Conditions

The manager was slightly startled.

But he quickly replied, “Yes. The back door leads to the inner courtyard and the stables. It is only for the family's merchant caravans and internal personnel. If you need it, I can have someone show you the way tomorrow.”

Matthew nodded.

“Mm.”

The manager's internal judgment of Matthew quietly changed once again.

The questions this guest asked were completely different from those of ordinary distinguished guests.

Ordinary guests would ask if the bed was soft, if the food was good, or if the room was spacious enough.

But Matthew asked about the noise level, the back door, and the complexity of the crowd.

This indicated that he was not concerned with luxury.

He cared about safety and escape routes.

After the door on the east side of the third floor was opened, the manager stepped aside and said, “Lord Matthew, please.”

Matthew walked into the room.

The room was indeed quite good.

It was larger than the one at the Stone Statue Inn.

Thick carpets covered the floor, a desk and soft chair were placed by the window, the bed was clean and tidy, and there was a separate washroom nearby. Hot water, snacks, and an exquisite oil lamp were prepared on the table.

The window did not face the main street but instead looked toward the inn's inner courtyard.

Looking out from the window, one could see a neatly trimmed small garden and the lights of the royal capital's East District gradually lighting up in the distance.

The door was thick.

The windows had internal locks.

The walls were also thicker than those of ordinary inns.

The sound of footsteps in the corridor was very faint, indicating good soundproofing.

Matthew did not sit down immediately.

He first checked the door lock.

Then he checked the windows.

Then he looked under the bed, in the corners, and inside the cabinets.

Finally, he walked to the window, pushed it open a crack to observe if there were any protrusions easy to climb, and checked if he could quickly enter the inner courtyard if he had to leave from there.

All these movements were very natural.

It was as if they had long since become a habit.

The manager stood by the door, neither rushing him nor showing a strange expression.

Aidan also stood silently to the side.

He was already used to this.

Whenever Brother Matthew went to any unfamiliar place, the first thing he did was never to rest.

It was to check the doors.

Check the windows.

Confirm if he could leave.

Confirm if anyone could easily enter.

Aidan had not quite understood this caution before.

But after experiencing so much, he already understood that this was not paranoia.

This was the reason he could stay alive.

After a moment, Matthew finally withdrew his gaze.

“It will do.”

The manager smiled and said, “Then I shall not disturb your rest. Someone will bring hot water up later. If dinner is ready, it can also be delivered directly to the room.”

Matthew looked at Aidan.

Aidan immediately said, “I will see to the arrangements.”

The manager said, “The adjacent room has also been prepared. If you have any needs, feel free to give orders at any time.”

After the manager retreated, the room finally became quiet.

Matthew walked to the window and looked at the night scene of the royal capital outside.

The sky had already darkened.

The lights on the streets lit up one after another.

The sounds of carriages, pedestrians, the low tolling of the bell tower, and faint calls of street vendors drifted from afar.

The night in the royal capital was brighter than in the county seat.

It was also deeper.

Those lights were like countless eyes scattered across the streets, pavilions, towers, and the alleys that were unclear in the distance.

Matthew gazed at these lights, and the emotions in his heart gradually sank.

He had finally arrived.

This journey had been relatively smooth.

He had not been overtaken by Herbert or Sutton.

He had not exposed his identity as a wizard apprentice on the road.

He had not truly become involved in that private fight between wizards.

Entering the city had also been smoother than expected.

Even upon arriving at the royal capital, there was an inn arranged by the Fiery Lion family where he could settle down.

On the surface, everything looked very good.

But Matthew would not truly relax just because of this smoothness.

He knew very well that arriving safely in the royal capital did not mean the danger was over.

On the contrary.

The true danger might have only just begun.

The county seat was a transition.

The royal capital was the true resource field.

It was also a larger whirlpool.

Here, he needed to find new spell models.

He needed to inquire about news of wizard organizations or academies.

He needed to find a channel to safely trade magic stones.

He needed to figure out which places he could go and which people he could not touch.

He needed to transform the resources in his hands into strength as quickly as possible.

More importantly, he needed to approach the rank of Third-Grade Apprentice as soon as possible.

Matthew lowered his head and looked at the storage ring on his left hand.

The ring was cold, silent, and inconspicuous.

But inside lay his magic stones.

Materials were there.

The harvest brought out from the tomb was there.

These things gave him confidence.

They also gave him pressure.

If he had no resources, others might not necessarily target him.

But he had them now.

Resources would bring improvement, but they would also bring greed.

Without enough strength to protect the resources, the resources themselves were danger.

Matthew did not like this feeling.

He did not like holding good things in his hands yet having to constantly worry about being discovered by others.

