Half an hour later, the Large Cargo Magic Locomotive slowly came to a stop outside Lalu City's West City Gate.
Hafra jumped down from the passenger seat and jogged over to the Lalu City Defense Army soldiers gathering around them. Smiling broadly, he greeted the squad leader at their head.
"Hey, Captain Wien, good afternoon. Having to guard the gate in this heat-thanks for all your hard work."
As he spoke, he discreetly extended his hand and shook the hand Captain Wien held out with practiced ease. The three gold coins concealed in his palm slipped smoothly into Captain Wien's hand.
Captain Wien lightly rubbed the three gold coins in his hand, and a friendly smile immediately appeared on his previously stern face.
"Haha, these are the City Lord's orders. Who would dare slack off?" Captain Wien waved at the two men behind him. "Go check what they're carrying. Make it quick, understood?"
The two men understood his meaning perfectly. They climbed into the rear cargo bed of the Large Cargo Magic Locomotive, made a show of checking a few things, and soon jumped back down.
"Reporting, Captain. We found nothing suspicious."
"Good, then." Captain Wien nodded and turned to Hafra. "Since everything's in order, pay the city gate tax and you can go in."
Hafra thanked him repeatedly, then took a small purse from inside his clothes and handed it to Captain Wien.
Captain Wien casually took it and, without even looking, tossed it to the clerk from the City Lord's Manor responsible for collecting the city gate tax beside the gate. He waved Hafra and the others through.
Hafra thanked him again and was about to return to the Large Cargo Magic Locomotive when he suddenly noticed quite a few flowers hanging on the gate. The area nearby