The sun shines while Wei and Garbaru are flying in the sky near Lenor city.
"Look, Garbaru! I think that's Lenor," Wei exclaimed, pointing ahead. The city was massive, its grandeur far surpassing that of Fenix City. Its bustling streets and towering structures filled Wei with awe.
As he marveled at Lenor, a nagging memory surfaced—John Gun's warning: "If, after twenty-four hours, you don't have a proper status in our system, you'll be classified as a Rogue or a fugitive.
"Wei frowned, his awe giving way to concern. "Damn. If I try to enter this city, I might get arrested, or worse, run into someone like John Gun who'd pick a fight with me. I wonder if there's a way to hide my status from any elves I might encounter on the road."
Determined, Wei spoke to his magical stone. "Wisdom, is there any way to hide my status from anyone who tries to view it?"
In response, a screen materialized in front of him, its glowing text offering an answer.
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Yes. You can choose the 'Hide' option and create
a new profile to conceal your identity.
Select 'Hide'? Y/N"
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Wei selected the 'Y' button, and the screen shifted, guiding him through the process of creating a new profile. After a few moments of contemplation, he finalized his choice.
"All right! With all the gold I've got now, a merchant profile would be perfect for me!" Wei grinned, pleased with his decision.
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Name: Wei
Occupation: Merchant
Status: Verified
Specializations: Trade, Negotiation, Item Appraisal
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The two landed near the main gate of Lenor City. Wei dismounted Garbaru and approached the guards stationed at the gate.
"Hi, I'm a merchant. I'm here to see if I can buy some quality products in this city. Are there any requirements to enter?"
The guards glanced at the screen in front of them. After seeing Wei's merchant profile, they immediately allowed him to pass through the entrance gate.
"Sir, your friend over there must be taken to the nest before you can enter the city," said the guard, referring to Garbaru..
"Oh, where's that nest?" Asked Wei.
The guard pointed to the 100-foot-tall giant tree standing near the walls of Lenor City. This ancient tree, with its long branches, is typically used by travellers to park their dragons, giant fowl, and other flying creatures.
"Oh, I see. Let me take him there," replied Wei.
"Sir, if I may ask, do you already have a magic mail?" the guard inquired.
"What's that? Do I need it in the city?" Wei asked curiously.
"Well, not necessarily, but it's useful when you need to communicate with your pet. For instance, if you're away from your pet and need a ride, this magic mail lets you talk to them using a screen," the guard explained.
"Woah, that's cool! Are you going to give me one? Is it free?" Wei asked excitedly.
"It's not free, but you can buy it from me."
"Okay, how much?" Wei asked.
"50,000 gold," the guard replied.
"What?! 50,000 gold?!" Wei exclaimed, shocked at the price. But regardless, I think it would be useful. If I hadn't earned so much gold, I wouldn't buy such an overpriced magic item, he thought.
"All right, I'll take it."
The guard handed Wei two small magic crystals. Wei embedded one in Garbaru's head and the other in his own. Garbaru had developed higher intelligence after leveling up, making it easy for Wei to instruct him to stay in the Nest. Wei entered the gate, feeling a mix of anxiety and excitement. As he walked, he began to think,
"Now the question is, how will I find someone who can help me get back to the human world?"
Meanwhile, Princess Jewel was having breakfast at the dining table with King Elarion.
"Princess Jewel, you look brighter than you have in recent days here at the palace. Is there any progress in your search for that sword?" asked King Elarion
"Yes, King Elarion. I've actually already found the sword I've been searching for all this time."
Princess Jewel flashed a beautiful smile.
"Really? You mean you even found the owner of the sword?" King Elarion asked, clearly surprised.
"Yes, my king. I'm actually planning to offer him a position as one of my bodyguards," Princess Jewel replied.
"Well, that's great! Why don't we invite him to the palace? I'd like to see what kind of swordsman he is," said King Elarion.