He especially did not like that even though he had the opportunity to climb higher, he could only hide, conceal, and take detours because of insufficient strength.

Caution was not cowardice.

Hiding was not the goal.

Caution was only to live until the day he was strong enough.

It was not to hide in the shadows forever.

He could borrow Regg's influence.

He could stay in the Fiery Lion family's inn.

He could utilize the convenience brought by the recommendation letter.

But none of these were his foundation.

Regg's favor was very useful.

The Fiery Lion family's background was also very useful.

But external force was external force after all.

External force could open the city gates for him, but it could not cultivate for him.

It could arrange a place for him to stay, but it could not block a true wizard enemy for him.

It could save him some trouble, but it could not let him truly establish a foothold in a place like the royal capital.

What truly belonged to him was only strength.

Magic stones had to turn into Spirit.

Spirit had to push his rank.

Spell models had to fill in his weaknesses.

Knowledge had to turn into judgment.

And judgment had to become the instinct to survive.

Matthew slowly exhaled a breath.

The wind outside the window carried the scent of the royal capital's night.

It was not like the county seat.

It was not like a small town either.

It was a complex smell.

Lamp oil, spices, carriage dust, the aroma of food from afar, and the cold breath of damp stone walls blown by the night wind.

This place was unfamiliar.

But it also made him excited.

This excitement was suppressed very deeply by him.

Like fire hidden beneath ashes.

It could not be seen on the surface.

But it was always burning.

He anticipated the royal capital.

He was not anticipating the prosperity.

He was not anticipating enjoyment.

He was not anticipating noble banquets, bustling markets, or the things that left Aidan dazzled.

What he anticipated were the resources behind this place.

Spells.

Potions.

Materials.

Intelligence.

And those opportunities that could allow him to continue climbing upward.

He had arrived at the royal capital.

Next, he could no longer rely only on accidental harvests as he had in the county seat.

He needed to actively seek out channels.

He needed to establish his own judgment.

He needed to slowly figure out the rules here without exposing his wealth and identity.

Thinking of this, Matthew gently closed the window.

The noise outside was cut off.

The room became quiet again.

He turned and walked to the table, his fingertip lightly tapping the tabletop.

Once.

Twice.

Thrice.

The sound was very light.

It was as if he were confirming the next rhythm for himself.

Settle in first.

Rest for a night.

Starting tomorrow, have Aidan go out to inquire about the most basic street conditions.

He himself would first look through the information booklet about the royal capital given by Regg.

Then he would judge which places he could go and which places he could not touch for the time being.

He could not rush to buy spell models.

He could not rush to take out magic stones for trade either.

Everything had to be observed first.

The royal capital was different from the county seat.

There were more opportunities here, but there were also more hunters.

What he had to do now was not to immediately rush into the resource market, but to first make himself an inconspicuous person who could see the situation clearly.

Just then, a knock suddenly came from outside the door.

Knock, knock.

Aidan's voice came from outside.

“Brother Matthew, dinner has been delivered.”

Matthew withdrew his thoughts, and his gaze regained its calm.

“Come in.”

The door was pushed open.

Aidan walked in carrying steaming food.

As the door was pushed open, heat surged through the crack first.

Aidan held the tray with both hands, walking carefully into the room. The tray was not small, and several freshly cooked dishes were arranged on it. The white steam from the hot soup rose, carrying a rich aroma of meat and spices. The light from the oil lamp fell on the surface of the soup, and a layer of fine oil droplets could be seen gently shimmering.

“Brother Matthew, dinner has been delivered.”

After Aidan entered the room, he first used his foot to gently close the door and turned back to confirm the lock was fastened. Only then did he carry the tray to the table.

His movements were much steadier than when he had first followed Matthew out.

Before, he would be a bit flustered when carrying things, afraid of spilling, afraid of making a mistake, and afraid of not doing well. Now, although he was still cautious, he was no longer in a scramble.

Matthew glanced at him but did not speak immediately.

Aidan placed the tray on the table and began to set things out one by one.

A large bowl of hot soup with thick chunks of meat cooked inside. The soup was dark in color, mixed with some chopped root vegetables.

A plate of roast meat, the edges of the skin slightly charred and yellow, with juices visible where it had been sliced.

A few slices of thick bread.

A small dish of salted vegetables.

There was also a portion of meat stewed soft with spices. The flavor was a bit heavier than at ordinary inns, likely made specifically to replenish the stamina of travelers from afar.

After Aidan set the things down, he took out two cups and poured hot water.

He did not sit down without permission, only standing by the table waiting for Matthew's instructions.

Matthew walked to the table and sat down.

He did not move his utensils first, nor did he immediately eat the meat. Instead, he looked at the food on the table.

