Chapter 39: Five Flowers Alliance

Leaving the inn, Reji easily bought a city guide map from a nearby stall.

The guide map was very clear, not only providing an overview of the city but also detailed different functional areas and blocks, even including simple explanations and notes on several key areas and landmark buildings.

Such a comprehensive and useful guide map clearly indicated that there must be many foreigners entering the city every day like them.

Unfolding the guide map, Reji and Shermen walked down the streets, looking around.

First, their guess was correct; this large and bustling city was indeed the royal city of a country - the Ilinor Kingdom.

On the map, the royal city was divided into several parts, seemingly to facilitate understanding for the culturally uneducated foreigners, hence the simple representation using administrative districts, queen's districts, academy districts, scenic garden districts, and so on.

Among them, the Adventurer's Association, which Reji was looking for, was a key building and seemed to be very popular among foreigners, so it had extra markings on the map, saving Reji a lot of trouble.

The association was not far from them, just straight along the main road of the royal city, located in the central plaza area on the map.

Arriving at this huge oval plaza, the hustle and bustle around them increased by several notches.

The diverse crowds bustling about, the incessant coming and going of carriages, and the noisy hawkers from various shops.

The so-called central plaza area was actually the royal city's large commercial circle, which is always the most vibrant and lively place.

Reji could feel that, under this scene, Shermen's body tensed up a lot.

Well that was normal.

The demon race had been sealed in the barren chaos rift for a thousand years, in contrast, humans were living in such prosperous and wealthy conditions, and even the population size had doubled compared to a thousand years ago.

Back then, a human city with a population of several hundred thousand was considered top-notch and very rare.

Now, Reji estimated the population of this royal city to be at least in the millions.

Thinking of this, Reji took Shermen's hand.

The body of the Shadow Demon paused for a moment.

But after seeing the comforting look from Reji, Shermen quickly adjusted her emotions, no longer as tense due to the surrounding humans, but still focused, maintaining a vigilant, protective stance, without any less diligence.

Even in the bustling central plaza, the building of the Adventurer's Association was very conspicuous, somewhat of a landmark.

After all, in the world of swords and magic, having no Adventurer's Association was like having no Tifa in the 3D district.

Even a thousand years later, the Adventurer's Association's emblem of "Sword and Stars" remained unchanged, giving Reji a sense of familiarity.

The Adventurer's Association was the first faction he joined in his first cycle, and it could be said to be the starting point of all "Children of Destiny" stories.

With such nostalgic feelings, Reji entered the association's lobby.

Compared to a thousand years ago, the association has clearly undergone multiple changes and renovations, evolving from what might have been a small wooden hut to now having a spacious lobby that can accommodate hundreds of people, with three layers inside and three outside, and various guidance efforts being very well implemented.

As soon as one enters, there is a prominent sign for a registration area specifically for newcomers. After Reji follows the passage and turns in, two more signs appear.

[Royal City Household Registration/Other Identity Proofs]

[Non-Royal City Household Registration]

'Well, that's something'

Reji was somewhat taken aback.

'It seems that regardless of the type of human civilization, they all eventually converge to a familiar point, developing to a certain stage where one can see shadows of familiarity among each other'

'Actually, if you think about it, there are various types of adventurers on earth as well, just with different names, like delivery personnel, courier staff, repair workers, play companions, and so on'

Reji entered the registration channel for "foreigners", but the scene that followed was a bit different from what he had imagined.

"What! The registration fee is actually 5 silver? It's just a dozen coppers in Yonesser City, why is it so expensive here!"

"Sorry sir, the association's registration fee is adjusted based on the location and fluctuation is normal."

"Okay, then you tell me, why can they register for free over there!?"

The angry middle-aged man speaking pointed towards the [Non-Royal City Household Registration] area where Reji was.

Exactly.

To Reji's surprise, the treatment for these foreigners was actually better than for the city's residents.

At least that's the case for the current registration process.

As soon as Reji approached, a staff member in a neat uniform came up to greet him.

After confirming that Reji had never registered anywhere before, they first handed him a magic stone, which, as per tradition from a thousand years ago, would flash with light corresponding to the user's power level upon placement.

By rights, this testing process should have a fee, but the staff showed no intention of charging.

It wasn't just Reji; the registration area for all foreigners seemed to be completely free, not a single one charged, whereas those with Royal City or other major city household registrations had to pay a registration fee of 5 silver.

The earlier middle-aged man's dissatisfaction was precisely with this point.

As for the reason, the staff in front of Reji smiled and said:

"Sir, all the fees required for your registration will be covered by the Five Flowers Alliance"

"The Five Flowers Alliance has a long history of over a hundred years in the Kingdom of Ilinor. The alliance was initially founded by the kingdom's Grand Duchess Volkova, along with three other countesses, including Countess Pello, with the original intention of resisting the kingdom's household registration system and dedicating efforts to help those living in remote mountainous areas on the borders of the kingdom."

"The Five Flowers Alliance hopes that within Ilinor Kingdom, there will no longer be discrimination based on region, no division of people into different classes based on household registration status, and that everyone can receive equal and fair development opportunities."

The staff not only explained this to Reji but to all the newcomers registering at the association, providing them with explanations.

Many adventurers from outside the city, who could be identified by their somewhat rustic and poor appearance, started applauding in agreement upon hearing this.

Even a part of them began to share with others around:

"The Five Flowers Alliance. I think I've heard of it! People from the alliance came to our village once and gave us a lot of food! They even took my sister and many other girls from the village away to study in the big city for free! I recognize them! It's this symbol!"

"You know, I think I also have some impression. A few years ago, there was an article in the newspaper where the Five Flowers Alliance publicly criticized the Grand Princess, and it received support and calls from many cities within the kingdom!"

Mentioning the Grand Princess, Reji noticed that the mood among the crowd became more intense.

From their faces, one could see a lot of resentment and dissatisfaction towards this "Grand Princess."

"Criticism well deserved! This is the kind of nobility we want! Someone who can speak up for us the lower class! Since that Princess took part in governance, look at what she has implemented? Mandatory household registration system, forced increase of multiple city entry checkpoints, deliberately preventing us from entering the city, and even ordering a limit on the number of positions for people from outside areas in each place!"

"Exactly, don't mention it anymore! My sister was originally favored by a big business group in the city, and everything was settled, but then because it violated the new constitution of this princess, the business group's quota for people from outside was full, and the city guard army forcibly repatriated my sister. My sister can only stay in our small, broken village now, it's too outrageous!"

"If you ask me, if things keep going like this, our Kingdom will sooner or later be ruined by that Princess!"

"Shh! Be careful, this is the royal city. Speaking ill of the Princess can get you arrested!"

"Let's not talk about it anymore. At least, in our Kingdom, we still have nobles like the Five Flowers Alliance, who are kind-hearted and considerate towards us, right?"

"Thank you, Five Flowers Alliance! Thank you, noble lords!"