14. Welcome to Esverita Kingdom

Catherine, Thomas, and Virginia appeared in the middle of a quiet narrow alley in one of Esverita's city corners. The surroundings were distinct from Lilac—cleaner, more orderly, and undoubtedly livelier, even if their immediate area seemed deserted. The buildings around them were made of sturdy white stone, adorned with ornaments that spoke of the city's prosperity.

"At least we weren't dumped into the middle of a crowd," Catherine muttered with a half-sarcastic tone, inspecting her surroundings skeptically while brushing a speck of dust off her glove. "But this alley is absolutely substandard. Do you think a queen belongs in a place like this?"

Thomas merely raised an eyebrow, his expression tinged with mild impatience. "Our location is irrelevant as long as the mission proceeds efficiently. Be it a narrow alley or a grand palace, our objective remains the same."

Virginia stood silently behind them, her gaze fixed on the alley's end leading to the main road. She closed her eyes briefly, perhaps offering a silent prayer. "Maybe this is a test of humility," she said softly, but loud enough for the others to hear. "We must accept this situation with grace."

"Any mission updates from the system?" The navigator's voice suddenly echoed in their minds.

"None," Catherine replied, her tone not entirely polite. "Were you hoping for something to pop up just so we'd have an excuse not to waste time?"

"Then proceed with exploration and resource gathering," the navigator replied calmly. "Learn more about this city. I suggest starting with the adventurers' guild."

"Adventurers' guild again?" Catherine scoffed. "Everyone keeps talking about adventurers' guilds as if they're the center of everything. Fine. If that's what needs to be done."

Virginia looked at Catherine with a gentle gaze. "Guilds are a good place to gather information. Many people gather there for missions or the latest news. We should take advantage of that."

Thomas nodded in agreement with Virginia. "Moreover, the adventurers' guild offers insights into the city's social dynamics. If this city is more advanced than Lilac, there's likely a more complex hierarchy to understand. That knowledge is crucial for mission stability."

The navigator interjected with a more relaxed tone. "Don't worry. This city is far more developed than Lilac. I'm sure you'll find something intriguing here."

Catherine crossed her arms, her expression reflecting her irritation. "I hope that's true. I don't want this journey to end up like Lilac—monotonous and full of menial tasks."

Virginia hesitated to respond but finally spoke softly. "Every place has its own challenges and opportunities. We must approach them with humility and faith."

Thomas sighed heavily. "Let's move. There's no use arguing here while time slips away. If the guild is the first step, then let's not waste any more time."

The three began walking in the direction they assumed led to the city center, following road signs displayed on the walls of the surrounding buildings. Catherine maintained a graceful stride despite her visible impatience. Thomas, walking steadily, seemed busy analyzing the environment. Meanwhile, Virginia paid close attention to every detail around them, including the people passing by on the main road.

As they approached the bustling main street, the city's activity became evident. The sound of merchants, the clatter of horses' hooves, and the chatter of townsfolk filled the air. Catherine surveyed the scene with a critical eye. "At least this city has some semblance of grandeur. But let's see if the guild can actually offer anything useful."

Virginia glanced at Thomas, who seemed deep in thought. "You seem to be pondering something. What's on your mind, Mr. Hobbes?"

Thomas didn't answer immediately but finally said, "Every city has a pattern. I'm just trying to understand how this one operates. Before we go any further, it's important to know who holds the power here and what truly poses a threat."

Virginia nodded in agreement. "That makes sense. Let's see what we can learn at the guild."

Catherine moved closer to the merchant stalls lining the city's main street. Her eyes were drawn to a display of colorful crystals, shimmering metal fragments, and other neatly arranged materials on wooden tables. She examined a small, teal crystal with interest. "Look at this," she said, holding it up. "Fascinating, though the quality is clearly subpar. Still, this merchant knows how to make his goods appear luxurious."

The navigator spoke in their minds, his tone flat yet informative. "Those items are miscellaneous materials from the game Astral Point. Conversion materials and ascension resources for weapons, but they're unnecessary for now. The system already provides such materials as mission or dungeon rewards. No need to waste time here."

