A scorpion scrawled its way over the damp walls of a cave.
"The night of the red moon approaches soon."
The scorpion, careful and wary, hid between the cracks of the cave walls as it made its way ahead, its eyes set on a centipede.
"My liege, do we truly have to do this?"
Step after step, the Scorpion crawled up to the thoughtless centipede.
"The words of the ancestors are not to be taken lightly."
The scorpion's tail rose. It was ready to sting the centipede to death.
"But, my liege, it has already been 500 years."
A slither rang out.
"The name of Tantalus Atreus stands on line."
A hiss sounded.
"He will come."
pαпᵈα-noνɐ1·сoМ Before the scorpion could sink into the centipede, its feet were taken off the ground. The scorpion could only flail as its body was carried away into the cracks of the walls.
"King Balam will come."
***
It took another two weeks. A day before the start of a new month was when I reached the capital city of Midea.
A city in the very center of the empire, Midea was one of the largest metropolises in the entire continent and the heart of the Atreus Empire.
"It's divided into different districts, right?" I leaned ahead on the carriage and talked to the coachman as we waited in line for the security check.
"Yes, sir," he said. "There's a total of seven districts in the Empire. There's not much of a ban on travel between them, but each district is divided on status."
I looked out the window and at the walls of the city. There were still a few carriages in line before us. A large wall stretched up into the sky, though smaller than the one at Deep Down Town, no one could say that this wall was lackluster. Like a gigantic fortress, holes and windows were carved inside the thick walls. Banners of gold and purple bearing the crest of the Empire and its many knight orders hung over the wall in a makeshift collage while the top of the place was decorated with frequent patrols and cannons.
The gate we were at was as wide as the entrance of the Hall Family's castle. The number 5 was etched on top of the door in the Empire's language.
I could hear small chatter from the outside as many merchants and travelers waited in line around us.
"It would have been faster if we had gone to the fourth district, sir."
"No, this is fine. I'll be taking a look around before going up to the guild house."
"Oh?" The coachman turned around and reached into the pocket of his robes. He then handed me a scrunched pamphlet.
"Are you giving me trash?"
"No, no!" The coachman hurriedly swung his arms around. "It's about a casino, sir. The nightlife in the empire is famed all over the world. It is just one of those places."
I opened up the pamphlet and looked at the information about the casino. I had heard that the Empire had quite the wild nights with a bustling culture of gambling and even red light zones, but for it to be so common even in the capital city.
The maps I had seen didn't mention them, but most books and accounts did.
"Are there casinos in the upper districts too?" I asked.
"Oh, of course. I just thought you'll be more comfortable here. Since you are so... uh... open-minded."
Fucker.
The carriage soon went ahead and our turn came up. I got off after going a bit deeper into the fifth district and the coachman stepped out too.
"So, where to from here?" I asked.
"I'll travel in the empire a little, sir. It's a good chance to make money near the capital." He scratched the back of his head and smiled. "If you are ever in need of some great wine, sir, the Dorsey Liquor store in the sixth district is run by my cousin. You'll find great quality stuff for cheap there, even if it's not wine."
"Hah. I'll keep it in mind," I said. I snapped my fingers and a bag of money appeared in my hands.
"Ooh! This magic of yours is always a splendid sight, sir. For such a young person to perform Superior Grade magic--"
I tossed the bag of money to his face. The coachman grabbed it with a small smile.
"I've put in a tip so quit it with the praises."
"Haha, it was all honest, sir."
I waved my hands, and the coachman bowed once again. I turned on my feet and walked away, leaving behind the coachman.
The hustle and bustle of the city were incomparable to what was in the Deep Down Town. Despite being one of the busiest places, Deep Down Town remained a city focused on adventurers, while even the fifth district of the Empire was largely different.
My eyes fluttered around as rows of two to three-storeyed buildings filled the surroundings. Brick lined up with gypsum and limestone supported the foundation of the buildings while the road below was a mix of stones and bricks creating an elevated sidewalk for the citizens to walk on, away from the carriages on the go.
"Say, Titania, got any place you want to visit?"
"We're moving around to get a good idea of the city, right?" My fairy partner asked.
"In case something is up after all. It'll be good to know how we can escape."
It had become a frequent thought of mine to ensure escape routes and prepare for danger these days. Previously, I didn't think it was necessary for problems I could handle, but once I started facing life-and-death situations willingly in the last two years, unlike how I was forced into them as Yujin, a different thought process started to bloom.
A truly strong person is not only able to overpower anything with strength, but also through wits.
Ah, the path of strength was ever-growing. What a beautiful road and what a beautiful destination power was.
"Ground to Eugy! Come back~"
"Apologies."
"It's ok, you're at the age of delusions after all."
I flicked my finger at the fairy who giggled and danced around me as we made our way through the streets of the empire.
"Eugy, where are we going to be posted?"
"Well, the first three districts are where the nobles reside. Lower-ranked nobles in the third district, dukes and marquises in the second along with external nobles, and only the Imperial Family and its guests could stay in the first district." I shrugged. "It's likely going to be the third district."
"Then then!" Titania closed up to my face and raised her hands excitedly.
"Let's infiltrate the first one! For fun!"
I stopped.
"Titania, are you a genius?"
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