"I thought you were going to crack down on the smuggling industry in Southern Border City, but it turns out you’re just imposing some fines."

Rose, who was watching Hilia operate, spoke with disappointment.

Hilia said: "I... don’t know how to rectify it. Most of the people outside are humans. They might have lost their identity for various reasons or fled here from other empires. Without identity, and without money to buy a pass to enter, they can only live in temporary camps outside the city walls.

"A pass costs 5 Silver Coins and is only valid for one day, so they have to buy one daily. Plus, there’s a 2 Silver Coins cost to stay in a hotel. They can’t afford these prices, so they have no choice but to use tunnels to smuggle themselves into the city to work and then sneak back out at night.

"That night, I happened to see a person who quickly closed the door upon seeing me. Yesterday, when I returned, I saw him outside selling snacks from a piece of cloth. Many people there live like this, dressed in rags, selling cheap things that can be bought for just a few Copper Coins. I understood then that these tunnels might be necessary."

"If I were to crack down on the smuggling industry, it would drive them into a corner. They couldn’t enter the city to sell goods or work, and not being Mages, they wouldn’t be able to hunt or gather magical materials in the forest. Ultimately, they’d starve to death outside the city. I can’t just focus on the prosperity within the city and ignore the poverty outside."

Rose said with interest: "Then why did you add covert passage detection in the Array design? Isn’t that also cutting off their livelihood?"

"Only after leaving the meeting room yesterday did I realize... those people that night with ill intentions left a terrible impression on me, making me forget that such places couldn’t just harbor gang thugs.

"Luckily, when I designed the Array, I included those temporary camps outside within the protection range. Also, I still have the blueprint with me, so I can modify it a bit. Besides the tunnels of these two uncles, let’s leave the others as they are. As for these two uncles..."

After speaking with Rose, Hilia looked at Dark and Ett in front of her, who doubted she was the Sheriff, smiled, and produced a search warrant personally issued by the City Lord.

"Recognize this?"

The two fell silent.

Hilia huffed lightly and said: "I’ll give you half an hour. If you can’t produce 40 Gold Coins in half an hour, I’ll arrest you both."

Having done this kind of thing before, Hilia was already skilled at it.

The two looked at each other, and Ett tentatively asked: "Can we contact someone to bring money?"

Hilia nodded: "Of course, contact anyone you want."

Hilia left the small house and came outside. There was a rocking chair where the two had sat just now, and Hilia sat down, rocking back and forth as she waited for them to call people.

Shortly, after twenty minutes, three people rushed in from outside.

Hilia looked at them and realized she didn’t know any of them.

That makes it easy.

"Did you bring the 40 Gold Coins?"

Among the three, the one who seemed to be the leader examined Hilia twice, frowned in thought, and smiled: "So it’s the legendary Miss Hilia. Hello, I’m Edwin, president of the Southern Border East Hunting Association."

Hilia paused slightly, "You know me?"

Edwin nodded: "You’re the one leading the Array reconstruction in Southern Border City. Who in Southern Border City hasn’t heard of your famous name."

On the side, originally relieved when seeing Edwin enter, Dark and Ett’s hearts jumped again upon hearing Edwin’s words.

They couldn’t help but look at Hilia, a bit doubtful of their ears.

Did they really hear that right?

This girl, only a Tier Two.

So young.

And yet, she’s the one leading the Array...?

The two were dumbfounded.

"So you know me; that makes it easy."

Hilia stood up, looked at Dark and Ett, and said:

"Are they from your East Hunting Association?"

Edwin nodded.

"Alright, let me reiterate their wrongdoing. They dug tunnels privately, connecting to outside the city, which I found during an inspection. I decided on a penalty of 40 Gold Coins for them. If your East Hunting Association led the construction, then you can take on this fine too.

"I heard from a friend that these two helped her return to Southern Border City in a hurry once, but they charged 4 Gold Coins. My friend told me about this. Such extortionate behavior cannot be easily forgiven. Besides the 40 Gold Coins fine, I also need my friend’s 4 Gold Coins returned and an additional 6 Gold Coins as punishment, totaling 50 Gold Coins."

Hilia righteously held out her hand, "Pay up, Mr. Edwin."

Edwin glanced at Fack and Ett in surprise, and Fack lowered his head.

Understanding immediately, he also felt a bit suspicious.

The friend Hilia mentioned... could it be herself?

Why else would she come to trouble them specifically? 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

When he came, he made some inquiries, knowing this security inspection team had checked many houses with hidden passages but hadn’t ’found’ those passages.

It’s long been tacitly allowed by the City Lord that most houses near the city wall operate hidden passages leading outside. The City Lord Puniel knows those outside need to come into the city to survive but can’t change the order about entry permits, nor is he willing to give up the 5 Silver Coins per permit, so he turns a blind eye to the smuggling industry.

Now, seeing Hilia and combining with the information from the City Lord, Edwin guessed that the inspections of these tunnels are probably a pretense to record them for adjustments in the reconstruction of the Array, to avoid blocking all these tunnels.

But at this time, his people happened to have troubled her days ago.

They ran straight into the muzzle, so to speak.

Edwin glared fiercely at Fack, then apologetically said with a smile: "Miss Hilia, please forgive us. We in the East Hunting Association will ensure not a single Gold Coin less than the 50 Gold Coin penalty you imposed."

As he spoke, he glanced at the person on the left, signaling them. That person took out a money pouch and counted out 50 Gold Coins to hand to Edwin.

Edwin took it, bowed, and gave it to Hilia.

Hilia received it, weighed it, nodded, and said: "President Edwin, you can handle this tunnel yourself afterward. I won’t ask too many questions. We still have other places to inspect. Goodbye."

Saying that, she led the security team away.

In the courtyard, after they had left, Edwin said quietly: "Dark, you know what to do, right?"

Dark lowered his head, "I understand, President. I will find a way to compensate the East Hunting Association for the loss."

Edwin snorted, "I had you guarding the tunnels, not using your position for extortion. And you even extorted the Holy Court Saintess. Incredible, charging 4 Gold Coins when the passage cost is only 20 Copper Coins. You’re lucky the Saintess was merciful and didn’t have you arrested."

Dark shivered, afraid to speak.

Beside him, Ett didn’t even dare utter a sound.

...

Elsewhere, Hilia continued leading people to investigate the tunnels’ situation, not finishing until evening. Hilia handed each of the five security personnel 2 Gold Coins, saying: "Thank you everyone for your hard work. This is your reward. Keep it well. Dismissed!"

The group left, beaming with their Gold Coins, while Hilia returned to the inn. She hadn’t even entered yet when she spotted a familiar figure on the ground floor of the inn.

"Elina?"