We head through the city. It's even larger than Shienta! The whole city could possibly hold tens of thousands of residence. It is split into four quarters. The kings quarter. Which is at the peak of the hill, also the smallest quarter. The high quarter. The more wealthy live on the higher portion of the city, overlooking the other quarters. The middle quarter, most adventurers would live here. No reason to buy into the high quarter unless you plan on settling down. The lower quarter, it's very similar to the slums. We passed through this portion first.

It's awful, far worse off then Shienta. The lower quarter is even larger than Shienta by itself. All living in the worst filth. The upper quarters probably dump their waste directly into the lower quarters. Disease is most likely common here. If war wasn't approaching I'd like to set up a sewer system for the city. I still might if I think I'll have the time. Even a simple sewage system would cut lost lives tremendously.

The lower quarters could use cheaper solutions. Like a few public toilet houses that could use the stool as fertilizer for crops around the city… Speaking of which, approaching the city I didn't notice any crop fields… How do these cities function properly? Is Grey making food for every single city around this region? That old man is probably loaded with money… If I was still greedy I'd pay him a visit.

We make it through the lower quarter. Before I leave, I'd like to set up a stand to heal some injuries. The middle quarter is much better off. A visual difference is seen from entering. The ground goes from dirt to brick roads. The houses are much larger and less run down. They have a collection bin for all the sewage they make. I doubt they would just throw it out of their windows, like they do in Shienta.

This part is fine how it is. I see a giant building, that must be the adventurers guild. I also see a few buildings around it that are smaller guilds. I'd like to apply for a few memberships for my troops. My crafters should definitely join the crafting guild…

SHIT! Now looking at the guilds I've forgot to make any of my troops merchants. They're crucial to building a well armed army. While we can provide for ourselves most things. Some things we'd need to trade for… I'll have to teach a few once I get back.

I don't think applying for adventurers membership should be a problem. Shienta has an adventurers guild. It would be better to pick the right followers to become members though. Having a full army try to take credit for missions would be too hectic and no one would go up through the ranks of the guild. Every general would be fine though.

I would like to join a few guilds. I know from my past life that most people will only join one guild. With my classes and jobs I could benefit from joining every guild. I should really make an alter appearance mask to start making fake versions of myself. With bandit I won't need to make a suit of armor to change my appearance. All plans for later though, we need to go ask for an audience with the king.

Going from the middle quarter to the high quarter isn't much different. The houses are bigger, they also have yards splitting them apart. That's another problem with the lower quarters. Any fire could potentially burn the entire city to the ground. We approach the kingdoms castle. I talk with a guard for one second and he lets us in.

The scouts sent ahead of us have already explained the situation. We are let through to wait for an audience with the king. While waiting a few maids come by and freshen us up. If we greeted the king covered in dust from the road it would be an insult to him. He finishes with the group he was with and we're lead in.

Me, my two pets, Gem and the white mage are kneeling before the king. I'm surprised he let my pets join in the audience but it's understandable. He has a few dozen guards in his royal court. If we made an attempt at his life we would be crushed by numbers. I'm waiting for him to speak, from previous experience with kings I know better than to talk out of turn. Finally he addresses us.

“So, the scouts you've sent beforehand have filled me in. I see no reason why you've come here just to tell the same story.”

“Your right your majesty. We've come to verify the story and ask for assistance with troops at Shienta in three years when it is invaded.”

He face holds the same neutral expression. It's difficult to look up at him in a kneeling position. He yawns then speaks again.

“Did you not think we already knew of the impending attack? If it's too be launched in unison with the assault on Shienta we wont be able to offer any help… Is that all you're here for?”

“Of course not your majesty. I've also come by your request I heard of from the words of your royal messengers. My name is Kite and I'm the boy who cleaned up the slums.”

His eyes raise up in shock. Finally dropping his neutral expression… I'm disappointed by his answer though. Bringing Gem was completely unnecessary. I'll take her collar off once we're done here and let her live here from now on. The torture of heading here would have been intense enough to make up for her past crimes. I've also started to feel bad for her since she's technically related to me. The king speaks up.

“Ah, I'm very sorry. I didn't realize who you were since I've never met you. I'd like for you to talk with my city planners about correcting some of the mistakes of the lower quarters… Is that all you're here for.”

“Of course not your majesty. I'd like a handful of men to try and defeat the pirates before they invade in three years. If we can squash the problem before it happens. The troops at Shienta can militarize for the capital in three years once the war starts.”

His eyes go up in even more surprise. My question was quickly shot down.

“I would never risk troops on a suicide mission a small child was leading. But I'll give you one chance to convince me to help you. If the reason is good enough then I might give you a handful of men.”

“Your majesty. I already have a small set of troops I've personally trained. I've also heard that the demon tribes are being used as pawns for skirmishes on the front lines. If they're disposable, I would like a few dozen of them if you can spare. I would like to not risk human lives in this quest if necessary.”

