Chapter 112 - 111 – Politics
After a while, the waves of analytical probing disappeared, and everyone sat down.
"Why is everyone sitting?" I asked, turning toward Fiona.
She was busy playing with strands of her glossy black hair, swaying coquettishly from side to side, clearly delighted to be among the elite.
I truly did not understand why people cared so much about status, money, and the opinions of others.
Well... perhaps I could understand caring about the opinions of those close to you.
But strangers?
What an inferiority complex.
Fiona turned toward me and whispered so softly only I could hear:
"Here, meal times are not decided by the guest’s wishes," she said, then added,
"Everyone must follow protocol."
"And what is that?"
"Every two hours, a meal service is brought down.
A guest may choose their dish—or refuse entirely.
But in either case, they are required to remain seated at their table for no less than half an hour."
"Oh," I said in surprise.
"To be honest, that’s actually a good system."
I looked around at the crowd.
Now that everyone was seated, I began studying their faces.
There was not a single person here who seemed unimportant.
Everyone looked significant in some way I could not define.
What was clear, however, was that many of them were indeed Lords.
What ranks?
Those whose ranks were visible were all First and Second Rank.
As for those who had concealed theirs—
no one could know.
Perhaps they too were Second Rank and merely possessed concealment methods.
Or perhaps higher.
I truly did not know.
"Tell me, Fiona... how is this city governed?" I asked, still scanning the room.
Suddenly, the atmosphere quieted.
Many tables became inaudible.
Lips still moved,
but no sound came out.
It was obvious those people had activated sound-isolation containment bubbles.
Such bubbles came in many forms.
Some were generated by creatures and used in combat.
Others were sold in system shops and had multiple uses—
one of them being sound isolation.
Since they were cheap and purchased only with money,
everyone—including me—used them without hesitation.
As for me, using one was merely a precaution.
It was not as though I intended to discuss secrets in front of a girl I knew nothing about.
"Sir?"
"Yes?"
"Are you with me?"
"Sorry... did you say something?"
"I already answered your question.
You weren’t paying attention.
Did some woman here catch your eye?
Perhaps that one in the black dress?"
Fiona turned her head toward one side.
Indeed, there was a lady dressed in black there.
She was stunning.
"Of course I wouldn’t look at anyone but you.
Tell me your answer again," I said with a smile.
"Sunrise City," Fiona replied,
"is ruled by the Wyvern family."
"Wyvern?" I murmured.
"Isn’t that the name of some dragon species?"
Fiona laughed.
"Everyone reacts that way the first time," she whispered, leaning closer.
"Of course, this goes back more than a hundred years.
I’ll tell you the details when we’re alone."
"Haha... you can say it now.
No one will hear you," I said.
Fiona hesitated,
looked left and right,
then finally began speaking.
"More than two hundred years ago,
this city was ruled by the Wyvern race—
a hybrid dragon species with human bodies, dragon scales, tails, and—"
"I know what wyverns are, Fiona," I interrupted.
"Oh... right.
Back then, there was a Lord of First Rank who appeared here,
and the ruling family took him in.
It is said they raised him like a son,
providing him with the resources he needed until he became a Fourth Rank Lord.
Some say they were forging him into a weapon to defend them.
The truth is hidden...
because everything changed completely after a hundred years."
Fiona paused.
She turned away again and sipped her drink.
"Go on," I said.
"That Lord eventually married...
and had children.
Then, decades later,
the original Wyvern family vanished during wartime.
The city was invaded.
It happened while the Lord father and his children were away on a mission.
When they returned, it was too late.
The Lord swore revenge,
and remained ruler of the city.
He preserved the Wyvern family name as the royal family’s title,
in honor of the family that raised him.
And ever since then,
he continued hunting those responsible.
To this day,
Sunrise City and Sunset City remain locked in constant border conflict."
"Hmmm," I murmured.
"That makes far more sense than mere coincidence."
Fiona did not answer.
But then—
a far more important question struck my mind.
"You said that Lord married and had children...?"
"Yes."
"Did he marry another Lord?
And were his children Lords as well?
Tell me."
"I don’t know the truth," Fiona replied.
"The first Lord died more than fifty years ago.
The current bloodline is the third generation.
Whether his wife was a Lord as well—I do not know.
But..."
"What?"
Suddenly—
multiple footsteps entered the hall.
Servants carrying food had begun arriving.
They started serving the tables.
At ours alone,
Fiona ordered numerous dishes—
fish, meat, and others I did not recognize.
After the servants withdrew,
Fiona resumed her carefully polished noble elegance,
eating with practiced grace and exaggerated delicacy.
I truly did not understand how someone could perform even while eating.
"Continue," I said.
"Huh?" she answered.
It seemed she had forgotten everything the moment the food arrived.
"Yes... sorry, sir.
I do not know about the first lady,
but I do know something else."
