Chapter 944 - 462: The Price of Weakness Is Only...

As Nira and the others stood at the bow, gazing through the hazy morning light at the stone dam towering over the distant river, streams of hot tears suddenly rolled down their flushed cheeks. Few humans could truly empathize with their genuine emotions at this moment. It was an overwhelming sense of profound emotion that transcended mere personal survival. For the first time in their lives, they felt just how powerful their own race and nation truly were. It bestowed upon them the most precious thing of all: dignity. They were no longer pathetic wretches merely eking out a living under the oppression of the Demon Tribes. Instead, they were part of another supreme civilization upon this earth. Staring at the beautiful, magnificent human architecture in the distance, Nira and the rest were left in utter awe.

Gauss did not speak up to interrupt this rare, touching moment. He simply returned to the stern in silence, continuing to cast his "Water Manipulation" Magic, allowing the water body beneath to propel the large wooden ship swiftly forward. Thanks to his Magic, they had managed to rush from the great river to the coast in just two short days, eventually circling back into the inland river and returning to human territory. Of course, Metera’s Power had also been of immense help. Within natural water bodies, his Water Affinity became even stronger, amplifying the effects of his water-related Spells.

Soon enough, Gauss’s fast ship was intercepted before the stone dam. Nira and the other tribe members were like wide-eyed villagers visiting a grand metropolis. From the moment their feet touched the flagstone path, they spoke in hushed, excited whispers. They couldn’t tear their gaze away from the stone buildings, the fortifications, and even the soldiers standing guard nearby. Let alone the squad of soldiers guarding the estuary, any human with normal Intelligence could see that something was amiss with this group.

Gauss only had some of his personal clothing kept in his Storage Space, which was far from enough to dress dozens of people. Even if he had been willing to offer his everyday clothes, Zeke and the others had politely declined, choosing instead to continue wearing the same grass skirts and animal skins as the rest of the group. Therefore, purely based on their attire, they stood out starkly from ordinary citizens dressed in linen. Not to mention the irrepressible curiosity and untamed wildness they exuded, making them look like a band of primitive savages.

The squad captain leading the guards was just about to harshly order these strange people disembarking the ship to come forward for inspection. Suddenly, his sharp eyes caught sight of a pristine white figure slowly levitating from the ship’s stern. He could swear on his life that it was the most breathtaking silhouette he had ever seen. Even though the person was quite a distance away and appeared to be a man, he didn’t doubt his judgment for a second. The harsh words instantly died in his throat.

The radar in his mind for detecting important figures was blaring with alarms. If these people were brought by this man, perhaps they weren’t just some strange wanderers of unknown origin. Perhaps some special circumstance had occurred? Due to the glaring contrast in their appearance and aura, the captain naturally wouldn’t mistake the soaring man at the stern for a companion of the savages at the bow. He quickly realized there had to be an underlying reason for this strange gathering.

However, he still had to conduct an inquiry and inspection. This was his duty, and he had to perform it properly no matter what. If someone reported him for negligence, he would be stripped of his position in a heartbeat. He just needed to slightly adjust his attitude while doing his job. Softening his facial expression, he led a few other soldiers toward Gauss, who had gracefully landed on the dam.

Confirming the identities and purposes of arrivals was his primary responsibility. Travel documents, identification, inspection of cargo, and passengers—none of these could be skipped. If he let in suspicious individuals with unknown identities who then caused damage or loss within the Kingdom, the subsequent investigation would effectively end his life. Fortunately, amid his slight apprehension, Gauss quickly presented an Adventurer’s Badge and commission documents that sufficiently proved his identity.

"Thank you for your cooperation. Please allow us a moment to verify these."

"Of course, go ahead," Gauss nodded.

Ever since stepping onto human territory, even he had subconsciously relaxed quite a bit. This had nothing to do with strength; it was simply a very peculiar sensation. Even though he was breathing the same air under the same sky, being in Demon territory brought about a faint sense of rejection that seeped from his body into his soul. It was as if the very rules of the world were reminding him that he didn’t belong on that land, that he was a "foreign entity" upon the earth.

The originally tedious inspection procedures went by very quickly. This was mainly due to Gauss’s reputation. After verifying the authenticity of his Adventurer’s Badge, the checkpoint soldiers’ expressions grew even more respectful. Many of the soldiers stationed here possessed a Professional Level. Even if most were only at the lowest Level 1, it was enough for them to understand Gauss’s status in the Adventurer world far better than ordinary people.

"Do you need us to dispatch an escort of soldiers to accompany you?

"Please rest assured, we absolutely have no intention of keeping you under surveillance."

Declining the guards’ kind offer, Gauss continued on his way with the rest of the group. Through this minor interlude, Nira and the others gained a deeper understanding of Gauss’s status in the Human World. They exchanged glances, realizing that the man who had rescued them from the Demon world was a phenomenal figure even within human territory. As the ship sailed onward, more human architecture, villages, and towns began to appear before the eyes of the human tribe members during the remainder of their journey.