Splash…
The boat cut through the water, its sails lowered as it slowly approached Pentos City's harbor. With so many ships docked, the crew had to use bamboo poles to push themselves forward carefully—otherwise, a collision was inevitable.
Before long, the ship reached the port. Pentos City's harbor was made of wooden docks, and as soon as the anchor was dropped, thick ropes were secured tightly around the wooden posts.
"Whew… we finally made it." Lucas stood at the bow, gazing at the bustling port. He could see groups of plump nobles—some accompanied by four or five knights, while others brought along over a dozen—heading toward the city.
"Young Master, should we disembark now?" Mina asked. She was already dressed in leather armor, with a black hooded cloak covering her figure.
She dressed this way to avoid causing trouble for Lucas. After all, beastkins were often disliked by nobles, and some might even greet them in more repulsive ways, like asking, "Are you selling this beastwoman? Want to trade?"
Among nobles, exchanging or buying and selling beautiful concubines, slaves, and maids—sometimes even beautiful beastkins—had become a common practice. With Mina's looks, she would definitely attract attention from many nobles who, with impure intentions, would ask foolish questions out of a hopeful sense of chance.
"Let's head down now. We'll leave someone behind to watch the ship." Lucas said calmly.
He turned and noticed the disappointed expression on Nicole's face. He gently reassured her, "Catherine and Dahlia have only left for now. We'll see them again soon."
"Mm-hmm!" Nicole forced a smile, then turned her attention to the surroundings. When she saw the wooden port, she exclaimed in surprise, "So this is Pentos City's harbor? It's so much worse than the one in Sedona City."
"..." Lucas was at a loss for words. Of course, there was a big difference between the two. How could wood be compared to cement? It was worlds apart.
"Grab everything and let's go down." Lucas said calmly, stepping down from the wooden ladder set up on the ship.
"Yes." Mina pulled up her hood, tucked her hands into her sleeves, but two military knives appeared in her hands. She walked closely by Lucas's side.
Nicole carried a wooden box containing red wine, walking on Lucas's other side, with several servants following behind, each carrying a wooden box.
The seven members of Chris's team were also wearing black robes, though without hoods. Underneath the robes, they wore steel armor. Being too flashy would attract unwanted attention, which would not be good for protecting the lord.
This time, Lucas's principle was to keep a low profile, especially at the beginning, since there were still plans to unfold.
Once Lucas and the others disembarked, the seven from the War Wolves immediately dispersed into a circle, surrounding Lucas and the others. Their hands rested on their sword hilts, ready to strike anyone who dared to collide with them.
"Crack... crack..."
After disembarking, the sound of footsteps echoed as Lucas and his group stepped onto the wooden planks, which creaked ominously, as if they were about to break.
Lucas looked down at the wooden port, noticing that the wood was severely corroded and nearly rotting. He guessed it had been in use for at least three or four years, and it wouldn't last much longer. The port would need to be rebuilt in just a few more years.
"Let's go. We'll head into the city and find a place to rest." Lucas said lightly. There was no need to linger here. The surroundings were dirty and chaotic, with a foul stench in the air.
"Crack... crack..."
Lucas and his group walked toward Pentos City. With Chris and his team around, no one dared to bother them. People like human traffickers or thugs at the port, who would eye Nicole's beauty, tried to get closer but were quickly scared off by Chris and his men, who drew their swords.
At places like this port, the most common types were those looking to take advantage of the situation—thugs and traffickers who targeted pretty girls. They would first try to test the waters, and if they found an opportunity, several others would quickly emerge from the crowd, and they'd grab the girl and run.
"Is this Pentos City? Not bad." Lucas remarked casually.
Standing at the city gate of Pentos City, he observed the six-meter-high stone walls in front of him. These were much stronger than the mud walls of Sedona City, far superior. This made him decide that when spring came next year, he would tear down the old mud walls of Sedona City. The dilapidated walls were an eyesore and didn't do the city justice. He planned to replace them with tall, concrete walls.
"This..." Nicole was surprised. The city walls were definitely more impressive than Sedona City's, although the port area was a bit lacking. Now, she was really curious about what the inside of the city was like.
Mina had already mentally prepared for it, so she wasn't at all surprised. She'd visited many cities, and the most awkward thing about Sedona City was indeed the mud walls. It was far behind compared to other cities.
"Let's go, let's head into the city and take a look." Lucas took the lead and walked toward Pentos City. After paying a copper coin each, they finally entered the city.
"Ugh, it stinks!" Nicole immediately covered her nose as she entered. Looking around at the dirty, muddy ground, the scene felt all too familiar. It reminded her of what Sedona City had looked like just a few months ago.
"Chris, send someone to inquire about the best and most prominent inn in the city." Lucas instructed.
"Yes, sir." Chris nodded and called for Number Five.
Soon, Number Five returned with the desired information. "City Lord, the best inn in Pentos City is in the city center."
"Lead the way, let's settle down there first." Lucas waved his hand, signaling them to move.
"Yes, sir." Number Five took the lead and started guiding them.
Lucas and the others walked through Pentos City, observing their surroundings. The buildings were mostly low stone and wooden structures, or mud brick houses. Aside from the main city road being a little wider, most of the area was filled with narrow alleys and chaotic streets. The layout was disorderly, with no planning or order, unlike the neatness of Sedona City. The ground was covered in muddy dirt roads, and with every step, their shoes were caked in filth. In more secluded areas, there was even the risk of stepping into waste.
Nicole felt disappointed. She now completely understood why Catherine had said what she did yesterday. Pentos City was almost the same as Sedona City a few months ago—dirty and disorganized.
Along the streets, there were also many people involved in the slave trade. Thin and malnourished, wearing little clothing, they shrank against the cold, their eyes blank as they stared at the passersby, hoping someone might buy them.
In addition to the slaves, there were many beggars. They held cracked bowls, bent low in the streets, pleading for help. Some of them were disabled, leaning against cold walls, gazing pitifully at the people walking by, hoping for a coin.
Nicole lowered her head, unable to bear the sight of the slaves and beggars. She had no power to help, and looking at them made her feel an uncomfortable weight in her chest. She suddenly realized that compared to Pentos City, Sedona City felt like a paradise. At least in Sedona City, there was no public slave trade, and there weren't so many beggars.
Lucas reached out and gently patted Nicole's head. He gave a small, somber smile and looked up at the gloomy sky. The cruel scene in front of him was the true reflection of the era they lived in.
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