Season 1; In The City of Erast.

[ Would you like to merge your A.ID function into the Stelsel? { Yes } or { No }. Please press your response. ]

Although I said it was a hassle always having the card around, I never really thought of this possibility of merging Elle Stelsel with my A.ID, but if it were possible, of course, I would do it!

I pressed the { Yes } option.

[ Synchronizing A.ID with Stelsel | Status: 0.01% | Time Requirement: 2 Hours ]

It's definitely much faster than the transfer data. Now that I think about it. Let's check out the status of that panel.

[ List of Panels ]

- < Transferring Data Status { Adventurer ID }

- < Transferred Data { System Function }

- < System Name Added

- < Details of Curse of Death

- < Details of Fiery Lightning

- < Details of Fortress of Steel

- < Synchronization { A.ID & Stelsel }

I pressed the first option.

[ Data Status: Paused | Progression: 31.9% | Time Requirement: 33 Hours ]

Paused? Is that because of the synchronization? Well, it makes more sense if I put it that way. Come to think of it, Elle Stelsel seemed more out-of-the-world to me before the system function data was transferred to me. I wonder if there's more to her than meets the eye.

Ah, now that I mention it, the City of Erast is more than what meets the eye. It's most known for weaponry and armory production. The City of Erast is basically the supplier for the nation.

That reminds me of what the old man, Ramiel du Guesclin, said about visiting a blacksmith named Eliot Reginn Dufort.

I have a strong feeling that he is a Paladin of Selection, maybe. But it's just that I didn't feel any essence or magical occurrence. That old man talked as if he knew my future, past, and what I was going through. I just couldn't confirm how he did it since he left in a rush.

He told me names to go to, and God knows what those people will do to me. But he did say, "If you ever want to repay me," indicating that it would probably be something beneficial to me. And the payment I just had to fulfill is to take someone of his blood into Earth with me, someone called Ezekiel de Guesclin.

He knew my exact plans through some sort of sorcery that I could not perceive.

"Identify yourself and state your purpose here in the city!" a guard interrupted my thoughts.

I realized I was already at the massive gate before the City of Erast. A guard covered in chainmail armor inspected me.

I took out my A.ID and showed it to the guard. "I am Jadestone. I have come with a business to buy some armor and continue my journey."

"You'll need to pay ten silver for your entrance." the guard smirked.

I stared blankly at the guard, questioning whether it was right to do what they were doing. I know this is something illegal.

The guard looked at me from my horse and displayed an arrogant and mad expression. "What? You got a problem?" "You think I can let you pass without paying, huh?" he arrogantly spoke.

"How dare you look up at me." I brought out my essence.

"Y-you!" the guard stepped back.

"How dare you talk to a noble. Shut your filthy commoner's mouth." I glared at the guard with my utmost contempt.

"I- I-!" he was stuttering.

"What's going on here!" a man with steel armor entered our conversation.

He was a man in his forties, unlike the previous who's like in his early twenties. You could tell that he was experienced.

His brows were raised down. "Who are you, and state your purpose."

"This guard attempted to slander my money before I entered. And if I can recall the laws, it is strictly forbidden."

"Are you a scholar? How dare you talk that way to-"

I intensified my essence. "Shut your mouth, you filthy commoner. How dare you take the side of the wrong. What is the Count doing in this place to have such lax security."

"A-a noble!" the man in steel armor exclaimed. "I- we are sorry, my lord. We have deeply committed a crime. Please give us mercy." he kneeled down, and so did the younger guard.

"Who told you to kneel," I spoke angrily. "If I catch you guys slandering another person with ten whole silvers, I will execute you myself." I spat on the ground and continued my way into the entrance.

If it was ten copper coins, it would have been reasonable. How dare they ask for ten silvers. They must be courting death! An entrance fee that's ten silvers, that's too much. If they wanted to slander someone, at least do a decent job at it.

It seems the city crowd is rowdy and busy. Like the last time I went here, most stands are filled with armory, weapons, and artillery.

There are vendors with only food, too. There are also some extra stands like pet stand, familiar stand, flower stand, material stand, etc. I have to stay here for a few days at the least. Sebastian will come for me here in Erast, I'm sure. I just hope that Baron Bryce won't be accompanying him.

Sebastian is smart. But he overthinks simple details. Sebastian will overestimate me and think I'll go to another city than Erast. He's probably going to ask Father's knights to go into Ezledon. But just to make sure, he will check the nearby metropolis from the village where I left him.

