Chapter 78: Allies
Chapter 78: Allies
The city they were walking towards came closer until they were standing in front of the massive monstrosity of the white veil.
The black-haired guy stopped and after sighing he turned around to Lia and involuntarily held out his hand, "Take it."
Lia knew she had to be close to him in order not to get lost and get inside Rag. She took his hand and with a swoop, he instantly entered the veil not wanting to waste a second, as if holding Lia's hand was like poison corroding him any second he made contact with her.
Lia felt slightly offended but she disregarded it as his actions were understandable after what she did.
He steadfast walked through the veil occasional taking a few turns despite there being nothing. Lia wondered if he wasn't just walking in a circle or square but soon her worries diminished as the outlines of the city buildings crept closer.
Once the sight was in their grasp, he instantly let go of Lia's hands and walked in front of her without giving her a glance or making sure she was properly following him.
Rag was a city not any different from the one Lia was previously in. If not, it was seemed even more desolate and abandoned. Even the city centre had almost no people walking around and only a few shops were open.
Lia couldn't get used to this, but the guy was unfazed and strode to the city centre without even batting his eyes.
The city centre was a little square surrounded by a few shops and a small plaza with three benches. The trees' futile attempt to lit up this place brought a bit of variation but that was about it.
There was absolutely no one there apart from the store clerks and no indication for Lia to find the D family. Only the guy was her last hope.
"Here. This is Rag."
With that, he wanted to leave. Lia was in a dilemma. Should she ask him or should she wait for Xavi and Lily to arrive before they embark on the mission together?
However, Lia was the one who would become the Immortal King so it was her task to get the allies and grow, she couldn't always rely on others. The allies wouldn't follow Xavi but they had to follow her. And in order to gain someone's trust, she needed to take action herself.
"Thank you, can-"
"No," the guy immediately shot down any opportunity for Lia to approach him again.
Surprisingly, he turned around to look at her before his glazed eyes left her again, "Don't follow me. You're annoying."
He had to make sure Lia got the message across. Lia was a bit stunned, it sounded like a sulking child who was upset about something.
Now with him gone, Lia had no chance to ask him anymore. She decided to explore the city and return to the city centre later in hopes that maybe Xavi or Lily would be present.
The difference between Rag and the other city in the Veil was that it was considerably bigger. It was at least twice the size and its layout reminded that of the capital with the city being sectioned into different areas.
The white veil surrounded Rag like a circle and bordering the white veil was the so-called outskirts. From the outskirts to the city, there was a small forest cutting it off. The outskirts were a place that no one wanted to go near, especially not since it was so close to the white veil.
Lia ventured around and saw nothing out of the ordinary. The sandy street with the houses which windows and doors were all closed and shut provided lacklustre all across the city. Soon, it was noon and the sun made its way to the highest point in the sky, trying its best to shine upon Rag despite the white veil making everything gloomier.
Suddenly, loud bells announced midday from the tall building next to the city centre. Its cheerful sound awoke the whole city.
As if someone pressed a button, several doors of the houses opened and people smiling came out and greeted each other. They strolled around the streets and made their way to the city centre or parks or any other locations. Some of them went to the houses of the others.
Some shouted and scolded their kids as they ran out and started playing on the streets obstructing others, some scurried around suspiciously and some happily gambled.
It was out of Lia's expectations to see a city this bright in the Veil, as if they didn't see the white monstrosity towering over their city, as if they didn't care about the Lord and his games. It was a normal city like any other in the Core yet this was what made Lia even more suspicious.
A pair of females, apparently mothers with their children, sat outside of their house and eagerly chatted when they saw Lia standing frozen in the middle of the street watching everyone.
"Young Lady!" they called out and waved at her with a big smile to come closer to them. Lia hesitated but moved forward to greet them.
"Hello," Lia gave them a warm smile.
They instantly gushed about how pretty she was, "Oh my, what a wonderful girl! Are you a visitor?"
"Oh," Lia was instantly found out, "How do you know? Do you have visitors often?"