The meals at the Gold Lion Inn were indeed much finer than those at ordinary inns.

It wasn't just something randomly boiled to fill the stomach.

The meat was sliced neatly, spices were added to the soup, and the bread had been toasted not long ago, its edges still slightly crisp. Even that small dish of salted vegetables was not the kind of salty and hard pickles found in ordinary countryside but was sliced very thin with a faint sourness.

Matthew picked up the hot water and took a sip.

The water temperature was just right.

Neither too hot nor too cold.

His evaluation of the Gold Lion Inn rose a bit higher in his heart.

Setting aside whether such a place was expensive, it at least operated with great order.

From the reception at the entrance to the room arrangement and the timing of the food delivery, one could see a mature set of rules behind it.

This made Matthew feel a bit more at ease.

He did not like chaos.

Chaos meant variables.

Variables meant risks.

A place like the Gold Lion Inn might not be absolutely safe, but at least the surface order was clear enough. For him, who had just arrived at the royal capital, this was already very important.

Matthew picked up the dining knife and cut off a piece of meat.

The meat was very tender, with a faint charcoal aroma.

He did not chew quickly.

Having traveled all the way to the royal capital, although they had a carriage for transport and were not as miserable as they had been earlier, the long-distance journey itself still consumed the body. Additionally, he meditated every day and occasionally absorbed magic stones, so his spirit and body needed stable replenishment.

After the food entered his mouth, a warmth gradually rose in his stomach.

Matthew could feel his body slowly relaxing.

This relaxation was not a complete lowering of his guard.

Rather, it was the physical fatigue being slowly smoothed away by the hot food.

He looked up at Aidan.

“Sit down.”

Aidan was startled.

“I should eat too?”

Matthew said calmly, “After traveling for so many days on the road, are you not hungry?”

Aidan rubbed his nose, looking a bit embarrassed.

“I am hungry.”

“Then eat.”

“Yes.”

Only then did Aidan sit on the other side of the table, though his posture was still very upright and not completely relaxed. He first took a slice of bread and glanced at Matthew. After confirming Matthew had no other instructions, he began to eat.

Just as he took a bite, his eyes lit up slightly.

“This bread is much better than what we ate on the road.”

After saying this, he seemed to realize he was talking too much and immediately shut his mouth.

Matthew did not mind.

He slowly took a sip of the hot soup.

The meat aroma in the soup was very rich.

The scent of spices was not pungent; instead, it suppressed the gaminess of the meat.

Seeing that Matthew did not scold him, Aidan became a bit bolder and took a piece of stewed meat.

After the stewed meat entered his mouth, he clearly froze for a moment.

“This meat... is so soft.”

Matthew glanced at him.

Aidan hurriedly explained, “No, I just think it's so much better than the dried meat we ate on the road before.”

This statement was actually true.

The food on the road was more for preservation and satiety.

The dried meat was hard and very salty; chewing it for a long time made one's jaws ache.

Now sitting in a room at a royal capital inn, eating hot soup and stewed meat, it was almost as if Aidan had suddenly fallen into another world from the dust of the road.

Matthew did not pick up this topic.

He cut off a piece of roast meat, put it in his mouth, and after slowly swallowing it, he said, “Starting tomorrow, you have things to do.”

Aidan immediately stopped his movements.

The bit of ease brought by the food on his face just now vanished instantly.

“Brother Matthew, give me your orders.”

Matthew did not speak immediately.

He first used a napkin to wipe his fingers and then picked up the hot water for a sip.

His movements were very slow.

This was not to intentionally keep Aidan in suspense, but because he was organizing the next arrangements.

The royal capital had been reached.

A place to stay had been found.

Next, he could not continue to rely on cultivation and waiting to move forward as he had on the road.

The resources of the royal capital would not be actively delivered to his hands.

But he could not rashly rush out and directly put magic stones on the table to ask where to buy spell models either.

That would be too stupid.

A person who had just arrived at the royal capital with an unknown origin but a large number of magic stones in their hands would easily be targeted.

Especially wizard-related resources, which were already scarce.

The scarcer they were, the more rules there were.

The more rules there were, the less one could rush.

Matthew needed to figure out the environment first.

And for figuring out the environment, Aidan was more suitable to step forward than he was.

It wasn't because Aidan was smarter.

It was because Aidan looked more ordinary.

A Black Iron Rank Class holder, a young attendant following a distinguished guest to the royal capital, would not appear too conspicuous when inquiring about some districts, shops, night markets, and market conditions outside.

If Matthew went to ask personally, it would instead be easier to attract attention.

Matthew put down his cup and said, “Tomorrow, do not be in a hurry to run around recklessly.”

...