Hill still had to negotiate purchasing prices with several shop owners. Although he didn't know how the players' experience was set, he had to be prepared for a large influx of goods.
Herbs, food, meat and hides, mineral jewels, all required a set purchasing price, with some room left for flexibility.
After Hill asked them to calculate a purchasing list, he went to compare it with Fran's caravan. Given the close proximity of the two places, the prices had to match.
Finally, he checked the inn, the village's largest building with over 100 small rooms. The three-story, concave structure was managed by five maids sent by Hill.
Every household in this village had a fixed job and allocated land, making them relatively wealthy free citizens.
Hill needed to instruct the innkeeper that should the Undead Tribe arrive, they must not panic, regardless of the situation.
If there wasn't enough meat, they should issue hunting tasks to the Undead, who would surely be willing to hunt.
Hill would return right after the coronation ceremony, so if there were any issues they couldn't handle, they could wait for his return. Although the Undead were Professionals, they wouldn't easily lay hands on ordinary people.
Hill sensed that the managers were quite calm. After all, Fran was a Magister and Hill himself had become an Archmage. To the natives of this world, such backing should be enough to ensure their safety.
Hill also thought that at most, they might suffer some mental distress. The deities ought to shield the players from too many unconventional behaviors.
It would be best to leave the player issue until after his return, to face their spicy challenges then.
No matter how conflicted Hill was, he was whisked away by Fran straight to the Saral Capital.
This was Hill's first visit to the Saral Capital.
The city, named Obastian, was incredibly magnificent and majestic, protected by three concentric, robust walls from the outside to the inside.
The outermost wall was made of bluish-black boulders piled high.
The vast Outer City of the Capital didn't resemble a typical fantasy novel setting, where the outskirts were ringed by slums leading to a middle-class core near the inner layers.
How could slums be permitted near the city walls? In the Outer City of Obastian, each of the four corners harbored a huge garrison. The families of officers and soldiers from the camps lived around them, and behind them, the safety forces and their families formed a barrier between the army and the common people.
In this city, it was very rare to find someone so poor that they couldn't survive. In this semi-slavery society, all impoverished and desperate people were turned into slaves. And in this world, not everyone could own slaves; those without a title could only hire labor.
Next were the lower-middle classes—various artisans, merchants, employees serving officers and traders. Various underworld powers also dwelled among these people. The truly oppressed poor of the city lived in areas controlled by these dark forces, such as gambling dens and brothels.
After that came the middle classes. They had a certain level of education, enough money to employ workers, and could operate various shops and workshops. Junior Professionals of the Capital usually lived here as well, so this area was dotted with pubs and inns. These people also composed the vast commercial circles of the outer layer.
The ring closest to the Inner City Wall was generally inhabited by split-off members of families without titles and relatives of the Royal Guard.
Even Professionals could only join the Royal Guard if they had a clear background, were verifiable, and had ancestors who had lived in the Capital for generations.
In essence, the majority of those who could join the Royal Guard were untitled offspring from the nobility. But this at least placated most of the Professionals living in the Capital, as they would not easily break the law in hopes that their descendants might join the Royal Guard.
The Inner City Wall was entirely made of obsidian, with Magic Arrays glowing upon it.
Very few cities used obsidian for their walls—this expensive material usually reserved for borders—and only the wealthy Saral, owner of the continent's largest Gold Element Mine, would use it.
The outermost layer of the Inner City comprised large Temple complexes. None of these Temples, which claimed to serve the people, dared to locate themselves in the Outer City. Not even chapels dared establish themselves among the common folk, except those of the Lord of Justice and the Goddess of the Spring. How could the truly impoverished and oppressed, living under the Temple's thumb, gain the means to pass through the Inner City guards?
Beyond that was the step-by-step nobility district. Dukes, marquises, earls, viscounts, barons, and knights, ranked from low to high, were situated in a circular arc around the Royal Palace.
A wide central avenue ran straight through the Inner City to the Royal Palace. Along this road for the first kilometer, various colored shops were mostly owned by the Great Nobility, while those within the last kilometer nearest to the Royal Palace were all property of the Royal Family.
The entire Royal Palace was built upon the Gold Elemental Ore. In this stone city, its white architecture stood out starkly. Engraved with Mithril Magic Arrays, the palace's white rock walls shone dazzlingly, separated from the nobility district by a moat.
The King's residence sat at the center of the Pentagram Magic Array. Each tip of the Pentagram was occupied by a Magic Tower under the control of Magisters. And at the two converging points of elements beside the King's place were two Legendary Magic Towers.