“Fair enough, I will also send a few envoys with you to make sure you're not attempting anything threatening towards the kingdom.”

“That is fine your majesty. Might I ask for the messenger guard that you sent me to be one of them?”

He plays with this beard while he answers, he must be getting bored.

“That should be fine. Anything else?”

“Of course your majesty. If I might question, can you give the members of the demon tribe freedom if they join with me? I would rather not be worried about my new troops betraying me the second I enter my ship. That seems like it would be the easiest way to deal with the problem.”

He probably doesn't think we'll come back so he agrees to it. While the king is bored we talk for a few moments longer than the discussion of my hand came up. He asked how I lost my hand.

“We were attacked by a basilisk your majesty. My entire group besides the white mage and me was wiped out by the basilisk.”

He looks surprised by what I said.

“How many troops did you have? The basilisk is a hard to defeat world boss.”

Before I could say anything the white mage spoke up.

“It was only six guards sent by the capital and Kite that fought it.”

The king looked even more surprised. Not only by the fact that this is the first time the white mage has spoken up. Also at the small numbers we had. I try to backpedal and make it seem less impressive.

“Your majesty, it isn't as impressive as he makes it sound. The basilisk was barely grown, it was no where near full strength when we faced it. We also lost everyone else fighting it.”

The mage spoke up again.

“Your majesty. Kite managed to kill it all by himself. Not a single piece of damage was dealt by anyone else to it. Except maybe his pets, which one of them evolved into the wolf man you see before you after the fight.”

What the hell! Why is this mage so talkative all of a sudden!? The king speaks again.

“Thank you for your update Kline. You can continue to be an envoy for this young man… But might I ask how he managed to kill the raid boss?”

“He killed it with a single blow… The blow was so powerful it split the basilisk in half and blew his own arm off. Even after that, with injuries no normal person could walk around with. He was up giving instructions to his pets to collect the remaining scales of the beast and some of it's meat to cook before we departed towards the capital… I think this man might be a demigod.”

The king stands up. He moves close to me eyeing me over. He looks at my arm… Shit! He'll see that Aegis is a relic and might try to take him from me! I look at my arm and see that aegis is marked as a common rare with increased defenses… How!? It must be Aegis masking his true power… Now that I think back, he was probably doing this the entire time I've had him on… I wonder how many more fights I'd have been in if people realized I had a relic.

The king gets all the way down into my face. Stares at me very carefully, to the point it's uncomfortable.

“I knew something was off about this boy. He seemed odd from every new report I would get about him. From the fact that he could supposedly use multiple classes and jobs. The fact that he can heal injuries without risking the patients sanity… Which god do you represent?”

I have to think of a lie… Which god would be the most believable? God of chaos? It's true it would be the most believable but he might see me as a threat… Shit I'm just sitting here saying nothing I have to think quickly!

“I'm a servant sent from the god of life your majesty… She sent me to guide the demon tribe to safety from extinction. If you don't give them their freedom from this war. They'll revolt at the same time the enemy forces are invading. The enemy would have used them as pawns to help crush you… While my original goal was only to remove them from combat, I can still help in the war if you declare them to be free after I defeat the pirates. If not, chances are the region will be destroyed in the process...”

I pray now… I hope that my capable liar skill is enough to make this story more believable… I just hope they don't have anyone with predict lies… We'll have too see… After a few moments of thinking everything over… Out of our entire talk I barely mentioned the demon tribes. Acting like they were merely pawns to me is the subterfuge a god would use in that situation.

“Fine, I'll give you the demon troops to help fight. I'll also give them their freedom after the war. If you say you'll help save my kingdom I'll agree to those terms. I can only take your word for it. Now is their anything else?”

“Yes your majesty. Since this city is going to be saved from your brilliant negotiating. I would like to make changes to the city.”

“That sounds fine. I'll leave it to you, please discuss the details to the city planner. Do you need anything else?”

“No your majesty and thank you for your understanding.”

My group had stood up after being given permission and started walking towards the exit. The king stopped me.

“Kite… Thank you for respecting my son… From what I understand he died in a dungeon you were clearing… I just wish you were in his party… He would not have died then...”

With that I left… Things played out differently then I thought they would… It might have been more to my advantage than I expected. Kline might have helped me secure a few strong allies in the future with that assessment of me. Before I leave the city I'll have to do a few things.

Number 1, fix my arm, I have to find a solution for the regrowth problem so I can treat people later on. 2, I need to teach Sock classes. 3, add a sewage line if it wouldn't take too much time doing. 4, heal the sick and injured in the lower quarter. 5, start crops growing to increase the expenses the capital can spend elsewhere. 6, check the local enchanter for new rares I don't have. 7, tinker with some of the local shops equipment to make them better (a well equipped army is always better). 8, buy some guild badges to help start building the reputation of my army. 9, teach some of the citizens some jobs and classes to help make the city better.