That thought lingered in his mind, deepening his doubts as he observed how everything in the city seemed so well-organized.
The residents appeared genuinely happy, and the "police" the barber had mentioned seemed to effectively maintain the city's security.
By chance, Ash witnessed them apprehending a pickpocket attempting to rob a woman in the area.
Amazed, he closely observed how the "police officers" worked in this world and noticed that it was quite similar to how they operated in his original world.
He became curious about Drogo and wondered why he sent Liliana to act as a spy in Sassi. He also questioned what kind of issue this man had with his uncle.
He continued wandering around and came across a bulletin board placed in an open area, which turned out to be the town square of the castle.
On the board, he noticed several flyers pinned up. Some were small notices about missing persons, lost items, and other minor announcements.
However, there were two large announcements that caught his attention. These were made on big yellow sheets of paper, handwritten in bold black letters.
One of the announcements was about the rules and regulations established by the government of Drogo Castle, while the other was an invitation to join the Finding Objects team of Drogo Castle.
Excitedly, he decided to read the invitation to join the team first.
To all residents of Drogo Castle:
If you are interested in joining The Unveilers of Drogo Castle, please register and take the required test at:
Location: Drogo Castle Training Ground
Time: Daytime
Signed,
Vanthe
He read the announcement carefully and decided to visit the Training Ground the next day, as it was already nearing nightfall.
The name written there sounded familiar—Vanthe—he felt like he'd heard it mentioned earlier that day but couldn't recall where.
Unable to remember, he turned his attention to reading the announcement containing the rules and regulations.
Rules and Regulations at Drogo Castle:
1. Stealing from fellow residents is strictly prohibited.
2. Seizing items from fellow residents is not allowed.
3. Killing another resident is forbidden.
4. Fighting within the castle grounds is banned.
5. Bringing pets into the castle grounds without permission is not permitted.
If this request is not followed, then we will impose an appropriate punishment.
Thank you.
'Hmm, this announcement seems ordinary. Nothing special,' thought Ash as he left the place.
He went back to his room and saw Jagu sleeping on his back with all four legs in the air. Shaking his head in mild amusement, he headed downstairs for dinner.
While eating, he paid attention to the conversations of the visitors, picking up bits of information they shared.
***
The next morning, he headed to the Drogo Castle Training Ground. Taking his time, he strolled leisurely, stopping to buy breakfast from street vendors and observing the surroundings as he walked.
The atmosphere there was livelier and busier compared to Sassi. It resembled the vibe of a big city in the real world.
The difference, however, was that although there were cars and motorcycles, there were no glowing advertisements or slogans along the streets. Traffic lights were also absent.
People mainly used horses for transportation and carried sharp weapons, rather than walking around using phones.
Their clothing was casual and uncoordinated, unlike in the big cities of the real world, where formal attire is commonly worn for work or school. Armor was more commonly worn here, where practicality and protection took precedence over modern conveniences.
Instead, they wore simple clothes, often sourced from the many object-finding locations scattered throughout this game world.
Some people carried firearms, but now Ash understood why most others no longer used them.
The skills they had acquired or possessed in the world of Finding Objects were far more powerful and effective than firearms, making them practically obsolete in this world.
After asking several people for directions, he finally arrived at a building without a roof, surrounded by walls on all its sides.
He heard the sound of weapons clashing from inside the place and stepped through the entrance.
Inside, he found an oval-shaped grassy field, about the size of a football field. Many people were sparring with one another, practicing with swords and spears. Some were using bows and arrows, shooting at stationary targets at the far end of the field.
"Can I help you, young man?" a voice suddenly came from behind him.
Ash turned around, slightly startled, and saw a middle-aged man sitting in front of a wooden desk, positioned right next to the entrance.
In front of the man were several stacks of paper, and he looked at Ash with a friendly expression.
"Ah, good morning, sir," Ash replied politely as he approached the desk. "I would like to register to join The Unveilers."
The man nodded and gestured to the chair in front of his desk, signaling Ash to take a seat.
He placed a form in front of Ash and said, "Please fill out this form. After that, the assigned examiner will test you, and then your rank will be determined."
Ash sat down, filling out the form while thinking and comparing it to Sassi. 'Rank? They use a ranking system here,' he thought, intrigued by the difference.
He filled out the form and, once done, handed it back to the man.
The man read through it and remarked, "Hmm. Level #4.4, but your Sword Skill has already reached Level #42. Alright," he said while stamping the form.
"My name is Steven. Nice to meet you, Ashborn," he added, extending his hand toward Ash.
"Nice to meet you too, Steven. Just call me Ash," replied Ash as he shook Steven's hand.
"Next!" a man's voice suddenly rang out from the middle of the field, startling him. He turned his head toward the field and saw a tall, muscular man with a broad build, shirtless, resting a greatsword on his shoulder.
His mustache and beard were neatly trimmed, and his long black hair was braided.
In front of the man, a young fellow who had been sitting earlier was now struggling to stand and limping his way to the edge of the field.
"He's the one who'll be testing you, Ash. His name's The Bull," said Steven.