Villain in a Fantasy World; I Level Up by Conquering Villainesses-Chapter 53: The Kingdom of Falaniondor

Far in the Southeast of Gomorra stood the Kingdom of Falaniondor.

The Kingdom of Falaniondor was located in the mountainous regions of the Southeast. The Kingdom had 8 vassal Towns, each obligated to pay tribute and tax to the main city of Falaniondor every year.

The city itself rose like a living myth in the mountains.

Carved into twin mountain walls with a cascading jade river-valley below, the City of Awakened Centaurs is both vertical and flowing- built for beings who think in horizons and move with thunder in their blood.

Massive stone bridges connected both mountain walls.

Inside the city was bustling with activity as a major center of commerce in the Southeast.

There were multiple minor races living in the city, with Dwarf merchants regularly visiting the city to engage in trade.

Despite the myriad lives in the city, the sole dominant major race in the city was Centaurs, it was called the City of Awakened Centaurs for a reason.

The city teemed with Centaurs that galloped back and forth across the entire city, some going out, armed to the teeth in hunting parties.

The city had no wall but there were observation towers surrounding the perimeter of the Twin Mountains that were always manned by the guards of the city- powerful Awakened that worked for the Council.

Inside the city, multiple stone buildings and stone spires rose into the sky. The roads were paved with smooth stone.

The stone spires, terraces, and roadways in the city were not shaped merely to endure weight but they were all built to honor momentum.

All the roadways were long like runways and tracks for galloping Centaurs. There were also long sweeping avenues for galloping councils.

In houses and in public places, instead of stairs there were spiral ramps for running on, and the bridges connecting different parts of the city were wide enough for a hundred hooves to drum in unison.

Young Centaurs played in the streets, running about.

Inside a massive structure that looked like a stadium, Centaurs played an aggressive game of football at extreme speeds and momentum even as thousands of spectators watched in the spectator stands, cheering loudly.

"Kill him!"

"Push him!"

"That’s your chance! Score the goal!"

"Shoot, Kanon, shoot the f*cking ball!"

The atmosphere was boisterous and rowdy.

At the city’s heart ran the River Elenvar, the jade river that was fed by a chain of crystal waterfalls descending from the citadels high in the mountains above.

The cliffs were veined with greenery, this was a city close to nature.

Ancient tress grew horizontally from the stone faces of the cliffs, their roots braided into the architecture of the city.

Moss-covered buttresses reinforced and softened the drops while carved causeways clung to the rock like deliberate scars.

At the summit of the mountainous city, dominating the skyline stood the High Crown Citadel, a vast, tiered stronghold where the city’s throne of power resided, the 3-man Council.

Its towers were faceted like gemstones, reflecting sunlight by day and moonlight by night.

This is where the main force of the city and the Council gathered.

From the citadel, you can see the entire valley-city laid out like a living map.

The citadel was also the most heavily protected area in the city, manned with thousands of high-ranked and heavily armored Centaur guards.

The High Crown Citadel is a famous tourist destination in the world, and curious tourists visited it every day to see the sights and the powerful Centaur guards stationed there.

Apart from the High Crown Citadel, another major landmark of the city is the Gallopway which is the city’s main arterial road- a broad, gently sloped avenue spiraling down from the citadel to the river districts.

It is polished smooth by centuries of passage.

In times of celebration, the Gallopway becomes a river of banners and racing hooves and in times of war, it thunders with mobilization.

Embedded runes running along its length amplified endurance and unity, allowing entire legions in the Centaur Army to move without fatigue when needed.

Another major landmark of the city is the Verdant Terraces.

These vast stepped gardens are both agricultural and ceremonial with grain grasses, luminous fruiting trees, and medicinal flora grown in abundance.

Awakened Centaurs maintained these terraces, ensuring the city can survive sieges that would starve lesser people and lesser cities.

There is also the Hall of First Awakening.

Set in the valley near the river, half-submerged in mist, this ancient dome-like structure marks the place where legend says the Centaurs first Awakened, climbing the paths of power through the Warrior and Archer Classes.

Every Awakened Centaur in Falaniondor has visited this hall at least once to leave a hoofprint in the sacred clay and swear mastery over their powers.

Visiting the Hall of First Awakening is almost like a rite of passage to adulthood in Falaniondor among native Centaurs.

And then there’s the Central Bank of Falaniondor.

Built into the cliff at the river’s deepest bend, Falaniondor appears as a monumental fusion of fortress and sanctuary.

Its façade has smooth white stone veined with gold-metal runes, showcasing the wealth of the Kingdom of Centaurs.

Apart from the local Falaniondor coin, the Central Bank of Falaniondor is where qi crystal trades and gold bar trades are done by merchants, storing the riches of merchants and the ruling class of this Kingdom.

The Central Bank also safeguard sun-forged ingots imbued with raw qi charge that has the useful utility of replenishing Awakened qi.

The Central Bank also safeguard Memory Bonds, crystallized experiences traded by scholars and tacticians. They also safeguard Temporal Reserves, locked vaults that slow time itself to preserve value across generations.

All these meant that the Central Bank was one of the most heavily fortified and guarded landmarks in the city.

The manager of the Central Bank is a Level 68 B Rank Marksman of the Archer Class, an Awakened Centaur who’s just 2 levels from the legendary A Rank.

As for the head of security of the Central Bank, the Centaur is a bonafide A Rank Awakened of the Warrior Class, a Level 74 Paragon.

No one dared rob the Central Bank of Falaniondor and in all the centuries since its creation, anybody who dared died without fail.

Today, two new tourists visited the city- Dante and Xoreth.

With both of them on disguise, they infiltrated the city as the first act of the raid that was scheduled for today, acting as reconnaissance to scout the situation of the city and most importantly the Central Bank. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

With both of them carrying bags of local Falaniondor coin, they entered the bank together to open a local bank account and in the process, they did surveillance.

Inside the massive Central Bank, the halls are vast enough for hundreds of people to move freely.

The floors are etched with flowing sigils that guide visitors and customers instinctively to the services they seek.

The deepest vaults of the bank lie below the riverbed, protected by pressure, qi, and living stone constructs that awaken only in moments of existential threat.

Dante and Xoreth took note of it all, including all the guards that were stationed inside the bank.

They also felt the depths of Sir Greg’s power, the infamous head of security of the Central Bank.

By the end of the morning, the powerful Assassin and Mage already had a comprehensive tour of the city and then they regrouped with their comrades.

The raid was near.