Chapter 1: The Royal Capital’s Ambience

The intense chase under the moonlight ended with Mels uttering the word "surrender." Not only did Blood Wolf, who had suffered significant losses, not expect victory to come so quickly, but even Sol and the others beside Mels were completely taken aback that Mels would choose to cease resistance. After all, given the current situation, their enemies clearly had no intention of letting them live; even surrender would not spare them. However, it was too late for any second thoughts now. The sudden halt of the vehicle made the danger feel all too real.

"Boss, what are you doing? This is like marching to your death!" the anxious Sol roared at Mels as the vehicle came to a stop. Though the others remained silent, the confusion in their eyes was unmistakable.

"Don't panic," Mels said with a bitter smile, gently turning off the external transmission system. "The secondary propulsion system Green Hair described could indeed help us escape the enemy's encirclement, but we don't have enough time. Activating that system takes at least three minutes, and the enemy's magnetic cannons will blow us to pieces in no more than a minute. As you can see, their sudden pause in attack earlier was to adjust the magnetic cannons' power and gather more energy. Rather than being blown up by those cannons, it's better to take a chance, get out of the vehicle, and try to outmaneuver the enemy. If an opportunity arises, we can use their mistakes to escape in the vehicle again; if not, we'll just run on our own two feet. Heh, I believe there are very few on this continent who can catch up to us with their own bodies, and with smaller targets, the enemy's magnetic cannons might not even be effective." "Mels is right. This king also thinks it's the best choice," Green Hair suddenly flew onto Mels' shoulder, patting his head with a wing as if praising his decision. "Get out of the vehicle now. What they want is likely the item in your possession. For now, as long as they don't get it, they won't harm you. During this time, I'll activate the secondary propulsion system at minimal energy. All you need to do is cause chaos, and we'll have a chance to escape."

"Sigh, there's no other way. It seems this is our only chance. Let's do it," Kaslo said softly. From Kaslo's expression, Mels knew everyone had agreed to his plan. Now, all they could do was wait for the enemy's decision.

On the other hand, after receiving Mels' "surrender request," Blood Wolf was overjoyed and immediately ordered his men to cease fire. They began to spread out, gradually forming a crescent shape as they advanced to encircle the target. After the fierce battle, only eleven of Blood Wolf's elite vehicles remained. Though the losses were severe, Blood Wolf knew that if he could obtain the treasure in their possession, he could equip an even stronger force in the shortest time and potentially dominate the entire underworld of the Bear Tribe. For a bandit like Blood Wolf, who lived on the edge every day, death and sacrifice meant nothing. In his eyes, money was the only thing in this world worth trusting.

However, Blood Wolf was an experienced bandit who had weathered many storms. He understood that the enemy's surrender must be part of some plan or due to unavoidable circumstances preventing them from continuing the fight. If this were an ordinary robbery, Blood Wolf wouldn't have given them any chance to surrender. But now, the allure of the treasure was too great, compelling him to take the risk.

Even in the face of such a valuable prize, Blood Wolf didn't lose his basic vigilance. After a brief moment of thought, he activated the external communicator and shouted, "You little brats from the Lion-Tiger Clan, if you want to surrender, point your anti-gravity cannons and magnetic cannons to the sky and step out of the vehicle obediently. Otherwise, I'll show you what it feels like to fly!"

Blood Wolf's demand was exactly what Mels and the others had anticipated. Without further ado, Mels ordered Kaslo and the others to aim the main cannons skyward. Then, nodding at Green Hair, he gently opened the vehicle door and was the first to step out.

Watching Mels and the others file out of the vehicle, Blood Wolf finally felt a weight lift from his heart. He knew that with his men surrounding them, the enemy was trapped like a rat in a trap, with no hope of escape. After quietly instructing his comrades, ordering five vehicles to spread out for perimeter defense and the remaining six to encircle Mels and the others, Blood Wolf stepped out of his vehicle with a fierce expression. He stood about fifteen meters away from Mels, scrutinizing these "Lion-Tiger Clan" brats who had cost him so dearly.

Besides Blood Wolf, about twenty other wolf-headed Sub-Humans surrounded Mels. Unlike Blood Wolf, these wolf-men wielded metal weapons of varying lengths—particle beam guns, as Mels knew them. Though these beam guns couldn't compare to the anti-gravity or magnetic cannons mounted on vehicles, their power was enough to pierce through metal and stone at a distance of two to three kilometers. Beyond their formidable power, their firing speed far surpassed that of crossbows or arrows in the human world. Even with Mels and his companions' agility, they couldn't guarantee dodging so many beams fired at such close range. Perhaps confident of his victory, Blood Wolf swaggered forward a few steps and said to Mels, "I never thought a few little brats like you could cost me most of my elite forces. Heh, hand over the item. Otherwise, I can't guarantee my brothers' weapons won't accidentally discharge!"

