Chapter 260
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Freya turned around and laughed sweetly as she sized two females coming towards her.
The taller and older one of them had long golden-white hair which shone with vibrant lustre under the moonlight, scarlet eyes which were as beautiful as rubies. She seemed like the very personification of beauty, and she had a strange attractive force about her.
And with her was another girl of fourteen or fifteen, she looked similar to the other, with long silver hair and eyes that were like rubies.
Throughout Purgatory World, Freya had a very packed adventure filled with incidents, accidents and opportunity in her long journey, roaming from islands to islands, sailing seas and also entering continents. She made contact with various people, their beliefs, culture, ideology, power system etc. Learning and adapting herself to mend properly into the power system here.
Still, Freya's only goal throughout this endeavor was to accumulate appropriate strength and gain qualifications of carrying out Leylin eventual plan. And through her journey she obviously entered Hail Continent which is the dignitary continent of Mother of Serpents, Allsnake Snake Dowager.
From Port Elias to Dreamscape Forest, crossing the weird place which is the home of odd events pertaining to dreamforce and entering the Whiteriver Valley taking care of important business, and traversing the huge artificially created Serpentes Plains which would play an important role in drawing Snake Dowager out and finally reaching Holy City. Freya had travelled much and she has been roaming for a long time but her goal remained the same which was the Holy City.
But entering, gaining access and acquiring resident permit in Holy City is very difficult, in a place where a single piece of land is more valuable then whole towns or ports it would be very difficult to get inside especially for someone like her who has no records in any Noble Serpent Family, her alias could hence only be that of a roaming mix-blood.
Fortunately Leylin shared some intel with Freya regarding this mix-blood serpent women called Belinda before her. Apparently she has important connection with a higher-up pure blood in Holy City which would make her life very easy and this women herself would lead her to pretty profitable endeavors hence, Freya promptly decided to 'bump' into her and become good friends. She helped Belinda when she was betrayed by the followers of her dignitaries, Trial Eye.
Belinda as a Alabaster Devilsnake was an odd sight in the crowd of Beholders which was the main force of Trial Eye hence in a blunder and huge mishap she was pushed to become their sacrifice.
Freya obviously had some backhand in this incident because she needed a way to bring their friendship closer and obviously she was partially greedy about sacrificing the Beholder to gain favours from Nefarious Featherbird whose law of chaos would be very helpful.
Freya eventually 'saved' Belinda and they both traveled together going through thick and thin, Freya supported her, console her and took care of her sister Sofia when she wanted to extract revenge from her vile father for his atrocities, and finally at the main conjuncture Freya even helped Belinda extract her revenge, all these events have made these two sworn sisters and today after all the preparation were done and when Freya was left with no choice but to proceed she met her again.
"...." Freya who herself looked like a mix-blood Alabaster Devilsnake looked at the two incoming girls and lost herself in her thoughts.
"What's wrong, Sister Freya?" Belinda and Sophia looked over, their eyes full of concern.
"It- It's nothing!" Freya laughed forcefully, looking at them with a soft gaze all the while paying full attention to the ones behind them.
"You have finally come, I have waited a lot for you. look this is the holy city, the place blessed by Holy Mother!"
"Yeah I had some things to deal with, I am sorry to make you wait and I was just a little emotional after seeing such a huge city. Let's get in! I would need to depend on you, Have you notified your friend yet?"
"Please don't mention it sister Freya you are my sister and have helped a lot in my bad time, I would be very honored and grateful to help you. I've already notified my friend Aegnis. She'll be here soon!" Belinda laughed.
The three of them now stood outside the huge holy city. There were three huge triumphal arches, and a bridge that was tens of metres long. Below it was a surging moat, though the waters were black and gave an ominous feeling.
The gates of the city opened, and many half-snake people and even pure-bloods passed by in an orderly manner.
'This—!' Upon seeing this, Freya's eyes narrowed slightly. The queue that wound around like a long snake suddenly had a small disturbance near the gates, and immediately after, a half-snake person with black scales on its face wailed as he was separated out, and was pushed into the black moat.
"Ah…" Its mournful cries vanished in an instant, and Freya immediately saw only white bones, and even then, they melted quickly.
'What was that?' Freya's eyes shifted to the stone sculpture of snakes on the city gate. The vertical pupils of the sculptures were now flickering with green light.
'It seems as through when that snake being passed by, the eyes of the sculptures turned bright red! Is that some sort of bloodline identification system?' Freya was slightly afraid, because she had not found anything strange about that snake person earlier.
"That is the Snake Sculpture found everywhere in the holy city. As long as there are residents whose souls or bloodlines aren't pure, or have not gotten permission, all will be detected and thrown into the Howling Abyss!"
There was a grim look on her face, "Based on the system of the holy city, whether it's bloodline beings with unknown origins or wanted criminals, none can stay in the holy city!"
"Oh! In other words, if I as a mix-blood were to enter, the sculpture's eyes would turn red, and many soldiers would be attracted?"
Freya stroked her chin, "If I didn't guess wrong, for them to take this risk, there must be many benefits of being here in this city right?"
Belinda smiled wryly, "There are obviously a lot! First of all, all those who get permission to stay in holy city will have their safety guaranteed. In the Hail Continent, there are few organisations who dare treat residents of the holy city roughly!"
"Protection?" Freya nodded. In this era of living from hand to mouth, absolute protection was a dream come true for the weak.
"Also, the holy city is the core of the Hail Continent. You'll be able to get anything at all here, even the most highly-ranked strength systems, the best offerings and beast spirits… but most importantly…" At the mention of the holy city, she evidently became excited.
"What's most important is that the entire holy city has gained the favour of the Mistress, and all of those who live here will have the purity of their blood not fall in rank and even continuously increase based on the length of time they stay here." Another voice sounded from the side, and along with a streak of black light, there were two more figures appearing.
