"Do you see? This is the attitude of the local nobility towards you,they will not heed your commands, and do you still insist on the familial trials?"
Xianoya shrugged, looking at Chu Yan with a blend of sympathy and helplessness.
As someone also from the aristocracy, Xianoya possessed a clear comprehension of certain matters.
In prominent noble families like the Dragon Flame clan, internal factions thrived, and most of the guardians above Chu Yan were either absent or had fallen from grace, leaving him to contend with conflicts among the ranks.
Baron Pig undoubtedly belonged to a rival faction of the Dragon Flame family, incapable of providing any assistance to Chu Yan.
Setting the trial here was tantamount to declaring failure from the outset.
However, given the severely low birth rate of the dragon lineage, even if Chu Yan were to fail his trial, his life would not be in imminent danger.
Instead, taking action in this lawless realm could jeopardize his very existence.
"You do not understand,the price of failure in the trial is a burden too great to bear,I will be drained of my essence."
"I will not concern myself with you any longer,I need to take a nap."
"Xianoya, are you certain you are alright?"
Chu Yan stepped closer, gazing at the female knight with concern.
During their recent meal, although Xianoya maintained a façade of cheerfulness, she occasionally furrowed her brow, inhaling deeply, with beads of sweat trickling down her elegantly flowing hair.
It appeared she was suppressing something within her.
Chu Yan's handsome visage drew near, their noses almost touching, a distance that bordered on impropriety,yet, sensing the concern in Chu Yan's eyes, Xianoya merely bumped him lightly with her smooth forehead.
"I will be fine after my nap. If anything arises, we can discuss it once I awaken,in the meantime, do not wander about aimlessly."
Xianoya's gaze was serious, devoid of jest.
She required sleep to rid herself of this uncomfortable sensation she could not articulate.
"I believe Baron Pig's strength is rather unremarkable,he poses no threat to me."
"No, there exists a noble among them who has dabbled in the forbidden,that is not a matter you can handle."
"And when do you plan to conclude your nap?"
Xianoya closed her eyes, attuning herself to her body's condition, and replied,
"Judging by how I feel, it may very well last until midnight."
"I have never heard of a nap lasting until midnight..."
Xianoya retreated to her chamber to rest, her brow furrowed deeply in sleep, oblivious to the sounds of Chu Yan's departure.
As Chu Yan descended the stairs, he discovered that the castle's dungeon was eerily empty.
"Is it now free movement time? Then I suppose I should take the opportunity to explore."
...
On Bright Street, which served as a connection between the slums and the affluent district,
A group of noble guards, having just concluded their patrol, swaggered along the path home, their unkempt beards and revelry-laden conversations betraying their indulgent nature, discussing where to indulge further.
Suddenly, a man wielding a staff spotted several destitute children busily polishing silver coins.
Silver coins held immense purchasing power,most people utilized copper coins, while ten silver coins were sufficient to elicit a sycophantic attitude from the higher-tier courtesans in the brothels.
The disheveled mage hurried over, snatching the coins from the children's grasp, scolding,
"I wondered why my pocket felt lighter today,it seems you little urchins have pilfered my coins!"
A girl named Dula leapt up, striving to reclaim the silver coins, her voice a mixture of anger and indignation,
"That's our money, you thief! Give it back!"
"What do you mean 'your money'? What silver coins could children from the slums possibly possess? Your deceased parents barely saved a few coins in their lifetime!"
No sooner had he finished speaking than his hand, which had seized the coins, suddenly lost all sensation. He turned to find his arm empty.
—Without even feeling pain, his arm had been severed!
Janet smiled innocently, her expression cunning like a fox, holding the severed limb of the mage. She casually extracted the silver coins from its palm, discarding the arm to the side with indifference.
"Do not say I did not give you a chance to escape,now, like a dog, retrieve your hand, and perhaps you might still find a healer to reattach it.
How dare you attempt to rob me?"
Realizing the approaching threat was Janet, the noble guards dared not utter a word, casting furious glances before fleeing in panic.
"Sister Janet!"
The children, led by Dula, cheerfully greeted the woman.
Janet's hostility dissipated as she crouched down, affectionately patting the heads of the children and returning the silver coins to them.
Yet the children shook their heads, refusing to accept, placing the coins back into Janet's hands.
"This is for you, Sister,you have helped us so much..."
Silver coins were indeed too perilous in the hands of the children,Janet accepted them but exchanged them for a small pouch of copper coins instead.
"Take these to buy food,just one or two copper coins will suffice at a time. Where did these silver coins originate?"
"From working!"
Dula declared proudly, her heart swelling with joy at her newfound independence, thrilled to assist Janet.
