The guards did not lead Lin Gui toward the magnificent castle.
Instead, they led him through several streets to the guard training camp located in the east of the city.
Even before they drew near, the thunderous shouts of training, the clashing of weapons, and sporadic sounds of magical explosions drifted over in a jumbled mess.
The air was thick with the scent of sweat and dust.
Entering the noisy drill ground, Lin Gui spotted the City Lord sitting in the viewing area on a high platform at a glance.
He was a portly middle-aged man dressed in luxurious silk robes.
Standing beside him was a solemn-looking Knight Commander.
To the side, the City Lord's daughter, dressed in an elaborate lace gown and exquisite makeup, was idly playing with her nails.
Her face was written with impatience and reluctance, showing absolutely no interest in the sweat and struggle happening below.
Lin Gui looked at the lead guard captain with a questioning gaze.
The guard captain gave an awkward smile and explained in a hushed tone.
"The City Lord said... he wishes to invite you to first... demonstrate your strength. To prove you have the capability to take on such a high-paying commission."
Lin Gui's face was a mask of confusion.
"I have to prove it myself? Prove what? Isn't he the one asking me to take the task?"
The guard captain looked even more embarrassed, leaning closer to Lin Gui's ear to speak rapidly in a whisper.
"Oh, Master Mage Lin Gui, don't you understand the temperament of nobles?"
"They just love putting on airs! Even though he's the one asking for a favor, he has to make it seem like you're the one begging him and let him be picky about it."
"The City Lord has always felt that being an adventurer is a low-class profession that shouldn't be mentioned in polite society, but because of that one..."
He stole a glance at the daughter.
"...because that precious little one is indeed in a hurry to get to Caran City."
"And New Covenant City really can't find any other High Rank mages, so he sought you out."
"In truth, besides you, the City Lord has already assembled a knightly escort squad led by the Commander."
"Now he just needs one High Rank mage capable of dealing with wilderness threats to anchor the team."
"In all of New Covenant City, you are the only one who fits the requirements."
Lin Gui finally understood, then asked out of curiosity.
"Why is the City Lord so anxious to send his daughter to Caran City? It's not exactly safe over there right now."
The guard captain curled his lip and lowered his voice even further.
"It's all because of an old family rule; apparently, there's a generational marriage alliance with a high noble in Caran City."
"The City Lord's wife came from there."
"Now that the young lady has come of age, she has to be sent there to marry a young noble of that family."
"They want to tighten that connection, hoping the whole family can move to a big city like Caran in the future."
"After all, the Dark Tide will be here in less than half a year."
"Anyone with the means wants to go to a larger city; they're safer, after all."
"Oh~"
Lin Gui realized the situation.
Recalling the rumors about the daughter's arrogant and overbearing behavior in New Covenant City, he commented with a hint of emotion.
"That’s good then. It’ll save her from continuing to wreak havoc in New Covenant City."
The guard captain nodded secretly in deep agreement.
He glanced at the City Lord on the high platform, who seemed to be growing impatient, and quickly whispered to Lin Gui.
"Lord Lin Gui, if you really don't want to take this troublesome task, just hold back during the test later and lose. That way, everyone has an easy out."
Lin Gui nodded, quite satisfied with this arrangement.
He wouldn't have to waste words facing the City Lord directly; he could just throw a fake match and lose.
By showing himself to be the "low-class" individual the City Lord imagined him to be, he could easily push away this troublesome chore. Perfect.
"By the way, this is the fee for the test. You get it regardless of the outcome."
As the guard captain spoke, he pressed five shining gold coins into Lin Gui's hand.
Lin Gui's eyes immediately lit up as he skillfully tucked the gold coins away.
The slander he had felt toward the City Lord in his heart instantly turned into sincere praise.
"Our City Lord... is actually quite a decent fellow!"
Although he knew this small amount of money was likely just the price of an afternoon tea snack to a noble.
"The test is simple. Just spar with that martial artist over there who came to apply; stop once a point is made."
