As we approached the final moments of our journey, I steeled myself, preparing to face whatever awaited me. Mr. Mark noticed my tense expression and placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder.
"Don't stress. I'll help you until you can make a name for yourself in the city," he said, his voice calm and steady.
I nodded, though my thoughts wandered elsewhere. Why is he helping me? Why did he come personally to escort me here? It didn't make sense. I've always been antisocial, someone who prefers the quiet over the chaos of crowds. But after what happened in the city, after I killed that man, I began to understand a little more about myself. I learned that I wouldn't hesitate to kill someone if I believed they deserved it.
Many might think: who am I to judge who deserves to live or die? But in a world teeming with supernatural beings and unions where power is everything, who would even care? As long as the victim isn't the offspring of someone influential, no one will bother to ask questions.
I ended my monologue there, my mind concluding with a simple truth—I won't trust anyone easily in this new world I'm being thrown into.
As my thoughts settled, I glanced up and saw the city ahead. It was massive, sprawling in every direction, and at its center stood a towering castle, its walls heavily guarded by imposing figures. Even from this distance, I could sense their strength. I wasn't a match for them, not in my current form. Just seeing the way they carried themselves was enough to tell me that.
When we got closer, I saw a long line of people waiting outside the city gates. The guards, stationed at regular intervals, controlled the crowd, their eyes scanning for any sign of trouble. I could feel the power emanating from them—strong, but not invincible. If I were to shift into my hybrid form, I might be able to overpower them.
Our ship soon reached a large parking area outside the city gates. It reminded me of a massive helipad, except instead of helicopters, there were countless ships of all shapes and sizes parked under a giant shed. Mark guided our ship to one of the designated spots, landing it smoothly before powering down the engines.
As we stepped off the ship, I noticed that the parking lot was tightly controlled, with workers managing the incoming and outgoing ships. Mark glanced at me and began explaining how the city's entry system worked.
"People entering the city have to pay a fee. Merchants pay more due to taxes, while fighters pay a bit less."
I raised an eyebrow. "And if someone doesn't want to pay?"
"Then it's nearly impossible to get in. Unless you're a member of the Union of Races or have a personal exemption from the city lord, you'll have to pay your way through."
As we made our way toward the gates, I overheard someone in the crowd whispering, "Why are they coming to an S-tier city?"
That caught my attention. So, the cities here are categorized by tiers. But what does S-tier mean? I was about to ask Mark when a loud voice cut through the noise.
"Mark!"
A man emerged from one of the security booths, a wide smile plastered on his face. He walked over and greeted Mark with a firm handshake, followed by a brief hug.
"Johnny, how are you?" Mark asked, grinning.
They started chatting, catching up on family matters—how their kids were doing, how life had been treating them. I stood there awkwardly, feeling out of place. None of this concerned me, and frankly, I didn't want to know.
After a few more minutes of small talk, Mark turned toward me.
"Johnny, meet Adam. Adam, this is Johnny, my cousin."
I extended my hand. "Hi, Johnny."
He shook my hand firmly, his gaze appraising me. "So, this is the person you were talking about?"
I frowned, confused. Talking about me? Why? I wasn't anyone special. At least, that's what I thought. But seeing my puzzled expression, Mark leaned in and whispered, "I'll explain everything once we're inside the union."
When we finally reached the gates, Mark took care of the entry fees, which would've taken me hours to sort out on my own. Since I wasn't part of any union or registered in any system, the process could've easily dragged on for a full day. But thanks to Johnny—who, as it turned out, was the captain of the front gate—we were waved through without any issues.
As we passed through the gates, I was immediately struck by how different the city looked. Unlike the towering skyscrapers I was used to, this place had mostly ground-level houses, each seemingly built for a single family. Only a few buildings stood taller: the lord's castle and the various union headquarters.
I reminded myself that this world was ten times larger than the one I had come from. Space wasn't an issue here.
As we walked deeper into the city, I observed the people around me. Some were going about their daily routines, buying food from street vendors, while others, clad in swords, shields, and armor, patrolled the streets.
Mark noticed my interest and explained, "Those are members of the Adventurer's Union, a sub-union of the UOR. There are many sub-unions here. You'll learn more about them as you explore the city."
We continued walking, and I spotted several shops lining the streets. Weapons, potions, meat, hides—it seemed like everything anyone could need was available here. This wasn't just any city. This was a hub, a place where power, commerce, and danger all converged.
And I had just taken my first step into it.