Mirken City (1)

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Ryan thought and smiled bitterly as he didn't speak any further after hearing the crimson-haired woman's response and he leaves it there.

He couldn't understand her sometimes whenever she spoke riddles because Ryan knew that every word she speaks, there is an underlying message there, but he couldn't decipher what is the meaning behind it.

< …. "Even if I told you, you wouldn't understand it. No matter how much I explained, it will only perplex you even more." …. >

Scarlette's words still resonates within his thoughts as he couldn't figure it out what does she meant by those words.

'Truly, an enigma. A person who is like a closed book that's hard to read.'

"We're almost there. Get ready."

Ryan snapped from his thoughts when he heard what the crimson-haired woman said, and he looked at the front and saw not too far, he saw the city gate that would be their stopped over.

...…..

.....

...…..

After some time had passed, Scarlette and Ryan reached Mirken city, the first city that they needed to pass through for them to reach Fordel Village.

Since this would be a long journey and Ryan is still recuperating, they need to settle down inside the city first.

When they reached the city's gate, the guards who oversee the people who are entering the city stopped their wagon.

One of the guards went over and upon reaching their wagon, Scarlette removed her hood and revealed herself.

The guard who went over to their side, got startled as he recognized the woman's signature appearance.

Scarlette knew that this would happen every time that she pulled down her hood to reveal her appearance but even so, she still followed the protocols that were set by the City Lord.

She took out her identification card and she also asked for Ryan's identification card as well for validation procedure and gave it to the guard, who still stood shocked upon seeing her.

"Just follow the usual protocol. No special treatment is needed. Some people got here first. We can wait."

The guard snapped from his shock gaze when he heard the crimson-haired woman's cold yet gentle voice.

Even though the crimson-haired woman had a veil that covers half of her face, the guard looked up at the woman with admiration and respect for her because of what she said.

Others tend to abuse their fame and authority just to get what they wanted and never thought about the consequences of their own actions would affect others.

Scarlette Overland, known for her reputation as the only SSS-Rank Adventurer and even if that were the case then, she never took advantage of others and from what the guard knew that this woman only doing her job as an adventurer and nothing else.

'She is also well-known within the inner circle of the nobles in this empire, but this woman never paid any attention to them, and no one dared to forced her or even played tricks with her.'

He was only a guard in a small city such as this one, but he had some connections with the other guards within the Central Region, especially with the ones who worked inside the Royal Palace.

Although some of the nobles wouldn't acknowledge Scarlette because of her humble origin as a commoner but no one dared tried to touch her or dared to crossed paths with her because not only that she is strong and could kill anyone on plain sight, but Scarlette Overland had also connections with those in power and authority.

For example, His Majesty, the Emperor and the Crown Prince and also…. The revered Marquis of Silveria Empire, who, rumored to have a special relationship with Scarlette Overland.

At that moment, the guard snapped from his thoughts as the guard salutes her and takes their identification cards and goes back to the entrance gate. They just need to wait for their turn.

Ryan, on the other hand, saw what happened earlier, went over to Scarlette's side to sit and said; "You surely are quite well-known within these parts as well. I won't be surprised if we happened to go somewhere within this Empire since that guard even recognized you at first glance without asking for your name."

Scarlette looked at her side when Ryan sat beside her and heard those words coming from him.

She chuckled as she speaks; "It's understandable since I am the only adventurer who attained SSS-Rank within the guild and have been recognized by both nobles and the royal family of this Empire, although not all of them but at least, from what I know, the nobles from the Imperial Faction and half of the nobles from the Aristocratic Faction acknowledged my existence."

'W-wow! This might be her longest speech ever! Her voice is usually cold, and I'm pretty much used to it.'

He thought as he remembered some of the stories about her and from her statement alone, he happened to catch something about it.

"What about the royal family of Silveria? Also, you seems to know how the noble society works the way you even know about those factions. Have you been invited by some nobles, or even a banquet?"

Ryan just noticed that it seems like Scarlette knew some of the inner workings within the noble society that most commoners wouldn't know about it.

Scarlette snorted when she heard what Ryan asked her and said; "I happened to be invited to a royal banquet hosted by the Emperor itself. Although it's not my obligation to answer his summon because it's truly none of my business but since this is the first time and it's just an appearance's sake then, I just accepted his invitation."

Ryan, hearing this coming from Scarlette itself and not from the stories of other people, shocked as he looked at her.

"What? Y-you got an invitation from the Silveria's Emperor himself?!"

Scarlette chuckled as she looked at Ryan's flabbergasted expression when she told him about that one particular event that happened a few years ago.

"Hm. I just happened to save his life before and as a repayment, the Emperor wanted to take me under his wing with the reason that I still need some protection even though I'm strong enough to protect myself, but the Emperor's reasons are quite understandable."

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