The guard captain pointed toward a cleared circle in the center of the drill ground.
Lin Gui nodded and walked into the field.
His appearance had already attracted some attention.
Especially the adventurers and veterans who recognized him, as they began to whisper.
"Isn't that Lin Gui, the messenger mage?"
"What is he doing here?"
As Lin Gui walked, he pondered how to lose naturally.
He needed to make sure it didn't look too fake while perfectly demonstrating that his "skills were inferior."
Just then, a clear commotion erupted at the entrance of the drill ground.
The shouting and training sounds that had filled the air seemed to be choked off by an invisible hand, quickly dying down.
Almost every eye was drawn toward the entrance involuntarily.
A guard was leading a figure into the drill ground.
The first thing that met their eyes was a simple traveler's cloak.
However, the hood was not pulled tight, allowing several strands of silver hair that flowed like moonlight to peek out playfully.
As she drew closer, the shadows of the hood could no longer conceal that stunning face.
Her skin was as white as the finest mutton-fat jade.
Set against the rugged backdrop of the training ground, it displayed a heart-stopping purity.
A pair of emerald-green eyes seemed to sparkle with flowing light as she looked around.
Her features were as delicate as a perfect masterpiece from the gods.
Every line was just right—a fraction more would be too much, a fraction less too little.
She simply walked quietly, yet she seemed to carry her own light, brightening the dusty surroundings.
"A... a goddess has descended..." a young guard muttered, his mouth hanging open as his wooden training shield clattered to the ground, unnoticed.
"An... an elf! It's an elf!" another veteran with a bit more experience stammered, his eyes filled with amazement.
"Heavens... I've never seen such a... such a beautiful person in my life..." an adventurer murmured, forgetting to wipe the sweat from his forehead.
"She seems to be looking this way... my... my heart is beating so fast..." another soldier instinctively straightened his back, his face flushing red.
Even the City Lord's daughter on the high platform, who had been disinterested until now, couldn't help but sit up straight and look over curiously, a hint of undetectable jealousy flashing in her eyes.
The City Lord and the Knight Commander were also clearly distracted, whispering something to each other.
The entire drill ground seemed to have its mute button pressed, leaving only heavy breathing and irrepressible gasps of admiration.
All eyes were focused on the elven girl.
The crowd was filled with shock, appreciation, and disbelief.
Hearing the continuous, undisguised praise and gasps around him, Lin Gui's brow twitched violently as an extremely ominous premonition surged in his heart.
He looked up, and when he saw the figure being led by another guard toward the other side of the drill ground, he instantly let his eyes go limp in a dead-fish stare.
Though the eye color had changed to a common emerald green, that beautiful silhouette and the unique ethereal aura of an elf—who else could it be but Theia?!
Theia also spotted Lin Gui in the field, her face immediately showing surprise and a hint of the guilty look of being caught red-handed.
She also didn't seem to have expected to encounter Lin Gui here.
"Theia!" Lin Gui shouted helplessly, his voice sounding exceptionally clear in the suddenly silent drill ground.
"Didn't you say you were going for a stroll? How did you stroll all the way here?"
Under the gaze of so many people, Theia trotted to Lin Gui's side with a bit of embarrassment and whispered.
"Uh~~ I was just thinking of taking the opportunity to earn some pocket money~ I can't really eat dirt on the way to the City of Equality, can I?"
"I heard them say you get 5 gold coins just for participating in a test! Isn't that basically free money?"
"I can just hold back and concede to get 5 gold coins! It's a total win!"
The more she spoke, the more she felt her plan was foolproof, her eyes sparkling.
"By the way, Lin Gui, could it be... you want to take this commission?"
Lin Gui: "......"
He looked at the elven girl before him, who was excited for having found a "wealth code" and completely unaware that she had become the center of attention.
Then he thought of the City Lord on the high platform waiting to see a duel between "experts," and the 5-gold-coin "hush money" that had just entered his own pocket...
Today's events probably weren't going to end according to the simple script he had imagined.
Rate on N.U.
