Surviving The Fourth Calamity
Chapter 86 - 77: Cortez’s Not So Good First Day

Chapter 86: Chapter 77: Cortez’s Not So Good First Day

The Great Wall at the northern border of Cortez was also built using towering mountains that reach into the clouds. If one were not flying through the air, but traveling on the ground instead, they would have to take a long detour between cities.

The city nearest to Haifasardo on the border is Naranhart.

One could imagine that the nobles of Haifa are all headed to this city.

Hill had given the matter careful thought over several days and still couldn’t suppress his curiosity, eventually heading straight for Naranhart.

After all, journeying was meant to broaden one’s horizons, right?

As long as he could convince himself, there was no problem!

Srei informed Hill that Naranhart was nearing.

Hill put down the book he was holding and activated the carriage’s protective array, sitting upright and waiting expectantly.

After all, Cortez wouldn’t protect the Sardo nobles who had fled from the south. This last stretch of the journey was sure to be a carnival for the thieves of this country.

Hill had made thorough preparations, but even as he could see the city walls of Naranhart in the distance, no thieves daring enough to trouble Hill had appeared.

Well then, Hill thought somewhat dejectedly, it seems the thieves of Cortez have witnessed too much of the mages’ power when robbing Haifasardo’s nobles.

Seeing a lone mage’s carriage, they simply chose not to come out.

But why do the thieves of Saral still go after the Undead Tribe?

Could it be because their mages, all dressed in a bizarre array of attire, walk the land alongside Knight Swordsmen that they still attract attention?

Or did the God of Time and Space bestow a curse of stupidity upon them, or cast a "taunt" halo on the players’ bodies?

A bit envious.

By now, it wasn’t a question of whether Hill chose to kill or not, but rather that The Wise Ones no longer provoked him, a high-level mage.

All that mental preparation was in vain.

Hill could sense that, just where he had passed by, about 1000 meters off the road, lay a hundred or so thieves.

They were almost holding their breath as they watched Hill’s carriage pass by, fearing to draw his attention.

So it seems not everyone is such a fool. Hill sighed helplessly.

Outside the city walls of Naranhart, tents were abounding.

Through the carriage window, Hill could see a market formed by various Cortez merchants. It seemed to have been established for some time now.

People were continuously entering and leaving the city, brimming with smiles as they stepped into the camps of Haifasardo’s nobility—a true carnival for the Cortezians. The nobles of Haifasardo were truly facing hardships.

They had to first brave the gaping jaws of the prairie wolves, break through the blockades and robberies of thieves, and finally settle into the encampment outside the city, purchasing overpriced goods from Cortez merchants, all while waiting for the verdict of the Kingdom of Cortez.

Hill looked on indifferently and turned his head, heading straight for the great gates of the Naranhart city wall.

The Cortez guards, upon seeing Hill’s carriage approach, immediately cleared the way through the queue of Haifasardo nobles, respectfully opening the gates, and they didn’t even ask Hill to disembark, allowing him to enter directly.

It seemed these guards had been trained to recognize the Alchemical Golem Carriage used by a high-level mage.

After all, the carriage bore the thorny halos.

Once Hill entered, he found the city to be extraordinarily vibrant.

It was not only the people from Haifasardo, but many merchants from Cortez had also hurried over. They stood by the roadside, loudly soliciting customers. Hill listened as they called out their prices one by one. These were indeed true cost-price purchases.

Unfortunately, many of the Haifasardo nobles who ultimately entered Naranhart could only sit stiffly in their carriages, waiting for their stewards to haggle on their behalf.

Thankfully, the middle of the main road was still unoccupied.

However, standing by the roadside and watching the merchants and stewards negotiate prices, the individuals dressed in Cortezian noble steward attire all looked eagerly at Hill’s carriage with impassioned gazes.

They loudly proclaimed their family titles, hoping Hill’s carriage would stop in front of them.

Not wanting to deal with these restless individuals, Hill went directly to the Mage Association of Naranhart.

Fortunately, Cortez’s Mage Association seemed to still retain its majesty. No one dared to gather outside and watch.

However, when Hill saw the stone steps in front of the Mage Association’s grand entrance that were clearly newly built, with the Magic Aura shining upon them, he understood that they too had undergone severe struggles.

Hill activated the protective array and parked the carriage at the foot of the steps.

As he ascended the steps, he could distinctly feel that the array differentiated based on the strength of mana, and only those above a High-level Apprentice could enter.

Hill analyzed briefly that if a non-mage attempted to step onto the stairs, they would be ejected immediately. If someone tried to force their way through, they would probably end up being pierced through the heart by thousands of Magic Arrows.

As he stepped through the Association’s grand doors, Hill was somewhat surprised. The city’s Mage Association had added two circular passageways to the hall, with desks at the top where two female apprentices sat.

Upon seeing Hill enter, the two female apprentices stood up. The long-haired apprentice with slender eyes spoke, "Magicians from Haifasardo, please turn left to register; magicians from Cortez, please turn right, someone will receive you."

Hill hadn’t noticed that he was wearing a Mage Robe bought from a player, and he looked very displeased at the two impatient apprentices asking, "Who gave you the gall to look down on a magician?"

A round-faced apprentice with big eyes looked carefully at Hill and quickly pulled her companion, who was still muttering "It’s already good enough that anyone cares for those from Haifasardo," and bowed respectfully saying, "I apologize, Mr. Magician, we have been rude. It has really been too busy lately!"

For the first time, Hill saw apprentices daring to look down on others in the world of magicians, is almost laughable. Even if there were places where the magicians from Haier Sald were criticized, they were not beings to be scorned by mere apprentices.

Even seeing his dissatisfaction, they hinted that it was due to the number of people from Haifasardo being too many.

What? Had the Cortez branch of the Mage Association already obtained the Mage Council’s consent to expel the magicians of Haifasardo from their ranks?

Hill couldn’t be bothered to suppress them with mana and simply used a spell to suspend the two female apprentices in midair.

Hill now understood why Adrian had emphasized before he left that the dignity of a Magister must not be lost.

He was worried that Hill’s overly gentle treatment of others would invite unnecessary trouble.

But Hill’s gentle nature did not mean he didn’t understand that tolerating the apprentices’ disrespect at such a time would only lead to others looking down on him, and even looking down on Fran and Adrian.

Amidst the screams of the two female apprentices, Hill awaited the appearance of the magicians from both sides who had come to watch the commotion and the head of the Naranhart Mage Association’s branch.

He had initially come out furiously seeking trouble, but upon seeing Hill’s displeased face, he quickly adjusted his expression.

"Ah! Is it Mr. Polanio? I just heard from Commins about your travels, and I didn’t expect you to arrive in Naranhart so soon," he said with a smile plastered across his face. "I am Leonhard Kornos, the head of the Naranhart branch."

He glanced at the two female apprentices, who were no longer daring to scream, hanging in the air, and quickly apologized, "I really don’t know what to say, it’s my fault for not disciplining them strictly, allowing them to offend you.

They are at your disposal now; I hope you won’t hold the entire Naranhart branch accountable."

Hill looked at the somewhat shameless branch head and dropped the two female apprentices to the ground.

He ignored the two who lay on the ground, quietly crawling away, and also the magicians on both sides of the circular paths who silently watched the spectacle.

He only frowned and asked Kornos, "Was it your idea to treat the magicians of Haifasardo differently?"