Inner City

The wheels rolled over the smooth stone road beneath the city gates, making a series of heavy and rhythmic sounds.

At the tall and majestic city gates, guards clad in leather armor and holding halberds expressionlessly scrutinized every group entering the city.

The scars left from the horse bandits' raid, the damaged and reinforced carriages, and the lingering exhaustion on everyone's faces—these signs that should have aroused suspicion were naturally ignored under the cover of the local merchant caravan.

The caravan's leader was clearly familiar with the guards, and after a few brief pleasantries, they smoothly obtained permission to pass.

When the guards' gazes swept over Regg and the others, they did not linger, merely taking them for newly hired guards or temporary travelers joining the caravan.

The caravan slowly passed through the thick city gateway.

A cool breeze brushed against their faces, and the weathered traces of time on the city walls loomed in the dim light.

The sound of horseshoes clattering on the stone echoed within the arched gateway, and a moment later, the view ahead suddenly opened up—

A clamor of voices, a mixture of scents, and a bustling scene abruptly flooded into view.

The marketplace of Abilan County was far more prosperous than Matthew had imagined.

On both sides of the wide stone street, shops stood in tight rows, their banners swaying in the wind.

The shouts of vendors, the bickering of haggling customers, the rumble of rolling wheels, and the playful laughter of children.

All kinds of sounds intertwined into a vibrant hubbub.

The air was filled with the aroma of baked bread, the greasy smoke of cooked food stalls, the pungent smell of animal manure, and the scent of spices wafting from who knows where.

The streets were teeming with people: commoners in coarse cloth, decently dressed merchants, adventurers carrying weapons, and even the occasional noble youth in splendid attire riding past in a carriage, surrounded by attendants.

The caravan did not go deep, stopping at a relatively open street corner not far from the city gate.

The rolling wheels came to a halt, and the horses snorted heavily. Most of the travel-worn adventurers and guards turned their gazes toward Regg in unison.

Having survived the bloody battle on the grasslands and the long trek, they had now arrived safely at the county seat. Their tightly strung nerves finally relaxed, and the subsequent anticipation of their payment was clearly written on every face.

Regg pulled on the reins, his gaze sweeping over these scarred faces of those who had fought alongside him. He dismounted his horse, his movements swift and clean.

A guard had already been waiting on the side, holding a heavy leather pouch. Regg took it, untied the string, and without saying much, began to take out coins and distribute them one by one.

Those were not simple silver coins; under the sunlight, they clearly glinted with a golden luster—gold coins.

A look of astonishment crossed the faces of everyone who received their payment, which then turned into uncontrollable joy. Some even weighed the coins repeatedly, whispering to their companions to confirm.

The generosity of the payment was so great that even Matthew, who was watching from the side, felt a hint of surprise.

Once the distribution was complete, Regg faced the crowd, his voice not loud but clear: “This journey was perilous. Thank you for your hard work. Your pay has been settled; you are free to stay or leave as you please.”

Upon hearing this, everyone bowed one after another, and expressions of gratitude rose and fell.

Afterward, either in groups of two or three, or entirely alone, carrying their handsome rewards and plans for the future, they gradually merged into the massive flow of people in Abilan County, disappearing into the crisscrossing streets and alleys of the outer city.

On the other side, Sierra waved goodbye after a brief conversation with Matthew.

Having experienced the previous skirmish, this spirited young girl understood in her heart how astonishing Matthew's aptitude was. Feeling that she could no longer keep up with him, she did not stay any longer.

Before long, the caravan, which had originally consisted of dozens of people, dispersed until only a few remained.

At the same time, seeing that Regg had finished handling everyone's affairs, Porter walked over to Regg's side and whispered a few words.

Regg chuckled upon hearing this and nodded.

Porter also smiled and bowed slightly.

Once everything here was settled, he walked toward Matthew, stopping beside him to speak:

“My injuries from this trip are not light, so I need to return to the Horn Chamber of Commerce headquarters in the inner city to recuperate and recover for a while. Since you are new to the county seat, if you ever need a hand or want to gather information in the future, you can find me at the Horn Chamber of Commerce in the inner city.”

Matthew's eyes flickered slightly upon hearing this, and he immediately nodded in response. “Alright, thank you for looking out for me, Brother Porter.”

He knew in his heart that this was not only Porter's recognition of his strength, but also a potentially important connection.

As for the specific details regarding the inner and outer cities, he had learned about them gradually. During Porter's recovery from his injuries, Matthew had temporarily taken over the coordination of the caravan, which significantly increased his contact with Regg. Thus, he had been able to subtly pry and gather a lot of relevant news and information from him.

Abilan County was divided into the inner city and the outer city.

The outer city was a mixed bag, mostly a gathering place for commoners, ordinary vendors, and low-level adventurers. Although bustling, order was chaotic, rumors were hard to verify, and rare resources were extremely scarce.

Of course, it was definitely much better than Anda Town, but for Matthew, whose strength was comparable to the Silver Rank, it was truly not enough.

The inner city was different. That was where the nobles, high-level Class holders, large chambers of commerce, and the true power of the county resided.

Information was more accessible, and resources were more concentrated—whether it was what you needed for cultivation or something you wanted to get done, you could find a way in the inner city.

A moment later, seeing that Matthew was still standing in place, Regg walked over to his side.

He looked at the gradually dispersing figures around them, then turned his gaze to Matthew and spoke directly:

“Since you've just arrived at the county seat, do you have a place to stay? If you need, I can take you into the inner city.”

He paused slightly, then added, “For you, the inner city offers more opportunities and is more suitable for your development. Moreover, I've already promised to look for those medicinal herbs for you. Once they are ready, I'll need a place to send them.”

After hearing him out, Matthew already had a plan in mind.

His goal for this trip was not just a temporary shelter.

Whether it was repairing his staff, gathering information, or using the connections of Regg and Porter to build a network, the assistance the outer city could provide was far too limited.

Although stepping into the inner city seemed like entering a whirlpool of intertwined forces, it also meant more opportunities.

Thus, after only a brief thought, Matthew nodded in agreement.

“Alright, then I shall trouble you.”

Seeing him agree so readily, Regg also smiled and raised a hand to pat his shoulder.

“No need to be polite. Wait a moment; once I make a few arrangements here, I will lead you inside.”

...