The dwarf leader dragged Lin Gui inside without leaving room for argument.
A blast of scorching air, heavy with the scent of metal and coal smoke, rushed to meet them.
"I'm Grom Stonehammer!"
His voice boomed like a bell as he slapped his breastplate.
"The current Captain of the West Gate Guards of Shield City!
"That old boy Copperhammer is a brother I've known since we were in diapers!"
He slapped Lin Gui on the back with such force that it made the mage stumble.
"Since he asked me to look after you in his letter, I, Grom Stonehammer, will keep my word!
"Everything for your stay in Shield City is on me!"
Lin Gui, still caught in the dwarf's grasp, tried to pull away.
"I appreciate the kindness, but we truly have urgent business. We must reach the Wall of Sighs as soon as possible."
Hearing this, Grom's thick eyebrows immediately knotted together.
"Gah! I say, little mage, why the rush?"
He stopped in his tracks and turned to face Lin Gui, his thick finger nearly poking the man's nose.
"Do you even know what the situation is inside the Wall of Sighs?
"Do you know which road to take if you want to live two extra days?
"Do you know which creepy things to never touch and which shadows you need to steer clear of?"
He fired off questions like a rapid-fire cannon before waving a large hand.
"You know nothing! You're just charging in with a rookie's reckless energy?
"That's not being brave—that's looking for a place to die!"
He grabbed Lin Gui again, half-pushing and half-pulling him deeper into the city.
"Listen to me, settle into the city first!
"Get some proper rest, gather intelligence, and restock your essentials.
"Once everything is ready, I'll find a few veterans who know the terrain to point you in the right direction.
"I guarantee it'll be a hundred times better than you charging in blindly like this!"
Lin Gui, tucked under the dwarf's arm, looked out at this noisy and massive city carved into the mountain's heart.
The rhythmic clanging of smithing echoed from every direction, and massive gears ground slowly overhead.
He remained silent for a moment and eventually let out a soft sigh.
In truth, Lin Gui wanted to rest in Shield City more than anyone.
Besides alleviating the exhaustion of their long journey, establishing a new post office outpost, and gathering news on the Wall of Sighs...
There was another important matter that could only be completed in Shield City.
That was upgrading his raft.
He had witnessed the Wheelless Train, accelerated by Legendary magic, which could cross the entire Black Reef Sea in a single day at a non-human speed.
Lin Gui desperately wanted to boost his own vehicle's speed.
Although he could not yet cast the Legendary wind magic Freya used to accelerate vehicles, he knew something very well.
The dwarves possessed unique craftsmanship—they could manufacture devices that converted mana into stable wind power.
If such equipment could be added, his raft's speed and stability would take a qualitative leap.
The reasons to stay in Shield City were more than sufficient.
However, one crucial factor kept him hesitant.
That was Theia.
She was a genuine member of the Demon Race who could use demon energy.
Lin Gui was uncertain whether the City-State Alliance's Inspectors were still lurking within this seemingly pure dwarven city-state.
Theia's Mask of a Thousand Illusions could fool a Mid-tier Legendary like Freya, but it might not necessarily hide her from those who specialized in detection.
This wasn't a question of strength, but a matter of professional expertise.
Take Lin Gui himself, for example.
He was the type of person who committed fully to a single path.
He had nearly abandoned the study of all other magic to specialize solely in concealment. While this granted him formidable hiding abilities, it also made him the weakest mage of his rank in combat.
In the City-State Alliance, specialists like Lin Gui were not rare.
Even if they couldn't reach his height, it was highly likely they could see through Theia's disguise.
He looked at Theia beside him.
She was peering around curiously, her emerald eyes shining with a sense of wonder at this magnificent underground city.
Lin Gui made a decision; Avalon was just ahead, and they couldn't afford any more accidents. He had to have her leave as soon as possible.
He slowed his pace and whispered to Theia, "You and Eve head out and settle down on the road first. Keep an eye on our raft and luggage.
"I'll handle things in the city and meet up with you shortly after."
He intended to have Theia and Eve leave first to rest in the wilderness.
Dwarves regularly cleared demons from the vicinity of Shield City, so there wasn't much threat.
Without Lin Gui there, he believed Theia could protect Eve well enough.
Hearing their conversation, a flicker of confusion crossed Grom Stonehammer's rugged face.
Then, as if a realization had struck him, he slapped his forehead and burst into a booming laugh.
"Hahaha! I get it! Kid, you're worried about that?"
He slapped Lin Gui's back again, lowering his voice slightly, though it remained filled with certainty.
"Rest easy! In current Shield City, there isn't a single Inspector!
"Everyone inside is one of our dwarven brothers!
"So, this long-eared little girl of the Demon Race is safe here!"
The words "Demon Race" struck like a thunderbolt.
Lin Gui's eyes twitched violently.
Theia's shoulders flinched in fear, and she instinctively gripped the quiver at her waist.
The two exchanged a shocked look, both seeing the same bewilderment in the other's eyes.
Lin Gui lowered his voice, his tone thick with disbelief.
"Was it Copperhammer... did that fellow 'sell us out' in his letter?"
Awkwardness flashed across Grom's face as he scratched his thick, braided beard.
"Well... ahem... Copperhammer did it so you could enter the city smoothly.
"After all, because of that incident years ago, we haven't exactly been fond of humans.
"The only reason you were allowed in is that you are friends of Copperhammer."
He quickly changed the subject with a wave of his hand.
"In any case! You have absolutely nothing to worry about!"
Theia hesitated for a moment but couldn't help but ask, "But... what if an Inspector disguised themselves as a dwarf to sneak in?
"Just like me—I'm currently using a magic item to change my appearance."
Hearing this, Grom reacted as if he'd heard the funniest joke in the world, erupting into an even louder laugh.
He straightened his stout frame and stomped his foot hard on the ground.
"Hahaha! Little girl, you're overthinking it!
"Those stick-thin fellows trying to disguise themselves as dwarves?
"Unless they chop off half their legs and stuff their clothes full of solid muscle, they'd be exposed the moment they took a step!"
His exaggerated way of speaking and confident attitude made Theia let out an involuntary giggle.
She looked at Grom's height, which barely reached her waist, then at the bulging, knotted muscles that threatened to burst out of his leather armor.
She decided his words were indeed very persuasive.
Features could be disguised with magic, but body type and physical details were hard to fake.
She turned her head, seeking Lin Gui's opinion with her gaze.
Lin Gui looked Grom in the eye for a long moment in silence.
Grom added with a grin, "Relax. With the Fortress Lord here, even if an Inspector were hiding in some rat hole and discovered her true identity...
"At most, they'd just kick you out rather than killing you on the spot."
Lin Gui sighed and then nodded to Theia.
The last trace of tension finally vanished from Theia's face, and she smiled happily, like sunlight dispersing the final clouds.
She wasn't happy because she could enter this magnificent city built inside the mountain.
She was happy because of the dwarven leader's attitude.
This was the first city that still accepted her after her identity had been exposed.
If only the Elven Forest were more like Shield City, how wonderful that would be.
Rate on N.U.