But he will, without a doubt, head into Erast after searching in the nearby civilizations. Of course, I planned ahead before I actually dove into this place. Plus, he has to thoroughly search in Stark since it's a city known for its alleyways and shadows.

Now the question is if I ask help from Count Jove, will he help or be a traitorous bastard and sell me off to the Duke? I am in his territory. Although he won't know, he will eventually. But that's if I reveal my appearance and name. It might be a better choice to reside outside the city walls. There's a village that surrounds the walls of Erast. I'm sure there's more than just one Inn.

There's probably also an Adventurer Building both inside the walls and outside. I can guess that there are more of them in the external areas than internal ones since it is less sufficient to have them inside since these buildings are nearer to the forests and plains, making it much less burden for Adventurers.

I should go to the Informants Guild. They are a guild for everyone with money. Their primary job is to give intel or pathways, maybe even maps.

The Informants Guild will help me locate the person the old man, Ramiel du Guesclin, talked about. Eliot Reginn Dufort. A blacksmith.

Inside the Erast Walls were two sections of the city; The Upper-Class & The Lower-Class. The Lower-Class is where lesser nobles, merchants, and other things reside. The Upper-Class is the divided land of the higher nobles and well-off influential merchants. The de Valois owns a mansion and property in the Upper-Class, and going there is indeed tempting because it's luxurious. But that would mean I am giving away my location to the Duke.

I can't believe I am playing hide n' seek with the Duke. I can't just help but facepalm. And it's been quite some time since I saw my brothers and sister. I admit that I miss them.

( Informants Guild )

That's what is on the sign of the building in front of me. I'm in the right place. And they are hospitable when it comes to their visitors, too. There are stables for horses.

I went into the stables and placed Orleon in one of them. "I'll be back, Orleon." I tapped his head and left the stables.

Inside the building, there were many reception tables. And for privacy, there are several rooms for customers. Luckily, there were just about six people inside, and there were another four vacant rooms.

I stood before the empty room, at the side of the door. There was a small window with no actual window where the receptionist of that vacant room was.

"Hello, sir. How may I help you?" the receptionist asked.

"I was sent here by somebody to find a person who is a blacksmith, but I need information on where the blacksmith is, so can you provide me the information?" I asked.

"Of course. May I ask who this blacksmith is, sir?" she asked.

I nodded. "Eliot Reginn Dufort."

"Eliot Reginn Dufort." she wrote the name on her paper and then returned her gaze towards me. "Excuse me for a bit, sir. Let me just give this to the informant." she stood from her chair and went into a room. A few minutes later, she came back.

"Thank you for waiting, sir." she smiled. She sat back down and took some papers from her desk. "Here are some papers you need to fill."

( Identification )

Name:

Date: XX/XX/XX

Information Sought: The whereabouts of Eliot Reginn Dufort.

Signature of Confirmation:

Credential Used:

"That's just basic information, sir. You can use your Adventurer name," she added.

I see. I can use my A.ID as my credential and the name on it.

( Identification )

Name: Vil Jadestone

Date: XX/XX/XX

Information Sought: The whereabouts of Eliot Reginn Dufort.

Signature: ~Jadestone~

Credential Used: Adventurer Card ID

"Here." I passed out the paper.

She took it and gave me other papers. "These are different conditions you can choose from, sir. The Elite, The Nobility, and The Commoner. The Elite is expensive, but your identity and information will never be revealed to anyone. Your papers will immediately go into our archive, where only the Informant Pillars can access. The Nobility will cover your name and signature and plus your credential used, and the rest can be bought by someone else. The Commoner option has the worst conditions. Which one would you like to choose from, sir?"

The conditions are exceptional. You can expect this kind of privacy and security from the Informant Guild. Even other nobles will have trouble leaking private information.

"I'd like to have the Nobility, please," I answered.

I don't have to hide my purpose of coming here since there's no one, absolutely no one, who knows what I came here for.

"That would be two gold coins, sir."

The gold coins. It's a balanced price. I can take it.

"Here." I handed two gold coins.

"Thank you for choosing us, Information Guild, sir. You can go inside the room to meet your informant that will give you the intel you need," she spoke. "Here's a mask if you don't want to reveal your face, sir." she also handed me a blank white mask.

I looked at the door for a few seconds and wore my mask before entering.