As the carriage approached Ekatoe City in Mine Valley, towering walls came into view, accompanied by the excited voices of the people nearby.
Natan peered out of the carriage, fixing his gaze upon the renowned city known as the domain of the strongest fourth-stage monster, the Blood Lightning Monster.
A soft breeze brushed against their faces, accompanied by the chirping of numerous birds in the sky, creating a peaceful atmosphere. It was said that the Lord of Ekatoe, the Blood Lightning Monster, had fought fiercely during a cataclysmic event two months prior to secure this peace and earn his title.
Observing the influx of carriages, mostly occupied by merchants seeking opportunity within the city, Natan sensed the bustling activity. Upon entering the city, he was greeted by a landscape of prosperity and richness, marked by numerous stalls lining the streets and the lively chatter of people bustling about.
"As expected of Ekatoe City..." Natan muttered to himself, impressed by the bustling surroundings. He then approached the carriage door, preparing to address his comrades.
However, before he could speak, a group of guards approached them.
"Welcome to Ekatoe City. Is this your first visit, honored guests?" one of the guards inquired.
Natan, slightly taken aback, confirmed, "Ah, yes."
"In that case, could you please ask your comrades to dismount and follow me?" the guard requested, gesturing towards a nearby door beside the city gates.
Natan glanced back at the warriors accompanying him, realizing that they were now being addressed. One of the warriors, clad in full-plate armor, stepped forward and introduced himself as Sarguan, Captain of the Vanguard Knights of Palleo Kingdom.
"Inquire as to why we are being directed to proceed after the luggage check," Sarguan requested, seeking clarification.
"It's a requirement of the city. All visitors must undergo a briefing to familiarize themselves with our regulations," the guards clarified.
Sarguan acknowledged the explanation before turning to the carriage and addressing the occupants, "Young miss, what shall we do?"
The carriage door opened, revealing a poised young woman with long blue hair dressed in an elegant white gown. She spoke, "Sir Sarguan, we must adhere to the city's regulations."
Following her, a tall young man descended from the carriage. Clad in fine attire, he bore a resemblance to the young woman and exuded a regal air.
The young woman introduced herself as Princess Iris De Von Palleo of the Palleo Kingdom, while the young man was identified as Crown Prince Servon De Von Palleo.
Accompanied by their entourage, they followed the guards to a barracks where the city's rules were explained in detail.
The guards clarified the city's division into two regions: Pople and Astros. They emphasized that visitors were strictly prohibited from entering the Astros, as severe consequences awaited those who dared to defy this rule.
"Astros is a large piece of Ekatoe, right? If everyone is forbidden from entering the Astros then who-," Sarguan began before being interrupted by the guards.
"It's natural. The people of our Lord. I haven't been there before but according to the information, they are the army of the Lord. It's not a secret that anymore they are warriors of the Goddess of Olympus. Aside from them, everyone will be killed instantly the moment they step foot in the Astros without permission," the guards explained.
"If we want to have an audience with the City Lord, then what should we do?" Natan inquired.
"You can go to the Shimpan Family. They are the most influential family in Pople. They are one of the families that retained their position as they submitted to the Lord after he arrived in the city. There's also the temple, the Temple of Athens. Since our Lord is a warrior of Goddess Athena, he built a temple here to worship his goddess," the guards responded.
The guards continued to explain the rules, emphasizing the strict prohibition against drawing weapons or pointing them at another person, which was rigorously enforced in Ekatoe City.
"You're quite lucky. The City Lord has just returned yesterday. If the Lord is still on the battlefield then you will not have a chance to meet him," the guard said with a smile.
"Thank you," Sarguan responded politely.
After that, the group exited the barracks.
Natan glanced at Sarguan and asked, "Sir Sarguan, do we really need that? I'm sure if we announce our arrival some people will recognize us."