However, Janet's expression darkened,the menial tasks along the Dead Sea border could hardly yield such wealth, and even if they could, it was improbable that these children would be the ones employed for such work.
The only conclusion she could draw was that some copper-hungry individual had misled these children into believing they were working.
Janet's countenance grew stern as she pressed, "Who was it that offered you work? What did they instruct you to do? Speak freely with your sister!"
The outspoken and articulate Dula served as the spokesperson for the children, stating,
"It was the new lord,he asked us to locate the appearances of the slimes and report back to him once we found them, cautioning us to keep our distance."
"Mm?"
Janet paused.
She had anticipated something peculiar about the work, yet it turned out to be a task of tracking magical creatures.
The face of that hapless lord materialized in her mind.
What was he planning?
Janet was quite aware of the slimes' activity locations, as she frequently traversed dangerous areas.
She relayed several locations to Dula so they could report back to Chu Yan, while she herself remained hidden to ascertain the intentions of this fellow.
...
"How impressive that you swiftly confirmed so many slime locations!"
Chu Yan praised, giving a thumbs-up as he settled the remaining payment for the task, generously offering them a few extra silver coins.
Dula gleefully distributed the silver coins among her companions, their gazes brimming with hope for a brighter future as they caressed the coins.
"Lord Brother, what do you need these magical creature locations for? Is it for training?"
"To clear away refuse,otherwise, my life circumstances may deteriorate further."
Managing municipal affairs indeed required a mage to conjure cleansing water in the affluent district,it was the most efficient approach.
However, this inevitably came at the expense of the slums' sanitation.
Moreover, he needed to assert his stance, providing the local nobility with a small token of response.
Time was of the essence, and Chu Yan quickly located the nearest slime.
The curious children followed at a distance, uncertain of what he intended to do, worried that their presence might complicate matters for him.
'Imitation: Dragon Flame Binding Net'
A fireball the size of a human head was hurled by Chu Yan, detonating upon contact with the slime's dark, muddy body. However, what erupted was not a fiery energy but rather a vast net of flames.
The fiery net ensnared the slime, which, despite its aggressive nature, struggled to escape, only to find the bonds tightening around it. The flaming ropes hissed and seared, burrowing into the slime's form to make contact with its inner core.
After a vigorous struggle, the slime was bound in a humiliating manner, forced to reduce its aggression and focus solely on protecting its core.
"Thank goodness this flame bears the blessing of the ancient dragons,otherwise, controlling this mutated slime would indeed be quite the challenge."
Chu Yan took a moment for self-assessment, increasingly recognizing Xianoya's exceptional strength,the forbidden powers were undeniably formidable!
He realized he could not annihilate the slime in a single blow,controlling it and obliterating it were two entirely different concepts.
Meanwhile, the children watching from a distance gazed at him with admiration, their eyes sparkling.
"Last time we met, the lord still needed protection,I had no idea he had become this strong! Sunny, when will your magic reach this level?"
"That is an imitation-type magic, capable of altering elemental forms,it is quite difficult!"
"Then why doesn't Lord Brother eliminate this slime?"
Compared to these children, Janet, hidden in the shadows, had a clearer understanding.
She knew Chu Yan's strength was merely "acceptable",in the treacherous Dead Sea border, he lacked the ability to fend for himself, barely managing to ensure his survival.
The slime here was merely a low-tier magical creature in the ecological chain.
The enhancement from his dragon lineage provided him with ample assistance, enabling him to easily control the slime.
However, Janet had previously thought she would need to lend her aid,this hapless lord, attempting trials along the Dead Sea border, possessed abilities far superior to her expectations.
As she pondered what Chu Yan planned to do next, she watched him lead the slime on a leisurely stroll through the slums.
Whenever he encountered refuse, he collected it and deposited it into the slime's viscous form, allowing it to slowly corrode the waste.
While roaming the slums, Chu Yan also bound another slime, holding one in each hand.
The children joyfully followed, throwing trash directly onto the slimes.
"I never imagined slimes could be utilized like this!"
"Lord Brother, once we finish our stroll here, are you going to eliminate these two magical creatures?"
Chu Yan reflected on the environment of the slums,although the dwellings were humble and dilapidated, they were notably clean, with little refuse visible—indeed, cleaner than the affluent district.
—Of course, this might also be due to their inability to afford surplus resources and waste.
The children's inquiries pulled Chu Yan's focus back to the present,he responded,
"No, we must head to the upper city to clean up the refuse."
...
At the city gate, the guard was yawning, celebrating another day of idleness.
However, the two large masses of magical creatures approaching abruptly roused him from his stupor.
