Chapter 199: Chapter 197: The Slums of Southern Border City

"Lord Rose, it seems we forgot something..."

Hilia stared dumbfoundedly at the closed city gate in front of her.

When she came, she hadn’t remembered that tonight not only was there a curfew, but the city gates were shut.

It was only upon arriving that she noticed the situation.

Rose said, "Tonight, Southern Border City is quite lively. The big gate is closed, but isn’t there a small gate?"

"Where’s the small gate?"

Hilia lowered her head, inspecting around the city gate back and forth.

She had been looking at the sky earlier, wondering if she could fly into Southern Border City.

But Rose hadn’t mentioned flying in, so she wisely kept it to herself.

Most cities in the Ista Empire have regulations against unauthorized flying.

Under the closed city and curfew regulations, sneaking in by flight, who knows what might happen,

The consequences would surely be more severe than flying within the city.

There’s always a possibility that a bolt of lightning might strike her down from who knows where.

"There are people living outside Southern Border City."

As Hilia looked left and right, she suddenly noticed not far from the city wall, there seemed to be quite a few makeshift houses and tents.

However, they weren’t under the main road’s city gate, but on the diagonal side.

This city is built between two high slopes, facing southeast. Walking southeast leads to a gentle slope plain, while the northwest starts to see high mountains, making it a pass.

Nowadays, this city has become a communication center reliant on the Star Spirit Tree, but due to early planning reasons, the area within the city walls has long been populated, forcing anyone wanting to settle here to build simple housing or tents outside the city.

The City Lord has acknowledged the presence of these people as long as they don’t affect the traffic on the main road.

Hilia left the main road and walked toward that area of tents and simple housing, turning the corner to see a sudden expanse.

Between the gap of the hillside and city wall, a large number of simple housing and tents lined up row after row, quite spectacular.

However, by this time it was already deep into the night, and most tents and simple housing had turned off their lights, with only a few remaining lit.

Rose said, "With so many people living outside the city, surely they wouldn’t enter and exit through the main gate every time; using the main gate costs money, and many will find ways not to pay to enter the city."

Hilia frowned and scanned all the tents: "I’ll go ask them if there’s a way into the city."

Rose laughed, "No need to ask, just follow the direction I point out. These kinds of business in the shadows, they won’t reveal easily to strangers, especially when you’re a pretty girl dressed clean and tidy, clearly not a commoner."

Then, he glanced at the elf maiden being carried by the magic puppet and continued, "Moreover, you’re carrying an elf maiden; they’re probably too terrified to approach."

Hilia blinked in confusion, and after a moment, she finally understood: "Do they think I’m a slave merchant?"

Rose glanced at the elf maiden casually draped over the shoulder, "Not really. More like a poacher wanting to sell an elf maiden to a slave merchant."

Hilia scoffed, "Whatever, what they think has nothing to do with me."

Following Rose’s direction, Hilia entered the city outskirts resembling a slum.

At this hour, most people were already asleep, but there were still those wandering the cramped and narrow streets at midnight.

These people clearly were not honest folk.

At this moment, Hilia was in disguise, appearing as an ordinary-looking girl, but upon seeing Hilia, their eyes lit up.

However, after seeing the elf maiden being carried next to her, they hastily lowered their heads and then stealthily raised their eyes again, sneaking glances at the elf maiden being carried.

Luckily, the elf maiden was wearing a long dress, and in the magic puppet’s embrace, she was not exposed.

Their gaze made Hilia uncomfortable, and the pressure from a Tier Two Mage was released, her cold gaze sweeping over them, forcing them to lower their heads or look elsewhere.

"Those who live outside are indeed not good people."

Hilia muttered as she crossed the narrow street and soon arrived at the spot Rose mentioned.

A simple house very close to the city wall.

The house was still a simple wooden structure, but it was slightly more imposing in comparison.

Hilia understood instantly: "I get it, the people outside dug a tunnel into the city, and this is the external connection point."

Rose smiled and nodded, "Right."

"However, Southern Border City is protected by an array, being able to dig a tunnel beneath the protection of an array..."

They’re either a close confidant of the City Lord or someone skilled in arrays.

Either way, it indicates that the other party is not simple.

Hilia arrived at the door and knocked.

No response.

Hilia knocked again.

Inside came rustling noises: "Who is it? Knocking this late instead of sleeping."

Squeak!

The wooden door creaked as a middle-aged man with a scruffy beard opened it, looking at Hilia outside, then at the magic puppet and the elf maiden on its shoulder.

He noticed the water-blue gemstone inlaid on the maiden’s sleeve and his eyes widened, showing an expression like he had seen a ghost: "Elf Royal Family? Unbelievable! Friend, you’re bold; we don’t dare take this kind of business."

"What Elf Royal Family, what business?"

Hilia glanced at the unconscious maiden, a bit skeptical; if she were of the Elf Royal Family, could she be trapped by an array so easily, nearly dying?

To say the least, if an Elf Royal Family member came to a Human Empire town, wouldn’t the City Lord treat her well instead of letting her sneak away and get harmed?

Wouldn’t that give the Elf Race leverage?

Hilia knew the uncle in front misunderstood something, explaining: "I found her outside, heavily polluted; I need to take her back for treatment."

The uncle nodded repeatedly, "I understand, but we don’t dare do it."

"What’s there to dare?" The pressing urgency from the pursuit made Hilia impatient, tossing out a gold coin, "I’m just borrowing the way; it’s none of your business."

The uncle caught the gold coin but still shook his head, "No way, too dangerous."

Clearly not satisfied with the money.

Hilia tossed another gold coin.

"I need to enter the city immediately, uncle, please help."

"Enter the city? Just use the city gate." The uncle feigned ignorance.

Rose said, "The battle’s over, Southern Border City lost, and that Tier Four Mage is after you."

Hilia’s heart skipped a beat, urgency in her voice: "Uncle, I don’t have time for bargaining. I know you can get into the city here; yes or no? No, then return my money."

The uncle held up two fingers, "Why the rush, at this hour you came to disturb my sleep, I haven’t gotten angry, friend, you don’t look local, maybe you don’t know the local rules."

Hilia fell silent.

This was an attempt to get two more gold coins from her.

Four gold coins weren’t much to Hilia now, but she wasn’t someone to be easily extorted, knowing this was extortion due to her urgency.

She inquired mentally with Rose, "Lord Rose, is there another way into the city?"

Rose chuckled, "There are quite a few, three places here, three on the other side, but you might not make it in time if you go elsewhere and negotiate."

He didn’t provide any advice to Hilia, just watching her, to see what decision she would make.

Very interesting.