Despite Alnea’s declaration, there was still about an hour left before they could go to the Blood Hall. And without any information, discussing what kind of situations they might encounter was meaningless. So, rather than wasting his time worrying about what his enemies might be planning, he asked Daes and Tia to fill in the details, and other things that Tivya might have skipped in her explanations.

  As it turned out, Nanya was not lying when she said that Tivya had already explained most of the rules. The only thing she had not explained, were the things prohibited by the city, and the resources it offered to its residents. Like special mansions, that were designed to help Wanderers stabilise their Hearts. No wonder, even people with broken Hearts were able to advance to the True Rank.

  Yet, resources that could help Wanderers break through to the True Rank were of the most basic type. The city even had means to aid Wanderers in their experiments with Mysteries and Aspects. Not to mention the resources that could accelerate their cultivation of Spirit Power. That too, with barely any side effects. In comparison, the resources open to the Wanderers in the outer city seemed paltry.

  …Maybe, staying in the inner city for a few more weeks was not a bad idea. No one said that he could not prepare for the Rising Wanderer Trials from within the city itself… But he missed his mother. And his master. Besides, he did not think that the other clans would let him live in the inner city peacefully. Especially if they learned that he already had a three star privilege before even entering the inner city. The legacy hidden in the city…

  “…It is time,” Alnea said when the hour approached its end. “Are you ready?”

  No one was. And rightfully so. How could they be ready, when they did not even know what they were about to face? But retreating was not an option. So, everyone answered with a nod.

  “Then what are we waiting for?” Alnea said, pushing himself off his seat, with the others following suit. Even Daes and Tia. True Wanderers following the lead of an Advanced Stage False Wanderer…

  “Let’s go,” Alnea said, Slashing the awkward thoughts in his Heart, before turning around and walking towards the mansion’s exit. It was not time to hesitate. Besides, they were going to become his Dependents. It was only natural for them to follow his lead. There was nothing awkward about it…

  “You look nervous.”

  “…I am not nervous… Just a little flustered.”

  “…Relax. Try not to think too much.”

  “…It is a little hard not to think, when the entire city might be against us.”

  “…No matter what happens, I will be there with you.”

  “…I know,” Alnea said, stepping out of the mansion, and into the street. From the safe haven, protected by the city’s rules, into the traps prepared by his enemies. “This time, let’s face everything together.”

  “Finally,” Yuri said. “You are not acting like a complete fool.”

  “…Facing death three times is enough for me. I do not want to face it again anytime soon. And I cannot have master seeing me embarrassed either.”

  “You should have thought of that before ruining your robe.”

  “…That was not my fault,” Alnea mumbled, glancing back at the mansion, just as its doors closed behind Daes. “Remember what we discussed. Other people might try to incite us into action. Ignore them. And if things get out of control, let me handle the situation. But no matter what happens, do not take any action. We can have our revenge when we return ten years later. Right now, our priority is leaving the city. So, we cannot have any conflicts before we meet up with my master and Daes’ mother. Does everyone understand?”

  Everyone nodded their heads.

  “…Then let’s go, see, what kind of surprise they have prepared for us.”

  The expected kind, apparently, with a group of about ten Wanderers blocking their way just about a minute away from Daes’ mansion.

  “Raymond,” Daes said, noticing the man standing at the head of the group. Probably about a head taller than her, with no moustache or beard, and his hair tied up in bun behind his head. Just like the other Wanderers behind him. “Bonis, Draun… It looks like they have come for you, Tia.”

  “…Again?”

  “If you had listened to my words and dragged them to the Arena the first time they came to you, they would not have dared to come to you again.”

  “…Unlike you, I do not have my mother covering my back,” Tia said, not even bothering to glance at Daes. “Leaving aside the question of whether or not I can defeat him, even if I did defeat him, what would I do next? How would I handle the Blood Lord behind him?”

  “…Blood Lord?” Alnea mumbled, without slowing down his steps. “Is he someone’s Dependent?”

  “…Not exactly a Dependent. You can think of him as more of a follower, or rather, a spokesperson of the Mystic Wanderers from his clan.”

  “…The most troublesome kind then,” Alnea mumbled. “Which clan is he from?”

  Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

  “The Redhorn clan.”

  “…Redhorn?”

  “…It is a declining clan, that is barely maintaining its status as a Grand clan, so you do not have to worry about them.”

  “…On other day, maybe not. But today… Is it convenient for you to tell me why he seems to be targeting you?”

  “There is nothing inconvenient… It is just that someone from his clan wants me to become their follower.”

  “…Follower? Not Dependent?”

  “…Yes, follower.”

  “What is the difference?”

  “…You can think of followers as personal servants,” Tia said, not willing to say anymore, but she did not need to. The audacity to ask a True Wanderer to become a servant…

  “Do you want to detour around them?”

  “…That will not be necessary,” Tia said. “Having the backing of some Mystic Wanderers may have made him arrogant, but he would not dare to break the city’s rules so blatantly. Besides, it is too late to make a detour now…”

  “…There you are,” Raymond said, leading his men towards the woman he had been waiting for. “Have you thought about what I said last time, Tia?”

