Here and there, many knights wearing black and white uniforms and carrying their respective weapons stood guard at various points within the palace.
People dressed in ordinary uniforms, resembling office workers, were briskly walking back and forth along the corridors.
Additionally, several male and female servants, dressed in typical servant attire, were busy cleaning the palace or carrying items from one door to another.
"Are there servants here?" Ash muttered to himself, though Milo, walking beside him, overheard the question.
They were heading toward a specific area in the tower on the left side of the palace entrance.
"Yeah. They are people who feel that the real world isn't enjoyable for them, and here they can live comfortably. So, they don't want to level up or face any dangers, but they can still eat well and live peacefully," she explained as she turned right at the corridor intersection, just before reaching the tower.
"But they still work, right?" he asked, glancing at one of the female servants dressed in a maid outfit, similar to what could be seen in an anime, just before they turned the corner.
"Not really. They only work for a few hours a day. After that, they serve as pleasure providers," Milo explained.
"The men also become Drogo's consorts?" he asked, wide-eyed in disbelief.
She laughed, "Of course not. There are plenty of knights, officers, and consorts here. So, they take turns."
He looked even more shocked. 'This is f*cking crazy.'
She giggled at his shocked expression, then knocked on one of the doors labeled 'Head of Department of the Finding Team.'
"Come in."
A commanding voice from inside was heard from behind the door.
Milo confidently opened the door, and they stepped inside.
Inside, there was someone dressed impeccably, sitting behind a work desk.
His blonde hair was slicked back, and his face was clean-shaven, free of any mustache or beard. In front of him sat a glass of red wine and an assortment of cookies.
On his desk, there was a handcrafted nameplate engraved with the name 'Chrisalix Rochester.'
To Ash, the man gave off the impression of a corporate worker who had mastered the art of funneling extra money into his own pockets.
Milo took a small chest out from her Inventory and placed it on the desk. Chrisalix looked at it, then reached out, opened it, and examined its contents.
"Perfect," he murmured, then thanked her in a slightly flirtatious tone.
Ignoring the man's flirtation, she placed her hand on her chest and gave a slight bow before leaving the office.
Her face remained calm, showing no expression at all as she exited. Ash assumed she was already used to dealing with such situations.
So, he remained silent during the walk toward the palace gates.
But just as they were about to leave, dozens of beautiful women suddenly flocked noisily toward the gates.
Dozens of knights accompanied them as escorts.
They were busy chatting and laughing, paying no attention to their surroundings.
However, as they passed by Milo and Ash, a few of the women waved at Milo, and she returned their waves with a smile.
Her smile faded once all of them had passed through the palace gates and the women were gone.
Without saying a word, she walked to the parking area and climbed into the jeep. Ash silently followed her, assuming that her mood had taken a turn for the worse.
Then, with a slight burst of speed, she drove the jeep out of the flower field, leaving the palace behind.
***
He returned to his apartment room after having lunch near the headquarters and immediately sat at his desk. Then he took out his notebook, which he always kept in his Inventory, and used his free time to fill it.
On a blank page, he began sketching a layout of the palace, making sure to write down all the important details on the map.
After finishing a partial sketch of the palace area he had visited earlier with Milo, he looked at it with satisfaction.
'Finally, little by little, I'll be able to do what I'm supposed to for my family.'
***
The next day, he and Jagu returned to the headquarters to join the other team members for their next mission.
Milo had not yet informed them about the upcoming mission, so they first had to gather in her office.
"So, our mission this time is to retrieve items from a group of Thieves. They are based in The Hidden Den," she explained.
The Hidden Den is located in a cave on a mountain, not far from Drogo Castle and also close to Sassi.
Luca raised his hand and asked, "Will we have to eliminate them as well?"
She paused to think for a moment and then replied, "If we encounter trouble, it seems like we might have to."
"How many of them are there?" Mia asked while stroking Jagu, who had rested his head on her lap.
"Hmm, around 50 people," Milo replied, recalling the details.
"Fifty people?" Ash suddenly chimed in.
The whole team turned to look at him, chuckling slightly as they teased him.
"Relax, little brother. We're all experienced in raiding groups of thieves or robbers. They usually don't have high combat skills, so this will be an easy mission," Dwayne reassured.
Seeing everyone so confident, Ash nodded and then asked, "So if I don't use Jagu in the fight and want to level up my own skills, is that okay?"
"Of course, you can," everyone said, laughing. "We all need to have high levels."
Xion even added, "Maybe I won't join the fight and will give all my spoils to Ash so he can level up quickly."
The others said the same thing, causing Milo to burst into laughter.
"If none of you are going to step up, how is he supposed to fight 50 people on his own?" she teased.
But Ash suddenly said, "Maybe I should give it a try. If I can't handle them all, you guys can step in afterward."