Emperor's Reckoning

The Ahkam city was left breathless, but Lyon continued the journey on the road albeit nothing significant happened.

As usual, Assid had already prepared everything for the provisions needed for the trip. The food, the conveniences, he had set it up perfectly.

After the loud and wide destruction, no beasts dare to come near the group and they passed through the path toward Farvan City without any hurdle, however, Lyon failed to realize that it would take him four long days on foot to get there.

"What the fuck," said Lyon as soon as he saw yet another thick wall. "Why are we not taking the main route?!"

"Because we are counting on young master's ultimate karma!" said Kesya proudly with her arms crossed.

Lumina sighed as she shook her head. It was vehemently clear that she sided with Lyon in this case. There was no reason for them at all, to spend extra days on the mild meadow.

"Are you kidding me?" Lyon slouched his shoulders before he sighed. Even though the scent of nature was quite calming, he couldn't help but be a bit annoyed.

"Looks like we ran out of serendipity," Cecile chuckled.

"Even you are in this? Oh wait, they won't even think about it if it were not your idea," Lyon squinted his eyes at his laughing wife. However, seeing the cheer on her face made him snort a smile.

Luna smiled wryly at the side.

"Alright, alright, that's enough joke of the day," said Cecile.

"Or four," said Lyon with a sarcastic tone.

"Or four," Cecile chuckled. "But we can see Farvan from here, so let's go there."

Lyon shrugged his shoulder before he captained the group.

The path was no longer arduous nor it was long. There was a small bridge above a small clear river. The stream reflected the shine of the sun and occasionally a fish jumped out to kiss it with its tail.

The group made it to the arch bridge that was made out of limestone before they were noticed by passing adventurers. The latter looked at them with furrowed brows and an unfriendly gaze, however, Lyon gave them a smirk, as if he dared them to challenge him, yet, there was no confrontation occurring.

The group stood still in the middle of the arch bridge as the other adventurers past them.

"That's a really good impression there," said Lyon with a hint of jest.

"Nafail did say that this city is unfriendly for newcomers," said Luna

"How did they know that we are newcomers?"

"We don't belong to any guild," said Lumina.

"Is that so, well no matter! It's not like we are not going to pay for the entrance fee anyway," Lyon laughed as he strode forward before the rest followed after some shook their heads.

"All the merchants go here! All of the merchants go here!" shouted one adventurer as he controlled the traffic of incoming caravans. "Please stay in line!"

Lyon raised his brows before he came up to him. "Hey."

"Huh?" The adventurer turned. "Do I know you?"

"No?" Lyon furrowed his brows.

"No?" the adventurer also furrowed his brows with a slightly tilted head.

"What?" Lyon shook his head as he shook the awkward tension away. "I'm an adventurer, Sein! Where should I line up?"

"Oh, why don't you say so?" the adventurer rolled his eyes. "This line is only for the merchants, the adventurers are on the other line. You will go to a booth and the woman there will do the administration."

"Alright," Lyon turned before seeing his group already standing in line without him. "Nice."

"What are you doing?" asked Lumina.

"I was asking how we can enter the Farvan City, but it seems like you guys had figured it out already," Lyon gave a slow nod.

"It's quite obvious though," Luna muttered.

"What?"

"You didn't read the sign, didn't you?" Cecile sighed.

"What sign?" Lyon raised his brows before Kesya grinned and pointed over.

Lyon furrowed his brows and noticed a wooden sign right in the middle of the road in the shape of an arrow. The arrow had the written word 'Adventurer' engraved on it.

"Next up! Chop! Chop!" said the lady standing in the booth.

"That's our cue," said Luna before the group moved forward.

( Hmm? What a weird bunch ) thought the lady as she saw how the group dressed. She furrowed her brows before she asked sternly. "Rank?"

"God!" said Lyon.

The lady and the other adventurers were stunned for a brief moment before the latter laughed.

"Bruh! HahahahA!"