  “…I am busy right now, Raymond,” Tia said, slowing down her steps, and coming to a halt. Not because she wanted to talk, but because the men in front of her had blocked their path. “Get out of the way.”

  “Busy?” Raymond said, glancing at Alnea. “Is it not just escorting a rookie to the Blood Hall? I will let my men do it for you, while you come with me to meet the Lord. He has been waiting for your answer for a month.”

  “…I have already given you my answer, Raymond,” Tia said, furrowing her brows. “I will not say it again. Get out of the way.”

  “…Are you sure that you want to refuse the Lord?” Raymond said, mirroring Tia’s scowl. “Do you know how many people would kill just for the chance to meet him, let alone get his favour?”

  “And I have told you, I do not want his favour.”

  “…That is not up to you,” Raymond said, withdrawing his scowl for a grin. “Today, you have to come with us, whether you like it or not.”

  “…Do you want to break the rules of the city?”

  “Rules? What are rules in front of the Lord? As long as—

  “I think she has made herself clear enough,” Alnea said, stepping in front of Tia. “Get out of our way before you end up regretting your actions.”

  Instead of moving away, as Alnea demanded, the man just blinked at him, before bursting out in a laugh. Just like the rest of the men behind him.

  “A False Wanderer threatening a True Wanderer?” said the man with the weird, sparse moustache, standing behind Raymond. “That is a fresh one.”

  “You cannot blame the kid though,” said another man, the one with a short stubble of bear on his chin. “What else can you expect from someone cosying up to a Thunderbird?”

  “…Now that you mention it, it does sound reasonable…”

  “But does she have no shame? She is almost the age of his mother—

  “What did you sa—

  “Daes.”

  “…Just get rid of them before I lose my patience.”

  “Oh? Are you so confident in your cub?”

  “…I have met all kinds of people,” Alnea said, shaking his head. “But this is the first time I am meeting someone who is so enthusiastic about digging his own grave.”

  “…Are you talking about me?”

  “Do you see anyone else around us?”

  “…It looks like being pampered has made you lose your mind,” Raymond said, replacing his smile with a solemn face, as he unfurled his Spirit without restraint, pressing his Spirit Power onto Alnea’s shoulder, which Alnea dealt with just as he had dealt with Daes’ Spirit Power a while ago. By blessing himself with Oren.

  “Who do you think you are talking to?”

  “…I know exactly whom I am talking to, but it looks like you may not know whom you are talking to,” Alnea said, without showing any visible signs of discomfort, prompting the man’s expressions to turn even more ugly than before. But that was still not enough to drive the man away, so he provoked the man once again, saying, “Are you sure that you want to talk to me like that?”

  “…And you still do not repent,” Raymond said, increasing the pressure he was exerting on Alnea, only to be met with the same result. In the end, he simply gave up trying to assert his dominance with just his Spirit Power, and began calling for Oren.

  “Where do you get the confidence to talk a True Wanderer like that? Is it because of the Thunderbird? Or do you think the city’s rules will save you?”

  “…The city’s rules are not saving me. They are saving you.”

  “…It looks like you will not learn your lesson until I carve into your bones,” the Wanderer said, and seemed ready to move, when Alnea reached into his robe and took out his Blood Card, before holding it in such a way, that everyone could see its details, covering only the part about his Contribution Points. But that was not the focus of anyone’s attention anyway. His privilege level alone was enough to draw both, their eyes, and their Spirits.

  “Were you saying something about teaching me a lesson?”

  “…Impossible!”

  “Do you still think that I have lost my mind?”

  “…How can you have a three star privilege?”

  “Are you regretting your actions now?”

  “…It must be you! You must have given him all your Contribution Points!”

  “…Even if I gave him all my Contribution Points, what does it have to do with you?” Daes said with a sneer, as the men kept staring at Alnea with wide eyes. “Now, get lost, before we call the city’s law enforcement team, and have you arrested for insulting a Blood Lord to his face.”

  “…You…”

  “Oh, and just a reminder. You should try not to venture into the desert for some time. And also, be careful in your Wanderings. After all, people who talk about the age of women do not tend to live long…”

  “…You do not have to worry about me,” Raymond said through his gritted teeth, but did not dare to make any moves. Though that did not stop him from threatening Tia. “Are you sure that you want to choose him over the Lord?”

  “…I think we have already made it clear,” Tia said. “Get lost, before we call for the city’s intervention.”

  “…The Lord will not be happy to hear your choice, Tia,” Raymond said, glaring at Tia, before signalling his men to clear the way, who seemed a little too eager to follow his orders. “He has been very patient with you, but you keep rejecting his kindness. Now, you better prepare yourself to face his wrath.”

  “…A forced kindness is not kindness,” Alnea said, as he passed by the man. “And before you warn others, you better prepare yourself to face my wrath when I return ten years later.”

  The more that Alnea spoke, the uglier the man’s face became, but he did not dare say anything in return. Not after he had seen Alnea’s Blood Card. It did not matter if the boy before him was an entire Rank lower than him. In the Lost City, what mattered most was not strength, but privilege level. And while his privilege level was that of an Elite Blood General, the boy had the privilege level of a Blood Lord…