The guards suddenly felt a strange sensation in their bodies, and before they could comprehend what was happening, their limbs began to move on their own, completely beyond their control. Though their consciousness remained intact, they were horrified to find that they could only watch helplessly as their bodies acted against their will.
Without warning, the two guards bolted toward the public square and began to perform an absurd dance routine. The gathered crowd was left utterly dumbfounded, unable to believe the sight of the city's respected guards behaving so bizarrely.
The spectacle took an even stranger turn when one of the guards approached the central fountain and began twerking in front of the public.
The crowd, initially stunned, quickly erupted into uncontrollable laughter at the antics of the two men. Even Xenon, who had orchestrated the scene, couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity.
"So this is the effect of the Tier 1 Weird Potion... It's better than I imagined!" Xenon remarked with satisfaction.
[+10 hate points +5 hate points +10 hate points]
The two guards, their eyes welling with tears, could do nothing but endure the humiliation. Their dignity, painstakingly built over years of service, was now utterly destroyed. It was clear that they had no future in the city after this. Resigning from their posts and leaving the city became their only option.
[Host, you have earned a total of 612 Hate Points!]
---
Later that night, Xenon and his subordinates, arrived at an inn to rest.
Xenon paid one gold coin for a month-long stay in the first class establishment, which was considered the finest in Stone City and catered exclusively to the wealthy.
"Venom Fang, I want you to gather information about the city and also purchase some items for me, including a set of luxurious robes." As he spoke, Xenon handed over a pouch containing 100 gold coins.
"As you command, Young Master," Venom Fang replied respectfully before leaving to carry out his orders.
Once alone, Xenon entered his room and began to examine his spoils from the day's activities.
There were numerous rare herbs and spiritual fruits in his possession—resources he planned to use to enhance his strength.
He also counted his gold coins, which now totaled a staggering 11,000. A sense of satisfaction washed over him as he stashed everything securely in his spatial pouch before lying down to rest.
Despite being a Martial Artist, Xenon was only at Martial Apprentice Stage 1. This meant he still experienced hunger and fatigue, and after such an eventful day, rest was a necessity.
---
Meanwhile, in the southern part of Stone City, a grand manor stood tall and imposing.
This was the residence of Dovo, the City Guardian of Stone City, who had held the position for nearly a decade.
Inside the manor, Dovo sat listening to reports from his subordinates. As he learned about the guards' actions earlier that day, his expression grew dark and foreboding.
"Those bastards dared to bring such disgrace to the city and now think they can simply resign? Hmph, as if I'll let them off so easily. Send them to the dungeons!" Dovo ordered coldly.
His anger wasn't solely directed at the guards for their extortion attempt; it was also because they had unknowingly offended someone who should never have been provoked.
From the reports, Dovo learned that the young man the guards had targeted appeared to be in his twenties and was accompanied by a guardian at Martial Apprentice Stage 9.
This revelation shocked Dovo to his core.
In other cities, even the most prominent families could not afford the protection of a Martial Apprentice Stage 9 guardian for their heirs. In fact, the patriarchs of most prominent families rarely reached such a level themselves.
There was only one plausible explanation: the young man must be connected to one of the Five Noble Families.
These families, second only to the imperial family of the Bluewater Empire, were granted their noble titles in ancient times for their role in helping the empire's founder unify the Low Peak Mountain. Their power and influence were immense, surpassed only by the imperial family itself.
But why would a young master of one of the Five Noble Families visit such a small city?
Dovo speculated that the upcoming auction in Stone City, set to take place next week, might be the reason. The event was expected to attract several prominent figures, but even so, it seemed far too insignificant to draw the attention of a noble family.
Dovo knew that whatever the case, he could not afford to make a misstep. This young man was not someone to be offended.