Mels knew full well that the enemy's goal was the "treasure" in their possession. If he told them now that the treasure wasn't on him or refused to hand it over, these ruthless bandits would surely kill them all and search their bodies afterward. Mels dared to step out and face these bandits precisely because he understood their psychology. Calmly, he replied, "Big brother over there, what you want is in the vehicle behind me. But I'm afraid you won't be able to get it!"

Mels' words immediately caused a stir among the bandits. Several rough and reckless bandits howled and raised their guns, as if ready to finish off Mels and the others on the spot. However, Blood Wolf's eyes narrowed, and he waved his hand to stop his men. With a sinister expression, he said, "Kid, what trick are you trying to pull? Do you really think you can escape from my grasp?"

Seeing Blood Wolf speak up, Mels knew he had gained the upper hand. Suppressing his inner excitement, he said leisurely, "Of course I know you won't let us go, but... I believe you won't kill us." As he spoke, Mels pulled out a small black metal box from his chest, his right thumb resting on the red button atop it. He continued, "A few days ago, a Bear Tribe general gave me this little box and told me to deliver it to the Prime Minister in the Bear Tribe capital. Though I'm not the brightest, I know this isn't an easy task—it could cost me my head. So, the Bear Tribe general gave me something else. He said as long as I had this, no one would dare trouble us on the road."

After saying this, Mels looked at Blood Wolf with a half-smile and added, "The Bear Tribe general only told me this is called a 'particle oscillation bomb.' I have no idea what it is. Do you know, big brother?"

Upon hearing Mels' words, the previously fierce wolf bandits turned pale with fright. Several timid bandits even began to retreat, as if deeply wary of the "particle oscillation bomb" Mels mentioned. It wasn't just the lesser bandits; even Blood Wolf was utterly shocked that Mels could mention such a terrifying thing so casually.

On this land of Sub-Humans, everyone knew the power of the particle oscillation bomb. This weapon, used in ancient wars between the Federal People and Sub-Humans, had an apt nickname: "the extinction bomb." Once detonated, it could trigger chain shockwaves within a ten-kilometer radius, destroying all living beings in the area almost instantly. Since this weapon worked by inducing collisions between biological cells, it was the ultimate weapon for exterminating life and occupying land.

Due to its horrifying power in ancient wars, such weapons were rarely heard of on the continent today. Even among the major races, an unspoken agreement had been reached: no one would be the first to use such a weapon. Blood Wolf never imagined that these seemingly insignificant kids would possess such a terrifying thing, let alone that Mels would posture as if ready to detonate it at any moment.

Though terrified, Blood Wolf lived up to his reputation as the leader of the Wolf Tribe Bandits. Taking a deep breath, he suddenly burst into laughter, using it to suppress his men's fear. Mels remained silent, as if waiting for Blood Wolf to speak first. Sure enough, after laughing wildly for a while, Blood Wolf suddenly drew his beam gun, aimed it at Mels, and roared, "You little brat! Do you think I'd believe your nonsense? The Bear Tribe is a major race, so I believe they might have particle oscillation bombs. But... for a mere border garrison commander to possess such a weapon and hand it over to you? That's simply unbelievable! Heh, kid, thinking you can make me let you go with such lies is pure wishful thinking!"

Watching Blood Wolf advance step by step, Mels remained unflustered. In truth, Mels had no such powerful weapon; everything about the particle oscillation bomb was something he'd learned from the media a few days ago, now used to intimidate Blood Wolf. However, Blood Wolf's reaction was within Mels' calculations. Still smiling, as if confident, Mels said, "Heh, what you think is up to you. But right now, you can only gamble on whether I have it or not!"

Though Blood Wolf believed it more likely that Mels didn't have the particle oscillation bomb, he felt cold sweat forming on his forehead. Despite being a ruthless figure in the underworld for years, when faced with a choice involving his own life, he couldn't make a firm decision. The instinct to cherish one's life is perhaps the most basic ability of every living being.

