From the forest, Lucien and Gayanna descended the steep grass and hopped onto a small stone that helped them cross the little river trailing the forest’s base before vanishing westward into the distance, while they headed north.
They reached a bridge arching over a much larger body of water, which made Lucien realize where the little river had originated.
As they walked across the bridge, the sound of Gayanna’s footsteps grew softer and softer until she was completely gone—and Lucien almost didn’t notice.
The subtlety in Evolution Online and how intricately the details were ingrained in his mind was one of the reasons why the game always awed him.
’I can’t believe I almost slept through this goodie.’
Lucien shook his head pitifully at himself. He summoned the White Crown mask—a white wolf mask materialized over his face—and immediately the details above his head as a player were distorted.
After a couple of minutes walking, Lucien reached the front gate. He wasn’t particularly looking forward to encountering other players. In fact, he wished he could just continue playing this whole thing solo, but games weren’t like that—certainly not one with billions of people playing it.
Everywhere was probably swarming with players except the continent’s edge, which remained undiscovered and teeming with dangers.
Lucien still planned to return there, though.
Of course he would. He couldn’t just let those eyes that killed him with a mere glance go unpunished. After all, he despised leaving debts unpaid and uncollected.
Lucien stopped behind a young woman holding a little teen by the hand and cradling a younger child against her chest.
He could see the soldiers at the front of the queue, donned in silver lightweight armor and white tabards, their impassive and intimidating helmets stylized with V-shapes covering their faces.
They checked people entering, demanding identification.
Lucien watched as they shoved an old man aside because he had no identification. The man pleaded, but they moved on to the next person.
Eventually, it was the woman’s turn.
With a trembling voice, she pleaded:
"Please, sir... the whole of Yv’delia is under a terrible goblin infestation. They’ve raided all our resources and there’s little to nothing left to survive on. Please, can you kindly let us into the city to—"
The woman hadn’t even finished speaking when they shoved her aside and faced Lucien.
He frowned beneath the mask, not giving them an immediate response. Instead, he turned to look at the woman before shifting his gaze back to them.
"It’s wrong to treat a mother like that."
His voice was emotionless as he regarded them.
One of the wardens retorted with a harsh tone:
"Young man, will you show us your identity or get the hell out of here?"
"I’m a Player. This is my first time in Rhamira, so I’d like to purchase an identity—for myself and for this young woman and her kids."
Immediately, he heard Gayanna’s voice in his head:
Lucien almost turned around, but no one reacted.
"What do you think you’re doing right now?"
His brows furrowed slightly.
’Is that even a question? I’m extending a helping hand.’
The wardens seemed to be discussing something amongst themselves, then they turned to Lucien. The one who had first responded spoke again:
"A new identification costs one hundred and sixty-eight gold coins, and you cannot pay for another person unless they’re a member of your clan or you’re in a party together."
The warden folded his arms and raised his chin, his voice dripping with disdain:
"Is this woman in your clan? Or are you in a party with her?"
Gayanna’s voice sounded in his head again:
"Did you suck your mother’s breast for ten years and grow a malformed brain? There’s no way in hell anything good will come out of what you’re about to do."
’First, let’s talk about that later. Second, it’s very eerie to speak into my head like that—please refrain from doing so.’
"Oh, you’d prefer that I show myself?"
Lucien didn’t respond to her anymore. Instead, he focused on the warden before him.
"You’re lying. First of all, the identification fee isn’t 168 gold coins—it’s only 99 gold coins. Everyone has a right to pay for a temporary three-week identification to stay within the Pale Walls until they take the Trial of Oaths to gain permanent citizenship. Moreover, the Wardens of the Federation are expected to meet strangers with kind hearts and an attitude that properly portrays the Federation’s image."
A cold golden light radiated subtly from one of the narrow slits of Lucien’s wolf mask.
"Is this really what Federation hospitality looks like? Treating strangers with disdain and contempt?"
The second soldier stepped in at this point, his voice much calmer and sounding older:
"It seems our guest here knows the Federation too well. Are you sure you’re a first-time visitor? You don’t happen to be a smuggler or a criminal who’s been banished from the city, right?"
Lucien almost gasped in shock.
’...this one is cunning! But trying to use my knowledge against me is a foolish move.’
"Since you’ve called me a criminal, I’ll let you take me in, and if I have a criminal record, I’ll be compensated with 100 gold coins and given free identification until I take the Trial of Oath."
"Would you rather have it that way, or will you accept 198 gold coins and let the woman in?"
The wardens were silent, coldly glaring at Lucien, while he breathed the fresh air of victory.
’Doing my research about every nation and city was worth it.’
The warden with the older voice stepped forward while the other stepped back. He looked into Lucien’s cold eyes and shook his head as he brought out a small wooden plate.
"It’s quite evident that you’re naïve and inexperienced. This woman is entering this city because her children are starving—paying 99 gold coins for her is outrageous. That money would feed her for a month. Giving it to her for mere temporary citizenship... how do you expect her to survive? And look at the rest of them."
Lucien glanced back and frowned.
Many more people, dressed in ragged and torn clothes, were already lined up behind him, and he could see something glinting in their eyes as he turned to look at them...
He belatedly realized the implication of what he had just done.
Gayanna’s voice entered his head: