They have other names, but the function is still similar. For example, a bank is called a vault. A school is a combat academy.
What surprised Heimdall was that despite their aggressiveness and lax laws, the city was quite orderly.
'I have read some of the rules. It seems brutal punishment is working,' Heimdall said.
'Well, there is no justice; only strength exists. In one way, it's honestly the truth of the world without any bullshit that politicians used to spew.'
'You want to live in a culture ?' Heimdall asked with a chuckle.
'It's not that different from the underworld. No matter what kind of deal you make, without strength, there is nothing you can do. Results are everything.'
"It always is, even in the normal world. There is a reason we have the saying, 'Everyone has skeletons in their closet.'"
As they kept walking, Heimdall reached Agni's house. Thankfully, Agni lived alone, only with the three human pets.
Inside, Felix knocked the three humans out and then materialized from the shadows. "What is your plan now?"
"Spend one or two days here to learn more about their strength, and if possible, enter their world."
Felix's expression changed the moment he heard it. "No! I am fine with entering, but we must do it together. We are not here to increase the number of victims."
Heimdall smirked. "I knew you would say that. In that case, we should infiltrate the portal at night."
"They have a curfew at nine. We should sneak out at that time. How is their security based on your observation?"
"Aren't you the expert?"
Seeing Heimdall's gaze, Felix then realized that was the reason why he left him first, so he could move and observe the city.
"There are cameras on the streets, but I doubt they care much about them.
With laws like theirs, I doubt they care when the weak are ostracized. The only purpose of the cameras is to look for spies, or they just leave them on out of curiosity."
"Just get to the point—their security is lax."
Felix nodded. "As long as we stay out of suspicion, I am sure there will be no problem. We could also take some of the guards' uniforms."
"No need. I can manipulate my clothing, too. Did you forget?"
"By the way, I saw some slaves with stern eyes at the slave market. If there are people like them, I am sure there should be a resistance group here."
"Resistance? A slave with a collar—how could they even gather and make a movement?"
"Let's check the sewer system. I am sure if there are any, they will gather there."
Heimdall agreed as he felt that made sense. For some of the slaves to have fierce eyes meant they grew in a way that still held humanity high. He was sure this did not happen in Dragari breeding places. The only possibility was that they grew up in some community and then got captured.
"Probably descendants from the old survivors. I wonder if it is led by one of the Suzaku Guild members."
"How old were the slaves you met? I don't know the time dilation outside the dungeon, but here it's not that long."
"Around 12 years old."
Heimdall ruminated on the possibility. If the child was born after the occupation, that meant the child's mother was pregnant at that time. The odds of someone like that surviving were low. But if not, that meant the resistance was inside the dungeon, and the time dilation there was twice or maybe even longer.
"Nothing is ever simple," Heimdall mumbled. What started as a normal rescue mission had now become far more complicated.
"No wonder he doesn't give any news out; he's probably stuck inside."
"Who else? After the incident, Luca hired him to look for Edward. He is one of the best at rescuing someone."
"Hah... Only the best in low-level dungeons. This is a dungeon that destroyed Edward and Luca's Guild. How strong do you think the monster boss was at that time?"
"Whoever the boss was, he is not here now. Otherwise, he would have recognized our presence here."
"Or the monster just doesn't care because we are too weak in its eyes."
"I don't believe it. Even if the monster thinks like that, do you think someone that strong would want to stay here with nothing to do with Dragari culture?"
"You are right. By the way, I heard you have followed Edward and Luca's daughter a few times. How is she? As strong as Luca?"
Luca asks Felix to follow Emily stealthily every time she enters the dungeon. She never let Emily enter without any countermeasure.
"Her ability is strong. Honestly, if she could master it, I could see her becoming another human nuke like Isolde."
"That strong, huh? She became a hunter to look for her father. I also heard they recently reformed the Guild. Don't you think they will come here too?"
"I have my sources; it's possible. But I think it's still too soon for them. Her oldest son is like Edward. He is a careful person, so I don't know if he will go in or not."
"Hahaha, if he is like Edward, then he is one hundred percent coming. Do you forget his personality?"
Felix was silent for a moment as he remembered how Edward was. Normally, he was a calm, careful person, but when something happened to Luca, all hell broke loose as he threw logic into the trash.
"If they come, it will complicate matters further."
"Who knows, they might be stronger now and become our help.
Anyway, now that I think about it, since the mission is recon, why don't you go by yourself, Felix ? I have something else in mind."
Felix's gaze narrowed at Heimdall's face. "What are you planning? Don't tell me you want to make all hell break loose."
"Hahaha, I am just thinking of furthering our odds. I don't believe they are the only ones who are resistant to humans here.
Any city or species, no matter the culture, always has someone outside the norm. Someone who dislikes the current situation."