Time passed quietly. Mels, holding the metal box, and Blood Wolf, aiming his gun, stood in silence, staring each other down as if hoping to spot a flaw in the other's expression. However, Blood Wolf was ultimately disappointed. Mels' demeanor was too relaxed, so relaxed that Blood Wolf couldn't pull the trigger.

"Fine, you win. Hand over the treasure the Bear Tribe gave you, and I promise to let you go!" Blood Wolf finally said in a low voice.

"Haha, big brother, do you think I'm that naive? Do you really believe I'd fall for a trick meant for a three-year-old? Heh, if I hand over the treasure now, I probably won't make it eleven kilometers before your long-range fire blows me to pieces!" After hearing Blood Wolf's words, Mels burst into wild laughter before speaking contemptuously.

Blood Wolf seemed deeply insulted by Mels' words, his face turning livid as he roared, "You little brat, don't push your luck! On this continent, anyone who knows my name, Blood Wolf, knows I keep my word! Now, if I say I'll let you go, I will! But don't think you can leave with the item. So many of my brothers have died; I need to give them an explanation. Otherwise, even if it means death, I won't back down!"

Looking at Blood Wolf's expression, Mels couldn't be sure how Blood Wolf would deal with them, but he knew that pushing him further might backfire and ruin the hard-won advantage. After a brief moment of thought, Mels loudly agreed to Blood Wolf's demand and readily pulled out another small box from his person.

After tossing the item to Blood Wolf, Mels explained that he didn't know how to open the box. Blood Wolf took a quick look and recognized it as a highly complex combination lock. Without another word, he tucked it into his chest, shot Mels a venomous glare, then waved for his men to return to their vehicles and prepare to leave the small plain.

Seeing the Wolf Tribe bandits boarding their vehicles, Mels didn't wait either. He quickly led his companions back into their vehicle. As soon as the door closed, Mels anxiously asked Green Hair, "How is it? Can we get out of their attack range in a short time?"

"Magnetic cannons may not match anti-gravity cannons in power, but their range is just as impressive. If they adjust to maximum power, they can accurately hit targets within fifteen kilometers. Heh, the only reason they're not firing now is their fear that we really have a particle oscillation bomb. Once they're more than ten kilometers away, they won't hesitate to shoot," Green Hair replied.

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's run! Isn't there a secondary propulsion system? Activate it so we can go faster!" Sol urged nervously upon hearing Green Hair's words.

"Silly Boy, what's the rush? No matter how fast the propulsion system is, it can't outrun a magnetic beam mid-flight. We can only wait for an opportunity—a chance to escape in an instant!" Green Hair said smugly before adding, "Since those bandits want to kill us, they'll definitely wait until they're ten kilometers away before firing. We'll wait until they're about to reach that distance, then suddenly activate the system. With the speed of the secondary propulsion system, even if they realize our intent, it'll take time for them to determine our speed and calculate the magnetic cannon's trajectory. That time will be enough for us to escape." After hearing Green Hair's explanation, everyone relaxed and returned to their posts, awaiting Green Hair's next command.

Just as Green Hair predicted, Blood Wolf had already planned to wipe out Mels and his group. Blood Wolf was no chivalrous bandit driven by loyalty, nor was he attacking to avenge his fallen comrades. He simply wanted to ensure his own safety and avoid unnecessary trouble. At the very least, Blood Wolf believed that if Mels and the others died, few in the world would know the treasure was now in his hands, allowing him to sell it at his leisure.

However, Blood Wolf was afraid of death and unwilling to risk his life. So, he ordered his men to both maximize the magnetic cannons' power and flee at full speed, determined to get out of the particle oscillation bomb's range before launching their attack.

Ten kilometers was only a few minutes at full speed for Float Cars. But just as Blood Wolf was about to escape the bomb's range, his electronic reconnaissance officer reported that the Float Car carrying Mels and the others was racing south at a speed beyond expectations.

Blood Wolf hurriedly opened the electronic reconnaissance system. Watching the bright spot on the screen rapidly recede, his face turned pale, then flushed. After a long moment, he gritted out through clenched teeth, "You little brats, you got away fast this time. Don't let me catch you again, or else..." By now, Blood Wolf was certain Mels had no particle oscillation bomb. However, facing the high-speed Float Car, he knew pursuit was impossible. All he could do was vent his frustration with empty threats before ordering his men to return to their base.

Meanwhile, Mels and the others, learning through their reconnaissance equipment that Blood Wolf wasn't giving chase, cheered loudly. Having narrowly escaped death at the hands of ruthless bandits, they all felt as if they'd been reborn. Though they didn't know what dangers lay ahead, this victory was a testament to their unity and effort.

Bathed in the excitement of victory, Mels never imagined that his forced decision to step out and negotiate had spared them even greater danger in the future. The two other major forces originally lying in ambush at the southern mountain pass, upon learning that Mels and the others had faced Blood Wolf in negotiations and left unscathed, immediately concluded that the item Mels carried had fallen into Blood Wolf's hands. To prevent Blood Wolf from disappearing under their noses, the leaders of both forces issued identical orders: "Abandon pursuit of the escaping Float Car. Focus all efforts on tracking down the Wolf Tribe bandits and their accomplices." Thus, Mels and the others were completely out of danger, with only the open road to the Bear Tribe capital ahead.

Setting aside how the bandit organizations went about hunting down the Wolf Tribe bandits, Mels and his group, having broken free from the encirclement, crossed the southern mountain pass of Yakesai by dawn the next day and entered the great plain leading to the Bear Tribe capital. As their map indicated, from the mountain pass all the way to the Bear Tribe capital, the terrain was flat plains. Even in these vast lands, a Float Car would need three days to reach the capital. However, what puzzled Mels and the others most was the scarcity of villages in the Sub-Human world. It seemed these Sub-Humans didn't rely on farming for sustenance. Most Sub-Humans preferred to gather in large cities, and even on the roads near the capital, merchant caravans were rarely seen.

After several days of travel, by the evening of the fourth day, Mels and the others arrived at the Bear Tribe Sub-Humans' capital, Mofalak—the largest city located at the center of Bear Tribe territory. As they had guessed, Mofalak was even more prosperous and expansive than Yakesai City. The six massive metal towers surrounding the city alone could rival Yakesai in scale.

"Green Hair, what are those things?" Sol asked, grabbing the "know-it-all" Green Hair and pointing at the faint green glow gradually becoming visible in the sky above approaching Mofalak.

"Stinky kid, you should have some basic manners when asking for advice," Green Hair grumbled, freeing himself from Sol's grip before calmly explaining, "That glow comes from the six tall towers around the city. Their function is to prevent beam weapons from directly attacking the city, much like city walls in your human world—they're defensive structures. Sub-Human technology isn't much different from the Federation's, so having such defensive weapons isn't surprising."

"Defensive weapons? So, does that mean beam weapons can't be used inside Mofalak?" Kaslo asked, puzzled.

"Of course not. These defensive weapons are only for external defense; they have no effect internally. However, once these defenses are activated, those inside also can't fire beam weapons outward," Green Hair explained.

"Green Hair, I've always wondered, how do you know so much? Were you originally from the Federation too?" Mels suddenly asked. His question immediately caught everyone's attention. After all, throughout their journey, Green Hair's displayed knowledge had amazed them, making them even more curious about his origins.

"Heh! Finally, someone smart here," Green Hair said smugly. "I am indeed from the Federation, and not even a hundred years ago, I was still living there. So, these little gadgets of the Sub-Humans aren't anything strange to me. However, I can't tell you about my origins yet. Once you reach the Federation, I believe you'll eventually learn everything. For now, you should focus on how to enter Mofalak! From what I remember, defensive walls are extremely energy-consuming and are only activated during emergencies. Looking at the current situation, all six defensive walls are up, meaning the entire city is under lockdown with no way in."

Though Green Hair's words were clearly meant to divert their attention, Mels knew that if Green Hair didn't want to talk, they wouldn't get the answers they sought. So, Mels gently stopped Sol from asking further with a look and suddenly said, "Green Hair, from what you're saying, these defensive walls are only activated during major events requiring martial law or national defense?"

"Exactly! I think something major must have happened in the Bear Tribe capital; otherwise, they wouldn't activate a defense system that blocks everyone from entering or leaving. It seems we won't be able to..." Before Green Hair could finish, a plume of thick smoke suddenly rose near Mofalak City in the distance, and the pale green glow in the northwest direction dimmed significantly. Moments later, a fleet of about a dozen Float Cars frantically rushed out of the city, fleeing south as if for their lives.

"The defensive wall has been breached! Mels, we need to leave immediately, or we'll be caught in the conflict!" Green Hair urged anxiously.

However, Green Hair's warning didn't faze Mels and the others. As everyone quickly returned to their positions, Mels declared, "Our goal is to reach the western desert. To enter Eagle Clan territory now, we must first get into Mofalak. Since the defensive wall has been breached, this is our only chance! Everyone, shut down all power systems. We'll wait quietly here and see if we can slip into the city." Mels' plan aligned with everyone else's thoughts, except for Green Hair, who shook his bird head, muttering something under his breath.

