’m sure he’ll handle it well.”1gzKjk
1aOLJZAs only short text messages could be exchanged, it was a magical telegram that could only write a few words.vbc
F7yTTherefore, it was a telegram that had no choice but to be written in detail, but at the end of Vlad’s words, there was clearly a greeting to someone.vkp4G
M98It was just a few words of greeting, but no greeting could be as comforting as this for Oksana, who had now lost her strength.LZIxpuh
QQLxn***yqXU
XlWmGwX“Why is it in such a remote place, Namarka or Nimirka?”AcmzVa
tGTMThe road was filled with mud, as the frozen ground began to thaw.Az4vIPR
vv10i2Even though he was on horseback, Radu frowned and grumbled as the mud reached his thighs.Pkq
0WqcEcM“If you keep complaining, go back north.”a996kRL
DL1j4g“…”CqPW3
oF5LCElHowever, Radu had no choice but to quickly shut his mouth at the chilling voice that came from beside him.Ju7p
VOI51PEAlthough he disliked the destination, he preferred it to heading north.wdB9i
idFl“I was just saying. Are all northerners this extreme?”oZ3
d0Rj5ln“Yes, we are all extreme. So please shut up.”YHGx4HM
6fNnuANot only extreme but also very difficult.OVwc
2BKNHowever, Vlad was the one holding his life in his hands, so Radu had no choice but to stay quiet.XbTU
7WM9s“I told you to go back north. Why do you insist on walking into the dragon’s mouth?”CawP
uX5“It’s too late. We can’t go now, so what are we going to do?”pWn
GypLPRThe group that left Arnstein’s territory was now heading to a southern city, not north.gtoVh
6nhQPedro, who disliked the direction, also started murmuring, but Vlad clearly had a good reason to come here.fh0IOa
f96d“Marcus told me the road north is already covered by the Duke’s men. Will we be able to overcome all that with just us?”vBCw
9lVGNZi“Damn it. I don’t like any of those damned dragons.”HRo
hRYe“…You’re not talking about me, are you?”rxoNvdv
1zR54FDThe county of Arnstein was located near the center of the central region.rMn1n9
8gsuP7What this meant was that for Vlad to head safely north, he would have to pass through quite a few central territories, and it also meant that it would ultimately be difficult to break through the siege of the Dragon Slayer Knights.aqpGcNX
dW3MOf course, Vlad had no intention of heading north from the beginning.RLaWN
dhZcNt“There are properties written by Count Arnstein himself. From now on, we will follow the territories where the Court Duke’s faction is located and head north as he told us.”9heif
7WHwSyWhen Vlad said he would follow the most reliable route and only choose safe places, even Pedro had no choice but to nod as if he had no other option.vmvTY
xKOnht“There it is! That’s Namarka.”tDFce
rSZveq“Ah, today we can sleep at an inn.”pAZOkmc
1CDWith a sigh of relief from Radu, the sprawling city was seen through the fingertips of Nibelun, who took the lead.JlQ5
7cTSZziThe city, surrounded by flimsy fences, seemed dangerous, but it was actually a bustling place with lively people inside.VqZ
4vewQg“…Namarka.”mkKgck
ywFRJVlad, contemplating the view of Namarka from the hill with Noir, began to laugh wildly at the vaguely strong smell of his hometown.QUx8I
1lA“Looking over there makes me feel at peace for the first time in a long while.”ZCf
Ki59tokCity of Namarka.lgrBR2
DTIDisputed by three lords who claimed it as their own. For this reason, no one truly dominated it, and the locals called it the city of outlaws.l3oHm32
1M9g8***YiZYu0J
mZ5XCab“Where are you going?”K1mE
5BNbNN“Why do you care?”0xeP
TFacs“…I’m a guard.”EVeqH
0hlWP“Really?”ynA
Yr1Vlad, who was passing through a wooden fence that didn’t look like a castle gate, looked at the man who grabbed him.8OCRsn
8sguThe guard, with several missing teeth, seemed accustomed to Vlad’s indifferent attitude.Adoz
fIgRI“Then you should have said so earlier. I couldn’t distinguish you from the others.”blCu
b7DXyNo matter how crazy a lord was, he would at least equip his guards who watched the castle gates with proper gear.z1LLJo9
BmCbFHowever, the city of Namarka was filled more with criminal organizations than lords, so the guards’ outfits were no different from those of thugs.8FCkKu
DTyM“Identification.”pL3MSZA
I6xFG“I don’t have any.”Ui3KEt
YhWIltAlthough Vlad spoke with such confidence, the guard naturally extended his palm as if knowing he would.y7spd
Oxw5The appearance of the group, vividly recreated by an old veteran from the alley, didn’t seem out of place at all compared to the people currently lined up in front of the castle gate, so the guards had no reason to be particularly cautious.0oPma
5KK“What are the tolls these days?”6lmd
V7VfFe“Pay upfront.”V5W7
PkIwNi“Oh, you really shouldn’t be doing this.”zsZqC
TpbHuTruly a city of scoundrels.bxLVT9
jTOWjAVlad scratched his forehead as he combed his tangled hair, seeing them shout to make the first move, which is almost like an unwritten law in the North.NL2uB1T
