Red Rock City, one of the top three largest cities in Green Forest Province, was also Lynn's destination on this journey.
Compared to the small town he had previously visited, Red Rock City's towering walls reached sky-high, exuding an imposing aura.
The flow of people entering and leaving this city was immense, and an entrance fee was required to gain access.
Lynn followed the crowd, queued up to pay the fee, and slowly stepped into the city.
At that moment, a gallant steed galloped forward, carrying a man clad in ornate armor. His posture was dignified as he swiftly maneuvered through the crowd, heading straight for the city gates.
The guards at the gate recognized him and immediately stepped forward to greet him.
"Ork, how are things in the towns below?"
The man, Ork, wore a helmet that obscured his expression, but his voice was clear and steady.
Shaking his head, he replied, "As usual, nothing out of the ordinary. If there is anything, it's just trivial matters."
"Sigh, the higher-ups have been working us to the bone lately. Not only do you have to patrol all over the place, but we gatekeepers also have to inspect thoroughly and report even the smallest issues."
The guard grumbled as he observed Ork.
Ork chuckled and sighed, "Let's not talk about it. Once this busy period is over, drinks are on me."
With that, he spurred his horse into the city and quickly disappeared into the crowd.
Lynn stood silently among the people, dressed in an unremarkable and ordinary manner, blending in with the rest of the travelers.
However, in that fleeting moment, his gaze deepened as he silently mused:
"Such a large-scale operation... Could it be due to the impact of the Nightshadow fortress?"
Wizards controlled the upper echelons of the nation. Even the so-called nobles and city lords had to serve them.
If an order was issued from above, it could undoubtedly set such a massive chain reaction in motion.
"If that's the case, then besides me, there must be many other apprentices who have also escaped. Otherwise, such an extensive operation wouldn't be necessary."
Lynn murmured under his breath, analyzing the situation in his mind.
The road leading to the Pale Moon Plateau was not going to be simple.
But since he was already here, all he could do was take one step at a time.
After paying the entrance fee, Lynn successfully entered Red Rock City.
This vast metropolis of Green Forest Province had wide streets paved with solid stone, spacious enough for three carriages to pass side by side.
On both sides of the road, towering buildings stood in rows, shops lined the streets, and the lively crowds exuded the unique energy and vitality of a bustling city.
Lynn mingled with the throng, wandering around the city while paying particular attention to weapon shops and taverns.
Then, as a second-level wizard apprentice, he began his "tireless labor."
After a long day's work, by afternoon, Lynn weighed the heavy pouch of gold in his pocket and decided to visit a weapon shop. After a round of careful selection, he finally settled on a decent-looking set of gear.
Now, clad in slightly worn armor with a longsword strapped to his waist, Lynn looked every bit like a wandering knight.
With his physique enhanced by energy factors to a level of 3, he was nearly indistinguishable from a real knight's squire except for his complete lack of swordsmanship experience.
"A tavern… the place where information flows most freely..."
With that thought in mind, Lynn pushed open the wooden doors of a tavern as night fell.
Inside, the tavern was brightly lit, filled with lively chatter, and the rich scent of alcohol permeated the air, giving him a familiar feeling.
He ordered a mug of ale and casually found a seat while glancing at one of the walls.
The wall was covered with various notices job postings, merchant requests, and hiring announcements.
Lynn originally planned to gather useful information here but unexpectedly discovered that this tavern served as a mission hub.
As a gathering point, employers posted tasks here while bounty hunters picked them up, completing them in exchange for rewards.
At that moment, many people were already gathered around the mission board, carefully selecting tasks that suited them.
Lynn wasted no time. Using his mental energy, he quickly scanned the notices to find what he needed.
Eventually, he narrowed it down to two missions both of which would take him toward the Pale Moon Plateau.
One involved escorting a person, while the other involved transporting goods.
Both missions covered the cost of horses, travel expenses, and official bribes along the way.
The only difference was that the escort mission required good service and a polite demeanor, while the cargo transport mission emphasized speed and security.
Not wanting to deal with people, Lynn didn't hesitate for even a second.
He effortlessly tore off the cargo transport mission slip and walked straight to the barkeep, tossing the slip onto the counter.
The barkeep took the mission slip and headed toward a room in the back of the tavern. A moment later, he returned and gestured for Lynn to follow.
"This way, please..."
Lynn followed the barkeep out the back of the tavern, arriving at an open area.
There, a burly man was already waiting.
"The employer needs to confirm your strength. You don't mind, do you?"
The man held a longsword in his hands, his gaze fixed on Lynn.
Lynn nodded indifferently. He had already noticed this requirement in the mission details.
Considering the mission paid well, it was only natural that there would be a screening process to weed out the weak.
"Let's begin."
"Whoosh!"
Before Lynn could react, the man had already struck, his sword flashing like lightning.
The air cracked as the swift and fierce sword technique sliced through the night.
Lynn's eyes narrowed slightly as he instinctively reacted.
He didn't employ any complex sword techniques. Instead, using his extraordinary mental strength and intuition, he immediately locked onto his opponent's weak point.
"Clang!"
With a single sweeping strike, Lynn's sword stopped just inches from the man's throat with no hesitation, no wasted motion.
"Stop!"
The burly man froze, eyes wide with shock.
His heart pounded wildly, and cold sweat drenched his back.
Had this been a real fight, he would already be dead.
"What kind of sword technique was that…?"
His throat felt dry as he asked.
"Did I pass?"
Lynn had no intention of answering and spoke flatly.
He didn't know any sword techniques. Just now, he had simply used his mental energy to track his opponent's movements, waiting for an opening before striking nothing more.
"Yes!"
The burly man shuddered, his expression turning a bit complicated.
He now looked at Lynn with a mix of respect and disbelief.
He was considered an elite among knight squires, yet he had been completely overpowered.
The only ones who could defeat him so easily were those nearing the true realm of knighthood.
Of course, he didn't believe Lynn was a real knight, after all, a true knight would never take on such a mission.
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