The Disappearance of the Noble Young Master

[New Era of Xin -21]

[Forward Outpost · Fortress City - Frich]

Before the gray-brown city gate, several guards stepped forward, blocking Guter's carriage and spreading out, subtly encircling it. Seeing this, the old coachman quickly raised both hands flat to show he meant no harm, flashing a smile at the guards as he explained that they were merely passing through the city for a layover. Yet the guards remained unmoved by the coachman's overture. Their sharp gazes lingered only a moment on his weathered face before fixing back on the carriage behind.

"Thump! Thump! Thump!" The Guard Captain knocked on the side of the carriage, but before he could urge the occupants to disembark, Serie and Guter lifted the curtain and stepped out on their own. Instantly, several undisguised stares came from all directions, scrutinizing them without reserve. Faced with this, Serie furrowed her brow, displeased inside. But inspecting passing travelers was, after all, these guards' duty. And since this was the front line of battle against the Demon race, she held back her irritation and didn't lash out.

Yet—why were these guards' checks both meticulous and careless? Meticulous, because their inspection left no detail of the carriage unchecked. They had examined the vehicle top to bottom, and the Guard Captain even crawled inside to peer under the seats, his attitude extremely thorough. Careless, because the depth of their inspection was utterly shallow. Whether it was the honest old coachman or Serie, an exceedingly rare elf, the guards neither asked for names nor verified identity documents. When inspecting Serie, they ended the process the moment they spotted her prominent elven features. Instead, it was Guter among the three who received the most serious treatment. They not only stared at his appearance for a long time but even actively checked his identity papers. Through the certificate issued by the Continental Magic Association, the guards learned that this young man under scrutiny was a seasoned magic user. Instantly, their attitude toward Guter grew much more respectful, yet they still demanded he cast a spell to prove his identity.

"Huh?" Guter rubbed his forehead and muttered helplessly, "Every time I enter a city, it's always like this." With that, he waved his hand toward the sky and released a basic Fireball Magic. Though low in lethality, it sufficed to prove his identity. Seeing this, the Guard Captain placed a hand over his chest, bowed to Guter, and apologized for any rudeness during their inspection. After the bow, he turned and waved his hand behind him, signaling passage. Serie and Guter then returned to the carriage.

"Teacher, the identity certificate from the Association doesn't seem all that useful yet," Guter said. Serie glanced at her disciple and replied helplessly, "After all, the Continental Magic Association is still a fledgling institution. For now, its influence in the Northern Countries can't match the Imperial Capital Magic Academy." She leaned back on the carriage sofa, her casual posture paired with a pair of extremely confident eyes. "But it won't take long. Once the Association's branches spread layer by layer and operate for a while, its influence will soon surpass other magic user management bodies. And the identity certificate issued by the Continental Magic Association will become a universally recognized document across the continent." Hearing his teacher's grand vision, Guter nodded in response. "That day will come."

As they spoke, the carriage had already entered the city. Guter looked out the window at the city gate growing distant, then turned to his teacher across from him. "Teacher, did you notice something off about the guards outside the city? They weren't so much focusing on inspecting passing travelers as they were searching for someone specific. From how heavily they scrutinized me, the person they're looking for is likely a young male, with a height and build similar to mine." Guter laid out his analysis step by step, but his teacher's face remained calm, without a flicker. After her disciple finished his reasoning, Serie pointed toward a direction inside the city and said, "No need for such complicated deductions. There's a notice posted in the city."

"Ah?" Guter froze, quickly got up, and came over to sit beside Serie. After shuffling closer, he looked through the window at the city scene. Sure enough, from his teacher's angle, he could see a notice posted on a wall. With his current eyesight, he could faintly make out the writing on it.

[Respected Citizens and Adventurers:]

[Recently, the second young master of the Olden Family, Milo Olden, has gone missing within the city.]

[Young Master Milo is well-mannered and treats others with warmth and grace. At the time of his disappearance, his identifying features were as follows:]

[If any citizen or adventurer can locate the young master and provide valid leads, they shall receive the friendship of the Olden Family and 10 Hutrall Gold Coins. Should they safely return the young master, the family is willing to pay an additional 30 Hutrall Gold Coins.]

"I see." Guter nodded lightly.

His earlier reasoning had not been off—the guards were indeed searching for someone, and specifically the City Lord's second son. No wonder every single one of them was so invested.

If they actually found him, they wouldn't just pocket 40 Hutrall Gold Coins; they'd also leave an impression on the City Lord, and their future path to promotion would likely become incredibly smooth.

"Teacher, 40 gold coins—this noble young master sure is valuable."

"An ordinary person probably couldn't earn that much in several lifetimes."

Serie lifted her eyes slightly and replied to her disciple.

"This price is on the high side. The typical reward for a missing noble's child isn't this much—usually around ten or twenty gold coins."

"The missing noble young master's name is Milo Olden."

"The name 'Milo' in the scriptures means peace and tranquility, reflecting the parents' hope for their child to live smoothly and stay far from conflict. A name like this likely means he's very cherished at home."

"But the Olden Family is one of the three great Knight families of the Northern Countries. Their homeland is the 'Warrior's Homeland' in the Central Countries, and for generations, they've believed in the doctrine that 'the weak have no place to exist.'"

"This missing person's reward is probably not the intention of the current head of the Olden Family. It's more likely spearheaded by the noble young master's mother."

"To be able to override her husband, the current City Lord, and put up such a huge sum of money—this noble young master's mother is probably a noble lady married into the family through an alliance."

Serie's smooth deduction left Guter stunned on the spot.