Chapter 114 - 112: The City That Refused to Be Found

Chapter 114: Chapter 112: The City That Refused to Be Found

The first thing Arin noticed about Caldris was that its walls were not built to keep monsters out.

At least, not entirely.

The stone fortifications stood nearly twelve meters high, reinforced with mana-treated iron and lined with defensive towers. That was ordinary enough for a frontier settlement.

What interested him was the arrangement of the gates.

There were three.

One for pedestrians, one for freight wagons, and a third, much wider entrance leading toward a fortified loading yard.

The gates were designed to control trade.

Not simply defend the city.

Arin smiled.

"Someone here understands logistics."

Magistrate Selka Venn glanced at him.

"Is that a compliment?"

"Absolutely."

"Then you’re already behaving differently from most visitors."

Lucan walked beside them, examining the guards stationed above the gate.

"Most visitors don’t arrive in a sixty-meter armored machine."

Selka looked over her shoulder toward the distant Civic Exploration Platform.

"Yes. We’re still discussing that."

Arin shrugged.

"I parked outside."

"You parked something larger than our western warehouse."

"Very responsibly."

Selka laughed despite herself.

Caldris was unlike the frontier towns Arin had visited.

Its streets were narrow but well maintained, paved with dark stone and lined with drainage channels. Colorful awnings stretched above market stalls. Merchants shouted prices from wooden platforms while porters pushed loaded carts between warehouses.

The air smelled of salt, spices, roasted meat, and fresh bread.

Beyond the main market, Arin could see the masts of ships rising above a second line of walls.

That surprised him.

"Your harbor is inside the city?"

Selka nodded.

"Partially."

"Interesting."

"The outer bay is exposed to storms. We built an inner harbor behind the southern ridge."

EVE studied the surrounding terrain.

"A naturally sheltered inlet?"

"Yes. With a fortified entrance."

Arin nodded appreciatively.

"Smart."

Selka looked pleased.

Then she added, "And expensive."

Arin laughed.

"That usually comes with smart infrastructure."

The city was busy.

Very busy.

For a settlement absent from modern regional maps, Caldris possessed an impressive amount of commercial activity.

Arin counted at least four distinct merchant associations represented along the main road.

He saw sailors wearing uniforms from distant coastal states, traders hauling exotic timber, and caravans unloading mineral ore.

Several languages were being spoken around them.

EVE quietly translated the unfamiliar ones.

Lucan watched a group of heavily armed mercenaries entering a tavern.

"Interesting place."

Arin nodded.

"Very."

Selka noticed his expression.

"Something troubling you?"

"No. I’m wondering why nobody outside seems to know this city exists."

She smiled.

"Ah."

Arin waited.

Selka continued walking.

"That’s a longer conversation."

Lucan grinned.

"Convenient."

They reached a large administrative building overlooking the inner harbor.

It was constructed from pale stone, with broad windows and a tiled roof.

A bronze plaque beside the entrance read:

CALDRIS FREE PORT AUTHORITY

Below it was a smaller inscription.

TRADE WITHOUT CHAINS. LAW WITHOUT FAVOR.

Arin read it.

Then smiled.

"I like the slogan."

Selka nodded.

"So do we."

Inside, the building was surprisingly modern by regional standards.

Clerks worked behind organized counters.

Public notices were displayed on large boards.

Shipping manifests were filed by destination and date.

And a series of mana-powered communication terminals connected the harbor offices.

Arin glanced toward EVE.

She smiled faintly.

"Efficient."

Selka noticed.

"We try."

The magistrate led them into a meeting room overlooking the docks.

A large map covered one wall.

Arin immediately approached it.

The map showed the northern coastline, surrounding islands, inland trade routes, and several distant ports.

Caldris occupied a sheltered peninsula between two coastal ridges.

But what caught his attention was the number of routes connecting it to other settlements.

Some were sea lanes.

Others were inland caravan roads.

Several were marked as seasonal.

Arin frowned.

"These routes aren’t on the Guild’s regional charts."

Selka poured herself a cup of tea.

"Most aren’t."

"Why?"

She sat.

"Because Caldris isn’t part of the regional trade registry."

Arin turned.

"Voluntarily?"

"Entirely."

Lucan raised an eyebrow.

"That sounds inconvenient."

"It is."

Selka smiled.

"But independence often is."

The explanation was more practical than Arin expected.

Caldris had been established nearly seventy years earlier by several merchant communities seeking a neutral trading harbor.

The region had once been disputed between neighboring territorial governments.

Rather than submit to competing tariffs and commercial restrictions, the merchants negotiated a local charter granting the port administrative independence.

The arrangement had survived because Caldris was useful.

It offered neutral storage.

Independent arbitration.

Reliable shipping services.

And access to routes that bypassed several expensive coastal checkpoints.

Arin listened carefully.

"So you’re not hiding."

Selka shook her head.

"No."

"You’re just not participating in the regional registry."

"Correct."

EVE considered.

"That explains the absence of current administrative records. Older maritime charts do reference this peninsula as an independent commercial anchorage."

Selka smiled.

"Exactly."

Lucan folded his arms.

