Chapter 234: The Land of Gold (2)

Speaking of the Third Prince...

Dalton cleared his throat and resumed speaking after spending some time enjoying the sight of the Heart Clan kneeling before him.

"Let us not waste time on unnecessary words and get straight to what matters..."

"We have chosen you, members of the Second and Third Hunting Squads, to present yourselves before my father and my siblings. Perhaps some of you will even be granted the honor of becoming true knights instead of wretched hunters left to rot on the borders."

The prince then turned his head, gesturing toward a sword engulfed in flames that had been driven deep into the ground behind him, guarded by the Silver Knights.

It was a Bonfire.

"Rather than making the long journey from here to the capital, I shall permit you hunters to use the Bonfire connected to the walls of the Land of Gold."

Ethan listened intently to that last part, having never expected the royal family to be so generous.

Ashvarn stood on the eastern borders of the Empire, while the capital lay at its heart. The distance between the two cities was enormous, requiring several days of travel along the main road, with the added risk of encountering mercenaries and bandits along the way.

Using a Bonfire, however, would allow them to teleport instantly to the other side, provided another Bonfire existed at their destination.

And fortunately, there was one.

The royal family always maintained a Bonfire near the capital in case they needed to summon the Heart Clan’s forces during an emergency.

Ethan was naturally aware of this, but he hadn’t expected Dalton to permit them to use it.

The reason soon became clear, putting his curiosity to rest.

"Unfortunately, I have another destination to attend to, so I won’t be able to accompany you. What a shame... But no matter. I’m sure we’ll have an opportunity to travel together in the future."

The prince spoke with a smile, while Ethan let out a quiet sigh.

’So that’s why...’

Under normal circumstances, there was no chance Dalton would have allowed them to teleport directly to the capital.

After all, the Hearts were the only ones capable of using Bonfires, which meant he would ordinarily have forced them to accompany him overland.

But since he was heading somewhere else, he’d decided to grant them permission.

It also appeared that Gass and the Silver Knights would be accompanying him, suggesting that their destination was of considerable importance.

Ethan was somewhat curious about it, but he had little interest in the affairs of the ruling family.

All he wanted was to put as much distance between himself and Dalton as possible.

The prince eventually delivered a few closing remarks before excusing himself and descending from the platform, surrounded by several knights as he departed.

In his place, a familiar figure ascended the platform.

It was one of the elders, Kevin Heart, who took responsibility for explaining the details of what would happen next.

Officially, the hunters were being sent to the capital to receive honors and celebrations in recognition of their efforts and achievements.

The Third Hunting Squad would be rewarded for conquering the Legacy dungeon, while the Second Hunting Squad would be recognized for holding their ground alone against the creatures emerging from the Cursed Land.

That was the explanation given to the public.

The pretext being used to bring them to the capital.

The real reason was entirely different, of course.

Kevin didn’t mention it openly, but everyone present already knew the truth.

The hunters had effectively become valuable commodities, goods that would be presented before the ruling family so its members could choose whichever ones they pleased.

Becoming attached to a particular prince or princess meant being dragged into a war of succession that had absolutely nothing to do with them.

Yet they had no choice but to participate.

Of all the hunters gathered there, most wanted nothing more than to return home as quickly as possible.

Many of their families were standing among the crowds, and the thought of being separated from them was almost unbearable.

But reality offered them no such mercy.

After providing a few more explanations, Kevin concluded his speech and signaled for everyone to follow his lead.

Gathering behind Asterion, the Second and Third Hunting Squads advanced toward the Bonfire, forming a circle around it.

Kevin and Asterion stood at the center, each placing a hand upon the top of the burning sword.

The two elders closed their eyes and allowed their ashes to scatter across the blade.

The flames immediately surged, burning brighter and fiercer than before as an immense power spread outward, enveloping everyone present.

"To the Land of Gold."

Asterion and Kevin spoke in unison.

In the next instant, a brilliant light engulfed them all, swallowing their figures within its radiance.

Ethan immediately shut his eyes.

For several seconds, he felt his stomach churn and a dull ache spread through his head.

But when he finally opened his eyes again, he found himself somewhere entirely different.

The platform was gone, along with the crowds of Heart Clan members who had gathered to bid them farewell.

Ashvarn’s dark buildings had vanished completely, replaced by a vast green meadow stretching as far as the eye could see.

Another Bonfire stood before them, its flames burning just like those of the one they’d left behind.

And in the distance...

They could see it.

The Land of Gold... Or rather, its walls.

Unlike Ashvarn, the capital was not an open city.

It was a vast territory enclosed by towering walls, their height appearing to reach somewhere between thirty and forty meters.

They were truly magnificent fortifications, their surfaces coated in gold that made them gleam even from a great distance.

The capital itself was enormous.

Despite the sheer height of its walls, Ethan and the others could still glimpse some of what lay beyond them, confirming that they stood on the outskirts of a city unlike anything they’d ever seen before.

"So... This is the Land of Gold."

Ethan couldn’t help finding the situation rather ironic.

Ashvarn, the city supposedly responsible for defending the Empire’s borders against invasion, didn’t possess any walls at all.

Yet the capital, situated in the safest region of the Empire, had been granted fortifications as magnificent as these.

That was what crossed his mind as he studied the towering structures.

Beside him, most of the others looked both amazed and nervous.

"The soil here is fertile, and the grass is green despite the eclipse... It’s almost like we’ve entered an entirely different world..."

Raiden reached down and ran his fingers through the grass, seemingly more impressed by it than by the golden walls themselves.

He looked like a country bumpkin seeing the wider world for the first time.

"This is the first time any of you have come here, so try to remain calm and avoid causing unnecessary trouble."

Kevin Heart warned everyone, reminding them that they hadn’t come here for sightseeing.

"Remember this well. We are not welcome here."

Everyone nodded in acknowledgment.

Kevin wasn’t lying.

If their abilities hadn’t attracted the Emperor’s attention, they would never have been permitted to approach the capital’s walls in the first place.

While the hunters were still taking in their surroundings, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed from ahead.

Following the noise, they spotted a company of knights approaching them.

Like Gass and his men, these newcomers were Silver Knights as well.

Their commander walked at the front, approaching Kevin and Asterion as he recognized them.

"Hunters of the Heart Clan... We’ve been awaiting your arrival."

The knight addressed Kevin before briefly surveying the assembled hunters.

When his gaze fell upon Asterion in particular, a hint of tension crossed his features.

Nevertheless, he maintained his composure with remarkable skill.

"Please follow me. I’ll escort you to your destination."

Kevin nodded in response.

"Lead the way."

With a gesture instructing everyone to follow, the hunters set off behind the company of knights, heading toward the towering walls.

They were finally about to take their first steps into the Land of Gold.