"I apologize for interrupting, Your Highness, but I'm afraid the swordsman Princess Jewel is referring to is not worthy of meeting you," Roja said, standing behind Princess Jewel.
Irritated by what she heard, Princess Jewel replied angrily, "What are you talking about, Roja?"
"Allow me to explain, my Princess. The swordsman you claim to be your savior in the Geneva Forest is actually a rogue swordsman," Roja stated.
A brief silence fell before Princess Jewel managed to speak.
"He's not a soldier from another country?" she asked in disbelief.
"No, he's not. That's why he hid his true status and pretended to be a weapon dealer. But thanks to my passive skill, I was able to uncover his real identity," Roja explained.
"I don't want to believe you until I speak to him. I want to see him right now!" the princess demanded.
"I'm afraid we can't do that. We don't know what kind of creature he truly is," Roja warned.
"You're right. If he's a rogue swordsman disguising himself as a weapon dealer, he might have allies spying around the city," the king said, his tone laced with concern. "Where is he now, Roja?"
"I apologize, my king, but he is currently in the guest room. However, I've already alerted all your high-ranking knights in the palace, and they're on guard. I didn't want to offend the princess by executing the rogue immediately, as I felt it was important to speak with her first and hear your decision on the matter," Roja explained.
"I understand, Roja," King Elarion replied. Turning to Princess Jewel, he continued, "Princess, it would be best to send this rogue swordsman to the prison and let the court decide his fate. We must extract all possible information about him before you meet him again. You wouldn't want a repeat of what happened in the Geneva Forest."
Hearing all of this, the princess grew increasingly worried and anxious.
Roja relayed the king's orders to the royal guards, who immediately arrested Ryo and took him to the Lenor city prison. Meanwhile, Wei wandered around the city, unsure of what to do next. He admired the beautiful elves he passed on the road, his mind racing with thoughts.
Why am I still thinking about going back to my world when everything I want is right here in Birigan? he mused. I already have enough gold. I could live like a real merchant if I wanted to. And all the beautiful women are here in this world! Sure, there are no video games, but I can enjoy flying with Garbaru. Plus, I've got my abilities. I could even head back to Fenix, find John Gun, and ask him to help me join the military. That way, I can fight monsters, hone my skills, and still have some adventure. Yeah, I'm right! I have everything I need here. Maybe it's time to find an elf girlfriend and get married!
But just as Wei entertained the idea, Elenita's face suddenly popped into his mind.
"Whoa! I think I really should go back to my world—so I can help Elenita fix her teeth and... make love with her," Wei thought with a mischievous grin.
He chuckled to himself, lost in a daydream, imagining what life with Elenita might be like when he returned to the human world.
"Hey handsome!" A beautiful elf standing at the corner of the street called out to Wei. He turned around and saw the young elf girl waving at him. "Oh, is she waving at me?" Wei was confused for a moment, but after the elf girl pointed directly at him, he realized she was indeed trying to get his attention.
"Yes, you! Come over here," the elf girl invited. Without hesitation, Wei approached her.
"Uh, um, why are you calling me?" Wei stuttered slightly.
"Would you like to have a drink with me? I know a bar where we can get some great drinks," the young elf girl said with an alluring smile, giving Wei a playful wink.
"Oh, do you mean, like, drinking liquor? Sorry, I'm a minor—I'm not allowed to drink alcohol," Wei replied, politely refusing the offer.
The elf girl, however, insisted. "Really? But your status screen says you're a merchant. You might be young, but I assume you're already earning your own money, so there's no need to be embarrassed about spending some on a drink," she said, grabbing Wei's arm.
"Come on, don't be shy. We can also just have some fruit juice. Besides, you look exhausted and thirsty, so let's go!" The elf girl giggled, leaving Wei unable to resist her enthusiasm.
"Is that bar near around this area?" Wei asked hesitantly.
"Yes it's just around the corner." Elf girl said happily.
The elf girl led Wei to the alley where the bar was.