N4zT2The tall face visible thanks to his raised head was impressive, but the smile with many dark spots seemed so raw that there was no need to ask where he was from.dgr0
cEeY“Two old men, a cat, and a child…”VQV
YnPe7dNThe guard, who had let his guard down at Vlad’s open attitude, looked at the group lined up behind him.KO8g
sGQFmLooking at the old man coughing loudly and the beastman with cross-eyed pupils, they were a pathetic group of people who seemed to have nothing to eat.E9h2
Uks8Qw“Three silver coins. The elders simply treat it as such.”60Wxo4R
LC7Arlt“You’re doing a good job. Take it.”RNSut
fVWA9Vlad, who deftly slipped the silver coin into the guard’s arms, quickly let the group in through the gate.Q1Vi4r
EJNYUxcPedro, trembling with anger, lay down for a moment, but in the guard’s eyes, he was nothing more than a tall, thin old man.bGiA
RqM2ak“What a disgrace…”kVlA6A
Rx0z“You have to endure it. This is the way to the next territory.”1jgrSu
a2OlThe scene in Namarka, where Pedro was dragged with much effort, was as chaotic as expected.YpL
Xtm5Ea“…It’s a completely corrupt city. God tests me again today.”UiqILv
kpW9dMBeggars lunging at the slightest distraction, half-naked prostitutes in the alleys.ylkAVY
ru4Moreover, the sight of drunken people lying here and there was so bad that it was hard to tell if they were corpses or not.dGsMmXw
R6A“Radu, come here.”ERQ
THLhxFF“…You call me brother, right?”Vou1d
3EO7JXxVlad called his blood brother as if he were a dog, but Radu couldn’t express any discontent.weO
7QxIf he followed Mirshea, he would die, and if he went north, he might be trapped forever, so only Vlad was his option.Rhh5V5
gFf5aO6“Take this and stand in the street for a while.”2uGyW
L3C6“Hmm?”PlGh
7gjyi85Vlad, who didn’t know the city’s geography well but had found his own way through his experience in the back alleys, was now standing in front of the main street where there seemed to be more beastmen than humans.wr5is
8PdNwcThe subtly different atmosphere along the way clearly indicated that this was the territory of the beastmen.Speu3za
Jonl“What’s this for?”FyKZ
JcCflFc“Maybe you don’t know yet, but northerners have an impatient personality.”DPFH
WDA4E“…Yes?”a8GB
EgJBM“Go quickly.”kBZ
QibUTRadu, who grabbed the jingling money bag, stood in the middle of the street without understanding anything.DPt
efMAThe sight of Radu standing by the road as if everything was awkward was the very image of an old man who had gotten lost.nvIOIJy
tfL0“…It seems it’s not just the body that’s aged.”tramat
LY1J211Vlad, who was observing Radu while standing in an invisible corner, clicked his tongue.bho
3U2hO3sAlthough he was someone who led the Dragon Slayer Knights, the current Radu didn’t even notice the pickpocket who had just passed by him.O68j
mmQ“Let’s see where he goes.”CRR
1qDgEven though he was walking among the crowd, he could clearly see Vlad’s blue eyes.svqZ
lB8The tail of the young beastman was moving a lot, with ears perked up as if he was nervous.psyWKa
plHzSPThe young pickpocket, who looked around to see if anyone was following, checked the bag he had just stolen from Radu and hid in a dark alley.iBGg3k
GKLhq1j***xOit5
2N5FmA pitch-black cat darted out of a dizzying alley.C30kowx
50BAlthough it was breathless, showing how much it had run, the young cat’s speed did not decrease at all.TJf
ZZcCx“Damn it!”JU2pg0v
Og53h5It was a young pickpocket who jumped over a wall and hid in a familiar alley, but he soon started at a sound he heard.Rr7ov
lVEQd8x“Are you here?”c6QMR
Q4F“…!”N0xBscw
FnWBlonde hair and blue eyes that were clearly visible even in a dark alley.H3N6U
NGoEAmQVlad’s eyes, looking at the pickpocket as if all his running had been in vain, even had a hint of mischief in them.enGlx
VPNBavz“Idiot, you followed me all the way here.”6cA6q
nsfSeeing Vlad like that, the young pickpocket laughed.jEdJ1Y
uaf7CThe surprised expression he had shown before disappeared, and other young beastmen who had been waiting behind the boy with a deep smile began to come out.hhFDEzW
cj481WF“These guys don’t know what’s coming. They just follow the money without valuing their lives.”Drokxd
52n“Yes, I know. I did it on purpose.”ewsrRy
IAI5cHowever, Vlad simply nodded despite the boy’s ridicule.97Xo6c5
aiGfDY“Aren’t there more beastmen to call? If possible, I’d like them to be high-ranking people.”dNT9xTK
eMkPkJorge had said:fNjF
DtcPKXTThe best bait was the one that didn’t know it was bait.lSYNsP
0GwZ4CNVlad simply smiled at the young pickpocket who led him to the alley where the Lu family was staying.NU9LE
mE5ipGThis alley where Vlad smiled was the territory of the beastmen.BzIYEp
hzsBzV9Specifically, the Ruga tribe to which Dorothea belonged.Y6Z2xU
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