"HahahAha! He said, God! Oh, my guts! My guts are failing!"

Kesya burst out her laughter and joined them whilst the three women slowly put their palms to cover their faces. Even with the thick cloaks, they couldn't hide from the embarrassment.

The lady made a grunt. "I'm having a long day, would you answer the question already?"

Lyon opened his mouth but Cecile immediately pulled his shoulder and put herself to the front. "We have no rank."

"No rank?" The lady raised one of her brows before she looked at them up and down. "Either you're brave or stupid," she muttered.

"Both," Cecile answered with a cold tone.

"?!" the lady was startled by her decisive answer. However, after a brief, she back to leading the conversation. "No rank, then what is your guild?"

"No guild," answered Cecile.

"Hmm..." the lady crossed her arms. She spare a sharp glance as she judged them up and down. "What business do you have here?"

"Is that something that you should know?" asked Cecile as she raised her chin a bit.

( Tch! ) she squinted her eyes. The woman in front of her had a towering figure compared to herself. Though she was equipped with a full garment like an ideal adventurer, the presence that was exuded by the woman wearing a cloak was much more atmospheric.

The lady inside the booth made a light cough to pacify her nervousness. "No, it is not."

"Exactly," Cecile smirked.

( This bitch! ) the lady cursed inwardly.

"Six hundred AT per person," said the lady with a satisfied smirk.

The other adventures immediately pursed their lips and looked at one another. They refrain to say anything. It was the matter between the lady and the cloaked group.

"Six hundred?!" Luna exclaimed. "That's extortion!"

The lady shrugged her shoulders. "Pay it or leave."

"You!" Luna glared before she turned and asked the other adventurers. "Does it always cost six hundred?"

However, the adventurer didn't say a thing and avoided her gaze.

( These adventurers?! Tch! ) Luna stomped her foot. It was clearly an exorbitant amount that made everyone petrified by mentioning alone. However, she and the group was on the losing side of the game.

"Are you sure that you are going to charge us that much?" asked Lumina.

The lady smiled before she said with the most calming and soothing voice she could ever produce. "If you can't pay, please leave, the others are waiting."

Lyon furrowed his brows as he was aware of the situation, or maybe too aware. He looked around unspotted by the eyes of the other. ( Hmm, this is usually the part where someone would come out of nowhere and pay it for us, hmmm.. ) thought Lyon, however, he saw no one of the sorts. No one with distinctive clothing, no one with handsome nor beautiful face caught his attention. ( Damn RPGs! )

At the end of it, he sighed.

"Hmm, this line seems a bit halted, what seems to be the problem??"

"I KNEW IT!" shouted Lyon before he startled everyone.

A man with thick brows and brown short hair appeared. He had a build made for hunting big beasts. Adorned with a muscular shape, he had an ax by his waist.

The man blinked twice before regaining his composure back. He crossed his arms before standing beside the lady inside the booth.

"Ah, Sir Boto, good to see you," said the lady with a bright smile and a glint of idolizing gaze.

"Boto? The Five Star adventurer?! Boto?!" said one other adventurer.

"Damn, I never thought that I would see him in person," said the merchant on the opposite line.

Boto smiled upward as his ears twitched. He looked over the cloaked group with a proud glint in his eyes. "So, what's all the fuss?"

( He didn't even address the lady beside him ) thought Lyon as he smirked inwardly.

"This, well, it turns out that they can't pay the entrance fee, but they still won't leave," said the lady.

"Don't be crazy!" shouted Luna. "You are putting up a ridiculous prize."

"Ridiculous prize?" Boto raised one of his brows.

"N-No sir, it's a standard prize of six hundred AT."

"Six hundred AT?" ( The usual rate is five hundred, oh I see, hehe ) Boto smiled. He took an audible to inhale, "I'm sorry, she is a bit misinformed."

"Eh?" the lady was having cold sweat.

"The rate is supposed to be seven hundred AT," said Boto with a smile.