"Aegnis!" Upon seeing who had arrived, Belinda grinned brilliantly.
"Belinda, I am sorry I was busy with something else there was some abnormalities in the patrol which needed my personal attention and couldn't come sooner!" Someone headed over and gave Belinda an enthusiastic hug. This must be the good friend that Belinda had constantly mentioned, Aegnis.
Freya could not help but size up this being. She had short brown hair, a tall stature, fair and glowing skin, and she wore tight-fitting armour that seemed to be made of crystal. Her fine nose was raised, and she had a heroic air to her. While a female, she had a gender-neutral beauty to her.
The bloodline aura of her body though was very fierce. This even caused her some fear. This was definitely the bloodline of a rank 6 giant serpent, and Aegnis herself had already reached rank 5.
She evidently has the formidability of pure blood nobility! She's only half-mature, and already has rank 5 strength. Once her bloodline completely matures, reaching rank 6 isn't an issue!
Compared to a mixed-blood like Belinda, she had a pure bloodline from a giant serpent. In other words, her main body was a python, and her human form was just for convenience.
"This is?" Aegnis warmly held Belinda's hand, gauging Freya closely. Freya was a breathtaking beauty on her own right, even through she is in a mix-blood Alabaster Devilsnake form her original neat features were still slightly emphasised especially her slightly childish cuteness and noble disposition.
Seeing how she was itching to hug her close and her facial muscles twitching, Freya suddenly felt a cold shiver from Aegnis interested gaze.
"Aegnis! This is the friend that I talked to you about."
Agenis invasive gaze full of fervour was a little too much for Belinda, and she huffed as she struggled out of the devilish grasp of Aegnis, before pointing at Freya.
"She's a good friend who's rendered me a lot of help and is my sworn sister: Freya!"
After being deprived of Belinda, Aegnis moved to maneuver her way towards little Sophia and held her, eyes sparkling while looking at Freya, "So this is sister Freya, I heard a lot about you. Whether it's the blood from your father or mother's side, they have combined magnificently on you, whether it's your ruby-red eyes, or long silver hair full of luster… they are so intoxicating —*Ahem*—You are Belinda sister so mine as well, You'll definitely be able to get the residence permit and gain the right to stay in the holy city permanently!"
"....." Freya had a very polite smile on her face but her lips involuntarily twitched, "I have heard a lot about you too Lady Aegnis it's a pleasure to meet your honor!"
"Oh don't be so distant and please make do with honorifics, just calling me Aegnis will do."
"Sister let's go the guest here have take a long journey to reach Holy City and must be tired, we should firstly settle her here quickly." At this moment, the person behind Aegnis suddenly spoke in a gentle voice.
"Hm?" Freya noticed the person at this moment. He had short brown hair like Aegnis, and there was a faint resemblance. It seemed that they had blood relations.
"Oh, Freya! So this is my useless brother, Thomas! Thomas! Come here and say hello!"
"Good morning, beautiful lady!" Thomas bowed respectfully, he looked enchanted and intoxicated as he gazed at Freya but his eyes were darting toward Sophia who was tugged by Aegnis, who was like a little girl.
"Lord Thomas!" Noticing the siblings peculiarity and perverted tendency obviously infuriated Freya and she was also lightly annoyed but she kept her smile.
Based on what Freya knew, after obtaining permanent residency in the holy city, she could receive preferential treatment everywhere in the Hail Continent. It was the best method to counteract the her unimpressive mix-blood status. Obviously getting a permit is very difficult but as someone from one of the ruling faction of Holy City as well as someone with considerable power in military Aegnis is very capable, all that was needed was for her to take any fancy to the person and from her pervert gaze it's easy to know she did.
"You dont need to worry, we would take good care of you!" Aegnis smiled along, and Belinda immediately looked at ease. After all, she had asked a favour of Aegnis.
"Alright, I'll bring everyone in to go through the formalities," Aegnis rested her arm around Belinda's shoulders, and with her other hand pulling Sophia along.
Seeing what she was doing and her good attitude toward Freya, Belinda smiled once more, no longer resistant to her actions.
"Please follow us Lady Freya!" Watching the backs of the three females walking ahead, Thomas nicely said.
Aegnis, in front, seemed to have noticed something, and her eyes glinted.
"Go away, you peasants! Don't block the path of us noble Stuards!"
As if trying to impress the girls especially Sophia, Thomas flicked a nine-segmented whip of a snake leader, unceasingly creating crisps ounds and threatening the group of half-blooded snake beings in front of them.
*Pila!* Seeing the half-blooded snake beings fearfully separating to two sides and giving way, Freya couldn't help but stroke her chin. It seemed that the siblings who were in the Stuard family had a rather terrifying reputation in the holy city.
"Are you guards blind? Why aren't you here to welcome us?"
Immediately after, the guards who had been like fiends and slaughtering people as they wished instantly came over to help out with Thomas' call, bringing Belinda and the rest to the main gate.
Thomas had his nose in the air as he peeked at Freya, eyes full of pride.
Freya smiled sweetly but merely rolled her eyes inwardly, she can already see the future this guy is probably going to die in her hands.
In the Magus World, this sort of person would have died several times over already, but this was the Hail Continent! This was where the descendants of the Snake Dowager had high statuses, and there were few bloody contests for power over them. Such a state had continued for tens of thousands of years, and had even become an iron rule.
Hence, it was entirely understandable that Thomas who had grown up in a sheltered environment was acting this way. This was one who had been spoilt by superior living conditions.
Freya obviously would not stoop to the level of weaklings like him. Her focus was now on the sculpture at the main gate and her current predicament.