First Entry into Rainbow Port

Allen and Laxus sat side-by-side in the carriage. As the wheels turned, the carriage jostled along. Though it was a main road, it was still full of potholes. After two days of bumpy travel, they finally saw the outline of Rainbow Port.

As the carriage gradually approached the port, a gust of sea breeze, carrying a salty tang, hit them head-on, invigorating their spirits.

Laxus's eyes widened as he excitedly gazed at the incredibly lively scene before him.

The port was a cacophony of voices—the sounds of ships entering and leaving, the vendors' incessant, loud calls, and the lively chatter of people passing by all mingled together.

Seeing such a magnificent sight for the first time, Laxus's childlike nature resurfaced. His eyes darted around curiously. He looked at the massive merchant ships, then at the workers busily loading cargo on the docks, his eyes filled with novelty and wonder. In contrast, Allen appeared much calmer, but even he couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion as he surveyed the bustling scene. "Rainbow Port truly lives up to its name! As one of the Kingdom of Fiore's important ports facing the northern continent, countless ships and travelers pass through here every day. Although everyone seems busy, their happy, beaming smiles show that this city is full of life and vitality."

As the caravan slowly drove into the Heartfilia Trading Company's exclusive territory within the port, Laxus, still unable to contain his curiosity, turned his head back and forth, as if trying to take in everything around him.

Once the carriage came to a complete stop, Allen and Laxus quickly jumped out and hurried over to Todd. They sincerely thanked him, saying, "Brother Todd, we really couldn't have done it without your help this time. Without your assistance, we probably wouldn't know when we would have arrived. If you ever need our help with anything in the future, just come find us at our Guild!"

Todd chuckled heartily at their words and waved his hand. "Oh my, you two are too kind! When we're out and about, we should look out for each other. This was a small matter, nothing to mention. I hope everything goes smoothly for you here in Rainbow Port!"

After Allen and Laxus bid Todd a friendly farewell, Laxus asked Allen, "Big Brother, where are we going now?"

Allen had observed the surrounding buildings on their way in. Hearing Laxus's question, he led Laxus in a certain direction, replying, "Let's find a place to rest first, and then we'll explore the port."

Allen led Laxus to a rather well-decorated inn.

As soon as they entered, they saw the innkeeper sitting leisurely at the front desk.

The innkeeper appeared to be around forty years old, slightly overweight, with a kind smile on his face. When he noticed customers, his smile instantly brightened, giving them a very warm welcome.

"Welcome to Rainbow Inn here in Rainbow Port, gentlemen! Are you looking for lodging?" the innkeeper asked with a beaming smile, his tone friendly and enthusiastic.

Allen nodded and replied, "Yes, please. We'd like a room with two beds, booked for three days." As he spoke, his eyes quickly scanned the inn's spacious lobby.

"Certainly! Please wait a moment, and I'll have someone show you to your room right away." The innkeeper responded while pressing a button next to the front desk.

Before long, a young waitress hurried over.

The girl looked to be in her early twenties, with golden hair that appeared to be naturally curly, giving her a more elegant look. Her skin was fair, and her eyes held a lively spark.

After the innkeeper briefly instructed the waitress, she stepped forward, smiled slightly at Allen and Laxus, and said softly, "Welcome, gentlemen. My name is Caitlin, and I'm happy to serve you. Please follow me." With that, she gracefully turned and led the two towards the staircase.

The rooms in the inn weren't large, but they were clean, tidy, and comfortable. From the window, they could also see some of the port.

After putting down their backpacks, they lay on the beds to rest for a bit. The bumpy journey over the past two days had been quite taxing.

After stretching and loosening up, Laxus opened his mouth to speak, "Big Brother..." However, before he could finish, Allen raised his hand, making a silencing gesture. He then quickly walked to the door, focused his energy to sense any movement outside, and after a moment, confirming no one was around, began to set up a soundproof magic circle.

Watching Allen's actions, Laxus's heart tightened. His previously relaxed expression immediately turned serious, and he entered a state of high alert. Once Allen successfully finished setting up the magic circle, he turned to Laxus, his expression slightly reproachful. "Have you been slacking off lately? In a completely unfamiliar environment like this, you must maintain a high level of vigilance at all times. A single misstep could put us in danger."

Hearing Allen's words, Laxus showed a hint of shame. He reached up and touched his head, thinking to himself, Yeah, how did I let my guard down without realizing it? This is unacceptable!

After a brief period of self-reflection, Laxus took a deep breath, steadied himself, and then looked up at Allen. "Big Brother, what should we do next?"

Allen narrowed his eyes slightly, recalling the overall layout of the port he had observed upon entering. After a moment of thought, he replied, "We'll go out and explore for a bit later to familiarize ourselves with the terrain and environment. Then, we'll react according to the situation and see if we can find any useful clues or discover anything unusual. In short, proceed with caution."

After speaking, Allen took some items from his bag, put them on, and left with Laxus. They had the entire afternoon to explore the port.

Night fell, and the lights of the port twinkled, giving Rainbow Port's night view a unique charm. Allen and Laxus sat in a restaurant, eating dinner and organizing the information they had gathered from their observations in the port that afternoon.