Having departed from Melun City, the Rhine Lab convoy had been traveling through the wilderness for half a month.
Although the straight-line distance was only 3,000 kilometers, the driving distance was effectively doubled. Along the way, they passed several nomadic cities, but considering their return journey, the convoy chose not to stop. Otherwise, the trip would have taken even longer.
It was already late September. Garde had originally hoped to reach Columbia before September to catch the start of the university term. However, delays caused by Saria cost them an entire month, and Garde completely missed the enrollment period.
Since arriving in this world, Garde had never thought that the thing he'd look forward to the most would be attending school. It made him think of Carnelian and Surtr. He had promised to teach them foreign languages, but now they, along with Saria, were under soft confinement in the Ibut Lord Ameer Residency. Thus, Garde had no choice but to head to Columbia first.
Having grown accustomed to the rhythm of life in the rainforest—working at sunrise and resting at sunset—Garde found it somewhat uncomfortable to suddenly enter urban life.
Half an hour ago, the Rhine Lab convoy had entered the vicinity of Trimounts City. The surrounding hundreds of kilometers were under its jurisdiction. They passed through fields of golden wheat that occasionally bordered the convoy on either side, where pioneers could often be seen harvesting.
In Columbia, wheat is divided into spring wheat and winter wheat. Winter wheat is planted in autumn and harvested in the following summer, while spring wheat is planted in spring and harvested in autumn. Ground into flour and baked into bread, wheat serves as the staple food for Columbians.
However, planting wheat fields outside of nomadic cities comes with great risk. Natural disasters could obliterate months of hard work. By contrast, nomadic cities have designated agricultural zones that can be safeguarded during such calamities.
Garde hadn't spent much time in nomadic cities. His only visit was when he met Saria in the Ibut Lord Ameer Residency—he wondered if the large breach he had caused there had been repaired.
However, the nomadic cities of Sargon couldn't compare to those of Columbia.
Passing through pioneer camps and wheat fields, the convoy finally reached a barren expanse of land. Herds of beasts were being driven by pioneers toward the distant city.
That city loomed like a mountain—grand and majestic. Just by standing there, it dominated Garde's field of view. A city forged from steel, it felt like the beating heart of the land, connecting hundreds, even thousands of pioneer settlements. This was Trimounts City, Columbia's research hub and the birthplace of its brilliance!
Compared to this city, the Ibut Lord Ameer Residency seemed like a backward rural town. The sheer area it could accommodate was dozens of times greater.
Even with Garde's speed, it would take him almost ten minutes to traverse the city from one end to the other.
The immense city made Garde's heart race. He pondered: if he ever had to face such a magnificent city, how could he conquer it?
Even the strongest known Feranmut, when facing a city like this, could perhaps kill 70% of its soldiers but would ultimately perish.
What about him? His ultimate skill, Dominus, had a time limit. Could he destroy this city within a minute?
Impossible. Even the black dragon couldn't do that. Once his Ascension Power was depleted, his normal form wouldn't stand a chance against this city.
But this didn't make Garde feel fear. On the contrary, he felt exhilarated. Wasn't this why he came here—to learn?
If the cities Columbians had poured their full efforts into creating could be easily destroyed, what was the point of him coming here to study?
Moreover, even if he couldn't defeat a nomadic city head-on, couldn't he just run?
Nomadic cities weren't very fast—nothing compared to Garde's speed.
If he ever got into trouble in Columbia, he could always escape.
To others, however, Garde's excitement looked like something else entirely.
"Hmph, take a good look. This is a Columbian city. You probably don't have anything this grand in Sargon, right? After all, some of those poor Lord Ameers there can't even afford nomadic cities," said Muelsyse, sitting next to Garde in the same vehicle. She gave him a smug look, as though mocking a country bumpkin for his ignorance.
"When we get inside, don't embarrass us. But if you ask nicely, I don't mind showing you around Trimounts City in my free time."
"Shouldn't we meet your company's CEO first?" Garde asked.
"The CEO is very busy—either negotiating with big companies or working in the lab. She's not someone you can meet casually."
"I have a letter for her from Saria," Garde said.
"Why didn't you say so earlier? I'll notify her right away."
But as soon as Muelsyse spoke, she realized something was off.
"Wait, where did you get the letter?"
Muelsyse distinctly remembered that when Garde first arrived in Melun City, he wasn't wearing anything. When had he received a letter from Saria?
She had no idea.
"You must have visited Saria half a month ago, didn't you?" Muelsyse said, annoyed. "What were you up to? What if it caused trouble?"
"Well, it's too late to worry about that now. We're back, so let's just hope Saria and the others are safe," she grumbled.
Garde wasn't concerned. He had left his axe there; how could anything go wrong? If Saria were truly in danger, he wouldn't hesitate to retaliate—wiping out everyone involved in the incident, whether in Columbia or Sargon.
He couldn't fight an entire nation's army head-on, but if he wanted someone dead, Columbia's and Sargon's elites would have to try stopping him.
And if worse came to worst, he could always defect to Leithanien. Maybe the Twin Empresses of Leithanien would be willing to go to war against Columbia and Sargon to secure a future alliance with him.
Of course, these fantasies were just fleeting thoughts.
As the Rhine Lab convoy passed through the quarantine checkpoint and was cleared for entry, they drove into the bustling city.
Garde had only one task ahead of him: to meet Saria's close friend, the Rhine Lab CEO, a woman who, for reasons unknown, would one day turn against Saria.
Kristen.
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