"Araknum city, the city of opportunity where the rich could get richer and the poor to be rich. But that also can go the other way around in just a snap of a finger," Anastasha smiled coldly as she stared at the city in the middle of the desert, a city that was built around the big oasis called The and a natural spring of cold water that never dried out for centuries.

Rasmus looked out the window and saw the city with heavily reinforced two layer walls, making it look like a fortress. He knew a leader's personality based on the city they built, and the fact that Araknum city was built like a fortress, meaning the Ashenvale was aware of the threat they produced to the whole continent.

"Have you visited this city before?" Rasmus looked at Anastasha, who was fixing her attire.

"I have, once. And the patriarch of the Ashenvale family wasn't someone that I could persuade or even have any shred of interest toward me. I was politely being kicked out of the city by him," Anastasha chuckled softly as she crossed her arms. "You need to keep this in mind. Malik is bestowed a title of Agha, meaning it only bestowed a title for someone who hold enough power to rule a nation. You should understand his status," she warned.

"I'll keep that in mind," Rasmus hummed as his carriage waited in line to enter the city.

After half an hour of waiting, the gatekeepers approached Rasmus' carriage. When the gatekeeper opened the door into the carriage, they were surprised to see four women in inside, three of them wore something alluring and they were captivated by Aris', Rullein's, and Serena's eyes, the only thing that was exposed on their faces. However, when they looked at Anastasia, their expression hardened and turned almost cold.

"What's your purpose of entering the city, Princess Asghar?" The gatekeeper asked, thinking that it was Anastasha's carriage and that she was the one in charge.

"Oh, I'm only tagging along," Anastasha pointed her folded fan at Rasmus.

The gatekeepers turned their heads to look at the man with light gray hair and heterochromatic eyes. They furrowed their brows, not realizing who it was, but they recognized the heterochromatic eyes, something that only the Urion family possessed, at least in East Neva. They didn't hesitate to show hostility toward Rasmus because they thought he was from the Urion family.

"And who are you, sir?" The gatekeeper asked, staring with a cold gaze.

"Rasmus Blackheart," Rasmus answered and stared back at the gatekeeper. "Those four carriages behind me and those people on the horses, they're with me as well," he pointed at the carriages behind his.

The gatekeepers' eyes widened and glanced at each other before they both nodded with understanding.

"You may enter, Count Blackheart," The gatekeeper said and pointed at the gate.

"Thank you," Rasmus nodded and watched the gatekeeper close the door, then instructed Erdinand and the other four carriages to enter the city.

One of the gatekeepers hurriedly informed the city guard about Rasmus' arrival.

Rasmus looked at the city and it was the first time he had seen a street that was crowded with people on a normal day. It was impossible for anyone to detect or to find a thief because everyone would brush their shoulders against each other when they walked. Based on what Anastasha said, those who went to Araknum were mostly small merchants and trading house owners, making deals, contracts, buying and selling supplies, and partnerships with each other. On the other hand, the deeper the city to its heart, those were exclusively for companies and merchant guilds, they were the one who set prices of goods in the whole continent.

When Rasmus reached the first city wall, it was no longer crowded and the gatekeepers were fully armed with high skills. Based on what Anastasha said, the guards that guarded the central district were similar to elite knights in terms of skill and strength while the palace guards were on par with Swordmasters. The Araknum city had never been breached, not a single assassination attempt had happened within the central district.

"Not even a single incident?" Rasmus looked at Anastasha with his brows raised.

"No, and do you know why?" Anastasha shook her head with a smile on her face. "That..." She pointed at Javi, who was riding his horse next to Rasmus' carriage, wearing a cloak and a hood to cover his face. "The Sand Tower and the Ashenvale family are tightly bonded, inseparable."

"Inseparable? That's a strong word to use," Rasmus was intrigued by the fact that Anastasha could say that with such confidence, knowing that should be something she should be worried about.

"Yes, they have a very long history, from the era of the Great Yunas Empire," Anastasha muttered as she looked at the empty roads that were almost jarring to see after the crowded space outside the first wall. She was also admired by the small rivers in between the buildings and the small bridges that decorated the central district.

"Speaking of the Sand Tower, do you know who owns that place?" Rasmus asked, remembering that the Poor Man's Hand didn't know or perhaps too afraid to find out the owner behind the most secretive place in the whole desert and perhaps one of the most dangerous places in East Neva.

Anastasha glanced at Rasmus, her expression was impassive, her gaze was almost blank. She slowly shook her head, no words, only a simple gesture. Knowing that even Anastasha didn't have any idea who the one who ran and owned the Sand Tower was, it made Rasmus realize that even in the most chaotic and full of noises continent, silence still existed. He then nodded with understanding and decided not to pry on it, at least not yet.

When they finally arrived at the palace's gate, Rasmus never thought that the palace was in the middle of a big oasis with one way in and out, which was through a bridge. The guards wore all-black attire with a black helmet that covered their whole face, not even a glimpse of their eyes. The guards held a shield and a spear in each hand, and they looked menacing from the way they stood at the gate.

"I'll stay out of this, Count," Anastasha said with a smile on her face. "I don't want to ruin your reputation and the mood because my face is an eyesore for the Ashenvale," she added.

Rasmus nodded with understanding, and then he looked at Aris, Rullein, and Serena. The three of them wanted to follow him because Aris and Rullein were curious about the food and the drink while Serena wanted to see the culture. With that being said, those three walked out of the carriage and followed Rasmus from behind. Erdinand then turned the carriage over and let Anastasha decide where she wanted to go.

The guards stared at them, and they didn't move a muscle because Rasmus wasn't close enough to be seen as a threat. Before Rasmus could even open his mouth, he saw the steel gate slowly raised and then a figure appeared from the corner, a young man with light dark skin, a silk attire, and dark brown hair. It was Valari, he was surprised and happy to see his former instructor, the man that made his time in the academy memorable for the rest of his life.

"Count," Valari said as he lowered his head.

"Long time no see," Rasmus lowered his head, not knowing what to address Valari.

"It is, and please, just call me by my name, Count," Valari answered with a smile on his face. "Please, come in. I want you to meet with my father and mothers," he pointed his hand at the palace while he looked at the guards, giving them a nod.

The guards slowly moved aside and their gazes focused on the front instead on Rasmus.