"So why did you warn us about asking questions?"

Selka looked amused.

"Because visitors tend to assume we’re smugglers, pirates, or rebels."

Arin nodded.

"Are you?"

She smiled sweetly.

"Some of our residents are probably all three."

Lucan laughed.

Selka continued.

"But our port authority doesn’t tolerate piracy, trafficking, or violence against civilians. We simply don’t pretend every merchant who visits us is a saint."

Arin smiled.

"Refreshingly realistic."

The meeting became more interesting when Selka explained Caldris’s government.

The city was administered by an elected Port Assembly, supported by a magistrate’s office responsible for legal enforcement and commercial arbitration.

Major shipping associations held representation, but they did not control the entire government.

Dockworkers, resident merchants, craftspeople, and neighborhood councils also elected delegates.

Arin nodded.

"Reasonable."

Selka raised an eyebrow.

"You’re familiar with civic government?"

"A little."

Lucan coughed.

EVE looked away.

Selka glanced between them.

"Something funny?"

Arin smiled.

"House Elysium has a Civic Council."

Selka leaned forward.

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Independent?"

"Yes."

"Even from you?"

Arin nodded.

Selka studied him.

Then smiled.

"Now that’s interesting."

The conversation lasted nearly an hour.

Selka asked about Elysium’s trade practices.

Arin asked about Caldris’s harbor regulations.

EVE reviewed the city’s public commercial standards.

Lucan asked whether there were any reputable sword instructors.

Selka looked at him.

"Several."

Lucan smiled.

"Excellent."

Arin sighed.

"Please don’t start a tournament."

Lucan looked offended.

"I wasn’t going to."

EVE raised an eyebrow.

Lucan hesitated.

"Immediately."

By the time the meeting ended, Arin had received permission for the expedition crew to visit Caldris under ordinary civilian entry rules.

The Civic Exploration Platform would remain outside the valley.

Weapons could be carried under local regulations, but heavy military equipment was prohibited inside the city.

Arin agreed without complaint.

Selka seemed mildly surprised.

"You’re remarkably cooperative."

Arin smiled.

"Your city, your rules."

Lucan leaned toward EVE.

"Unless someone tries to arrest him for breathing."

EVE nodded.

"Then the situation may become complicated."

Arin ignored them.

The first afternoon in Caldris was spent exploring.

Lyra and Luna arrived with a small family escort after Arin confirmed the city was safe enough for ordinary visitors.

They immediately fell in love with the market.

Caldris sold things neither had seen before.

Brightly colored shells.

Carved wooden animals.

Glass ornaments.

Exotic sweets.

Small mechanical toys.

And miniature sailing ships.

Luna stopped in front of a stall displaying tiny wooden birds.

One of them flapped its wings when a small mana crystal was activated.

Her eyes widened.

"Big Brother."

Arin smiled.

"Yes?"

"It flies."

The shopkeeper demonstrated.

The bird fluttered across the counter.

Luna gasped.

Lyra leaned forward.

"How much?"

Arin closed his eyes.

Here we go.

The shopkeeper, an elderly woman with silver bracelets, smiled.

"Three silver."

Lyra frowned.

"Two."

The woman laughed.

"Young lady, that’s handmade."

"Two silver and five copper."

"Two silver and eight."

"Two silver and six."

The woman considered.

Then smiled.

"Sold."

Lyra looked triumphant.

Arin shook his head.

Luna hugged the little bird.

Then looked toward her sister.

"Thank you."

Lyra smiled.

"You’re welcome."

Arin watched them.

Then quietly handed the shopkeeper an extra two copper.

She looked surprised.

He smiled.

"For being patient."

The woman laughed.

"Your daughter is going to be dangerous when she grows up."

Arin glanced toward Lyra.

"She’s my sister."

The woman’s smile softened.

"Then you’re doing well."

Later, they visited the inner harbor.

It was impressive.

Stone docks extended into sheltered water, protected by a curved breakwater and two fortified towers.

Cargo cranes operated along the quays.

Warehouses lined the waterfront.

Several large sailing vessels were undergoing repairs.

And a dry dock held a half-finished merchant ship.

Arin studied the construction.

"Good hull design."

EVE nodded.

"Optimized for cargo capacity rather than speed."

Lucan looked toward the ships.

"Can we buy one?"

Arin stared.

"No."

"Why?"

"We already have a submersible."

"That’s not a ship."

"Neither is the Civic Exploration Platform."

"Exactly. We need a ship."

Arin sighed.

"You’re spending too much time with Lyra."

The afternoon took an unexpected turn when a dockworker approached them.

He was a broad man with dark skin and a thick beard.

"Excuse me."

Arin turned.

"Yes?"

"You’re Arin Elysium?"

"That’s me."

The man looked relieved.

"My name’s Darek. I supervise repairs at the eastern dry dock."

Arin nodded.

"Nice to meet you."

Darek hesitated.

"I heard you built that enormous machine outside the city."

"Yes."

"And the underwater vessel at Seabreak?"

"Also yes."

Darek rubbed his forehead.

"Then I have a question."

Arin smiled.

"Go ahead."