The mothers laughed and shook their heads, "It's not often someone comes to the city of Rag, sadly. You seem to know about the circumstances in the Veil, you are surprised right?"
"Very much so, I didn't expect Rag to be so"
"Normal, right?" one mother finished Lia's sentence and nodded knowingly, "We were lucky to have the family here to take care of us. Since the Veil has been reformed five years ago, it's the family that has been allowing us to live freely."
"The family? Do you mean the D family?" if it was the hidden family then it would make sense. They might have enough authority to hold their own against the Lord and even the Ghost King.
However, it was also strange. If it was the D family and they controlled Rag wouldn't Min immediately spot them and know they were one of the hidden families? Wasn't that too risky?
"D family? What's that? No, no, my dear it's the Lord's family!"
"The Lord?" Lia was stunned.
The same Lord of this area who teleported people to games or was this another Lord? Lia lost her sense of direction and wasn't sure if she entered a new area with the black-haired guy or if it was the same as before when they were in the cave.
"Yes, I know you might be worried, but it's fine because the Lord here is very nice, you should go and meet him!"
"Can I?"
"Of course, of course!" the mothers then proceeded to tell Lia the way to the Lord's mansion.
Lia thanked them and walked to the city centre to head to the outskirts on the other side of where she was currently. It might be suspicious how welcoming they were and how they were eager for her to meet the Lord. It could be a trap but right now with nothing else helping her to locate the D family, Lia thought to try to meet the Lord.
There was no harm in it as long as the Lord was as nice and welcoming as the people here let on. On the way to the city centre, many people walked through the streets or headed the same way. Lia didn't feel out of place in a busy city like this. It felt rather comfortable than walking around in a city that was empty or had people hidden and locked behind their doors.
The city centre that was desolate this morning was now blossoming with people and cheerful chatters. They lined up for the stores and shops and crowded the little square with the trees that provided shadows for people to sit under and eat their food.
All in all, it was a sunny bright day, perfect for people to enjoy.
Lia paid them no heed and walked past the city centre heading towards the outskirts. Once she arrived at the forest and crossed it she came across a vibrant land with a large mansion posing itself as a treasure being revered by the white veil behind it.
The ground before the mansion was of stone and stone stairs led up to the mansion built on a low plateau. It almost looked like a mini palace with how elegant and majestic it was.
There were no guards in front of the mansion and Lia decided to walk up the stairs and knock on the red large doors of this place.
Her knock was loud and imposing before it fell on silence. Only a while later, the doors opened and a servant bowed and greeted Lia, "Welcome, what is the guest here for?"
The servant wore a tall black hat and a light blue robe, seeing him Lia couldn't help but deepen her impression that this was like a palace and she had the audacity to request an audience with the king.
"I would like to meet the Lord," yet this opportunity was one Lia couldn't let slip between her fingers.
"Do you have an appointment?"
"No."
"Then unfortun-"
"However, I have something important to discuss with the Lord here. I came from outside the Veil," Lia didn't have anything really important to discuss but if the Lord here was benevolent, she could at least try to get some information from him.
"I will inform the Lord, please follow me," the servant bowed again and led Lia through the big entrance hall decorated in a red carpet through a hallway with a similar red carpet to a room with a dining table.
"Please wait here," the servant closed the door and Lia sat alone in the room full of golden cutlery.
This mansion here was a stark contrast to the one of the Lord she had to play hide and seek with. This here was marvellous and gave off the feeling that the Lord was very rich.
Lia really wanted to see who this Lord was and if he could live up to her expectations. Several minutes later the servant came back, "I have to apologise, the Lord is currently not available, however, if you wish you could speak to his son."
"That's also fine, if you could," even if it was the son, it was quite beneficial to Lia.
"Then please," the servant made way and from the door came a familiar person.
Two blank faces met each other.
Lia didn't want to express what she felt just as he didn't either. He just opened his mouth and closed it again before chocking out a single word, "You."