Swoosh!
A rift opened up in the middle of a sparse forest, beside a wide path that was wide enough for carriages.
A curly-haired teenager walked out. Two swords were strapped to his waist, which was around the top of his brown pants.
He looked into the portal as a more mature looking man with a well-trimmed beard pushed a cold-faced beauty with pure silver hair.
She was indeed attractive but the men around her overlooked that.
The second man had a broad sword strapped to his back. He also wore a white tunic and brown pants.
A gray-haired man stepped through the portal. He had something wrapped in cloth at his back and his handsome face was kissed by the sunlight.
Swoosh!
Another portal was opened and after they entered it, they appeared on a broad path. About some hundred yards away stood the walls of Tiberias, the capital city of Tigris County. From here, they could see the giant tiger statue.
Several people and carriages could be seen going in and out of the gates.
This was the south gate.
This was a city housing over fifty thousand households. Count William’s domain was so big and populated that no other count could match his power.
He was the only man whose wife is a pure blood elf in the Eternal Immortal Empire’s domain.
Many nobles wanted to curry favor from him because of his talented daughter and bright future.
Nero blinked.
“It’s huge.”
Aquila snorted.
They passed through the gate without any hassle and entered the city, still on foot. Asher always made sure he had a couple of gold coins in his pouch wherever he moved so he swiftly branched a store and got hooded cloaks for all of them.
Many wore cloaks in the city so they didn’t look eye-catching because of it.
Asher saw posters of wanted figures; most of them were the leaders of a band of thieves hiding outside rhe city. Other posters were about quests to hunt beasts.
“Go into the wild lands and capture 3 Thousand Li horses. Reward 20 silver coins.”
He mused.
After walking for a while, they located a store. The young lady working as a receptionist had a delicate look, bright, large eyes, and a professional smile, which added a radiant touch to her face.
Clad in a light green gown, she greeted them warmly.
“Good morning, what would you like to purchase?”
“Do you have earth, water, and air elemental crystals?”
Asher said.
“We have different qualities. Low, mid, high, and peak. Which one do you want?”
Asher turned to Aquila.
“If you want to transport to far locations repeatedly for a year, you’ll need peak grade crystals.”
“What’s the cost?” Asher asked.
The receptionist was taken aback. It was very rare to see customers that could afford the elemental crystals of the highest grade.
“Each cost 100 gold coins.”
Aquila smirked. Her eyes were saying, Buy it if you can.
To her greatest shock, Asher dropped a pouch on the table and gestured for the receptionist to count it.
Before their eyes and that of the customers, the woman brought three peak-grade elemental crystals, put them in a pouch and handed it over to Asher.
Aquila couldn’t close her mouth.
As they walked away, they encountered commotion. Both sides of the streets were populated and those at the back were stretching their necks.
“It’s the countess and her daughter! I heard they both went to tour the Nubis domain.”
“So Lady Liya will actually marry Lord Slade?”
“Of course.”
“Lord Slade just became a diamond-ranked knight. Their marriage isn’t far off.”
“Diamond-ranked at such a young age?!’
“Shush! Here they come!”
Asher turned to his right and saw four pegasuses carrying a carriage through the air as they gracefully flapped their wings.
The carriage was golden with a large red gem at the front. Although no one could see the people inside, they knew this was Count William’s most beautiful wife and his favorite daughter.
Marching through the streets were soldiers on the backs of Saber-toothed black cats. They wore white armor and had long lances.
Their helmet hid their faces, making them look terrifying.
These were Count William’s elite of the elite!
Hooded and unseen, Asher watched all these with an indifferent gaze.
Above, a golden-haired beauty with a soft aura that appealed to those of the opposite gender locked out of the tinted window.
Her lips curled upward.
Her eyes followed the four hooded people walking away while others stood still.
“Have you heard that your fiancé, Slade, is now a diamond-ranked knight and has killed a Rock Armoured Bull, a beast knight, in a one-on-one fight.”
Liya smiled.
“He’s better than the wolf of the north.”
Her mother, an enchanting golden-haired elf that looked a bit older than her daughter, revealed a bittersweet smile.
“You still haven’t forgotten his appearance at your party?”
“He’s changed, mother. He would have been a threat but he should be dead by now. There’s no way he survived the beast tide.”
Her eyes flickered.
Meanwhile, Asher made his way towards the gate with a determined look. With time, the count would hear his name.
As he thought about it, a notification appeared in his retina.
[Conquer Quest: Conquer Baron Scarlet and Baron Tyre territories. Time limit: Two months. (0/1)]
[Reward: Your pet beast Sirius shall be available for an upgrade!]
Asher’s pupils trembled.
The next grade was the saint grade!
The grade of the pet beast he saw in the mural inside his room!
Once Sirius became a saint-ranked beast, he would have no fears of Count William’s response to his domination of his barons.
After all, Count William would not go into war just because of two barons and the imperial family’s protection still lingered.
“Stop pushing me so fast! Would you do this to your sister?” Aquila complained just as they crossed the city gate.
Asher’s eyes flashed. ‘Has Mary received my letter? It’s been over two months since I sent it.’
…..
A gray-haired young woman walked on a wide path paved with the most beautiful stones in the continent.
“Mary! You have a letter!”
Someone yelled from behind.