Besides the Trisoul Empire, which occupied the central and eastern regions of the continent, he had also visited its three vassal states: the Byron Nation in the north, the Beelzebub Kingdom in the west, and the Radiant Rite Capital in the south.
He had even drifted across the Endless Ocean beyond the continent and encountered countless terrifying opponents.
By this point, Chen Lun could barely stand listening anymore. Fortunately, they had emerged from the dense forest and returned to the main road.
He hurried toward the carriage, taking long, quick strides.
"Hey, want to be my sidekick? After hearing my story, you must really admire me!"
Alexis shouted behind him.
Chen Lun pretended not to hear. He turned to Walsh, told him to set off, and climbed into the carriage.
The carriage began moving again, with Alexis still chasing after it.
"Hey! Jack! I have loads of fans, you know! Won't you reconsider?"
Eventually, he grew tired of running and gave up, cursing as he watched the carriage recede down the road.
Inside the carriage, Chen Lun let out a long breath. He had finally shaken that fellow off.
But just then, his brow furrowed slightly.
Wait, I never told him my name. How did he know?
Chapter 29: The Outer District
"That fellow..."
Chen Lun pondered.
He had never heard of Alexis in his previous life. The man should have been nothing more than an ordinary bard. Yet after Alexis called out his alias, something felt wrong.
He leaned out of the carriage window and looked back, but Alexis was nowhere to be seen on the road.
"What's wrong?"
Sensing Chen Lun's mood, Froy asked.
Chen Lun sat back and silently shook his head, then added:
"Nothing. I just met a strange fellow."
Froy did not press him and changed the subject instead:
"Will we reach our destination tomorrow?"
"Yes... we'll reach Amber City tomorrow."
Chen Lun stopped dwelling on it. His most urgent task was to find Dolly in Amber City and obtain [High-Sequence Flesh School Mystical Substance] from him to maintain the balance of corruption within Froy.
While completing the third stage of the hidden quest, he also hoped to find [Philip's Legacy].
All of these would help him grow stronger.
He felt some anticipation, but more than that, he looked toward the future-
Getting stronger and establishing himself!
Before the players arrived for the version 1.0 open beta, he needed to become powerful enough and reach a certain standing. Only then would Chen Lun feel sufficiently secure.
Having lost the player-exclusive panel, he did not actually know whether he could still come back to life after dying. Although he was an NPC, he still retained the ability to accept quests and view item information...
But he dared not gamble on resurrection, a privilege exclusive to players.
He only had one life.
Amber City.
This metropolis in the eastern empire was far more developed and prosperous than the remote, backward little town of Jadeite Town, and occupied a vastly greater area.
The continent's administrative structure consisted of one empire and three vassal kingdoms.
Excluding the smaller nations that had declared themselves independent kingdoms, the Trisoul Empire was divided into six states in addition to Tourmaline Royal City.
Each state contained ten cities.
Each city, in turn, consisted of a main city, seventy-two municipalities, and countless small towns.
Amber City was one of the higher-ranking metropolises among Fossil City's seventy-two municipalities in the Gemstone State, renowned for its culture, nature, and art.
As the carriage approached Amber City, the gravel highway gradually gave way to neatly laid stone paving. Square stone pillars and black iron streetlamps stood along both sides of the road.
Every evening, lamplighters would come to light the kerosene in these lamps, keeping them burning throughout the night.
Clip-clop, clip-clop...
The carriage rolled slowly onward.
The towering city walls in the distance grew clearer. Densely packed, low houses lined both sides of the approach to the gate.
"That's the smell of stewed beans..."
Froy lifted the curtain, sniffed with her small nose, and spoke softly.
The smell was very familiar to Froy, as she had often eaten them as a child.
From inside the carriage, Chen Lun saw many women in aprons and headscarves cooking and washing clothes. They worked just outside their tiny homes, with children occasionally playing around them before darting between the tightly packed houses.
"Most of their men go into the city to work during the day, then come back out to return home after work."
Walsh spoke from the driver's seat.
Chen Lun understood this well. The commoners living here were poor families who were not entitled to permanent residence within the city.
They were also an indispensable part of what kept Amber City running.
There were plenty of carriages among the crowds waiting to enter, but even more travelers carrying packs and peddlers bearing baskets of fresh fruit and vegetables.
Walsh presented the caravan's credentials and paid the entry fee of five Copper Crowns per person. Several imperial soldiers waved them through.
As they passed through the long gateway, Chen Lun could see notices and wanted posters covering the walls in the dim light. Most had yellowed and deteriorated with age. With no one removing them, they had been pasted over one another until they formed a thick layer.
Soon, the surrounding clamor suddenly burst into his ears.
Only once they passed inside had they truly entered Amber City. It was a different world from the one outside.
Carriages rolled slowly past, bells ringing; newsboys ran about hawking cigarettes and newspapers; vendors manned stalls in the vast square, while church clerics preached loudly.
Froy seemed excited, constantly listening to the sounds of this new world. Only now did she seem like a girl her age.
"Mr. Jack, we've reached our destination."
Walsh announced their arrival.
The carriage soon stopped in front of a three-story building, the Silver Dragon Trade Association's premises in Amber City. This was not the inner district. Although there was another branch there, Chen Lun had asked to stop here.
It was not that he did not want to visit the inner district, but it was home to the rich and powerful, and security was extremely strict.
With his current undocumented status and Froy to look after, Chen Lun would have found it difficult to get anywhere there.
He therefore planned to settle in the outer district first and work out his next steps.
"Thanks, Uncle Walsh."
Chen Lun stepped out of the carriage first, then turned and offered his hand, only to suddenly remember that Froy was not actually blind.
Just as he was about to withdraw his hand, Froy placed her small hand in his.
Chen Lun froze for a moment.
Froy gave him a sweet smile.
"You truly are an admirable older brother, Mr. Jack."
Walsh removed his round hat and extended his large hand.
"The Silver Dragon Trade Association has successfully completed your commission. It was a pleasure working with you, and we hope we can be of service again."
"The pleasure was mine."
Chen Lun extended his other hand and shook Walsh's.
Walsh suddenly felt something cool against his palm.
He opened his hand to find two gleaming Gold Pounds.
"Mr. Jack, this..."
"Consider it a tip for everyone. One of the guards was even injured protecting my sister and me. I feel terrible about that...
"Well, goodbye, Uncle Walsh."
Walsh looked up to find the young man already walking away, holding Miss Froy's hand.
He could not help marveling at what a generous gentleman Mr. Jack was.
I hadn't even charged him extra yet.
The two walked quite a way down the street.
Chen Lun had wanted to let go of Froy's hand, but failed.
Froy held on tightly. She leaned closer and whispered:
"Wouldn't a blind girl walking without anyone guiding her attract attention?"
"Hmm...? I suppose you're right."
Chen Lun stopped worrying about it and began surveying their surroundings, looking for somewhere suitable to stay.
Soon, he spotted a notice advertising rooms for rent outside a flower shop.
Holding Froy's hand, Chen Lun stopped in front of the notice and noticed an iron plaque set into the wall.
7 Danton Street.
After studying the rental notice for a while, he looked through the flower shop's glass window beside it and rested his gaze on a woman inside.
Beyond the pots of colorful flowers, an older woman with graying hair was carefully tending the shop's blooms.
Knock, knock...
Before you continue