Under the starry sky lay a bustling city, its lights twinkling in the night, undeterred by the fall of darkness.
When Renji’s vision cleared, he found himself no longer outside Michelle’s wall but amidst a lively city.
The hustle and bustle of the crowd, mixed with the calls of street vendors, filled the air alongside the aromas of grilled skewers and pastries. Colorful lanterns hung on eaves, turning night into day, showcasing the city’s prosperity and strength. .
Such scenes were not to be found within the Holy Kingdom. The robe-like style of the pedestrians’ clothing and the small flags with dragon emblems that hung on many buildings revealed the identity of this place.
They had arrived…
Inside the borders of the Dragon Nation.
“Old… old timer, could it be that the teleportation went wrong?” The three of them now found themselves at a bustling street corner. The young girl, Eileen, was a bit panicked.
As a member of the Holy Kingdom and having grown up in dark caves, Eileen had never seen such a crowded street in her life, let alone imagine a night lit up so brightly by lanterns.
‘Is this the Dragon Nation, the most powerful country on the continent?’
But the problem was…
Eileen recalled Clausius’s speculation that they should have been teleported to some secret base. However, this situation did not seem to align with the concepts of “secret” or “base.”
“No, no, no, Eileen, well done, you haven’t disappointed me!” Renji reassuringly patted the girl’s shoulder.
Once again, Eileen had successfully triggered the “Miasma Deviation” effect, making Renji wonder if this was the true value of “Luck E.”
“86, can you connect to the network of this area? Help me confirm our location.”
[Affirmative master…. Search complete. Our current location is Dragon Nation, directly governed city, Sealed City. Another data point shows the most common name for this place as, “Slave Town”]
“Slave Town?”
[Yes. According to records, Sealed City is located at the junction of the north and south of the Dragon Nation, built on a basin atop the Layered Rocks. Because it backs the southern Tribesmen’s Forest, Beastmen Plains, and Wild Marshes, a large number of beastmen slaves produced in the western Dragon Nation pass through Sealed City, the gateway, before flowing to the human cities in the north]
“Eh!? Does that mean humans and orcs live separately in the Dragon Nation?” Eileen couldn’t help but ask after hearing 86’s explanation.
[Yes, although demi-humans are also considered citizens by the Dragon Nation and took on most of the labor in the early days of the nation, after the reformation three hundred years ago, they were stripped of most of their rights and driven out of the prosperous east. They can only return as slaves]
“What the heck! Isn’t the Empress of the Dragon Nation a demi-human? Why would she side with humans and persecute her own kind!?”
Eileen grows angrier as she listens, but Renji answers this question.
“It’s probably due to the issue of ‘Relic Wilder’ Didn’t that guy Gumo mention it before? Demi-humans seem to lack the talent to use ‘Relics’ So, in the eyes of the Empress, even if they are of the same race, as long as they are the weaker party, they are mercilessly abandoned.”
Renji sighed as he said this.
A hint of guilt flashed in the depths of his eyes.
After correcting Suthia’s character, Renji realized the deep impact his control over “Ashen” in the first stage had on these characters in the game.
Suthia’s weak personality led her to fear being abandoned by him.
And Nova…
This dragon lady, a demi-human he had originally selected from the “Slave Arena” seems to have taken a completely opposite path compared to the nun.
Her strong character, mimicking Renji’s actions in the first playthrough, strictly followed the law of the survival of the fittest, hence leading to the current dire situation in the Dragon Nation.
The logic was clear.
But there was one thing Renji still couldn’t understand, which was also one of the root causes of the current racial conflict in the Dragon Nation.
‘Why can’t demi-humans use ‘Relics’?’
It seemed implausible to Renji. Indeed, some relics and equipment had usage restrictions, but the majority of the ‘Relics’ should be completely open for use. Over the years, it was hard to believe that not a single demi-human could use a ‘Relic.’ Renji believed that to correct Nova and, by extension, the entire Dragon Nation, this issue needed thorough investigation.
After quickly determining their location and clarifying their next steps, it was time to act.
“Let’s go!” Renji merged into the bustling crowd on the street.
After 86’s explanation, the prosperity of this city didn’t surprise him anymore. After all, in the Dragon Nation, the most lucrative business was undoubtedly slave trading.
As the largest slave market, Sealed City had driven the city’s economy, leading to a populous and thriving trade hub.
Of course, Renji’s focus wasn’t on the economy.
If he wasn’t mistaken, there was another significant aspect to this city.
“What’s next, old timer? Should we kill corrupt officials or rob the rich?” Eileen, eager and ready, couldn’t wait to join the “revolution.”
86 discreetly distanced herself from Eileen after her remark.
“Do you remember the first thing I did when I arrived in the Blackhole?” Renji asked while walking.
“You mean…”
Eileen’s recollection was cut short as she suddenly blushed with embarrassment. The first thing Renji had done was to forcefully visit her home!
“What are you thinking about!?…. When you arrive in a new place, you obviously need to buy things, change into new clothes, understand? It seems I taught you for nothing!” Renji said, rolling his eyes at Eileen, and then he led the way into the most luxurious clothing store on the street.
86 and Eileen exchanged glances.
[So, Miss Eileen, what did you want to say master’s first task was?] 86 asked with feigned gossip but genuine jealousy. 𝘪.𝘤𝑜𝘮
“No…Nothing!!”
When Eileen followed into the store, just a glance at the price tags on the clothes made her eyes widen in shock.
‘Three… thirty thousand Ashen coins!?’
Eileen couldn’t believe the prices. Was this the level of expenditure in the Dragon Nation? Watching Renji effortlessly purchase several outfits and casually swipe his card for payment, under the adoring gaze of the sales clerk, Eileen was dumbfounded.
“Wait a minute, old timer, where… where did you get all this money from?”
Eileen’s understanding of Renji’s financial capability was still based on the few tens of thousands given by Brian.
But in reality…
Emerging from the dressing room, Renji was transformed, clad in standard Dragon Nation noble attire, complete with a cane. His entire demeanor had changed. He smirked at Eileen’s astonishment.
“The little treasure trove of your Goddess is all in my hands now. We might lack everything else, but definitely not money.”
Requesting some funds from Suthia for the salvation of the Holy Kingdome wasn’t too much to ask, was it? Given the nun’s compliance and such a legitimate reason, it was almost as if she handed over the national treasury of the Holy Nation to him.
Even though the Ashen Empire had fragmented, certain things remained unified, like the language and the currency – the Ashen coins.
Supported by the entire financial power of the Holy Kingdom, and with night deepening, Renji thought it best to arrange their accommodation. He led Eileen and the maid robot toward the next target in his “plan.”
Eileen: “Hehe~ Now that we’re so wealthy, we should stay in a high-class hotel, right?”
Having money meant experiencing the life of a wealthy landlord! Eileen loved freeloading – or rather, public expense dining and drinking!
However, Eileen’s perspective changed with Renji’s next statement, realizing that poverty had indeed limited her imagination.
“No need for that hassle, let’s just buy an estate here”
𝑖𝘦.𝑐𝘰𝘮