"Wooh! Is this really a city?" Taula shouted while looking out the window with her face pressed against the glass and Klaus pushed her face back inside.

"We’re not the only carriage on this route, Taula..." Klaus said. "Behave maturely for once."

Taula pouted, crossing her arms while shaking her head.

"If you want me to behave, then give me headpats," Taula demanded.

"No... too much headpats isn’t good for you." Klaus said flatly. He didn’t know why she liked them that much... It was just patting her head and rubbing it, however her pout deepened then she pointed an accusing finger across the carriage.

"Serra’s looking out the window too!" Taula said. "And you’re not saying anything about that!"

Klaus looked at Serra.

The healer was indeed gazing out the window, watching the scenery pass by with quiet interest and hen she noticed Klaus looking, she gave him a gentle smile before turning back to the view.

Klaus turned back to Taula.

"Serra wasn’t screaming out the window, was she?" Klaus asked. Taula opened her mouth to argue, then closed it, unable to refute the point.

"Adam" was in the back, sitting on the ground in a meditative posture with his legs crossed and hands resting on his knees.

He took deep breath with a serene expression.

Klaus had to admit, the prince looked stupid sitting like that... all proper and refined even on a carriage floor but meditation was important to everyone, including wizard apprentices. It helped gather mental energy, improved mana circulation, cleared the mind for better spellcasting.

Klaus just never had the patience for it himself.

As for where they were, they were currently outside Rivera City. They’d been waiting here for the past twenty minutes, stuck in a line of carriages all heading toward the gates.

Klaus looked out the window and saw the tall white walls of the city... tall walls that were forty feet high and made of white stone that glowed in afternoon sun. Other carriages stretched ahead in a long queue.

The city gates stood open, they were massive iron-reinforced doors and guards were checking each carriage’s papers.

’That doesn’t stop people from sneaking in...’ Klaus thought. Bribes, false documents, creative smuggling... security always had gaps. ’Though it does feel bigger than in the game.’

Rivera City in Artemis Online had been one of five main trading hubs, but scaled down for gameplay; however this real version was sprawling and massive.

’It took two days to reach this place...’ Klaus thought. They’d needed breaks for horses and baths since two days in an enclosed carriage without washing would have been unbearable. ’And during this time, I got two gacha spins in.’

He pulled up the mental screens.

...

「Item: Compass of Truth」

「Tier: 0」

「Item Description: A small brass compass with a cracked glass face and a tarnished needle. When the user focuses on something they seek (person, object, exit, danger), the needle points in that direction. However, the compass is unreliable... it sometimes spins randomly, can be fooled by strong magical interference, and provides no information about distance or obstacles. Its readings become more accurate when the user is desperate or in mortal danger.」

「Special Property: Cannot be detected by magical sensing and appears completely mundane to appraisal skills.」

「Spell: Forge」

「Tier: 3」

「Skill Description: Allows the caster to transmute raw mana directly into solid metal, shaping it into any desired form instantly. The caster can create weapons, armor, shields, chains, cages, walls, or complex mechanisms (locks, gears, traps). Created metal maintains perfect structural integrity and can be as sharp or durable as the caster’s mana investment allows. All forged objects dissolve back into mana particles after 1 hour. The skill synergizes with other metal-based abilities... forged items can be controlled via Magnetic Field, enhanced with Iron Skin properties, or used as material for Shrapnel Burst.」

「Mana Cost: 30 mana for basic weapon (sword, dagger, spear), 50 mana for armor piece, 100+ mana for large structures. Quality and durability scale with mana invested.」

「Limitation: Cannot create precious metals (gold, platinum) or magical alloys. Created metal cannot be stored in spatial rings... it exists only in physical space until dissolution.」

...

These were the two things he’d pulled, and strangely, Klaus didn’t hate the Compass of Truth. If it showed him answers when he was in danger, why would he hate it?

As for Forge... for a Tier 3 spell that could create metal out of mana, it had surprisingly low mana consumption.

Why? Because each basic thing cost 30 mana for low-quality metal. Higher quality required more mana investment and creating scraps for Shrapnel Burst still cost 30 mana minimum per scrap. He could also create items as well... like keys but they were still that baseline 30 mana.

’This skill is very good, just not that good in my hands... currently.’ Klaus thought.

If he kept spamming 30-mana creations, he’d exhaust himself quickly. Maybe if he was a wizard that had 1,000+ mana it would be different but for now, he had to be strategic. Still, it was excellent for creating emergency protection without risking Iron Skin breaking under force.

It took thirty more minutes for their carriage to finally pass through the gates and the guards barely glanced at the driver’s papers before waving them through then they entered Rivera City properly and the carriage rolled through streets that made Galen Town look like a village in comparison.

The driver guided them to the designated carriage stop which was a large stone-paved area where dozens of vehicles were being parked and unloaded.

Horses were being led to nearby stables while passengers were gathering their belongings and haggling with porters.

They all climbed out of the carriage, stretching muscles that had been cramped from hours of sitting.

"Thanks for the help, Adam..." Taula said, waving happily as they prepared to part ways.

"Adam" waved back with that noble smile.

"It was no problem at all." Adam said smoothly. "I hope you enjoy your time in Rivera. Perhaps we’ll meet again soon."

"We hope so too!" Serra said politely.

"Next time I’ll beat you at cards!" Taula added with competitive enthusiasm.

They waved again, and "Adam" gave a final nod before heading off into the city with his luggage.

Taula turned to Klaus immediately.

"Why didn’t you wish Adam goodbye?" Taula asked but Klaus shrugged the question off..

"I had no reason to..." Klaus said simply. "You know I don’t like the guy that much."

They crossed the road together, Taula’s head swiveling in every direction.

The architecture here was nothing like Galen.

Buildings rose four and five stories high, constructed from white limestone that seemed to glow in the afternoon sun, the streets were paved with fitted stones, gas lamps lined the roads at regular intervals, shops displayed wares in glass-fronted windows and restaurants had outdoor seating where well-dressed patrons ate expensive meals.

People moved everywhere... merchants, nobles in sedan carriages, city guards, children running errands. The sheer density of human activity was overwhelming.

"Where are we going to stay?" Taula asked and Klaus pointed across the street.

"There," Klaus said.

Directly opposite the carriage stop stood a large building with a sign reading "Rivera Inn Center #15" in elegant script.

Inn Centers were establishments where people could rent entire small inns rather than just individual rooms.

They had an assortment of properties available at different price points and locations throughout the city. The concept existed in both towns and cities, though they were more common and more organized in larger urban areas.

Klaus’s landlord back in Galen Town had actually owned three different properties through a similar system and Klaus just happened to be living in the one that was opposite his house.

They walked into the Inn Center, pushing through heavy wooden doors and the interior was professional... with polished floors, several reception desks and maps of Rivera on the walls.

A receptionist had just finished with a customer who walked past them and they decided to meet her.

The receptionist, a woman in her thirties with her hair in a neat bun, looked up as they approached.

"Welcome to Rivera Inn Center..." she said. "How may I help you?"

Klaus stepped forward.

"I need an inn for about five days..." Klaus said. "Three personal rooms rooms, a kitchen and the usual stuff. All three rooms should have their own personal baths."

The receptionist’s smile brightened.

"Of course, sir!" she said, pulling out several folders. "I have three properties that match perfectly."

She spread papers on the desk, each with illustrations and descriptions.

"This first option is the Copper Bell Inn..." the receptionist began, pointing to the leftmost papers. "It’s located in the merchant district, very close to the market squares. Three rooms as requested, shared kitchen on the ground floor, individual baths in each bedroom. The building is two stories, brick construction, quite sturdy. The neighborhood is lively with lots of activity day and night, which some guests prefer for the energy and convenience. Price is thirty silver for five days."

She moved to the middle option.

"This one is the Silver Leaf Lodge..." she continued. "It’s situated in the artisan quarter, quieter than the merchant district but still central. Three bedrooms, larger kitchen with better equipment, private baths with heated water systems. The building has a small garden courtyard in the back, which is lovely for morning tea and the area is safer, with regular guard patrols. Forty silver for five days."

Finally, she indicated the third property with obvious enthusiasm.

"And this is the Moonstone Residence..." the receptionist said. "This is in the upper residential district, quite exclusive. Three spacious bedrooms, full kitchen with enchanted cold storage for food preservation, private baths with both hot and cold running water on command. The building has reinforced doors and windows, magical locks on all entries, and is protected by a Rune seal when unoccupied. The neighborhood is very safe... mostly successful merchants and minor nobles. This one is fifty silver for five days."

Klaus looked at all three options, then pointed at the last one.

"I’ll take the Moonstone Residence..." Klaus said. He wanted a place where he could live safely and if it wasn’t alongside minor nobles then he really didn’t mind much, it was just three days too.

The receptionist’s smile grew wider.

"Excellent choice, sir!"

Klaus pulled out a gold coin, placing it on the desk and the receptionist’s eyes widened slightly, then she quickly counted out fifty silver coins as change.

"Here’s your change and keys..." she said and then produced two iron keys and a sealed scroll.

"The house is secured by a protection Rune," the receptionist explained. "Press this scroll against the door while channeling mana, and it will unlock. On the day you leave, press it again to reactivate the seal, then return the scroll and keys here."

"Understood..." Klaus said, pocketing everything.

"Would you like a guide to the property?" the receptionist offered.

"Yes," Klaus said.

The receptionist rang a small bell on her desk and a young man in the Inn Center’s uniform appeared almost instantly from a back room.

"Please guide these guests to the Moonstone Residence..." the receptionist instructed.

"Of course, ma’am," the young man said, gesturing toward the door. "This way, please." 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

They followed him out of the Inn Center, emerging back onto the busy street.

"Klaus, where do we go now?" Taula asked as they walked. "To check out the inn?"

Klaus handed her one of the keys.

"You and Serra should go to the inn with the guide..." Klaus said. "Then head to where you need to go to get Vex’s cousin. I’ll go find herbs and other supplies."

"No," Taula said immediately. "I’ll follow you."

"I’m not weak," Klaus said. "I don’t need protection all the time, you should protect Serra while you’re retrieving Vex’s cousin. That’s the more important task. I’m only going to buy herbs after all."

Taula opened her mouth to argue.

"I’ll give you twenty headpats when we meet back at the inn..." Klaus added.

"Deal!" Taula agreed instantly with her her priorities immediately realigning.

Klaus waved and walked off in the opposite direction, disappearing into the crowd and the guide led Serra and Taula through increasingly upscale streets until they reached the Moonstone Residence... a beautiful two-story building with white stone walls and blue-tiled roof.

After getting them settled and explaining the neighborhood, the guide departed. Serra and Taula freshened up quickly, then headed back out with a different mission.

...

An hour later, Serra and Taula stood at the front gates of an amazingly large establishment.

The Valakris estate was enormous with high stone walls surrounding the property topped with iron spikes. Through the gates they could see gardens, fountains, and a mansion that spoke of wealth.

Guards in House Valakris colors... purple and silver stood at the entrance. They raised their spears the moment Serra and Taula approached.

Taula’s hand went to her axe but she remembered Serra’s instruction: "Don’t kill anyone unless they attack first."

Which was stupid... but she didn’t want to cause trouble and get her headpats completely.

Serra cleared her throat and stepped forward, pulling a gold coin from her pouch and then held it up.

"I came to buy someone..." Serra said then she blushed, realizing how that sounded.

She sounded exactly like a slave trader.