Sam arrived at the City, Refugee Crisis?!

Sam continued to mine with the group for the next three days, before deciding enough is enough and began heading back to the village.

"I'll send Ramon to check on you guys later in the week, continue to work and when you need help just send someone over and Old Man Jim will help on my behalf!"

"Yes Sir!" They all shouted while bowing before Sam who took a horse and began riding back to the village.

His next step now was to grab his equipment from the village and head to Thorn's Rest and complete this quest given to him by the system.

He was curious, however, why was he invited to the city? Does the city lord know about him or something?

Questions like that will be answered once he arrives there. He finally makes it to the village and meets up with both Ramon and Old Man Jim to tell them what to do about the mining outpost while he is gone.

"How long are you going to be gone for Lord?"

"Hopefully soon, I do not wish to stay there no longer than three months. If I do not return, get someone to pick me up from the City. I don't think that'll be the case though, I have you guys to lead!"

Sam smiled and patted Old Man Jim's shoulder, "I trust you run in my stead, after all, you were the previous leader of the village. Nothing much changed, I trust you with our home."

"Thank you for high praise Lord, I won't let you down!"

"As if you would! I'm going to pack now, see you when I return!"

Sam turned around and walked to his courtyard to pick up his armor and equipment. With everything now in his possession, he took a horse and traveled towards Sylvie's village where he'll ask her for Thorn's Rest's location.

Two days later, he arrived and was met by Sylvie who stood outside her village entrance awaiting him.

"Didn't expect you to come back so soon, what is the matter Sam?"

"Location of this Thorn's Rest, where do I go?"

"Ha! bit stupid aren't we? You couldn't ask that merchant Kale when he met up with you?"

"Is he from there?"

"Yeah, but never mind that! Do you remember that little river that separates us and the kingdom villages? Just head there, and follow the road to the city. It is the only major city in the region so it won't be hard to miss!"

"I really am stupid huh"

Sylvie nods before whispering at the guards next to her.

"Stay there for a few seconds!"

Sam shrugs and waits, and soon he is given a sack of gold.

"From the Mankirk bounty. I know you said that I could have it, but to be honest I don't have use for the kingdom's gold when I don't really leave the village much. Use this for your stay in the city, it'll get you far!"

"Thank you!"

Sam shakes his head before turning around towards the location of the river and charging forth.

The journey wasn't long, and in two days he could see the city in the distance.

However, he was met with a dire situation that he didn't expect to see from a city this size.

Outside the city gate, a bunch of tents were packed with people who all looked malnourished.

"Is this the refugee crisis Kale was talking about?"

People stared at Sam who rode slowly to the city entrance, each whispering amongst themselves which Sam could overhear a bit.

"Who's that?"

"He better not take our spot to enter the city!"

"I doubt he is homeless like us, maybe he is from the Kingdom?"

Murmurings and chatter made Sam slightly understand the situation he is witnessing, these refugees were not accepted into the town and are waiting for more space to accommodate them.

It was an upsetting sight. Kids who each lost their playfulness and look as if the world matured them. Adults are hungry due to feeding their kids whatever they could muster, as the food source around the town isn't enough for everyone.

Sam could tell that if this goes on for any longer, deaths will start to happen.

"Hey is that?"

A loud voice caught Sam off guard who was thinking, and he saw that it was the same group of villagers who left the village he saved during the Mankirk fight. Half stayed with Sam while the others left for the town to try their luck to find a life within the kingdom's influence.

"Oh, it is you guys!" Sam waved at them and headed towards their direction while the others looked down at the ground as if they didn't want to be seen with Sam.

"Why are you here sir? Where is the rest of the crew you are usually with?" One of the villagers who looked to be the leader of the group walked towards Sam with crossed arms.

"At the village living their life, while I am here on request by the City Lord. What about you? Life has been treating you well?" Sam couldn't help but sound sarcastic in the end as he saw the villagers not look him straight in the eyes. Why do they look so guilty?

"Ha… yeah, we are doing well as you can see!" The man said while walking away embarrassed.

"Didn't mean to sound like that. I can see the situation is dire, what happened since you last saw me?"

One of the ladies who was hiding within the group stepped up, "I want to take that offer you gave us back then, is it still possible?"

Sam was taken aback, "It's that bad?"

"The city is too full, and damn near every village had the same idea as us when Mankirk raided their village. The city lord made a stupid system that places us in a queue while they build new homes to fit all of us, but it's too slow and I am expecting a revolt happening soon among the refugees. I have kids, I can't stay here and risk my family's life again!"

