"What?" Everyone was shocked after hearing this, as the news of the new lord of BlackStone Highlands had not yet reached the common adventurers and merchants. Only nobles and some high level merchants knew about it.

"So maybe that’s why they come here, for begging money from the count’s family."

As he finally finished speaking, surrounding people started gossiping about this, and the guard at the door also heard this along with Silver Knight.

Soon, some guards faces twisted in disgust because they also disliked it when someone ruined their own land by making just anyone a lord and then came here to beg money from their lord.

"Here," the guard said. Even though they didn’t show much respect, they also didn’t dare be disrespectful, because a noble was still of a higher rank than them, and they had to maintain the proper etiquette befitting their lord.

But the silver knight watched this with curiosity, because other people can’t feel it.

But he was a Vertren Peak Silver Knight who had seen and trained so many knights that he could tell their rank from even a slight trace of their aura, so he could clearly sense that those twenty fully armored knights were at the Bronze Rank, and some had even made notable progress.

"Interesting," he muttered softly, so quietly that even the attendant beside him didn’t hear it.

"Is this new lord really useless and talentless?" This thought soon came to his mind, and a small smile appeared on his face, but then he shook his head and lay back in the chair to finish his afternoon nap.

In the carriage, everyone heard the public gossiping, and the Blackstone legion knights faces also changed, as Kai was even thinking of using his owl screech to make their ears bleed.

"No need." But then they heard their master’s calm voice, on which everyone settled down, at least that’s what it seemed but their faces were still angry inside their armor.

"Let them enter."

As the guard’s voice rang out, a small gate, which was only opened for nobles, slowly swung open beside the huge black-silver color gate.

"Enter"

Soon my knights, along with carriage, entered the gate, and with a huge bang, the gate behind us closed completely.

"Wow." The moment I entered the territory, I was amazed, even though it’s not comparable to the modern world.

but-

I saw people moving around in different stylish dresses, as many different races could be seen among them.

"Elves, dark elves, people with fins, giants, dwarves, and even goblins," I muttered, naming all those that I could identify.

Then I asked Aurielle about this; she also stopped observing and answered my question.

"Because the Count’s celebration is often open to everyone and many races also come to enjoy it."

"Those are the only words," Aurielle said.

Even though I didn’t get the full answer, I still nodded and continued observing the surroundings while the whole group slowly moved toward the inn area, as we could only enter the Count’s estate once the celebration began.

"Of course, if you are a big noble and their relative, then you can enter before it."

This thought comes into my mind as I remember the crowd’s gossip at the gate.

"They sure do have huge buildings," because in the distance, I saw many buildings that are in the shape of pagoda and are very tall.

Then I read the names on the large board hanging above them.

"Alchemist union, merchant trade union, adventurer guild, and blacksmith union."

Different large buildings have different names. "But why are all of them unions?"

Aurielle also noticed my confused expression, and then she told me that all of these associations are driven by profit.

"So, they have to sell their things on different races land as well; that’s why they make the union, to prevent any forces from suppressing them on the new land."

She explained more, as when they formed this, they faced big backlash and even assassinations.

"But then, they give fixed seats to each race, which finally calms down the conflict, and this allows them to do business everywhere."

I nodded at her words, because if members of their race were also present in those unions, then they could conduct business properly within their own lands or even in foreign territories, and their race would not be suppressed, which would give them a form of security.

Finally, after traveling for half an hour, we reached an inn, which was mostly empty.

"All those good inns are already booked," I muttered with a sigh. Well, I can’t say I am rich, but I definitely have those 5000 silver coins.

Then I looked at the inn, which was a mixture of wood and stone and stood three stories tall.

And from the gate, we could see that it had a carriage area and a stable section, which was really well maintained.

"Welcome, Sir."

As we entered the gate, I saw a beautiful cat girl in a maid dress, welcoming us with a beaming smile.

"Hello."

I habitually greeted her back with a smile on my face.

"Cough...cough..."

Aurielle suddenly coughed and came in front, and then she asked her about the room for everyone and also the food issue.

"Sure, ma’am." With that, she arranged a seat for all of us, as I can see many seats are empty.

Only the owner, a middle-aged man, was wiping the counter with a cloth, even though it didn’t seem dirty.

Then they served us hot meals, which were bread and soup.

Sadly, this is all they can provide, and if we want to eat something delicious, then we have to go to a restaurant.

I didn’t say anything, just enjoyed eating, while everyone followed suit.

After a few minutes the cat girl returned and gave us the keys to the third floor, along with the rooms keys.

I nodded and paid her the 100 silver coins for the one day, which is really costly, but it’s what I can do.

After finishing our meal. I left the inn with Aurielle, as we planned to tour the city and also enjoy our little date together.

"All of you here are the 1000 silver coins; go ahead and enjoy, just make sure to return before nightfall."

I gave the money to Kai, and he smiled at this; then he left along with every knight in normal shirts and pants, as they had already stored their armor inside the room.

"Margaret- "Before I can say anything to Margaret," she shook her head and said.

"My lord, I would want to rest here and also keep guarding the armors."

Aurielle heard her, but she insisted that she should also enjoy and tour the city, but Margaret didn’t agree. In the end, I nodded and left with Aurielle.

We first reached the place that has the most gathered crowd.

"Those snake women are so hot that whenever I see their dance, I can’t control myself."

"Heh...you think this is a real snake dance?"

[Chapter End]