The grand silver spires of the first Elven border city, Sylvandar, rose majestically against the clear horizon. The caravan approached the white gates at a steady pace.

Ancient trees woven with living magic formed the outer walls, and their bark glowed faintly with protective runes.

Sira rode on a borrowed horse beside Kane at the front of their small group. Her brow furrowed as she looked at the imposing elven fortress.

"Chief," Sira asked quietly, keeping her voice low so the merchant guards would not hear.

"Why did you only bring ten of us? The other thirty could have been very useful inside those walls."

Kane kept his eyes forward, and a confident smirk played on his lips.

"I gave the others important work. Some are securing a hidden camp. Others are watching the roads for easy prey. Ten men look like an escort, not an invasion force. We’re here to slip in, not kick the door down."

Sira didn’t look fully convinced, but she nodded and tightened her grip on her bow.

The caravan rolled to a halt right in front of the gate checkpoint.

Rein, the fat merchant lord, nervously wiped sweat from his neck.

He leaned out of his carriage to speak with the gate captain.

The senior elven male wore polished silver armor and carried a slender spear. His pointed ears twitched as he inspected the caravan, and his gaze landed on Kane’s barbarian warriors with open, unhidden disgust.

"Barbarians?" he sneered, lip curling in disgust.

"You bring filth like this into our city, merchant?"

Rein wiped sweat from his fat neck.

"They are my hired protection, honored captain. The roads are dangerous—"

"Disgusting," the elf muttered, eyes raking over Kane’s muscular, tattooed frame.

"They smell like blood and sweat. Animals."

Kane let Rein do all the talking.

He kept his expression blank and scanned the visible parts of the city through the open gates.

His passive skill flared to life in the back of his mind.

[Insight Activated]

[Location Identified: Sylvandar Merchant District]

[Landmark Spotted: The Merchant Hub]

’There it is,’ Kane thought, mapping the layout perfectly in his head.

’The arena sits right in the center. The merchant district is on the left, where information and black market goods flow freely. Everything is exactly where it is supposed to be.’

"I need to inspect the supply carts," the elven guard demanded, waving his hand to signal two younger guards forward.

"Contraband checks are mandatory during the tournament season."

Rein paled slightly but nodded.

The guard walked past Kane, glaring at the barbarian warlord, and stepped toward the covered wagon at the back of the line. The elf pulled the canvas flap aside and peered into the shadows.

Kane tensed his muscles, ready to draw his axes and butcher the checkpoint guards if things went south.

The senior elf froze.

He stared down at Lirael, who was sitting on the wooden floorboards with her hands bound tightly with rope.

She was still weak from the paralytic poison, leaning against a crate of silk.

"You," the guard gasped, recognizing her features instantly.

"Lirael? You are an elite sellsword. Why are you tied up like a common criminal in a human wagon?"

The tension in the air spiked to lethal levels.

Sira reached slowly for an arrow.

Brak shifted his stance.

If Lirael said the ambush was Kane’s, the entire infiltration plan would collapse right here at the gates.

They would have to fight their way through an entire garrison.

Lirael looked up at the guard. Her silver hair hung in messy strands over her beautiful face.

She had to make a split-second decision.

If she told the truth, the guards would free her, but she would have to admit a filthy barbarian defeated her.

Exposing herself as a captured, helpless warrior in front of her own proud people was a humiliation she simply could not stomach yet.

Her pride was her greatest weakness, and somehow, that bastard knows it.

She looked away and swallowed hard.

"I... broke a contract. The merchant is returning me to the guild for punishment. Leave it."

The captain looked deeply uncomfortable.

Elven pride demanded they not air their dirty laundry in public.

Kane noticed her choice and smirked.

’She chose her pride over her freedom,’ Kane thought, filing that useful piece of information away for later.

’That makes her very easy to manipulate.’

"Clear the carts," the senior guard ordered, waving his hand in a dismissive gesture.

"Let them through."

The white gates groaned as they opened fully, allowing the merchant caravan to roll into the border city.

[Quest Progress Updated]

[Task 1: Enter the Elven Empire Completed]

[Reward Issued: 1,000 Gold Coins]

As the gates opened, whispers erupted from the elven guards and nearby citizens:

"Barbarians? Here? How disgusting..."

"Don’t look at them directly, it’s bad luck."

"Look at the size of that red-haired brute... he’s practically an animal."

"I bet he fucks like one too."

Kane heard every word, making a note to pay it back tenfold.

As he crossed the threshold, the true sight of Sylvandar washed over him.

The ancient silver architecture stretched up toward the sky, blending seamlessly with the living, magical trees.

Walkways formed from woven branches connected the towering spires.

Glowing banners for the Celestial Aurora tournament hung from every balcony, catching the gentle wind.

The streets were packed with every race imaginable, elegant high elves, muscular beastwomen with powerful thighs and barely-covered breasts, pale seductive vampires in revealing black silks, curvy human merchant girls with deep cleavage, and even a few demonic women with swaying tails and hungry eyes.

They were all drawn by the promise of glory, wealth, and the chance to claim an elven prize in the legendary arena.

’Fuck... this place is a goldmine,’ he thought, eyes roaming over a busty fox-eared beastwoman laughing loudly, her heavy tits bouncing with every step

"Look at this place," Brak whispered in awe, staring up at a floating crystal lantern.

"It’s beautiful."

"It’s just a wealthy target," Kane corrected him, keeping his eyes on a group of high elf nobles walking on a raised bridge above them.

"Stay focused. We find an inn, we set up our base, and we figure out how to register for the games."

Thora rode a little closer to him, her eyes darting across the crowded streets.

"They are staring at us, Chief. They don’t like barbarians walking freely in their jewel."

"Let them stare," Kane smiled, patting the handle of his axe.

"They are going to do a lot more than stare by the time I am finished with this empire."