"Kid, where are your folks?"
The city guard stationed at Sunhaven's western gate inquired of a scrawny youngster in shabby clothes, having first verified his identity through the bestowed grace of Menaka's Blessing.
The kid responded with a bashful smile, absently scratching the back of his head.
"Sir, is today your first day as a city guard?" the youth questioned.
"Indeed, it is. Why do you ask?" The guard regarded him with curiosity.
"Because you'd know me otherwise. I live out in the boonies." The kid gestured southeast with his finger, adding.
"I'm a regular around Sunhaven, picking up odd jobs most days and visiting my folks on weekends." He patiently explained his routine, casting hopeful eyes at the newly appointed guard.
"I'd appreciate it if you let me in... you know," he concluded, glancing around discreetly.
"No free passes, kid," the city guard declared sternly, eyeing the youngster with some displeasure.
"Every day within the city costs a Joravar Direm. Fail to meet this minimum requirement, and you'll find yourself getting kicked out. Don't expect any favor from me.
State the duration of your stay, and pay upfront accordingly." He punctuated his words by slamming his spear on the ground before the kid.
The scrawny youth cursed the city guard silently. He couldn't help but remember the previous guard, who, on occasion, would let him in without demanding a Direm.
Sometimes, the old guard would only ask for a coin or two and permit him a week's stay. Alas, the old guard had succumbed to old age, leaving behind this rule-abiding, young F-Ranked sentinel who seemed immune to his pleas.
"I…. I've only got three Direm right now."
The scrawny kid reluctantly retrieved three silver coins from his Inventory, presenting them in his open palm. With evident reluctance, he extended his hand to the guard.
"Three Direm received." The city guard waved his hand, causing the coins to vanish from the kid's palm.
"You're allowed to stay inside Sunhaven for three days. Overstaying will result in a penalty or a temporary ban from entering the city. Clear?"
"Yes… yes, sir." The kid almost offered a military-style salute to the city guard but halted his hand midway, sensing the guard's death stare. He smiled awkwardly before passing through the gate.
"Kid, wait for me there, would you?" an emerald-green-eyed man behind the scrawny kid spoke just before he could resume his usual work in the city. The kid turned around, eyeing the man.
'This... this guy looks like a fat sheep.' The kid's eyes gleamed with a peculiar brilliance as he identified a potential customer. "It would be my pleasure to be of service to you, big bro," the kid responded, waving at the emerald-green-eyed man.
"Are you also one of the regulars? Do you know him?" the city guard asked as the emerald-green-eyed man approached.
The man clearly wasn't happy about letting a beggar into the city. But rules were rules. As long as the identity was verified and the nominal fee received, he could not technically stop the kid from entering Sunhaven.
"No, and no. But I plan to change that soon."
Eren said before placing his hand on the Array Disk the city guard produced. In the next moment, a Spectral Screen appeared above the Array Disk, allowing the city guard to confirm Eren's altered identity.
[ Name: Ren Roman Idril ]
[ Path to Power: Mana Core Harnesser / Ranker ]
[ Mana Core Status: E-Rank Solid State ]
[ Ranking Status: Rook ]
[ No affiliation with the demonic cults found ]
[ No active warrant ]
"A Rook?" The city guard was taken aback by Eren's Ranking Status, clearly suppressed to match his altered identity. The city guard started looking at Eren in a different light after finding out that his Ranking Status was higher than his.
The guard gulped as he scanned Eren with his Spiritual Sense. He was sure that he did not detect any Mana Signature from the guy earlier.
However, after his identity was revealed, Eren released his aura a bit, letting the city guard know that he was not only an Ace Ranker but also someone who was only a few steps away from becoming an Adept Ranker.
In Labh Salem, the term Rook was reserved for Ace Rankers, and Adepts were referred to as Grand Rooks.
"Sir Rook, please—" the city guard was about to deliver his standard speech with a bit of nervousness when Eren waved his hand and produced a medium-sized pouch. He placed the pouch in the city guard's hand and smiled at him before responding.
"I heard you loud and clear when you instructed that kid," Eren met the city guard's eyes and said calmly. "There are no free passes indeed. Now, would you mind telling me how many days I'll be able to stay with the entry fee I just deposited?"
The city guard nodded with some nervousness as he opened the pouch Eren had handed to him. The guard's eyes widened when he saw a cluster of golden coins inside.
"Sir Rook, would you perhaps like to receive permanent citizenship in Sunhaven?" The city guard didn't bother counting the Direm after confirming Eren's identity.
"I would love to," Eren nodded casually. The guard could tell that Eren knew how much money it would take for him to become a permanent resident of Sunhaven and thus offered him just that amount – nothing more, nothing less.
"Al… Alright. Give me a moment."
After receiving confirmation from Eren, the city guard imbued his mana into the palm-sized Array Disk and made some changes before asking Eren to place his open right hand on the surface again.
In the next moment, Eren's basic information was updated on his Spectral Screen.
[ Name: Ren Roman Idril ]
[ Permanent resident of the City of Sunhaven ]
"Welcome to the City of Sunhaven, Sir Rook," the city guard bowed in respect, ushering Eren inside with a gesture.
"You are now a permanent resident of the city. If you need any assistance, feel free to visit the city administration office at the central avenue," he added respectfully.
"Aaaaah! What's a Rook doing over here?" whispered a mortal woman to her friend as she observed Eren from a distance with a surprised expression.
"Forget about that. Didn't you hear the guard? He… he is going to live with us. I… I hope our lives are not disturbed because of Practitioners like him," said the woman's friend in a hushed tone.
Others started shattering behind Eren as well, giving him all kinds of stares and gossiping all kinds of things about him.
'I can hear all of that, you know,' Eren thought to himself and sighed. He didn't bother looking at the women standing in the queue behind him and moved forward.
"You… you are not a fat sheep… you are a fat elephant, aren't you?" the scrawny kid in shabby clothes said to Eren, looking at him with pleasantly surprised expressions.
"Kekekeke," Eren chuckled as he looked at the kid. "Careful, kid. Your greed is showing on your face," he said, ruffling the boy's hair.
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