Together, the Royal Palace and its Magic Towers were built to suppress the Elemental Tide Vortex that formed over the Elemental Ore bed.
Legend had it that during the mining period, an immense Elemental Tide formed into an enormous vortex, which took several Legendary Mages to suppress. To excavate the mine, these Mages entered the Elemental Realm and negotiated with the Gold Element, eventually using Mithril to construct the palace complex, probably the world's most expensive Royal Palace.
Hill had read various books about the founding of Saral since childhood and was full of curiosity about this Royal Palace. Now, at last, he could see it with his own eyes. Pleading with Fran to let him look around the city, Fran, indifferent, floated them above the Inner City gate.
Flight was prohibited over the Inner City of Obastian. After giving Hill half an hour, an impatient Fran descended at the Inner City gate.
Hill was actually quite satisfied. The Outer City was best left unmentioned—as opulent as it was, it couldn't attract the notice of a modern person used to Western-style high-rise cityscapes.
The Inner City District was different; a variety of exquisite and unique temples caught Hill's attention. These magnificent and atmospheric buildings were colorful and eye-catching, with an imposing presence that was both towering and spectacular.
Past the Temple District was the gorgeous Nobles' residences area. The design of the elegant manors was clever, bustling like a dream, picturesque, refined, and profound as if one had stepped into a fairy tale world.
Well, Hill thought, this truly is a Fantasy World. No wonder Adrian didn't find the town he designed to be all that beautiful; it was only the water supply system that warranted praise.
Fran grew impatient and asked Adrian to keep an eye on the distracted Hill as they entered the city gate.
The noise drew Hill's attention.
Even Fran stopped in his tracks: the Undead Tribe had already arrived!
The Inner City guards seemed to not yet realize that the lightly dressed women were high-level professionals of the Undead Tribe.
They spoke in a frivolous tone, telling the women not to enter the Nobles' area looking for business.
Adrian asked in confusion, "Can't they see the names above the heads of the Undead Tribe?"
Hill asked, "Why aren't the guards professionals?"
Adrian said, "Only professionals can see that, right? No place would have knights guarding the city gates!" Fran said, "Their names change with elements, how could non-professionals see them!"
He asked Hill, "What's with those clothes?"
Hill looked at the exquisite short cocktail dresses and was at a loss for words: you'd be better off wearing armor and Mage Robes!
He collected himself and said, "Their entire tribe consists of professionals; they probably prefer to dress lightly. Don't Elves also typically wear short skirts and shorts?"
Fran said with knitted brows, "It's normal to wear less in the forest, but Elves wear a lot when they go out!"
Hill could only respond, "The Undead Tribe never cares about others' thoughts and gazes."
Fran could only agree and told Adrian to handle it. Many onlookers had gathered, seemingly curious about how the Undead Tribe would deal with these guards, with no one stepping forward to intervene.
Fran had no interest in waiting around.
Unfortunately, the Undead Tribe girls finally understood the vulgar implications in the guards' words.
Several guards were scorched of their outer garments by sudden fireballs. Screaming, they dropped their weapons and covered themselves with their hands as several Earth Walls trapped them in a haphazard fashion.
Hill heard a female voice: "What a white butt."
The onlookers fell silent; no one dared to speak out. Even the wildest female adventurers weren't this bold.
Adrian stopped and stepped back to their side: "Hill, was it like this when you visited?"
"Haven't you been there?"
"Back then, they all wore linen clothes. They were busy hunting, building houses, farming, and although they argued often, I never saw this..."
"When I visited, they were also very busy. William's subordinates were polite to them, and no one provoked them. But they were vicious when fighting and cursing among themselves. The girls would swear too."
"Adventurers swear too, regardless of gender. But they would never do this. There aren't many men who would dare to."
"Are there mages among the adventurers? Their status gives them confidence."
Adrian thought for a moment: "That's true. But are all girls from the Undead Tribe this fierce?"
Hill said nothing, sneering inwardly: Who cares about appearances in front of NPCs.
Suddenly Fran spoke up: "There's a Priest! Is that even allowed? That one really doesn't care about their followers!"
Hill could only continue grumbling internally: Healing is just a profession.
The few female members of the Undead Tribe sat on top of the Earth Walls, completely indifferent to the onlookers, pointing and whispering to each other, assessing the guards' physiques and appearances inside.
At that moment, a group of knights ran out from inside. The leader shouted, "Ladies! Please, show some mercy!"
Adrian almost laughed: "William's guards."