After dealing with the portal break, Nox and Zara started making plans to head to Frostpire, but before that, they returned to the capital city of the Tristan Kingdom.
The capital city of the Tristan Kingdom didn't pale in comparison to that of the Vermilion Kingdom. In fact, one could even argue that it was much grander and more beautiful.
Nox and Zara swiftly made their way through the city after purchasing a map from a nearby stall.
The streets of the capital city were packed with people—merchants calling out deals, knights patrolling in gleaming armor, and Awakened ones swapping stories near the guildhall. Stalls lined the roads, selling weapons, potions, and food that filled the air with a mix of roasted meat and fresh bread.
In the distance, towering buildings stretched toward the sky, some with intricate carvings, others with banners displaying the kingdom's crest.
As they navigated through the city, Nox couldn't help but notice something. Unlike the capital city of the Vermilion Kingdom, the number of homeless people and beggars was very scarce.
In fact, he could count the number of them he had come across. Not only that...
'Even their carriages seem much more luxurious… and the buildings.' Nox's eyes gleamed. 'What material did they use?'
The buildings here weren't any different from the ones back home, but the main difference lay in the material. It was adamantite-infused stone, and they seemed very sturdy.
"The rumors are true," Zara mumbled in a low voice beside him. However, because of the close proximity, Nox easily overheard her.
"What rumors?" he asked, raising his brows in curiosity. Now that he thought about it, Nox wasn't really someone who paid attention to what was going on around him. He was no busybody. He was goal-oriented and only focused on things that benefited him. But if Zara had taken an interest in something, then it was worth listening to.
"Despite their weak military strength, they say the Tristan Kingdom is one of the wealthiest kingdoms and has the best infrastructure among the six kingdoms in the human domain," Zara said, glancing around. "It's not just wealth—it's management. They control resources better, and their leader is a very smart man. He actually cares about maintaining order, unlike someone else."
As she said that, a frown appeared on Nox's face. He obviously knew who Zara was referring to.
Nox hummed in thought. That explained the lack of beggars and the pristine streets. In other cities, poverty was common, but here, everything felt controlled. Even the common district wasn't as rundown as he'd expected.
"They must have a strict system in place," he muttered. "No wasted resources, no unnecessary spending. Everything serves a purpose."
Zara nodded. "And their nobles aren't just sitting around hoarding wealth. Most of them invest in trade, mercenary companies, or magic research. That's why their kingdom thrives."
"It's funny how a non-human knows about all this and I don't." Nox chuckled, finding the whole scenario amusing. He really needed to pay more attention to things around him. Maybe go on a fun vacation?
"Oh well, before coming here, I did a lot of research." Zara shrugged as if it was no big deal.
At that moment, Nox shifted to the side as a carriage passed by, its design sleek and reinforced. Even the horses pulling it looked well-bred. It was clear—Tristan Kingdom was really wealthy.
'Vacation? Tsk.' As quickly as that thought had invaded his head, it disappeared just as fast. Nox had just killed two important people. Of course, to him, their importance was the same as that of a piece of junk on the roadside, but to the people in the Vermilion Kingdom, it was not.
And those people could go after his loved ones. To be honest, Nox had acted on impulse out of battle instinct back in the battlefield. Nyx was wrong. He didn't have any plans back there, and for a few minutes, he had regretted his actions after the deed. However, he didn't allow his expression to falter.
No matter what, he needed to keep a facade. If he showed any sign of fear, then how would Wendy and Nyx react? That's why he acted as if he had a solution for the problem—even though he didn't have one at that moment.
That... that solution was in this mission. Nox clenched his fist. At first, this mission was just a simple expansion mission to gather more powerful beasts for his army. Now, it was more of a necessity. If he wanted to secure his future and protect the people close to him, he needed more power—absolute power.
And he had to do it fast. Nox wasn't naive enough to think that the information about his deed would be kept secret. He was more than certain that the king and the Chai family had already heard of what happened.
They had probably even started making their move. But Nox couldn't rush back home to aid his people, no matter how much he wanted to. He needed strength first. Going back now wouldn't change anything—it would only make him a target. He had to trust that the barony could hold its own until he returned.
"Are you worried about them?" Zara glanced at him, sensing the shift in his aura. "From the way you looked at them, I can tell you really care about Nyx and Instructor Wendy."
Nox exhaled slowly, unclenching his fist. "You could say that." He smiled and admitted, "And yes, I'm worried about them. That's why we have to hurry." His voice was calm, but there was a determined edge to it.
"So what's the plan then?" she asked as they followed the map.
"I evolve my beast first, then we head to your kingdom and deal with the nuisance. Return and overthrow the king."
Zara opened her mouth in shock when she heard this. Even a few passersby who happened to overhear him merely glanced at him before continuing as though they had not heard a thing.
After several seconds of silence, Zara sucked in a sharp breath. "You... are you joking? Aren't your ambitions a bit too grand?"
'Too grand? How is that too grand?' Nox stared at Zara with a confused expression, then proceeded to open his mouth—but soon heard a familiar voice behind him.
A familiar voice in this foreign kingdom.