After taking a small bite, she added:
"The descendants of Lords will also be Lords.
But... there is one thing they will not inherit."
She paused.
"...Missions."
Silence.
So—
It was said that Lords had existed in this world for thousands of years.
Their numbers were vast.
But it seemed that rule applied to their children as well.
If I analyzed this—
there were two kinds of Lords:
A transferred Lord—
one who arrived and possessed missions.
And a born Lord—
one born from the bloodline of a Lord, without missions.
"Is there any other difference between transferred Lords and born Lords?" I asked.
"No.
Not to my knowledge," Fiona replied.
We continued discussing many other matters,
including the structure of government.
Apparently, the city’s governance resembled human governments on Earth.
Every sector had its own institution managing it.
And every institution was controlled by Lords.
The highest authority in the city belonged to a Lord of unknown rank—
though Fiona believed he was Fourth Rank.
There were also several sects with established headquarters.
For many years, sects had been outlawed.
Now, however,
they were permitted to open branches and operate within the law.
There were also guild headquarters:
Adventurers and Hunters.
Adventurers specialized in gathering resources,
hunting beasts,
and completing missions.
Hunters, on the other hand,
specialized in hunting wanted Lords.
And not just anyone could join them.
The organization itself chose who to invite.
If accepted,
the fighter came under their protection—
and also under their control.
"So that means..." I whispered too softly for anyone to hear,
"They promise you protection...
and demand you carry out their missions."
Of course,
it would not be some spring paradise.
It was not as though such an organization existed to fight evil and uphold justice.
That was a joke.
Most likely,
it was an organization of interests—
adding whomever they wished to the wanted list,
and removing whomever they wished just as easily.
Still...
For this world to contain so many layers of structure—
it was far more complicated than it appeared.
So far,
my Fourth Rank status seemed to be something significant here.
But that did not mean I could reveal it carelessly.
I was still too weak to face everything this world held.
I needed to stay calm.
Stay humble.
Walk close to the wall—
and keep it from collapsing on top of me.
Just for a while.
Wait for me, my friends...
Just for a while longer—
and I will begin hunting those who caused your deaths.
After several more minutes,
the meal period ended.
Movement returned.
The Lords stood,
forming circles of discussion and introductions.
Lords and their companions moved from group to group.
But no one approached Fiona and me.
"Everyone," I said.
Fiona turned toward me.
"They’re all mingling in circles.
No one has approached us."
Fiona turned her face away,
a trace of embarrassment appearing.
"I’m sorry," she said.
"My presence beside you...
may cause the other ladies to prevent their Lords from approaching.
I’m sorry."
"Hahaha," I laughed.
"To be honest,
I prefer it this way.
Let them stay as far away as possible."
"Honored Lords and ladies—"
A voice rang loudly through the hall.
I raised my head.
On the second floor stood three Lords.
Two were clearly Second Rank.
The third radiated an overwhelmingly powerful aura,
letting it surge outward without restraint.
"Perhaps a Third Rank Lord... or higher," I whispered.
His rank was concealed,
but his aura was visible.
Was it arrogance?
Or deception?
"Welcome to the Center Above the Ocean,"
one of the Second Rank Lords announced.
Behind him stood the Lord with the powerful aura.
He did not move.
He wore a completely royal blue outfit.
His short white hair was brushed upward.
He looked to be in his thirties.
His muscles were clearly visible and strong,
his chest thrust forward with commanding dignity.
"Please give your full attention, ladies and gentlemen.
Today, Lord Leonardo de Green Wyvern
will announce a historic new beginning for this center.
Please rise and hear this important declaration."
"Is he some noble Lord?" I wondered inwardly.
Then the blue-robed Lord stepped forward.
Two steps.
Then he exhaled.
"Today," he said,
"we begin entry into the Fate Matches."
Suddenly—
noise exploded across the hall.
The whispers rose sharply.
The Lord fell silent,
smiling.
He allowed the news to echo through the room.
Then he breathed out again.
Silence returned.
"But our entry will not be ordinary," he continued.
"The matches will involve three ranks.
And the grand prize..."
He paused.
"...will be an Ancient Weapon."
He stepped back.
The hall erupted into deafening uproar.
Even a Lord might not have been able to suppress it.
Everyone was shaken by the announcement.
For me—
it was a golden opportunity.
I looked across the hall.
"Two," I whispered.
"Three."
"Five."
That was it.
Five Lords had not reacted to the news.
All of them had concealed ranks.
That meant—
either they already knew the announcement beforehand,
or Ancient Weapons were insignificant to them.
If it was the first reason,
that was entirely logical.
But if it was the second—
that was not natural at all.
Even the blond Fourth Rank Lord had been shocked upon seeing an Ancient Weapon.
Could these people be Fifth Rank?
That was almost impossible to believe.
And yet—
"Fate Matches..." I whispered.
"Fiona—
how do I enter them?"