New Era of Xin - Year 21 Before
Outpost Transfer Station · Fortress City - Frich
Outside the grayish-brown city gates, several guards stepped forward and stopped Guter's carriage. They spread out, faintly surrounding the vehicle.
Seeing this, the coachman hurriedly spread his hands and held them level to show that he meant no harm. At the same time, he smiled at the guards and explained that they were merely stopping in the city to transfer.
Yet the guards remained unmoved by the coachman's friendly gesture.
Their sharp gazes lingered on the coachman's weathered face for only a moment before returning to the carriage compartment behind him.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The Guard Captain among them knocked on the side of the compartment. However, before he could urge those inside to get out, Serie and Guter lifted the curtain and stepped out on their own initiative.
In an instant, several undisguised gazes came from every direction, scrutinizing the two of them directly.
Faced with this, Serie frowned slightly, displeased.
Still, inspecting passing travelers was, after all, the guards' duty.
Moreover, this was the front line of the war against the Demons. Thus, although she was unhappy, Serie did not make an issue of it.
But.
Why were these guards' inspections both thorough and careless?
They were thorough because their inspection process overlooked no detail within the carriage compartment.
Not only did the guards inspect the carriage from top to bottom, but the Guard Captain even crawled into the compartment himself and lay down to peer beneath the seats.
His attitude was exceptionally serious.
Yet they were careless because the depth of their inspection was exceedingly superficial.
Whether it was the honest coachman or Serie, an exceptionally rare elf, the guards neither asked their names nor checked their identification documents.
In fact, when inspecting Serie, the guards ended the procedure the moment they saw her obvious elven features.
Instead, Guter, among the three of them, received the most serious treatment from the guards.
They not only stared at Guter's appearance for a long while, but even took the initiative to examine his identification documents.
Through the certificate issued by the Continental Magic Association, the guards learned that the young man being inspected was actually an experienced magic user.
The guards' attitude toward Guter immediately became much more respectful. Even so, they still requested that he cast a spell to prove his identity.
"Hm?"
Guter rubbed his forehead and complained helplessly, "Why is it like this every time I enter a city?"
With that, he waved toward the sky and cast a basic Fireball Magic.
Though it was not particularly destructive, it was more than enough to prove his identity.
Seeing this, the Guard Captain placed one hand over his chest and bowed to Guter, apologizing to the group for any rudeness they might have shown during the inspection.
After bowing, the captain turned and waved toward the rear, signaling for them to be allowed through.
Seeing this, Serie and Guter both returned to the carriage compartment.
"Teacher, the identification certificate issued by the association doesn't seem very useful."
Serie glanced at her disciple and replied helplessly, "After all, the Continental Magic Association is still a newly established organization. Its influence in the Northern Countries has yet to surpass that of the Imperial Capital Magic Academy."
"But it won't take long." Serie leaned back against the sofa in the carriage. Her casual posture carried an exceptionally confident gaze.
"As long as the association's branches are established layer by layer and kept running for some time, its influence will soon surpass that of other magic user management organizations."
"And the identification certificates issued by the Continental Magic Association will become documents recognized across the entire continent."
Hearing the grand vision his teacher described, Guter nodded.
"That day will come."
As they spoke, the carriage had already entered the city.
Watching the city gates recede through the carriage window, Guter withdrew his gaze and said to his teacher across from him.
"Teacher, don't you think the guards outside the city were acting strangely?"
"Rather than focusing on inspecting passing travelers, they seemed more like they were looking for someone."
"Judging by how closely they inspected me, the person they were looking for was most likely a young man. His height and build probably resembled mine in many ways."
Guter laid out his analysis step by step, yet his teacher's expression remained perfectly calm.
Once her disciple had finished reasoning, Serie raised a hand and pointed in a direction within the city.
"There is a notice posted in the city. No need for such troublesome deductions."
"Huh?"
Guter froze, then quickly got up and came over to his teacher. After sitting beside Serie, he first rubbed against her before looking through the window at the city scene.
Sure enough, from his teacher's side, he could see a notice posted within the city.
With Guter's current eyesight, he could barely make out the words written on it.
Dear citizens/adventurers:
Recently, Milo Olden, the second young master of the Olden Family, disappeared within the city.
Young Master Milo is well-bred and gentle in his dealings with others. His identifying features at the time of his disappearance are as follows:
Any citizen/adventurer who finds the young master's whereabouts or provides valid clues will receive the friendship of the Olden Family and 10 Hutrall Gold Coins. Anyone who safely brings the young master back will receive an additional payment of 30 Hutrall Gold Coins from the family.
"So that's how it is." Guter nodded lightly.
His earlier reasoning had not been wrong. The guards really were looking for someone, and it was the city lord's second young master. No wonder they were all so invested.
If they truly found him, they would not only receive 40 Hutrall Gold Coins, but also leave an impression on the city lord. Their future path to promotion would likely become incomparably smooth.
"Teacher, 40 gold coins. This noble young master is really valuable."
"An ordinary person probably couldn't earn that much in several lifetimes."
Serie raised the corner of her eye and replied to her disciple.
"That price is on the high side. Ordinary noble children don't carry such large rewards for their disappearance. Usually, it would be around ten or twenty gold coins."
"The missing noble young master is named Milo Olden."
"The name Milo means peace and tranquility in the scriptures. It carries a parent's hope that their child will live peacefully and smoothly, far from conflict. A child given that name was probably greatly favored at home."
"However, the Olden Family is one of the three great knightly families of the Northern Countries. Their homeland is Warrior's Homeland in the Central Countries, and for generations they have believed in the idea that the weak have no place to belong."
"This reward for finding him was most likely not the current head of the Olden Family's decision. It was probably arranged by the noble young master's mother."
"For her to overcome her husband, the current city lord, and offer such a huge sum, this noble young master's mother was most likely a noble young lady brought in through a political marriage."
Serie's smooth chain of deductions left Guter beside her utterly dumbfounded.
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