Catherine sighed lightly, placing the crystal back. "As usual, you strip the romance out of the situation. But I understand your point. Besides, we should focus on more pressing matters."

Thomas, standing a few steps behind Catherine, observed the merchants and shoppers bustling around. He folded his arms across his chest and spoke with a skeptical tone. "Wasting time on items like these isn't productive. We should conserve our resources for more critical needs."

Virginia, standing slightly further away, seemed disengaged from their conversation. Her gaze was fixed on something across the street. She noticed a ragged boy being scolded by a bread merchant. The merchant shouted angrily, pointing to a broken loaf on his table. The boy simply bowed his head, his hands trembling as he tried to speak, though his voice was inaudible.

Virginia sighed deeply, her eyes filled with compassion. She stepped forward without hesitation. "Excuse me," she said to Catherine and Thomas before walking toward the commotion.

As Virginia approached the boy, she spoke gently to the merchant. "What's going on here, sir? Why are you so angry at this child?"

The merchant, a large man with a face red from anger, glanced at Virginia. "This boy tried to touch the bread without permission. He probably meant to steal it!"

Virginia looked at the boy, who still had his head bowed, his face pale. "Sir, he's just a child. Can't you show a little patience? Look at him—he doesn't even have anything to eat."

The boy finally spoke, his voice barely audible. "I... I just wanted to look at it. I didn't mean to take it."

Virginia gave the boy a gentle smile. "It's okay, child. Everything will be fine." She then took out a few small coins from her pocket and handed them to the merchant. "This is for the bread. Now, please let the boy go in peace."

The merchant huffed but accepted the coins. "Fine. But next time, keep him away unless he has money."

Virginia nodded and softly patted the boy's head. "Go on, and be careful. If you need help, come find me at the adventurers' guild later."

Catherine, observing from afar, raised an eyebrow. "Virginia. A heart that's too soft won't get us far in a place like this."

Virginia rejoined the group, her face calm despite a hint of worry. "A hungry little child will never be a threat to us, Catherine. Compassion is simple, but very valuable."

Thomas sighed. "Your actions are noble, but we can't help every person in need. Focus is what's necessary to survive in a world like this."

The navigator interrupted their conversation. "Virginia, you're not wrong. But we can't let emotions cloud our mission. Don't forget our primary objective here."

Virginia nodded calmly. "Of course. I was just doing what felt right in that moment."

As they made their way toward the Adventurers' Guild, Catherine, Thomas, and Virginia engaged in light conversation, though the topics often led to differing viewpoints. Catherine, observing keenly, commented on the city's architecture, which seemed more advanced than Lilac Town.

"Of course, this city is more developed," Catherine said. "But I'm suspicious of whether this prosperity is truly fair for everyone here."

Thomas answered flatly while glancing at the passing citizens. "Justice is a relative concept. Prosperity, like power, often belongs to only a few."

Virginia, walking behind them, responded softly. "Even so, that doesn't mean we shouldn't try to create fairness, Thomas. Even small things can lead to change."

Upon arriving at a large building with unfamiliar writing engraved on a large metal plate above the door, Catherine focused her gaze. A system screen appeared in front of them, reading "Adventurers' Guild."

"Finally," Catherine muttered, folding her arms. "Let's go inside."

They entered the building, greeted by a busy scene. Adventurers in armor and with weapons hurried by, some standing in front of a large bulletin board covered with mission sheets, while others gathered at counter tables.

At one of the counters, a young woman in a neat uniform smiled and greeted them. "Welcome to the Adventurers' Guild. My name is Veli. How can I assist you?"

Catherine stepped forward. "We need information about dungeons around this area," she said firmly.

Veli nodded. "Of course. However, to access dungeons or take on certain missions involving danger, you must register as a guild member first."

Thomas interrupted, his tone thoughtful. "So, would it be enough if one of us registers?"

