13 The City Lord Mansion (1/2)

The luxurious carriage carrying the team is seamlessly moving through the main streets of Esnoz, as they head to the City Lord Mansion while being escorted by a squad of legionnaires riding horses.

Peoples on the street automatically avoiding to the roadside as to giving way for the convoy to pass peacefully through the road. They know precisely the convoy is escorting an influential individual, that is why they didn't dare to stay around in the middle of the street, lest they offend the person on the carriage.

The situation inside the carriage is pretty much peaceful. The carriage itself was luxurious, and it's interior is spacious and wide enough to carry at least 10 people inside.

Arno, who sits stoically near the windows is looking wonderingly outside the carriage without ever talking. The female team members are leisurely chatting with each other, but their topic revolved around things that only related to the woman. While both Zohar and Alfred also can be seen at the middle of a conversation.

What Arno saw through the window were extremely busy military activities which happen throughout the city. Where soldiers are patrolling and marching in a disciplined fashion, continuous rows of carriages filled with armaments and weapons are being transported through the lively streets, and the distinctive sound of hammering came from the blacksmith is echoing loudly. The entire city was shrouded by a heavy and rigid atmosphere.

But strangely, it would appear that the common citizen is really unaffected by the atmosphere. They still carry out their usual activities as if nothing happened at all.

'Maybe because they already use to it...' Arno thought correctly after he sees these ordinary citizens are unfazed by the whole situation.

Esnoz is a fortress city properly built for military purpose after all. The city inhabitants already accustomed to this kind of events.

The convoy continues steadfastly onto the City Lord Mansion.

------

Few minutes after that. The convoy ultimately arrived inside the mansion courtyard. Because the mansion is precisely the place that Grand Commander Reizen Fuze uses as his Military District HQ, therefore, the security around the mansion was incredibly tight.

The courtyard was full of military tents and shelters. While hundreds of soldiers, officers, knights, and adjutants can be seen properly busying themselves with works. Not a single one of them is slacking or lazying. Everyone is busy doing their task around the mansion.

Several maids and servants are standing uniformly in front of the mansion main door. Once the convoy stop and all of the team members stepped down from the carriage, the maids immediately bowing respectfully towards them. Afterward, the team was cordially received by a middle-aged maid who is the City Lord head maids in the mansion.

The head maids and her maid troops quickly guide the team inside the mansion to its main office room where Esnoz City Lord and Commander Reizen is waiting for them at. Along the way, the team female members cause a little commotion as they unintentionally caught the soldiers attention. Even some knights cannot help themselves stealing a glance at the four female members.

This is happening because most soldiers and knights in here were males and they already tired enough from seeing the maids all the time and their task these past few intensive weeks is too stressful. That is why the team female members exceptional appearance is like a spring breeze that soothed these soldiers heavy and tense feelings. Especially when they stare longingly at Melissa, who was brimming with great confidence and elegant bearing as she walks down the mansion's hall.

The male team members also didn't lose to the female members, as they were undoubtedly the focus of the maids and female officials attention. Especially for Arno, who had an indifferent yet calm expression that exudes a mysterious and devilish aura, which drew lots quite of adoring gazes from the maids.

The team keeps following the head maids until they reach and entering the main office room, where they were greeted by Commander Reizen.

”Welcome everyone. I hope the journey here is flawless.” Reizen is welcoming the team enthusiastically.

”Is all good Commander and thank you for the reception.” Melissa returns the greeting. While the other team members also began saluting and bowing towards Reizen.

Except for Arno, who merely nods to him.

Arno antics greatly disturb some people inside the room. Among them were Reizen adjutants who standing at Reizen sides. Their welcoming and warm attitudes instantly turned into a wave of anger.

Their anger is not without reason of course. Because it is a very normal custom in the Dawn Continent for a person to lower him/herself in front of someone who has higher social status. Especially now, since Reizen not only has a superior rank in the military but also because he's a prominent Astoria noble too. Hence in normal times, Arno should bow and saluting Reizen as he clearly didn't have a high social status.

But Arno grew up and spend most of his active time during the times where people look up and heavily revered the strong. When one must bow and show respect to someone who is stronger, no matter what their social status is or how old they are. Only those with strength are worthy of respect.

That is why, although Arno didn't always like that kind of worshiping the strong customs, it is still unacceptable for him to bow before Reizen, who clearly weaker than him.

A half-step Divine Supreme bowing to a trivial level 3 Grandmaster? Crack a joke!

But it is obvious that the case is different for the people inside the room currently.

'Grand Commander Reizen is one of the highest ranked officers in Astoria military and a great hero. How dare you!!! Not to pay him respect.' Those adjutants thought as they prepare to lash and berates this unknown and arrogant man.

But eventually, they were stopped before they were able to make their move by Reizen himself, who simply lift up his one hand while the other hand is on his back. After he restrains his subordinates, Reizen set his sight at Arno and nods back to him.

The adjutants are still holding their anger and glaring fiercely at Arno.

Reizen returns back his eyes to Melissa direction ”Nevermind young lady... don't think about it.” he spoke tenderly without the slightest sign of being agitated.

It looks like Reizen didn't seem offended by Arno lack of respect towards him.

Meanwhile, Melissa, who also didn't feel good because of it, begins to breathe a sigh of relief as she saw Reizen didn't take any offense. She then throwing Arno the fierce look of rebukes for causing a ruckus. But the culprit himself seems to ignore her and didn't care at anything at all. Instead, he wanders his eyes around the room and finally stops at the sight of a pretty middle-aged woman by Reizen side, who standing while maintaining her smile amidst these awkward atmospheres.