Yarra’s Adventure Notes
Chapter 289 - 2: The History of the City of Innocence_1

Chapter 289: Chapter 2: The History of the City of Innocence_1

"We can’t go on like this any longer." Pannis emphasized, "We’ve already wasted too much time. We must set off immediately."

Four days ago, Catherine received a full force charge hit from the armored bull in order to save someone. At least one quarter of her bones were broken, even with Lina’s on-the-spot treatment, she still needed at least seven days of confinement to recover. Therefore, to convalesce, Catherine hadn’t even stepped out of the door since returning home, merely observing the comedy play out between Freya and Pannis daily.

"Stop laughing." Pannis leaned over the table with his hands, his gaze solemnly met the girls’, "Have you forgotten? We had promised someone that we would reach the City of Innocence within a month. Now is not the time to relax, we must start preparing right away, otherwise it’ll be too late. Do you want to be ones who break their promises?"

"You want to leave now?" Lina stared at Pannis in surprise, "Are you sure you want to leave in such a hurry?"

"Of course, time is scarce! Ten days of a month have already passed." Pannis was pounding on the table, quite agitated, "We must hurry, time is money, time is life, it must not be wasted!"

"Hmm, is that so." Lina closed the novel in her hands with a snap, "Actually, I was going to tell you that Freya left this afternoon to continue studying at her teacher’s place. She won’t be back for several months, so you can rest peacefully for a few days. However, since you’re so eager to set off, it wouldn’t be right to deny you."

"No, you misunderstood." Pannis waved his hand firmly and said, "When I said time is not to be wasted, I meant we can’t set off immediately, if we leave too early, it’s a waste of rest time. So, we should make good use of these few days off to rest, we shouldn’t work even a minute more, otherwise, it’s a waste."

"Hey." Catherine looked at Pannis helplessly, "You’ve got to slow down. We’ll set off in a few days when my injury heals. So everyone prepare well these days. They have Indulgence there in City of Innocence to welcome us, but it never hurts to be careful. Prepare as if no one is going to receive us. I can’t go out these days, so I’m counting on all of you."

"No problem." Lina nodded, "We’ll make a list tonight, then go shopping tomorrow."

"By the way, do you know anything about City of Innocence?" Catherine asked, "I haven’t been there before, I know nothing about it."

Both Lina and Vivian shook their heads, but Pannis raised his hand and said, "I’ve been there many times."

"Huh?" The girls looked at Pannis in surprise, "You’ve actually been there, but hardly visited the Holy City?"

"Yes, I visited it a long time ago." Pannis replied, "I was there on serious business, so I didn’t have much time to explore other places in the Neutral Land."

"Really? You were actually there on serious business?" Lina expressed disbelief, but was immediately silenced by Catherine, "Stop fooling around, Lina. Pannis, since you’ve been there, why not tell us a bit more about the place."

"Ah, City of Innocence." Pannis recalled, "It... is a very interesting place. The women there are very passionate and beautiful. Strolling along the streets, you can often see scantily clad girls flirting with people without reservation, and there are always pretty women taking the initiative to tease passers-by. It’s like paradise there. Eh, why are you all looking at me that way? Did I say something wrong?"

"What do you think, my dear Mr. Pannis." Lina’s knuckles were cracking as she clenched her fist. A chilling, terrifying smile played on her lips as she asked in a low voice, "Are you sure you’re describing City of Innocence, and not some Nightingale Lane? And are these the sort of details we need? Or... Have you not seen anything but these trivial things for many years now, you bastard!"

"Stay calm, stay calm." Pannis waved his hands frantically and retreated step by step, "Wait, let me think, there’s more, there must be more. I’m thinking, I’m thinking. Oh that’s right, the snake soup in the Northwestern Boiling Oil Alley of the City of Innocence is very delicious. Wait, also, the Barefoot Storm Tavern in Shadow Street there, they have... ah!"

"Hmm, Lina," Vivian blinked her big eyes, watching Lina who was now on Pannis’s back, gripping his neck and pulling it back hard, "Why are his eyes rolling back and why is there foam at the corner of his mouth? Is he sick? Quickly, treat him!"

"Enough mucking around." Catherine pounded on the table in frustration, "Can we be serious? Lina, stop it, he’s almost strangled to death by you. Pannis, quit fooling around and talk seriously. If you can be serious, you won’t need to go shopping tomorrow, you’ll get a day off."

"Really?" Mr. Pannis, who a moment ago had been lying on the ground coughing and clutching his neck after being released by Lina, instantly took his seat and said solemnly, "Well, let’s discuss the City of Innocence in detail."

"Hey." Lina said in disbelief, "That’s quite a quick change of demeanor."

"Be serious." Pannis cast a disinterested glance at Lina, "We’re discussing official business now, sit down."

