Chapter 33: Feilon City
The journey from Kekken City to Feilon City takes about ten days. After setting off into the wilderness with the soldiers from Feilon City, there were finally no more unexpected situations in front of this large group, which could be considered extravagantly equipped.
The journey was smooth, and they would also chat during occasional rest stops.
At first, Fisher thought they had some special purpose for taking the children, but throughout the process, they were actually coaxing the children as if they were human children.
If it was for a special purpose, wouldn’t it be enough to ensure all the prisoners arrived alive in Feilon City?
There was no need to take extra steps.
After ten days of travel, Captain Harry met up with other returning teams in the wilderness outside Feilon City. Unlike them, who were left with only a few children, the other teams still had living adult subhumans.
There were various types of subhumans: werewolves, goblins, and even insect-like subhumans that didn’t resemble humans at all.
From their attire and numbers, they seemed to be the last remnants of various tribes. In the past period, entire tribes had often been killed by humans, and he thought that all the remaining subhumans had been captured as slaves. He didn’t expect Feilon City to still retain so many.
So, what was Feilon’s purpose?
“Mr. Fisher, look, we’ve arrived.”
Fisher looked through the brim of his hat at the gigantic city wall in the distance. That massive wall was several times larger than other cities in the Southern Continent and appeared particularly magnificent in the wilderness. Above, a huge airship floated among the clouds, and even from afar, he could hear the lively shouts within the city and the sound of steam whistles.
There were no chimneys within the city, and the outer city wall was pristine white, with guards patrolling while holding rifles.
Fisher opened his mouth. If he hadn’t seen it with his own eyes, he would never have believed that such a large city existed in the Southern Continent.
Several units dressed in unified blue uniforms gathered at the city gate and then entered sequentially. The gigantic gate was raised by a steam-operated mechanism, and the sound of steel gears grinding was clearly audible.
The gate did not ordinarily open; it only lifted when a large number of people were entering or exiting. There was an archway for personnel, similar to those in other cities.
“Officer Harry, who is this gentleman?”
“Ah, this is a companion we met during the mission. You can report him. We’re just about to take the subhumans to the Lord’s Mansion. I will mention this to the City Lord later.”
“Make sure to come back for the record.”
“Of course.”
The official at the gate glanced at the Fisher’s carriage among the soldiers, marked a few notes on his list, and then lowered the documents, looking at the subhumans entering the city with the soldiers, he couldn’t help but say,
“The City Lord has rescued so many subhumans again; I wonder how much this costs.”
“Anyway, those subhumans live in the Lord’s Mansion, which doesn’t concern ordinary people. If the City Lord is kind-hearted, don’t worry about him.”
“True. You may enter.”
After Captain Harry finished the handover with the official, he mounted his horse again and waved his hand to the soldiers behind him, signaling them to enter the city.
However, after entering the city, only a few officers and the soldiers accompanying the subhumans proceeded deeper into the city, while the other soldiers rested at the military camp by the city wall.
“Mr. Fisher, the Lord’s Mansion is just ahead. If Feilon City is your final destination, we can part ways here. But if you intend to head north out of the city, you’d better meet the City Lord.”
“Oh? Why is that?”
“It seems a huge gold mine has been discovered to the north, and the Lord of Shivali has sent troops to blast the mountain and mine, going to war with the goblins and other subhuman tribes that have lived there for generations. The City Lord has signed a non-aggression treaty with the lords of Shivali, and the whole city is temporarily prohibited from leaving. If you meet the City Lord, he might let you out of the city.”
“I see. Then please take us to meet the City Lord.”
It is still a considerable distance to Krit Port further north, so resupplying in Feilon City is very important. Fisher could not bypass here and head directly to Krit Port.
Moreover, Fisher was also quite curious about the City Lord here, the person called Feilon.
“It’s no trouble. I will report your assistance to the subhumans honestly to the City Lord. He appreciates kind-hearted people and will definitely not make things difficult for you.”
The non-commissioned officer led Fisher’s carriage through the city, and it was Fisher’s first time surveying the environment within the city.
Unlike other Southern Continent cities with only a few shops and essential facilities, the city not only had specially paved roads but also parks and greenery. Fisher even saw a shop selling musical instruments, and at the corner, a café with waitresses in black and white serving customers.
The residential area was neatly arranged. Fisher saw children in matching uniforms carrying school bags walking along the street, seemingly attending school. Next to them, an adult with a smile, holding bread, listened to them complain about what happened at school.
Most of the residents spoke the Nali language, but he could also see the church of Cardu.
The living environment here exceeded Fisher’s imagination; it was truly a unique flower among Southern Continent cities, and it would not lose to some cities in the Western Continent. No wonder in Kekken City, Kekken compared this place to Saint Nali.
Although there were still many differences, Saint Nali was after all the pearl of the Nali region, with a long history and national dignity, making any comparison with this city already a loss for Saint Nali.
Fisher withdrew his gaze and looked toward the end of the road.
Ahead, in the center of the city, there was another wall that separated the inside from the outside.
“Mr. Fisher, the City Lord’s Mansion is just ahead.”
“The mansion of the City Lord of Feilon City is really impressive.”
Compared to the mansion, Fisher felt it resembled more of an “inner city,” as it occupied a significantly large area, about one-sixth of the entire city, and had four separate entrances and exits.
“It’s not that the City Lord is indulging himself; mainly, he has taken in many suffering subhumans. You know how humans view subhumans. So the City Lord specially established a place for the subhumans who have lost their homes to live.”
“I see.”
“Yes, I’ve heard that the facilities inside are basically the same as those outside, and you will know once you enter.”
Fisher nodded and entered the City Lord’s Mansion in Feilon City along with the soldiers. The moment they entered, there was no particular feeling; the vibrancy of the outside city was the same. It was just that the inhabitants here changed from humans to subhumans.
Several subhumans of different races wearing school uniforms ran past, while humans in work clothes were teaching new subhumans how to fetch water. There were many humans inside, but the majority were subhumans. Some seemed to be working, while others were selling goods.
The door behind them opened, revealing Raphael’s emerald green eyes. She looked just as surprised at the harmonious coexistence of humans and subhumans within the city, seemingly in disbelief.
No matter how Fisher doubted and desperately sought for flaws in the surrounding environment, trying to find evidence of coercion or confinement. However, when he saw the expressions on their faces, he gave up on that notion.
If it were possible, it would require some kind of colossal magic to collectively manipulate their minds to fabricate the expressions on their faces; unfortunately, such magic did not exist.
This also indicated that these subhumans were willingly living here without coercion or unhappiness.
“Miss Nana, all the subhumans ordered by the City Lord have been brought here.”
“Ah, let them wait here for a moment; Mr. Feilon will arrive shortly.”
The soldiers in front had already stopped, and a somewhat elevated female voice caught Fisher’s attention. At the end of the road, in front of a grand building, a young girl in a standard Nali dress was smiling and responding to several soldiers.
The girl had a gentle appearance; if one ignored the small horns atop her head, she looked almost identical to a human. However, the horn on the right side of her head was only half remaining, seemingly severed by someone. The remaining half was replaced by a golden faux horn made by human craftsmanship.
She was a young girl of the cowman race.
“Hey, who is that gentleman over there?”
The cowgirl also noticed Fisher, who was sitting in the carriage, and asked Captain Harry.
“Ah, that is Mr. Fisher and his dragon companion. We met while rescuing goblins.”
“A dragon?”
Meeting the girl’s gaze, Fisher got out of the carriage, holding his staff and hat as he walked forward.
“Hello, I am Fisher Benavides.”
Before he could finish speaking, a deep, magnetic male voice came from the direction of the building ahead.
“Nana, have the subhumans been delivered?”
Fisher’s gaze was drawn ahead, and he saw a group of people walking out of the tall building. The speaker was the man at the front, wearing a suit.
The man was tall, but his entire face was covered by a device resembling a gas mask, with only one unblinking eye visible through the mirrors on the mask. The inside of the mask seemed to be filled with some kind of liquid, making it completely sealed.
Not just his face, the man’s right hand was entirely replaced by some kind of steam machine. Steam periodically escaped from beneath the mask along his arm.
Several young subhuman children of various races followed him, many curiously watching the soldiers in the distance while sucking their fingers.
“Oh, who is this gentleman from Nali?”
The tall man spotted Fisher with his single lens and then spoke in a magnetic tone.
**(End of Chapter)**