Darek pointed toward the half-finished merchant ship.

"Can you tell me why our new lifting mechanism keeps failing?"

Arin looked toward the crane.

Then toward Darek.

Then toward the ship.

He smiled faintly.

"How much time do you have?"

The problem turned out to be surprisingly ordinary.

The dry dock had recently installed a new mana-powered lifting system.

It was supposed to handle heavier cargo components.

But the system repeatedly lost synchronization between its two main lifting arms.

The result was uneven loading.

Which caused the safety mechanisms to shut everything down.

Arin examined the control assembly.

Then looked toward Rian.

"What do you think?"

Rian studied the system.

"The load sensors aren’t calibrated correctly."

Arin nodded.

"Good."

Darek blinked.

"That’s it?"

"Not entirely."

Rian pointed toward the secondary regulator.

"The left arm is receiving a slightly delayed control signal."

Arin smiled.

"Exactly."

Darek stared.

"Can you fix it?"

Arin looked toward Rian.

Rian hesitated.

Then nodded.

"Yes."

Arin smiled.

"Then it’s your job."

Rian spent the next two hours working with Caldris’s local technicians.

He recalibrated the sensors.

Adjusted the regulator timing.

And added a simple diagnostic indicator so future failures would be easier to identify.

Arin supervised but deliberately avoided taking over.

When the system finally passed its test, the dockworkers cheered.

Darek slapped Rian on the shoulder.

"Brilliant!"

Rian nearly stumbled.

Arin laughed.

"Careful. He’s still under warranty."

Rian smiled awkwardly.

The dry dock offered payment.

Arin accepted a modest consulting fee on behalf of the expedition’s engineering team.

Rian looked surprised.

"Founder, we could have done it for free."

Arin nodded.

"We could."

"Then why charge?"

"Because their workers deserve to understand the value of skilled labor."

Rian considered.

Arin continued.

"And because you did the work."

Rian blinked.

"Me?"

"Yes."

Arin smiled.

"You’re getting paid."

Rian looked genuinely pleased.

That evening, Selka invited the expedition’s senior crew to dinner at a waterfront restaurant.

The food was excellent.

Fresh seafood.

Roasted vegetables.

Warm bread.

And a sweet citrus drink that Luna immediately declared her favorite.

The conversation was relaxed.

Selka asked about Elysium’s exploration plans.

Arin explained that they intended to continue traveling rather than establish permanent operations in Caldris.

She nodded.

"Probably wise."

Lucan raised an eyebrow.

"Why?"

Selka smiled.

"Because our merchants would spend the next month trying to convince you to open a factory here."

Arin laughed.

"Already happening."

She looked surprised.

"Really?"

"Three offers this afternoon."

Selka sighed.

"Of course."

After dinner, they walked along the harbor.

Lanterns reflected on the water.

Music drifted from nearby taverns.

Merchant crews laughed beneath the awnings.

And the city seemed alive in a way that felt different from Elysium.

Less orderly.

More chaotic.

But full of energy.

Arin liked it.

EVE walked beside him.

"What do you think?"

He smiled.

"Caldris is interesting."

She nodded.

"Very."

Lucan glanced toward the harbor.

"Good food. Good swordsmen. Plenty of trouble."

Arin sighed.

"Please don’t."

Lucan grinned.

They were approaching the main square when a sudden commotion erupted near the waterfront.

A crowd had gathered around a merchant wagon.

Several men were arguing.

A woman shouted.

Then something heavy crashed against the cobblestones.

Arin stopped.

Lucan’s expression sharpened.

EVE scanned the area.

"Disturbance near the southern freight gate."

Arin sighed.

"Of course."

They approached.

A group of dockworkers stood facing several armed guards.

At the center was a merchant captain, red-faced with anger.

"You can’t seize my cargo!"

One guard replied sharply.

"The manifest is fraudulent."

The captain slammed his fist against the wagon.

"I paid the docking fees!"

The crowd murmured.

Selka, who had accompanied them, pushed forward.

"What’s happening?"

The guards immediately straightened.

"Magistrate."

She looked toward the merchant captain.

Then toward the wagon.

"Explain."

The senior guard handed her a document.

Selka read it.

Her expression changed.

Arin noticed.

"What?"

She looked toward him.

Then toward the wagon.

"Interesting."

Lucan smiled.

"That word again."

Selka ignored him.

She pointed toward the cargo.

"Open it."

The merchant captain went pale.

The guards removed the canvas covering.

Inside were several large wooden crates.

Each bore the same symbol.

Three interlocking rings.

Arin’s smile vanished.

EVE’s expression sharpened.

Lucan slowly placed a hand on his sword.

For several seconds, nobody spoke.

Then Selka looked toward Arin.

"You recognize that mark?"

Arin nodded.

"Unfortunately."

He remembered Hollowbrook.

The frightened villagers.

The wounded creatures.

The crude mana-control devices.

And the Red Talon Hunting Company.

He looked toward the crates.

"Where did those come from?"

The merchant captain swallowed.

Then took one step backward.

Arin’s eyes narrowed.

It seemed the world had decided that his vacation was over.

Chapter End