Realization dawned on Captain Gerard. In the next moment, he headed to his desk and pressed a small red button, which had a small magic array surrounding it.
Pressing the button made an alarm sound in the guard's room, which was a signal that their captain is calling for them in his office.
In less than a minute, a knock on the office doors can be heard, which was followed by Captain Gerard's approval to come inside.
Entering the room, the guard stood in front of the captain waiting for his order.
"I want you to pick a trustworthy team, and make a list of all the huge merchants in the kingdom, as well as all their recent transactions in the last year."
"Yes sir, I'll see to it immediately", the guard who just entered the room was Captain Gerard's right-hand man, Sam Sana, whom he trusts the most since they are childhood friends.
After Sam left the room Captain Gerard got back to his seat, saying, "I'll let my team investigate the matter, I already have a lot on my plate."
Brightening his face, Captain Gerard looked at Martin as he continued, "Enough of that, tell me about yourself, what did you do in the last 2 months, and what brought you back?"
"Nothing much, I just spent the last 2 months hunting and honing my skills, as for why I came back, I intend to try my luck with the Imperial Magic Academy entrance exams."
"Well, well, well, it's going to be a hell of a year if you plan on attending this year."
"You speak of the academy as if you know a lot about it."
Placing his hand on his chest, Captain Gerard said with pride filling his voice, "Of course I know a lot about it, you are looking at the Imperial Magic Academy's close combat instructor, as well as the second strongest swordsman in the Kingdom after all."
"Oh, wow Captain Gerard, I wouldn't have guessed", Martin replied with a voice brimming with fighting spirit.
"Don't get excited kid, I will test you myself on entrance exams day, and don't get any funny ideas now, I won't fight you till then."
"Hahaha, I heard you loud and clear captain, speaking of that when are the exams held? I wasn't informed about the specific time."
"The exam is held for three days in a row, we are already on the first day, but don't sweat it, get some rest and tomorrow you can take the exam, if you pass or not will be decided based on your power and skills, you will be informed after the exam if you passed, and the place, of course, is the academy itself."
"Ok good, but I cut it a bit short. Thanks for letting me know, but I need to head out to find a free room in the inn."
"My pleasure kid, where are you staying at?"
"I'll be staying at the Laston Inn, that's if I found a free room. "
"Well then, take care kid, and just for you to know I'm not going to hold back on you tomorrow."
"Hahaha, do your worst."
After exchanging a few words, Martin was led back outside the platoon outpost, letting him enter the city without the entrance fee.
Looking at the sky, he saw that it was already night-time, and the streets can only be lit by the street lights, those lights are empowered by magic, it absorbs the sunlight during the day and releases them during the night, "I need to rush to the inn, hope they still have an empty room". In the next moment, Martin took hurried steps heading towards the inn.
Laston Inn, Capital City Ralors, East-district:
"Excuse me, ma'am, we need another round of beer."
"Heading right your way."
"Where is the steak I have ordered??"
"It will be at your table in a second."
"Thank you, Mrs. Betha, the food is great as always, have a good night."
"you're welcome and please come again."
The inn was crowded as usual with customers shouting their orders with anticipation of the great meals that they are about to eat.
Taking a seat at the wooden chair beside the reception, Betha released a sigh, "Another great day, it has been getting crowded the last few days."
Handing her mother, a glass of water, Anna replied, "It really is, but Mom, you know that we can't keep this going much longer, all this work is taking a toll on you."
"Don't worry sweetie, I'm happier than ever, our business is booming."
"I'm happy as well, but don't you think that we should hire a waitress? Then you can focus on making the food that all the customers come to enjoy, and the waitress can take care of serving them, and besides with us getting this many customers, paying her won't be a problem."
"You know what, you are right, I'll look into it, and if you have any trustworthy friends feel free to tell them to spread the news that we are hiring."
After a small rest, they both got up and started cleaning up the place to close the inn and finish the night.
After a few minutes of cleaning, the sound of the bell atop the door can be heard, indicating that someone has entered the inn.
Turning to the door Anna was the closest to it, she said, "Sorry we are closed for the night."
Taking off his black cloak and revealing his appearance, Martin said, "Oh really, I wanted to see if there are still empty rooms."
Seeing his appearance, Anna jumped from her place in surprise, forgetting to control her voice, she started yelling, "It's you, it is really you, you finally came back!"
Following those words Betha stormed from the other corner of the inn hushing Anna, "Hey why the hell are you yelling at the end of the night, the customers upstairs will wake up-", before finishing her words Betha laid eyes on Martin, in the next moment she pounced at him taking him in her arms, saying, "well now that I know why she was yelling I can't blame her, welcome back".
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