"What's the plan? How do you want to sneak inside the city?" Liu Ye questioned as he watched the city gate in the distance.
In any normal city, all players could come and go freely but it seemed like the border Cities were an exception. The City Guards were checking each person going inside the city and even the merchant carts were being supervised.
Liu Ye could enter without any problems but if the guards saw the Queen of the Earth Empire, they would definitely ask questions. Not only did she arrive without advance notice but she also had no security which was beyond suspicious.
"Isn't this the reason why I took you with me?" Queen Luna asked back while encouraging him with a pat on his back. "I know you will figure something out. I am counting on you."
Liu Ye had already double-checked the details of the quest and it was too vague to argue with her. The word 'help' included in the quest information could as well mean 'Do anything Queen Luna needs to succeed' and there was nothing he could do.
The Dragon City had only one entrance and it was a man-made passage that dug right through the mountain range. If they wanted to find another way inside, they had to climb the tall mountains before crossing a tall wall that stretched across the whole border. Even if they could use Earthbending to cross the mountain quickly, it was still daylight and it would be impossible to stay unnoticed by the City Guards.
Liu Ye watched all the carts entering through the main entrance and one of them caught his attention. It had multiple women in lewd outfits who cuddled around a single man who enjoyed their company. That alone gave him an idea.
"Where is the Treasure Vault located?" Liu Ye asked curiously as he eyed various carts heading towards the city. "Is there perhaps in the City Lord's castle?"
"That's right," Queen Luna nodded while following his gaze. "After we pass through the gates, we have to sneak inside the City Lord's territory and find the hidden Treasure Vault inside his castle. I don't really know its exact location."
"Alright, I have a plan then," Liu Ye decided and walked in the opposite direction from the City Entrance. "Follow me and look down. Don't show your face to anyone."
"What are you trying to do?" Queen Luna questioned confused as she followed closely behind. "You won't find any other passages if that's what you looking for."
"We are looking for a good ride that we can use to pay the City Lord an official visit," Liu Ye explained casually and suggested, "Now it is our turn to become robbers."
Wooden carts on the main road were getting scarce with each minute as they wandered away from the Dragon City but Liu Ye wasn't interested in those. They needed something fancier to fool the City Guards.
Liu Ye started to slowly lose hold when they suddenly spotted a sturdy carriage in the distance. It was assisted by two guards on each side and definitely belonged to a rich businessman or a higher official.
"That's the one," Liu Ye informed and began storing water inside his sleeves. "I will take the ones on the left and you will take the right."
"You want to steal the carriage right here on the main road?" Queen Luna questioned in surprise before giggling to herself. "This is the best day ever."
They continued to walk normally on the side of the road to avoid any suspicions until the carriage was close enough to inspect the NPCs. Liu Ye instantly brightened after seeing their names.
[Rhino Soldier - Lvl. 45]
[Royal Debt Collector - Lvl.10]
Liu Ye literally couldn't have picked a better ride to rob.
As soon as the rhinos went past them, Liu Ye and Queen Luna launched sweeping attacks at the Soldiers' backs. A fully plated armor wasn't heavy enough and they flew off like broken kites. Liu Ye didn't even need to say anything when Queen Luna followed up with a stomp on the ground which locked all four in Earth Prisons.
"Who the hell—" The Soldiers cried out in anger but they were quickly cut off by Liu Ye's Water Bubbles. All they could do was blow air into the water which only shortened their lifespan.
"Let me finish them off quicker," Queen Luna suggested and clenched her fists tight. What followed was a brutal scene of the Earth Prisons collapsing inwards which sent the Soldiers from a hundred to zero.
Liu Ye's Water Bubbles would take at least a few minutes to suffocate them so he didn't mind that at all. His Experience was secured either way.
[Ding! You killed the Rhino Soldier. You received 17,250 Experience, 50 gold, and a Fire Sword. Due to the difference of 15 levels, you earned 5,750 bonus Experience.]
[Ding! You killed the Rhino Soldier. You received 17,250 Experience, 50 gold, and 5 Black Lotus Pills. Due to the difference of 15 levels, you earned 5,750 bonus Experience.]
[Ding! You killed the Rhino Soldier. You received 17,250 Experience, 50 gold, and an Old Dragon Necklace. Due to the difference of 15 levels, you earned 5,750 bonus Experience.]
[Ding! Congratulations! You reached Level 31!]
[Ding! You killed the Rhino Soldier. You received 16,100 Experience, 50 gold, and a Rhino Soldier Armor. Due to the difference of 14 levels, you earned 4,600 bonus Experience.]
Liu Ye was so shocked by all the loot and another level up that he didn't even notice the Royal Debt Collector has jumped off the Carriage and started running towards the Dragon City. Too bad, he only managed to run twenty meters before an Ice Spear pierced through his back and he dropped dead.
"Damn…" Liu Ye commented impressed before a sudden realization hit him. Since he met Queen Luna, the game has become too easy which wasn't good for him.
Liu Ye was leveling up like crazy but his actual strength remained the same. If he continues this path, he will eventually reach a point where he is too weak to beat stronger NPCs and too high-leveled to farm weaker mobs.
That realization scared him for a moment but he quickly calmed himself down. He could still afford to receive Queen Luna's help until the main quest is over before he will be forced to focus on honing his Abilities on his own.
Liu Ye made a mental note to follow this plan and dashed towards the Debt Collector's body to discard it into the forest. They didn't have much time before they got caught in the act by the passing merchants.
"There is a chest inside," Queen Luna pointed out when Liu Ye returned to the carriage. "We can split the gold fifty-fifty."
Liu Ye only glanced inside the carriage and sure enough, he spotted a chest that was double the size of what he received from Queen Luna. He would ignore it for now if not for the new interaction he noticed.
[Fire Empire Treasure Chest]
[Description: A treasure chest containing Fire Empire Taxes. It has too many gold coins to count yourself and requires Bank assistance.]
[Note: Visiting Fire Land's Bank will alert the Fire Empire's guards.]
"We can use this carriage to carry the goods back to the Earth Empire after we empty the Treasure Vault," Liu Ye suggested and hurried her. "Let's go. We need to collect some taxes in the Dragon City."
"You still didn't tell me how," Queen Luna pointed out with a puzzled look. "They won't let us ride the carriage inside the city without the Debt Collector."
Liu Ye didn't reply and simply pulled out his inventory before tapping on the Rhino Soldier Armor. "Don't worry, we are the Debt Collectors."