"The City of Innocence, was founded by the Thieves’ Guild, Shadow Hand, more than three hundred years ago. At that time, the three demigod leaders of the Thieves’ Guild proposed a wager to the leaders of both the City of Freedom and the City of Knowledge. They were allowed to pick three items, and the Thieves’ Guild had a month to steal them. If successful, the Thieves’ Guild won the right to build a city on the Neutral Land. If unsuccessful, the Thieves’ Guild would henceforth be a vassal to the two cities." Pannis brought up information that everyone already knew quite seriously, "And the rest, as you know, the Thieves’ Guild won, and thus, the City of Innocence came into existence."

"Keep going." Catherine nodded, "We do have some understanding of this history, go on about the City of Innocence."

"The City of Innocence is both heaven and hell. By the way, do you know where the name came from?" Pannis asked, "It captures the true characteristics of the City of Innocence."

"I remember someone saying that no matter what crime you commit on the Yarran Continent, if you remain within the city and do not leave the City of Innocence, you’re considered innocent." Catherine spoke with disgust, "That city is one of the filthiest on the continent."

"Not entirely correct," Pannis said, "The City of Innocence actually has two meanings. The first is just as you said, regardless of your crimes, once you enter the city, no one will pursue you. However, there’s a second and crucial meaning. In this city, anything you do isn’t considered a crime. Theft, robbery, murder, rape - all acts are without crime."

"Are you saying there are no laws or rules there at all?" Catherine’s eyes widened in disbelief, "How can people possibly live in such a city?"

"Therefore, after the City of Innocence was established, countless criminals surged towards it, creating a paradise for criminals. However, the Thieves’ Guild, Shadow Hand, maintains firm control over the city. After all, criminals aren’t lunatics. No one would be foolish enough to openly provoke the authority of the three demigod leaders." Pannis gave a small laugh, then continued, "After several decades of complete chaos, the city slowly formed an order out of blood and life. This became the first law of the City of Innocence. The law is simple - it only acknowledges one crime. Like before, anything you do is innocent - unless someone else catches you red-handed. If caught, thieves lost their hands and other crimes were met with immediate execution."

"Brutally straightforward." Catherine snorted, "Such a law can’t be considered a law."

"It’s created considering the special circumstances there," Pannis shrugged and spoke indifferently, "But that was the situation 150 years ago. Starting then, Shadow Hand realized that such a disorderly city would struggle to survive in the long run. After all, a land without affiliated villages won’t produce grain, and to maintain a city, you need to engage in trade with the outside world. However, due to the chaotic nature of the city, very few merchants were willing to engage in business with it, which led to the gradual decline of the city. As a result, Shadow Hand added another law, and these two laws have been in place ever since."

"What law?" Lina asked curiously, "What could possibly alleviate such a dire situation?"

"Any action against a merchant certified by Shadow Hand will be thoroughly investigated, and once discovered, the perpetrator will be executed on the spot. However, certified merchants have one infringement exemption against the city’s residents," Pannis explained, "Then, some of the more economically astute city residents and cooperative trade guilds cautiously applied for a merchant’s qualification, and began to develop commerce within the city. At first, many residents stole from and robbed these merchants, thinking they could get away with it. But within a month, the planners and perpetrators of hundreds of cases were executed without exception, none could escape by chance. From then on, very few dared to challenge this rule, and the City of Innocence gradually developed its commerce, eventually becoming the holy land and capital of black markets it is today."

"It sounds very dangerous." Lina wiped the cold sweat from her forehead, "Even with these two laws, they can be easily disregarded. It’s essentially a lawless and unsafe place."

"It’s not actually that exaggerated," Pannis replied, "Do you remember what Passion said? She invited us on behalf of Shadow Hand, this is their certification, so in theory, we’re completely safe. However, regardless of theory, we must always remain vigilant, always be aware of our surroundings, because we are unfamiliar faces there. Not many will know we’re certified guests, and if we do suffer any harm or loss, it’s too late to punish the offender."

"I understand." Catherine drummed on the table to attract everyone’s attention, "In any case, since we’ve already promised, we must go to the City of Innocence. For this trip, our preparations will mainly focus on cautionary and protective tools in addition to exploration and investigation tools. Any objections to that?"

"A perfect decision." Pannis gave a thumbs up.

"We’ll compile a list tonight." Catherine announced, "I’ll ask the three of you to go shopping tomorrow."

"Hold on." Pannis interrupted, "You promised to give me the day off tomorrow."

"Hmm, that’s true." Catherine pointed at her lips, tilted her head in thought and said with a smile, "I take it back."

"Hey, what about your knight’s honor?"(To be continued. If you like this work, please recommend and vote on qidian.com. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.)