Veli smiled slightly. "That's possible, sir, but I recommend that all members of your party register. It will streamline the mission process and ensure everything is properly recorded."

Thomas shook his head. "No need. These two women are just support units responsible for gathering items. I'm the one who fights."

Catherine, standing beside Thomas, shot him a sharp look. "Support units?" she said, her voice rising a pitch. "Did you just call me your support, Thomas?"

Virginia quickly stepped forward and gently placed a hand on Catherine's arm. "It's fine, Catherine. Let him handle this. We don't need to complicate things right now."

"But, Virginia—" Catherine protested, but Virginia pulled her away from the counter.

"No need," Virginia said softly but firmly. "We're here to complete the mission, not to argue."

Catherine sighed, clearly offended but choosing not to pursue the matter further. Meanwhile, Thomas continued with his registration process calmly, answering Veli's questions briefly and straightforwardly.

Virginia, standing a little farther away with Catherine, spoke softly, "Sometimes, patience is a more powerful weapon, Catherine. We know what we're truly doing here. That's enough."

Catherine merely nodded slightly, though her expression still hinted at displeasure.

After a moment, Thomas returned to them with a guild membership card in his hand. "Done," he said flatly. "We can proceed with our plan."

They then walked toward the large bulletin board. Many other adventurers were gathered around, some busy jotting down information, while others discussed missions with their companions. Catherine still seemed upset, though she tried to hide it with her usual graceful demeanor.

Suddenly, the navigator's voice echoed in their minds. "Catherine, I want to apologize for the incident earlier. Don't blame Thomas for what he said. I instructed him to minimize the spread of your identities. By having him register alone, your identity and Virginia's remain safe and unrecorded in the guild."

Catherine paused for a moment, her eyes fixed on the bulletin board without actually reading what was written there. In a cold tone, which only the navigator could hear, she replied, "Does that mean I'm not worthy of being respected in public? Or is this just another strategy you thought I'd approve of without question?"

Virginia glanced at Catherine, noticing the subtle change in her expression. "The navigator is right," she said softly in her mind. "That decision was made to protect us. While I don't agree with how Thomas phrased it, the goal makes sense."

Thomas, hearing the conversation, didn't turn around. In a flat tone, he said in his mind, "I just took the most logical step. Catherine's identity is more likely to attract attention. It wasn't an insult, just efficiency."

Catherine sighed quietly, rubbing her temple. "Fine. I'll accept that reasoning. But next time, Thomas, try not to forget courtesy."

Virginia smiled faintly, though she said nothing more.

As they checked the bulletin board, a system screen appeared before them. The navigator spoke again, this time with more enthusiasm. "Take the Direfang Wolf mission. The dungeon contains monsters of mid-level strength, and its lowest level is 8. With your abilities, it's a balanced challenge and beneficial for resource gathering."

Thomas tilted his head slightly, his eyes focused on the mission. "Direfang Wolf dungeon... Interesting. I agree. Its level matches our capabilities. Catherine, Virginia, any objections?"

Catherine only shook her head slightly, while Virginia spoke in a calm tone, "As long as it aligns with our goal, I have no objections."

Thomas took the mission sheet from the board and brought it to the counter where Veli was waiting.

"We'd like to register for the Direfang Wolf mission," he said in a formal tone.

Veli smiled and took the document. "Very well, sir. Any additional details I should note?"

"None," Thomas replied briefly. "I'll be responsible for this party."

After a few minutes of noting and processing the document, Veli handed Thomas a copy of the mission registration. "The mission is recorded. Be careful out there, and good luck."

Thomas nodded before returning to Catherine and Virginia. "Everything's ready. We can move out whenever."

Catherine gave Thomas a look that was hard to read. "I hope your words about responsibility weren't just words."

"I never speak without thinking," Thomas replied, walking ahead of them out of the guild.

Virginia followed with her calm steps, while Catherine trailed behind, still maintaining her cool demeanor, though her expression slowly softened. The atmosphere between them became more peaceful, at least for now, as they prepared to face the challenges of the Direfang Wolf dungeon.

***