"Yeah, they will recognize us and that's it. The Lord of Ekatoe will not even glance at us. You have to know that the Lord of Ekatoe has been dealing with the Holy Lands. The Holy Lands are the most powerful factions in this continent. Their influence spread widely," Sarguan explained. "You shouldn't concern yourself about that. For now, go and book a room for us."
Natan nodded and promptly left to complete his task.
Sarguan glanced at the carriage and asked, "Your Highness, who should we visit first?"
"The Temple of Athena. We have to pay respect to the goddess first, and then we'll go to the Shimpan Family to see if we can gain an audience with the City Lord," the Crown Prince, Servon, replied.
Inside the carriage, Princess Iris glanced at her brother and asked, "What do you think about the Lord of Ekatoe, brother?"
Prince Servon looked at his sister for a moment before he contemplated. After a few seconds, he opened his mouth to speak, "The Lord of Ekatoe, also known as the Blood Lightning Monster. According to the information, he is an absolute force among the fourth-stage monsters. His name first gained attention when he subdued a fifth-stage monster. The battle that occurred in this land a few months ago solidified his reputation, and that was when people began to call him the Blood Lightning Monster.
"It was said that the other Holy Lands were upset when they learned that Olympus extended its influence beyond their territories. They sent some of their forces to claim a piece of this land, but... the Blood Lightning Monster repelled everyone and declared this land as his territory. The other Holy Lands had no say in the matter, and any attempts to send stronger experts were met with resistance. They didn't even dare to send stronger experts that could rival a fifth stage, fearing retaliation. Unfortunately for them, the Blood Lightning Monster was the only one who dared to act."
Princess Iris listened to her brother's words, understanding the significance of the Blood Lightning Monster's reputation, even in their own territory.
"Although the rumors may be exaggerated, his strength is undeniable," Crown Prince Servon said.
Soon, the group arrived at the Temple of Athena, where they paid their respects to the goddess. Even if they didn't worship Athena personally, they understood the importance of showing reverence. After all, they were mere mortals while Athena was a deity.
Following their visit to the temple, they proceeded to one of the most influential families in Pople: the Shimpan Family.
Inside the Shimpan Family's manor, in a well-appointed room, Crown Prince Servon and Princess Iris sat at a table with Sarguan standing beside them. On the opposite side of the table, Edward, the head of the Shimpan Family, sat with a smile on his face.
"Is there something you need, Crown Prince and Princess?" Edward asked politely.
He had heard of these two, or rather, he had heard of their country. The Palleo Kingdom was situated on the other side of the Hall Plains, beyond the Obsidian Desert. While the Hall Plains were vast, the Obsidian Desert was several times larger and housed powerful nations. Unfortunately, some parts of the Obsidian Desert were in chaos, leading to tens of thousands of refugees seeking refuge in the Hall Plains.
Several countries in the region were experiencing civil wars, while others were combating terrorist threats. Despite the current chaos in the Obsidian Desert, there were still nations unaffected by it, such as the Palleo Kingdom.
"As you can see, we wish to meet with the Lord of Ekatoe. Could you inform him of our presence and inquire about the possibility of an audience?" Crown Prince Servon requested.
"I understand, but the decision ultimately rests with the Lord. I cannot guarantee anything," Edward replied.
Faced with the formidable might of the Palleo Kingdom, the Shimpan Family could only strive to do their best. Despite the Palleo Kingdom being distant from Mine Valley, they still wielded enough power to potentially eradicate the Shimpan Family. The individual standing beside the Crown Prince and Princess alone possessed the capability to dismantle the Shimpan Family.
However, Edward harbored doubts regarding the potential for unrest within Ekatoe City. What if the Palleo Kingdom attempted to influence the Lord of Ekatoe with monetary incentives? Edward knew he held no sway before the Lord, being merely a resident of the outer part of the city, the Pople, and not even a member of the Astros.
"Thank you. We will await your news," Crown Prince Servon said with a smile.