"Stop! Who are you? You are not permitted to bring magical creatures near this vicinity!"
Chu Yan produced his lordly appointment document, the lacquered seal of the Dragon Flame family clearly visible.
"I am conducting official business,mind your own affairs and step aside!"
"This is the esteemed district of noble living. Even if you are a lord, we will not permit you to conspire with magical creatures and tarnish this place!"
Three guards drew their weapons, clearly emboldened by the upper nobility's disdain towards the new lord.
Chu Yan scratched his head, feigning an innocent expression that exuded an air of harmlessness. He remarked,
"I have heard this is a notorious place of exile,the law here is but a scrap of paper, for every breath of air in Extreme City flows with the sweetness of freedom.
I suppose it is time for me to adapt to local customs."
"How astute of you! Upon your arrival, you should indeed understand some rules,this is not the outside world!"
The guards believed the lord had recognized his position and softened, only for Chu Yan to seize one by the collar and execute a shoulder throw, sending him crashing into the slime's body.
That guard instantly became nourishment for the slime, his previous bravado frozen in terror as the expression of pleading took over his face.
While Chu Yan was somewhat drenched in sweat dealing with the magical creature, striking down a few guards was the moment to unleash his strength!
After a brief encounter, the guards attempting to teach Chu Yan a lesson through local customs all became sustenance for the slime.
Chu Yan effortlessly led the magical creatures into the affluent district.
However, the moment the two slimes crossed through the gate, their forms unexpectedly "shrunk."
From the size of adult elephants, they suddenly diminished to the size of horses.
"Indeed, as Xianoya mentioned, there must be something here protecting it,not only does it suppress the uncontrolled, but it also significantly diminishes the power of magical creatures that approach."
Chu Yan did not delve deeper into the matter, continuing to amble through the area with the slimes.
Their low intelligence rendered them incapable of resisting refuse, particularly the waste of the affluent district, typically consisting of leftover fruit and food from the nobility, which the slimes perceived as one of their mana-supplying resources. Although minimal, any supplement was welcomed.
The two magical creatures acted like "vacuum cleaners," meticulously cleaning up the refuse in their wake.
Even the charred remnants from burnt trash were vacuumed away, and while the city was not entirely transformed, the cleanliness compared to before was a stark contrast.
Inevitably, some rocks on the ground were corroded, yet it did not affect the overall state.
After several rounds, having "fed" five slimes, Chu Yan decided to "release" these magical garbage collectors within Baron Pig's estate.
The fiery ropes untied, the desperate slimes wreaked havoc within the confines of the Pig estate.
Though the Pig family maintained formidable servants, gathering them required time.
Moreover, five slimes constituted a horde of magical creatures, not easily dealt with.
"What are you doing?!"
Baron Pig's voice erupted from an upper window, his furious gaze fixed on Chu Yan.
Due to the magical creatures rampaging within his estate, he dared not descend but could only stare from a distance.
Chu Yan cheerfully waved, his smile disarmingly charming:
"I am assisting the local nobility in fulfilling their responsibilities,you nobles are obliged to clear these pesky magical creatures, are you not?
I have brought them to Baron Pig,hurry up and get to work!
By the way, in order to clean up the garbage in Extreme City, I may periodically release slimes into your estate, perhaps even at midnight or directly into your bedroom.
But if the city is devoid of refuse, then I shall pass,I, too, find it tiresome."
Baron Pig's neck quivered with rage, his fat practically shaking,he could hardly believe he had been threatened!
He hesitated, contemplating whether to instruct someone to take immediate action against the lord,even though he hailed from the Dragon Flame family, Chu Yan was not aligned with his superiors.
This fellow, despite possessing some strength, could not withstand a wave of numbers,Baron Pig could effortlessly make this minor lord vanish without a trace.
This was all his domain, and no one would know how Chu Yan met his demise!
At that moment, Baron Pig noticed Janet seated on a stone bench nearby.
Upon meeting her gaze, Janet smiled and waved at him.
?
...What was amiss? How long had this Dragon Flame family scion been here, and he had already charmed Janet?
Suppressing his fury, Baron Pig forced a smile that resembled a grimace:
"Quite alright,these magical creatures are indeed within my purview, no need for the lord to concern himself. Good night!"
The baron's servants were fervently battling the magical creatures, causing chaos within the estate.
He could only irritably rouse his steward:
"Go urge John to hurry and take Xianoya away, or the price will increase!"
Having given his orders, the baron retrieved a box from a concealed compartment in the floor, extracting a precious crystal.
A crystal embedded with a transmission function!
"I shall inquire into what exactly is happening,do not let me learn from Elder Enzo that you are a castaway of the family!"