Sam who looked at the group as a whole saw that they didn't reject what the woman said, and nodded his head. "Yes, you can come to my village. However, you might need to wait until I am finished with my business in the city. It'll hopefully take no longer than two months, which I know is a long time but I'll ask the city lord to provide you food in the meantime."

The group who heard what Sam said smiled and bowed before Sam, thanking him for accepting them into the village.

"I am heading in now. If you find other villagers who wish to join my village, tell them that I accept anyone. New villagers mean new helpers, and we need all the help!"

Sam turned his horse around and galloped into the city's gate which was guarded by an entire group of well-armored guards.

"State your business!"

"Sam came here on request by the City Lord!"

The guard who heard Sam's name turned towards the other guard next to him, "Call it in at City Hall."

He salutes and rushes into the city and toward the city hall. Sam waited on his horseback for entry into the city, and after a few minutes of waiting he was met with the entrance opening up before him.

"Follow me!"

Sam rode his horse into the city behind the guard and looked around, and saw that similar to the refugees outside, the city looked dead.

The markets looked dead, and many people hid in their homes looking outside their windows at Sam with fright and suspicion in their eyes.

"What's going on?"

The guard who heard Sam's question sighed, "It's best for the City Lord to tell you the situation."

Sam nods solemnly and continued to follow the guard. Soon, he arrived at the town hall which was bigger than his courtyard back in the village.

As he stepped off his horse, he was met with a running City Lord who grabbed Sam's shoulders.

"You are Sam, right? Right?"

Sam looked at the angsty and tired City Lord and nodded his head in confusion, "That's me, who are you?"

"I am City Lord Alistar. No time to talk, please help find my daughter!"

"Woah wait, what happened? Why is everything so gloomy in this city? I need something to go on before I go save your daughter!"

Alistar who heard Sam nodded his head, realizing he came onto Sam way too strong. "Sorry kid, I haven't slept in a few days. Please, follow me to my office in the town hall so we can talk!"

Sam and Alistar walked into the town hall and entered his office. Sam took a seat meanwhile Alistar placed two glasses on the desk and filled them with alcohol.

"So, what is this about?"

Alistar who was in mid-pour stopped what he was doing and sighed.

"Some group of kidnappers for the past month have been taking random civilians. We know there is a group because every time someone is taken, they leave a cryptic note."

"And your daughter was taken by this group?"

"Not too long ago yes. Despite me having security in my home, they still got my daughter meaning there is an insider amongst my team that is part of that group."

Sam nods, "So why did you request me?"

"You weren't the only one I asked, but you are the only one who answered. I am guessing you are not native to this land correct?" Alistar took a sip of his drink while staring at Sam.

"I am not, I am from a kingdom far out from the region. Did you just say that no one took the offer? Was the reward not good enough?"

"No, it is because of my reputation."

"Reputation?"

"I… lets just say that I said not-so-nice things to the First Prince who wanted my daughter's hand in marriage. And due to that, he has used his influence to undermine my ruling of this city. He is obsessed with my daughter, and I do not want to marry my daughter to a perverted man like him."

"Perverted? Is the First Prince's reputation that bad?"

"I don't know, when you are in the noble's circle you hear things but most are either malicious or lies but some do have truths to them. Take it with a grain of salt."

Sam nods, "Alright, so what do you want me to do? I do have a village myself to lead, so I do not wish to waste time!"

"Great! We have received a report that the Church of the Seven Gods might be involved in it. Not the religion itself, but rather the men who serve as pastors there. It's a lead, not a definite fact that they are involved in this but I have no jurisdiction to search and investigate the men without concrete proof that they are part of it. Other leads are of course the refugees outside, they might have news that we don't know. We aren't popular with them due to you know, not housing them."

Sam rolled his eyes, "You know, if you continue blue-balling them they will revolt outside your gate."

"Soon, I just need to first find my daughter before I could worry about them." Alistar sighed, "I know I am a bad leader, but I don't want to be known as a bad father. Please, save my daughter!"

Sam stood up from his chair, "Do you have any of the notes this mysterious group left on you?"

"Yes, here it is from my daughter's room!"

Sam grabbed the piece of paper and read its contents.

"You ask anyone to translate this?"

"No, most of the scholars here say that they don't know what writing this is."

Sam clicked his tongue, he recognized the writing.

'This is a language that only those with a system could read meaning…

Someone who has a system is behind this!'

[[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: Quest Updated! Find the culprit and send him back to his home world!]]