Chapter 368

The light flashed!

The warp gate emitted a glow.

“It’s hot.”

Leo, who had just emerged from the warp gate, muttered under his breath as he felt the heat of the desert.

Leo had arrived at the oasis city of Uargela, one of the prominent metropolises in Alehem.

Walking out of the warp gate, Leo was followed by Luke, who said,

“Wow, it’s really hot here, isn’t it?”

Already drenched in sweat due to the heat, Luke had long since switched to lightweight summer clothing because of the scorching summer in the central continent. However, even such light clothing seemed inadequate against the oppressive desert weather.

Luke looked at Leo, who wasn’t sweating at all, and gave an impressed whistle.

Meanwhile, other students started appearing through the warp gate.

Since Uargela was a massive metropolis, many teams had gathered here to investigate the area.

People who were going back and forth through the warp gate began to murmur as they saw the students from Lumeran emerge from it.

“Lumeran?”

“Why are they here…?”

People’s reactions varied; some were astonished, while first-year students showed diverse reactions, including those who flaunted their presence proudly and others who felt embarrassed.

On the other hand, second-year students, having grown accustomed to public attention, mostly reacted nonchalantly.

Leo then stepped out from the warp gate.

As he did, he narrowed his eyes at the view that unfolded before them.

Luke’s eyes went wide at the sight outside the warp gate.

The streets of the city were dazzling.

The city was shimmering in the light of the magical stone lamps that illuminated every corner of the streets.

The faces of the people walking the streets were all bright as they happily conversed with one another.

Street vendors were selling a variety of items—fresh fruits, various kinds of food, and bouquets of flowers.

It was a scene reminiscent of a festival.

“The reality is a bit different than what I imagined.”

“Exactly.”

Leo’s muttering found agreement as Luke nodded.

‘This place is almost as splendid as Rodren’s capital.’

Leo recalled the capital of Rodren, where he had once gone with his cousin, Celia.

Rodren is one of the wealthiest nations in the world.

Yet, the difference between the bustling urban areas of both countries was not noticeable.

Since this was the place where their mission would take place, Leo had already completed his preliminary research on Alehem.

He was well aware that Alehem was one of the poorest countries in the world.

However, the streets of this city bore no resemblance to those of a destitute nation.

While Leo was lost in thought.

Other students also emerged from the warp gate and stared at the unexpected scene with wide eyes.

“Wow! Incredible!”

“It looks almost as grand as Rumelia City!”

Excited chatter filled the air as students were amazed by the unexpected magnificence of the streets.

Especially the female students seemed delighted, humming cheerful tunes as they enjoyed the atmosphere.

Their worries about potentially substandard accommodations quickly vanished upon seeing the prosperity of the area.

“I was worried about the accommodations, but those concerns were unnecessary.”

“Let’s find a place to stay first!”

“Yeah! Since the school is giving great support, let’s at least make sure we stay somewhere good!”

The students rushed out through the warp gate.

“Should we find our accommodations first?”

“Yeah, can you take care of it for me?”

“Me, sir?”

“Yeah.”

Leo extended his palm.

Whoosh!

A small flame appeared, followed by a tiny red chick hatching into view.

Cheep!

It was none other than Fiora.

Leo handed over Fiora to Luke and said,

“Just send me the location through her once you’ve found accommodations.”

“Yes.”

“After settling in, please investigate the unusual events in this city to the best of your ability.”

“Just me?”

“Can you handle it?”

“Yes!”

Luke replied with enthusiasm.

Cheep! Cheep!

Fiora climbed onto Luke’s head, tilted her head curiously, pecked at it a few times, then seemed to take a liking to Luke’s beautiful silver hair. She flapped her wings gracefully and settled on his head as if it were her perch, much like a bird settling into its nest.

“Thanks.”

Cheep!

Fiora nodded in agreement as Luke spoke.

Seeing this, Leo added,

“Don’t buy her anything she asks for.”

“Yes.”

With that, Luke rushed off to find lodging.

As Luke left, Elshi, who was perched on Leo’s shoulder, questioned,

-Why did you send him alone?

“Because he’s from a rural area and lacks experience.”

Leo turned his body.

“I want to give him as much diverse experience as possible, and I also want him to realize how extraordinary he truly is.”

-What does making him realize how extraordinary he is mean?

Elshi tilted her head, prompting Leo to reply matter-of-factly,

“Lately, Luke has lost a lot of confidence.”

It was true.

Other students were quickly enhancing their skills, but due to the restrictions Leo had placed on him, Luke had been standing still.

Unknown to the first-years, they mocked and belittled Luke, believing he was nothing more than a lucky entrant who became the protege of the student council president but lacked true talent.

Most first-year students considered Luke to be just a lucky individual.

Leo was aware of this.

Upon hearing Leo’s explanation, Elshi murmured,

-It must be tough for him.

“It is.”

There’s nothing more frustrating than putting in effort without seeing rewards.

Especially in a competitive school environment, constantly feeling left behind can be a significant source of stress.

“Most likely, he lacks confidence in himself and feels as if he’s walking a path that can’t be seen.”

-Still, Luke hasn’t stopped trying, has he?

Believing in what Leo had said, Luke continued to put his best effort forward.

