Chapter 179: Inner District (Part 1)

’These people are really weird. I clearly did a good deed here, but they’re looking at me as if I’m the bad guy...’ Evan complained inwardly and turned to look at the only guard who was still standing.

"Come here."

The guard’s body trembled in fear when he saw Evan calling him, and his face immediately turned pale.

Thinking that he would also experience the same hell as the Rank Two captain, his legs began to shake.

"Si-sir, I’m just a small guard. Please spare me."

Evan’s mouth twitched slightly when he saw the guard looking at him as if he were a demon and he rolled his eyes.

"Don’t try to rob people in the future..." He advised in a serious voice. "I just taught you guys a simple lesson. But not everyone is as kind as me. Next time, you might provoke someone who’ll directly slash you in half."

The guard quickly nodded upon hearing him.

"I... I swear I’ll never do something like this again!"

Evan nodded and looked at the people who had been waiting in the queue.

Currently, everyone in the queue was looking at him as if he were some kind of freak.

Evan didn’t care about their looks and walked towards the entrance of the capital.

However, just as he tried to pass through the entrance, he found himself unable to move forward, as if an invisible wall were preventing him from entering.

’Barrier.’

Evan paused before taking out the token the guard had given him earlier.

The token was an entry permit that allowed him to enter the capital.

Using this temporary permit, a person could stay in the capital for one month. Even if they left the capital during this period, they could enter again using the same permit without needing to pay two Mana Cores once more.

After all, two Mana Cores weren’t easy to earn. Only Rank One monsters dropped them, and an Evolver had to kill many Rank One magical beasts or monsters to obtain them.

If a person had to pay two Mana Cores every time they left and re-entered the city, it would be a heavy burden even for powerful Evolvers.

Holding the token in his hand, Evan once again tried to pass through the entrance and succeeded this time.

When the guard saw Evan leaving, he sighed in relief, and his stiff body finally relaxed.

He looked at the unconscious Matthew, who was still letting out muffled laughter from time to time, and then shifted his attention to the other unconscious guard, whose entire jaw had been dislocated and a distressed expression appeared on his face.

"What should I do with them?" He muttered in a concerned voice.

There was also a long queue of people waiting to enter the capital. If he delayed things for too long, the number of people would continue to increase, and new problems would arise.

Letting out a long sigh, he shook his head inwardly.

’Now I’ll have to handle everything alone.’

He thought before speaking out loud.

"Alright, everyone, form a proper queue so you can enter the city quickly!"

All the people who had backed away earlier because of Evan immediately began forming a line again.

While the people were reorganizing the queue, the guard walked towards Matthew and his companion and started dragging them away so that others could enter the city.

While the guard was dragging Matthew and his companion away, a carriage arrived at the second entrance.

At the top of the carriage was a flag bearing the image of a golden crown, indicating that it belonged to the Celestial Empire.

Inside the carriage sat a young man who looked to be around the same age as Evan. His golden hair swayed slightly in the wind as he looked out through the carriage window.

As the carriage reached the second entrance and stopped for a moment to allow the gates to open, the young man noticed the guard dragging Matthew away and raised an eyebrow.

"Wait a minute."

He spoke calmly, and the carriage driver, who had been ready to enter the capital, immediately stopped.

"Drew."

The young man called out, and a man wearing black armor appeared outside his carriage window.

"Your Highness."

The man in armor bowed respectfully and waited for his instructions.

The young man looked towards the long queue and ordered calmly.

"Go and find out what happened over there."

Drew bowed again upon receiving the instructions and left.

After five minutes, Drew returned, but his expression was rather strange.

When the young man noticed his expression, he raised an eyebrow.

"What did that guard tell you?"

Drew bowed slightly before responding.

"According to the guard, a lunatic hooligan came here a few minutes ago. Because of the high Mana Core charges, he beat down the guard on duty..."

Drew’s expression turned a bit strange at this point.

"Not only that, but when the guard captain arrived because of the commotion, that hooligan didn’t spare him either and severely tortured him until he passed out."

The young man nodded upon hearing Drew’s report but didn’t show any surprise, as this kind of thing was quite common.

"This isn’t the first time something like this has happened. Then why is your expression a bit strange?"

Drew took a deep breath upon hearing the young man’s question and replied in a low voice.

"According to the guard, that hooligan was only Level 44."

"Hmm?"

The young man’s expression changed slightly, and he looked back at Matthew, who was still unconscious.

"So the person who turned that Rank Two guard into an idiot is just a Rank One Evolver?"

Drew nodded at his question.

The young man’s eyes narrowed slightly, and he asked in a deep voice.

"Did you ask what that hooligan looked like?"

Drew nodded and began recounting everything the guard had told him.

The young man listened silently and his eyes flickered.

"Interesting. From what you’re describing, he seems quite young and most likely came here to attend the academy," He muttered thoughtfully.

"If I’m not mistaken, I should be able to see this hooligan at the academy. And if he’s really as strong as that guard described, then I might give him an opportunity to become my subordinate."

Drew didn’t say anything and simply nodded.

Not wanting to wait any longer, the young man ordered the carriage driver to move. The carriage passed through the entrance, and they finally entered the capital.