Mels and the others had no time to worry about Green Hair's complaints. Except for Akafir, who managed the reconnaissance system, everyone else shut down the power systems under their control. Instantly, the faint hum of machinery ceased, and even the vehicle's lights switched to the dim green emergency fluorescence.

After completing their tasks, everyone gathered behind Akafir, quietly observing the external situation displayed on the sensors. A fierce chase was now unfolding near Mofalak City. The dozen or so Float Cars that had initially fled the city were being pursued by a force ten times their size. Seemingly to protect someone important, nearly ten of the fleeing cars slowed down, forming a crescent-shaped defensive line as if preparing to turn and engage. The pursuing vehicles remained calm, shifting from a single-file formation into three triangular formations. The left and right flanks accelerated to bypass the blocking enemy, while the center charged forward, poised to break through.

Even before the two forces made contact, deafening explosions echoed through the external sensors. In just the first clash, three bright spots vanished from the reconnaissance screen in front of Akafir from the ten cars making a desperate stand. Clearly, the pursuers, with their overwhelming numbers, could almost completely suppress the other side's firepower with absolute force.

"This kind of resistance is useless! The enemy has too many numbers. Staying put to defend will only waste your already limited strength without achieving anything. Turn back to protect your master. When the enemy closes in, leave one vehicle to delay them, gradually increasing the distance and speed difference. Only then might more people escape!" Mels suddenly whispered.

Sympathizing with the underdog is human nature. Though they didn't know who was right or wrong, unconsciously, Mels and the others had sided with the fleeing party.

However, no matter what Mels and the others thought, the fleeing Bear Tribe warriors couldn't hear them and certainly wouldn't adjust their tactics accordingly. As the two forces drew closer on the reconnaissance screen, the rate at which the bright spots disappeared accelerated. A brief but intense battle ended in less than three minutes, with the ten defending vehicles completely wiped out.

Watching the two forces gradually move away on the sensors, Akafir turned to Mels and asked, "Boss, what now? Do we stay here or head toward Mofalak City?"

"Let's go. Though we don't know what's happening in Mofalak, we must stick to our plan. We'll try our luck at the city gates; maybe we can get in," Mels said after a moment's thought.

Upon Mels' command, Akafir, with Green Hair's assistance, restarted the Float Car and began heading toward the northwest side of Mofalak, where the defensive wall seemed weaker. They were still about fifteen kilometers from the city, but as soon as they entered the ten-kilometer range, the external communication device emitted a series of urgent beeps.

"This is the Mofalak City Garrison Command Center. You have entered the city's restricted zone. Halt immediately and identify yourselves, or you will be attacked! I repeat, identify yourselves immediately, or you will be attacked!" The voice from the communicator was urgent and stern, as if Mels and the others would be fired upon if they took another step forward.

Hearing this, Mels knew they couldn't afford to provoke the other side now. With a slight wave to Akafir, he activated the communicator, cleared his throat, and said, "My apologies. We come from Yakesai City in the south. Under orders from General Lubit, commander of the Third Army garrisoned at Yakesai, we have come to the capital to request an audience with Duke Master. We have urgent matters to report to His Grace."

"Please remain where you are. I will notify the commander immediately," the voice replied before cutting the communication. Gently setting down the communicator, Mels frowned. From the Bear Tribe soldiers' efficient and decisive handling of the situation, it was clear the capital's garrison was very different from Yakesai's warriors. It seemed their plan to bluff their way through would be difficult to pull off.

Perhaps realizing the severity of the situation, the communicator rang again shortly afterward: "You are now cleared to enter the royal capital. Please deactivate all weapon energy systems before entering. Please note that your vehicle's energy system operation is under the surveillance of the control center. Do not make any suspicious moves. I repeat, before entering the royal capital, deactivate all weapon energy systems!" Hearing the commanding tone, Mels offered no reply and immediately ordered everyone to disarm the floating combat vehicle's weapon systems. Under Mels' personal control, the vehicle slowly began moving toward the designated small floating combat vehicle passage on the northwest side.

Perhaps seeing Mels' sincerity, as they approached the entrance to the passage, the faint green light enveloping it completely dissipated, allowing Mels and the others to proceed unimpeded. However, as they ventured deeper into the passage, the sight outside the window made everyone gasp in shock, and they couldn't help but feel grateful they hadn't recklessly forced their way in earlier.

