Matthew didn't stay any longer.
He led Aidan slowly away from that street. Neither of them spoke along the way.
It wasn't until they returned to the broad main street of the Commercial District, where the cries of street vendors rang out again, that Aidan couldn't help but speak.
“Brother Matthew. I can’t help but feel... that everyone in the Royal Capital seems to know something. Yet no one is willing to say it.”
Matthew nodded slightly. “Because they know. There are some things that are safer left unknown.”
Aidan grew thoughtful. Back when they were at the border, everyone talked about magical beasts—which ones were powerful, where the mountain bandits were numerous, or which trade routes were dangerous.
But since arriving in the Royal Capital, danger seemed to have vanished, yet it also felt like it was everywhere. This feeling made him very uncomfortable.
...
After walking another half-block, a massive building suddenly appeared ahead. The entire structure was constructed from massive greyish-white stones and stood four stories tall.
Several tall stone pillars stood before the entrance, and dozens of flags of various colors hung on either side. People were constantly entering and exiting. Some were fully armed, some were dragging magical beast corpses, and many were carrying bloodstained weapons.
Aidan’s eyes lit up. “The Class Holder Guild.”
Matthew looked over. A massive iron badge hung over the entrance, featuring a crossed longsword and shield. Carved beneath it were several bold, powerful words: 【Class Holder Guild】.
This place was completely different from the mercenary tavern. While the tavern was filled with the smell of ale and rowdiness, this place was more like a strictly ordered service hall.
Some were accepting missions, some were submitting requests, and some were exchanging rewards. Quite a few Class holders were gathered around the mission wall, searching for tasks that suited them.
Matthew didn't go inside; he simply stood at the entrance and observed. After a moment, he said softly, “This is where ordinary Class holders truly gather.”
Aidan nodded. “Mercenaries are only one part of the Class holders. Many Knights, Rangers, and Hunters come here. As long as you complete missions, you can earn Guild Points. Once your points are high enough, you can increase your Guild Rank.”
Matthew silently noted this. This system was far more complete and mature than the one in the County Seat.
Just then, a staff member walked out of the hall carrying a stack of new mission scrolls. As soon as they were posted on the mission wall, the crowd immediately swarmed forward.
“Quick, look. Are there any escort missions?”
“Let me see the magical beast hunting missions.”
“Wait? Why are there so many missions for the West District?”
That one sentence caused Matthew’s gaze to sharpen. He immediately stepped closer, looking at the mission wall from a distance. Although he couldn't see all the details, he could still make out several keywords.
【Night Patrol.】
【Escort.】
【West District outskirts.】
【High Rewards.】
The reward amounts were generally more than thirty percent higher than other missions.
Aidan noticed it too and couldn't help but say, “Why is it all for the West District?”
An old Class holder nearby chuckled. “Good money, but a short life.”
With that one sentence, the discussion stopped. Instead, many people silently left the mission wall, preferring to take lower-paying jobs rather than touch those high-reward requests.
Matthew’s eyes grew deeper. He was now certain that something unknown to ordinary people was happening in the West District. Otherwise, it would be impossible for all these things to appear simultaneously: high-paying night patrols, disappearances, mercenary gag orders, increased City Guard deployments, and a large number of recurring missions.
Just then, a slight commotion broke out inside the Class Holder Guild hall. A squad emerged from within.
There were five of them, all wearing uniform light armor with silver badges pinned to their chests. Leading them was a middle-aged Knight whose strength had clearly reached the Silver Rank.
Many Class holders on the street proactively cleared a path for them, and even the guild staff bowed slightly. Aidan lowered his voice. “A Silver Rank squad. They’re quite famous even in the Royal Capital.”
Matthew nodded, but his gaze remained fixed on the last person in the squad. It was a young swordsman with a pale face and a weary expression. Thick bandages were wrapped around the web of his right hand.
But what truly caught Matthew’s attention wasn't the injury; it was the man's eyes. In those eyes, there was no relief from completing a mission. Instead, they held a lingering sense of terror, as if he had seen something he shouldn't have.
As the squad passed, Matthew faintly heard the leading Knight whisper, “Once we get back, everyone rests tonight. No one is allowed to mention what happened last night.”
The young swordsman nodded silently without any argument. The entire squad quickly vanished into the crowd.
Matthew stood in place for a long time without moving. This was the first time today he had personally seen a squad that had truly executed a ‘special mission.’ And their state already spoke volumes.
Aidan followed Matthew’s gaze and asked softly, “Brother Matthew, did you discover something?”
Matthew was silent for a moment before slowly exhaling. “Today, we’ve been listening to what others have to say. But the truly valuable things aren't those stories. It’s the reactions of these people. Fear doesn't lie. Tension doesn't lie. And silence... silence lies even less.”
With that, Matthew took one last look at the Class Holder Guild. He had already made a decision. Today’s gains were enough. Next, it was time to return to the inn.
However, he didn't plan to investigate these matters personally. He knew that to truly find wizards, he shouldn't look for wizards directly. Instead, he should look for all traces related to ‘anomalies.’
Once they returned to the inn, he would reassign Aidan. He would have this locally-raised young Knight, who was good at gathering news, collect a different kind of intelligence.
Not about wizards, but about urban legends, forbidden zones, disappearances, lockdowns, bizarre cases, and all sorts of ‘abnormal’ rumors.
As long as wizards were still active in the Royal Capital, they would surely leave traces. Matthew withdrew his gaze and didn't stay any longer. He had obtained the most important information of the day. Some things definitely existed; it was just that no one was willing to talk about them. And with his current strength, he was far from qualified to proactively reach out to them.
Thinking of this, Matthew turned and walked away from the Class Holder Guild. Aidan hurried to keep up. “Brother Matthew, are we going back now?”
Matthew nodded. “That’s enough for today. The Royal Capital is large; you can’t see it all in one day. We’ll have plenty of time in the future.”
Aidan breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this. After following Matthew around all day, although they hadn't encountered any danger, the news they heard kept him feeling uneasy. Especially the rumors about the Theater District, disappearances, and night patrols; they weighed on his heart like a stone that wouldn't go away.
...
The sun gradually sank in the west, staining the sky a brilliant orange-red. The golden afterglow spilled onto the broad streets of the Royal Capital, making the flagstone roads look as if they were plated with a layer of faint gold.
The flow of people on the street was still significant, but it had lessened considerably compared to noon. Many shops began packing their goods, and the roadside stalls withdrew one after another. The low toll of a bell rang out from the distant clock tower again.
Dong— Dong— Dong—
The bell tolls echoed slowly, reminding the city's residents that night was fast approaching.
Matthew noticed a detail. As the bell rang, many ordinary citizens clearly quickened their pace. Families with children, in particular, were almost all rushing home. Even the street vendors began packing up early. This scene was very natural, as if it happened every day. Yet Matthew silently committed it to memory. This wasn't just a simple lifestyle habit; it was more like a long-term instinct.
Aidan clearly noticed it too. “Why does it feel like everyone is in a hurry to get home?”
Matthew said softly, “The day belongs to the merchants, and the night belongs to the residents. It’s nothing strange.”
He said this, but in his heart, he had another suspicion. Perhaps they didn't want to go home so much as they were unwilling to remain on the streets.
The two returned to the inn. By now, the magic crystal lamps in the inn’s hall were lit, their soft white light illuminating the entire area. Many travelers were dining, while others sat around the fireplace drinking and chatting. Compared to the haste outside, it felt very quiet here.
The manager saw Matthew return and greeted him with a smile. “Lord, how was your day?”
Matthew nodded with a smile. “I gained quite a bit.”
The manager laughed. “Everyone who comes to the Royal Capital for the first time is like that. Stay a while longer, and you’ll find that there’s something new here every day.”
Matthew didn't reply, only offering a smile before heading up to the second-floor room with Aidan. Once the door was closed, the noise from outside was cut off, and the room returned to silence.
Matthew walked to the window and pushed it open just a crack. Night was descending bit by bit. The number of patrol squads on the street began to increase. Squad after squad of City Guards carrying magic crystal lanterns passed by, their armor clinking with a crisp, rhythmic sound.
The Royal Capital, bustling and noisy during the day, remained prosperous at night, yet it held a trace of unspeakable stillness compared to the daylight.
Matthew stood by the window, silently watching this scene. He suddenly realized that if he hadn't heard those rumors today, any person coming to the Royal Capital for the first time would likely think this was a city that couldn't be safer.
Broad streets, ample lighting, frequent patrols, and Class holders everywhere—all of it gave a powerful sense of security. But the more it was like this, the more it indicated that the things being hidden were far from simple. Otherwise...
...
...
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