Even though the restrictions placed on him by Leo could’ve been lifted, allowing him to easily overpower most students, he waited.

‘Sir, can I really defeat Miss Aina?’

‘What do you think?’

‘How can I ever defeat Miss Aina?’

Luke denied his own potential.

But still…

‘Still, since Sir Leo said I could, I’ll try.’

Though Luke didn’t believe in his own potential, he trusted what Leo had said.

“In that regard, he is much like Berkiya and Bihar.”

Leo recalled his disciples from his past life.

Even while continuously perceiving their inadequacies, they never ceased their efforts, enabling them to accomplish great things in reconstructing the world after the Era of Catastrophe.

“He’ll regain some confidence once treated well as a Lumeran student during the investigation.”

Regardless, Luke winning admission to Lumeran was an achievement in itself.

While other Lumeran students might take it for granted, the outside world considers it a significant and impressive feat.

“Besides… the place we’re headed next might be a bit too stimulating for a young kid.”

At this, Elshi tilted her head in curiosity.

With that, Leo disappeared into the alley.

“Is he gone?”

At that moment, a girl who had been sitting not too far away lowered her newspaper and glanced in the direction where Leo had vanished down the alley.

“Master.”

“Hmm? What is it, my apprentice?”

Austin cautiously called his mentor.

“What’s the reason for keeping a secretive watch on the young master?”

Austin’s question prompted Iliana to give a meaningful smile.

“Don’t you know? You see, your section leader is particularly talented when it comes to… missions like this.”

Iliana elegantly folded her newspaper as she spoke.

“So if Class Leader does well in the mission exercise, it’ll be effortless.”

Upon hearing this, Austin looked perplexed.

“Were you also trying to follow the young master when you asked me to find out where Luke was headed?”

“Of course!”

Iliana’s eyes sparkled.

Austin sighed deeply upon witnessing her antics.

“Can’t we just conduct our investigation?”

“It’s not that we can’t.”

Iliana shook her wallet filled with the support funds.

“While we’ve received plenty of money, why not use it to do the mission exercise comfortably?”

“The code of Zerdinger knights cannot permit this. The first virtue is diligence, the second is morality, and the third…”

“Ah! Stop it! The virtue of the Laden house is simply ‘good is good’!”

“No matter what, this is still a mission exercise, and the idea of playing around…”

As Austin attempted to persuade Iliana, she beamed at him.

“Austin. Do you remember what your young master told Senior Hark, the current vice-president of the student council, when your master became the student council president last year?”

“What did he say?”

“Peel it if I tell you to.”

“…”

Austin bowed his head deeply.

Iliana might be lacking in some aspects as a mentor, but she is quite good.

She teaches and guides well.

But when she goes off the rails like this, it’s impossible to have a rational conversation.

“Come on, let’s go!”

Rising from her seat, Iliana chased after Leo alongside Austin.

“By the way, why was he making such an uncle-like expression?”

Recalling Leo’s expression, Iliana tilted her head in curiosity.

As they entered the alley, Iliana and Austin followed Leo.

At each fork in the back alley, they asked passers-by the direction Leo had taken and followed smoothly.

And shortly after,

“Entrance?”

A kind of entrance appeared in the back alley.

Gazing at the curtain that seemed to demarcate a district, Iliana tilted her head.

Just as they were about to enter,

“Hehehe. This isn’t a place for you young kids whose heads haven’t dried yet.”

The old woman standing at the entrance chuckled mischievously.

In response, Iliana crossed her arms.

“Aren’t you talking about someone who just passed here, dressed similarly to us?”

“If you mean that young master, yes, he passed.”

“We’re following him.”

Iliana cocked her head.

“If he went through, shouldn’t we be able to enter as well?”

“That’s true. We don’t screen people here. But…”

The old woman quickly glanced at Iliana and Austin.

“Kids like you might find it too stimulating.”

Chuckling, the old woman watched as Iliana smirked.

“Grandma, I might look young but I’m quite grown up. I’m far from innocent. Pfft! How stimulating can it possibly be?”

Iliana confidently opened the curtain and entered.

When Austin was about to follow,

“AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!”

A bl**d-curdling scream from Iliana rang out.

“Master!”

Startled, Austin hastily drew his sword to rush inside, but then,

WHOOSH!

Iliana bolted out from behind the curtain with a speed rarely seen.

Iliana, her face flushed up to her neck, sat down, mumbling incoherently.

“Master! What happened?”

“I, a man and a wo… wo… woman in the middle of the road… AAAAAAAHHHHHHH!”

It seemed she had suffered a cultural shock as she spoke incoherently. The old woman clicked her tongue.

“A couple of drunks must’ve been near the entrance.”

“What is this place?”

Iliana, her face red, asked, and the old woman replied.

“The pleasure quarter filled with pleasure houses.”

The old woman chuckled.

“The dirtiest paradise in the world. Not a proper place for young ladies like you or gentlemen. Though that young man did walk through there calmly.”

Austin became tense.

Iliana muttered,

“The reason our section leader was making such an uncle-like expression is… perhaps…”

“Master, the young master is likely here only for investigation.”

Austin tried to defend Leo, but Iliana wasn’t listening.