The narrow passage could only accommodate four floating combat vehicles side by side. Yet, at that moment, two dense rows of floating combat vehicles were parked along both sides of the passage. Even by visual estimation, there were over a hundred vehicles. These floating combat vehicles were much larger than the one Mels and the others were riding in, so the two rows occupied three lanes, leaving only a narrow gap in the middle for Mels' vehicle to pass through. Approximately a thousand burly Bear Clan sub-human soldiers were bustling around the vehicles, clearly replenishing energy and other supplies. Even more soldiers stood guard, holding various light and heavy beam weapons, their vigilant eyes fixed on Mels' vehicle, ready to attack at the slightest sign of trouble.

"Whoa, are they preparing for war? If I had a force like this under my command, I could probably conquer the entire continent in just a few days!" Sol exclaimed, marveling at the scene before him.

However, as soon as Sol spoke, Green Hair immediately stopped him: "Kid, shut your mouth. We're in their territory now. Every move we make could be under their surveillance. If we slip up, we're done for!"

Though annoyed by Green Hair's warning, Sol knew that Green Hair had more authority here than he did, so he said nothing more. Instead, after Green Hair turned away, he stuck out his tongue in a silent show of frustration.

After traveling about a hundred meters through the passage, a small red vehicle appeared ahead of Mels and the others. It didn't approach but instead slowly drove in front of them. On its rear seat, a person held a red light stick, waving it left and right to signal to Mels and the others.

"Mels, they're guiding us forward. Just follow them slowly!" Green Hair whispered.

Hearing Green Hair's words, Mels nodded slightly and gradually matched his speed with the small vehicle ahead. Perhaps realizing that Mels and the others understood their signal, the Bear Clan soldier on the rear seat put down the guiding light stick and began to speed up, leading the way.

After traveling about a kilometer through the passage under the guidance of the small vehicle, Mels and the others finally entered Mofalak City. Although Mofalak was the royal capital of the Bear Clan, its architectural layout was quite similar to that of Yakesai. Aside from a small palace at the city center, the entire city was structured around four main roads running east-west and north-south, supplemented by various smaller streets, dividing the city into different sections.

Just like in human kingdoms, the buildings closer to the central palace in Mofalak were more lavishly constructed, clearly indicating that the residents were high-ranking officials and nobles. Although Duke Master's mansion was also located within this area of opulent buildings, Mels and the others first had to report to the garrison command headquarters. It was certain that until their identities were fully verified, the soldiers at the garrison command would not allow them to move freely within the city.

It was only after entering the city that Mels and the others learned what the Bear Clan soldiers had planned for them. Though somewhat surprised by all this, Mels' earlier claim about their identity was genuine, so they weren't worried about any mishaps. The Mofalak City Garrison Command was located in the northern part of the city. Though not particularly large in area, it was situated in a quiet and secluded environment. The barbed wire barriers set up thousands of meters around the command headquarters made it clear that this was a military restricted zone. Once Mels and the others entered, any attempt at resistance would become extremely difficult. Following the small vehicle, they parked in front of a yellow building and were guided by alert soldiers to the top floor. Though it was only a three-story building, it was heavily guarded, with sentries posted every few steps, as if facing a formidable enemy.

Seeing the tense Bear Clan soldiers casting wary glances at them, Mels remained calm. After all, he knew his current identity was that of the Lion-Tiger Clan, and arriving in the royal capital during a period of unrest made it difficult to avoid suspicion from the Bear Clan soldiers. At that moment, Mels was most concerned about how to explain their purpose to the Bear Clan soldiers. Although he knew the confidential box contained nothing, he had no idea how Duke Master would react upon receiving it. If Duke Master mistakenly believed Mels and the others had hidden the contents, explaining the situation would be a real headache for Mels.

However, Mels' thoughts were soon interrupted. When three fully armed Bear Clan soldiers led the group to the meeting room on the top floor, they left immediately, only giving a brief order for everyone to enter the meeting room before departing. Though unsure who awaited them inside, Mels understood they could only take things one step at a time. Without hesitation, he steeled himself and led his companions through the metal door that opened with a sound.

"Brave young men of the Lion-Tiger Clan, I have been waiting for you for a long time. You truly are the elites Lubit selected. Even with all the continent's thief organizations intercepting you, it seems nothing could stop you." As soon as they entered the meeting room, an old yet warm voice echoed in Mels' and the others' ears.