Chapter 1119: Shatufan
On their final approach to Shatufan, Leon had a choice to make. It was a large, walled city, and its long curtain walls were heavily enchanted. Despite that, he could punch through those enchantments if he wanted to and fly over the walls. However, that might be seen as a provocation and could cost him the resources and support he needed.
On the other hand, landing and approaching on foot, while a sign of humility, trust, and respect, might also be taken as a sign of weakness. It might encourage the powers-that-be in the city not to support him out of fear of the Ocean Kingdom, or they might arrogantly believe that despite being weaker than Leon, they had power over him and could dictate terms.
Leon wasn’t keen on showing his neck to the magistrates of the city, but he needed to acquire the resources they produced no matter what.
’No harm in starting with respect,’ he considered. ‘If they try to screw me over, I can… cross that bridge when I come to it.’ For the moment, he didn’t want to consider what might happen if a show of respect wasn’t rewarded out of fear of poisoning negotiations before they even began.
So, he led his small entourage and landed in front of Shatufan’s largest gate. As with many great cities he knew of, a small town had sprung up around the gate, helping to facilitate trade between the city dwellers and the country folk. The gate itself sat on one side of a huge forum in which many shops and stalls had been set up, and through which many wheelless carriages drove, some large and laden with goods. A huge quantity of cargo passed through the gate every day, despite most of the city’s resources coming in by ship from villages along the shores of the largest of the Finger Lakes, next to which Shatufan had been built.
Leon’s aura was radiant and unmistakable, and he filled the sky with clouds as he touched down in the forum. Wheelless carriages were buffeted by wind and the sheer weight of his aura, and people screamed in alarm and fear as they sought cover. Even the gate guards, apparently more used to monitoring trade and keeping peace, were intimidated, and Leon’s companions had more than enough time to land beside him and present a united front before several high-ranking—if their uniforms were any indication—officers in the gatehouse emerged to confront them. The strongest of their number was only sixth-tier, however, weaker even than the weakest member of Leon’s entourage.
“I-Identify yourselves!” the commander shouted, his only lightly accented voice wobbly and uncertain despite his attempt to assert himself.
“I am Leon Raime, King of Artorion!” Leon loudly declared for everyone to hear. “I have business with your city’s Presiding Magus!”
“W-Wait here!” the commander demanded, and Leon cocked an eyebrow.