"I wonder how strong these 'kingdom knights' are and if they can actually kill that monster."
Michael was naturally curious.
Unfortunately, there was no one he could ask currently.
Questions like the power system of the place he was in, the history, and so on were things that could easily make him suspicious.
For now, he had to take it slow.
And if those knights actually managed to take down that monster, Michael could only hope they left some materials for him to take into the real world and sell.
It would be better if they left the tower building one and just took the monster.
Evidently, even with millions in his account, Michael still prioritized profit over revenge.
As several thoughts flashed through Michael's mind, he continued listening in on the conversations in the bar before heading out moments later when he felt he had heard enough and was already drawing attention as the only guy on his counter table who also didn't order any drinks.
To be honest, Michael would have loved to order some, he saw the bar served warm milk plus meals with meat, but unfortunately, a millionaire on Aurora, a broke man in the land of origin, was what he was.
Outside the bar, Michael entered a dark alley and flashed away from his location.
A moment later, he appeared outside the settlement walls.
In that short moment, Michael had run through the city, and aside from one feeling he got from the building in the settlement center, nobody else gave him a feeling of threat.
This and the fact that there were also no other noteworthy establishments to enter again made him realize he needed to change his approach.
Not only did he lack money, but he also lacked identity.
"This is going to be a problem. I need money if I want to integrate better into civilization, more importantly, an identity with some form of background I can use anywhere, but the issue is I don't even know where I am."
The fact Michael also sensed a presence not any weaker than him individually also made him realize that this wasn't a place he could run tyrant in.
And not that he planned to.
However, it did make him know that there were at least people as strong as him in this place he found himself in, maybe as long as he didn't bring his strongest undead out.
"That youth mentioned something like an adventurer. Based on his following words, if I register in this 'guild' I assume is some form of organisation almost everyone can join if they're capable, that should provide some form of identity for me, right?"
Michael seriously pondered his next step, and he felt this was most likely the part he'd end up taking.
He came out of the settlement because he didn't see any need there, and as he didn't also have a place to stay, he figured it was best he came back outside.
"But what do I do now?"
At this point, Michael felt if he actually wanted to make actual progress in integrating into this world, he might need to interact with the people of this world in daytime and not nighttime.
Just as Michael was falling deeper into thought, he suddenly sensed a presence and turned to look in a certain direction in the forest he was in.
"Oh oh, I didn't think you'd notice me even with my concealing magic. You're quite strong, boy, who are you?"
From behind the cover of a tree came an old man whose back was slightly hunched, and he had a black staff that strangely had red, glowing vines on its body with a small, slightly glowing dim orb on top of its end.
The man had a white goatee and long white hair and was dressed in a long, red robe that covered his body.
"A mage?" Michael wondered.
Though on the surface, he looked calm, he was already on guard.
The old mage's aura felt familiar; it was exactly the one he had felt in the middle of the settlement he was just in.
"Who are you?" Michael asked calmly.
"Oh, I should be asking this," the old man replied.
"When I came to this town yesterday, I didn't feel an aura this strong. You can't blame me for thinking something suspicious is going on when I suddenly felt one this late at night, and one that seemed to be peeking around as well."
As the old mage spoke, the smiling expression on his face slowly became serious.
Michael could sense a huge amount of mana, no less than his own, coming from the other party, which made him serious as he gradually returned the action, managing to score an expression of surprise from the other party, which Michael caught.
However, what surprised him was why the man, who suddenly seemed to be ready to fight, started to calm down.
"He doesn't want to risk fighting?"
Michael wondered, but he didn't bring his guard down.
His hands were already stretched out a little, ready to summon Lucky at any given moment.
Before the old mage spoke, Michael beat him to it.
From the other party's previous words, he could tell where he had gone wrong.
His intention of searching for information in the city had been too obvious. People weaker than him might not notice, but it was a different story for people with similar power or certain capabilities.
"I apologize, since it seems my intention has been misunderstood, which caused you to raise your guard. I mean no harm," Michael said.
"If Your Excellency says this, then I have no reason not to believe," the old mage replied.
"I hope you forgive this old man and don't blame him for his intention. I was assigned by the king to guard this place, and I'm not trying to be rude, sir, but your energy doesn't really give the best impression."
The old man said with a bow, adding, "I wonder which family of the empire Your Excellency is from? Are you also here for the Duke of Evermoon competition?"
For a moment, Michael was confused, but immediately, he understood what was happening a second later.
It seemed like someone had mistaken his identity.