Chapter 917
Chapter 917
The port city of Remuth was enormous, teeming with people from countless cultures. As one of the busiest ports on the continent of Izmorta, it had become a melting pot of travelers from various kingdoms across the continent, as well as visitors from lands beyond.
Before Anton could officially enter the kingdom, his identity had to be verified. Accompanied by one of the ship's crewmen, he was escorted to a government office where his identification papers were processed.
Within thirty minutes, everything was complete.
Anton knew the unusually quick processing was due to the crewman informing the officials that he was a Supreme-rank wizard.
Outside the office, many of the other passengers who had disembarked before him were still waiting in line. He guessed that his rank afforded him privileges normally reserved for society's elite.
Among those waiting were the families of his friends. He took the opportunity to bid them farewell once more before eagerly setting off to explore Remuth.
He had already arranged a way to stay in contact with Paul and Eric. He had given each of them a tablet capable of summoning a miniature raven. Whenever they wished to speak with him, they only needed to send the raven, after which they could meet inside the game.
Once outside the government district, Anton began exploring the city.
He immediately noticed clothing from Ormunda and New Drennor, but there were also familiar fashions from what had once been the port city of Whaling in Rendindura.
Thankfully, his father had informed him that most of Rendindura's cities and kingdoms were already in the process of rebuilding, including Whaling. That was only natural, considering it had always been one of the continent's major trade ports.
Anton also recognized garments worn by people from the distant continent of Huoxi, their clothing reminiscent of the traditional attire found in many eastern countries on Earth.
He spotted the distinctive robes worn by desert dwellers as well. They could have come from Amendora or perhaps the Kingdom of Armunda, the great desert kingdom south of Homura in Rendindura.
What surprised him the most, however, was seeing members of the clergy from the Holy City of Tiande.
Tiande had been one of the first kingdoms destroyed by the Undead Coalition. Because of its mastery of anti-undead magic, it had become one of the coalition's primary targets and had fallen within only a few days.
Anton guessed that at least some of its people had escaped the catastrophe and eventually found refuge in Izmorta.
He was equally pleased to see merchants wearing the distinctive clothing of Ruandelle and Leminthor.
Because he constantly found himself watching the people around him, Anton's pace through the streets of Remuth was slow.
Seeing so many survivors from Rendindura living peaceful lives on another continent filled him with quiet happiness.
The architecture surrounding the port reflected the same diversity as its people. Buildings inspired by countless cultures stood side by side, creating an eclectic yet strangely harmonious cityscape.
Anton loved every bit of it.
None of the great cities he had visited before—not Ormunda, New Drennor, nor any of the kingdoms in Rendindura—could compare to the incredible diversity that filled Remuth with seemingly endless energy.
He firmly believed that a city truly came alive only when it welcomed people from every walk of life.
In many ways, Remuth reminded him of Earth's great metropolitan cities, such as New York, London, or Tokyo.
There was, however, one enormous difference.
Magic.
It flowed through every street.
Magic items were everywhere. Countless vehicles moved through the city's roads in an orderly fashion, and Anton could sense the mana powering each one.
He also saw individuals traveling in style aboard flying carpets, enchanted discs, floating boards, and even airborne coaches. Some powerful wizards dispensed with magical vehicles altogether and simply flew under their own power.
Unlike Ormunda and New Drennor, Remuth clearly permitted aerial travel within the city.
Since Anton was still unfamiliar with the local laws, he chose to continue exploring on foot.
He was glad he did.
Not long afterward, he noticed a sign stating that anyone wishing to fly or operate a magical vehicle within the city needed to obtain a license.
Anton couldn't help but smile.
Rather than banning aerial transportation outright, Remuth had simply found a way to regulate it while earning additional revenue from those eager to display their status.
From what he had seen so far, Anton suspected he was currently exploring one of the city's wealthier districts. Prosperity was evident everywhere he looked.
City guards patrolled constantly, and there were so many of them that it almost seemed as though every street had its own patrol.
As he continued walking, Anton noticed that Remuth lacked the rigid district planning common in other cities.
At least, that was true of the area he was exploring.
The city felt chaotic—but in a pleasant way.
One street would consist entirely of residential homes, only for the next corner to open onto a bustling marketplace.
The first market he encountered appeared to cater to wealthier citizens, although it mostly sold ordinary goods rather than magical items.
He wandered through the shops and open-air stalls, comparing prices with those he had seen in Ormunda.
To his surprise, the prices were nearly identical.
Anton found himself slightly disappointed.
Everything being sold there could easily be purchased in the cities he had already visited.
After browsing for a while, he lost interest and resumed exploring.
Not long afterward, he found himself back in another residential neighborhood.
The people living there appeared genuinely content.
Children played freely in the streets while neighbors gathered outside their homes, chatting and exchanging gossip.
Although the houses themselves looked quite expensive, the residents carried themselves like ordinary middle-class families.
If his impression was correct, Anton found it remarkably impressive.
It suggested that even average citizens in Remuth could afford homes that would have been considered luxurious elsewhere.
A random turn eventually led him into an enormous plaza surrounded by towering buildings.
Most of them appeared to house official institutions.
As he drew closer, he realized they were branch headquarters for organizations such as the Adventurers Guild, the Merchants Guild, the Mages Guild, and numerous others.
Each building seemed determined to outshine its neighbors.
Every headquarters was grander than the last, and Anton couldn't help but suspect that the guilds quietly competed with one another over whose building looked the most impressive.
The plaza itself was so vast that it took him nearly an hour to cross it.
Beyond the plaza, Anton wandered into what appeared to be an entertainment district.
The streets were lined with theaters, taverns, bathhouses, gambling halls, and countless other establishments devoted to leisure.
One thing did catch his attention.
He hadn't seen a single brothel.
He assumed those establishments were probably confined to their own separate district elsewhere in the city.
Only then did Anton realize how much time had passed.
The sun was already beginning to set.
Fortunately, the district contained numerous inns and hotels where he could spend the night.
He approached a pair of men chatting by the roadside and politely asked where he could find a good place to stay.
They pointed toward a tall building in the distance.
After thanking them, Anton made his way there.
The sign above the entrance read Port Side Hotel.
He smiled at the name.
Although the hotel was still considered part of the port district, it was probably at least a couple of hours' walk from the actual harbor.