Emperor's Reckoning

"Myriad Devils eh, that's some aggressive naming," Lyon chuckled.

"Their battle power has marginally lessened ever since your era," Cecile shook her head.

"No kidding, it's embarrassing," said Lyon as he shrugged his shoulder. "The other part of the Mortal World is focusing too much on cultivation level, they turned stupid. In this part, they at least honed their skill by constantly being exposed to life and death situations."

Cecile smiled, "But being born with superb financial does help tremendously though, whether the environment is stupid or not."

"I'm not saying that it won't help, I mean, they chug on pills to get stronger like its steroids or something," Lyon shrugged.

"What?" Cecile raised her brows.

"Lyon, what's a steroid?" asked Luna.

"I doubt you would understand even if I told you," Lyon raised his chin a bit before laughing out loud.

"Seems like it's a place of wonder," Cecile remarked.

"It is indeed, bizarre even, but it has its own problems," Lyon smirked.

"We are nearing the first checkpoint," said Assid.

"Good to hear," said Lyon as he saw dusk could come at any moment from the horizon. "It's still quite far though, are you sure the horses are fine?"

"The horses are fine, young master," said Assid. "I have used them the way you taught me how to."

"Great, hahaha," Lyon laughed. "It's better if we sleep at the first checkpoint and let the horses rest and ate, after all, they've been running straight."

Graham grunted, "It seems like it won't be as easy."

"Huh?" Lyon raised his brows before he stuck his head out of the blinders between Graham and Assid. "Oh, they're not going to let us pass through that easily?"

"It seems like they want our ATs, after all, we don't have status to show," said Lumina.

"Heh, let the horse canter slower Assid," said Lyon.

Assid nodded, "At once, young master."

The adventurers standing guard at the first checkpoint furrowed their brows.

"Why are they slowing down?" one adventurer muttered before he placed his palm on top of the sword he carried around his waist as he raised his chin.

"Heh, are they trying to make some trouble?" smirked another adventurer as he waited until he could clearly see the horses' eyes. "Oi you two, you're looking pretty suspicious right now, you're not selling some nasty stuff inside that carriage, right?"

"We don't," said Graham. "We are just travelers."

"You mean vagrant adventurers?" one of them raised his brows before all of them laughed. "C'mon, you're going to Myriad Devils here, you can't even see the town from here, yet."

"Do you have a merchant permit?" asked one of the adventurers.

"We are not going there to sell anything," said Assid.

"Then you're entering the Myriad Devils as vagrant adventurers, you know what that means right?" the adventurer smirked as he opened his palm. "Now then, how many are there inside that carriage?"

"I have to pay to visit my sister-in-law? Well, well, looks like I have to play a part of a bully here," Lyon smirked.

The adventurers immediately raised their brows before their faces turned scowling. "I don't appreciate your tone, in fact, we don't know what you're talking about in the first place. How about you come out of there and face me, I want to see the face that has a tone like that."

Lyon opened the carriage door and stepped outside with a smirk. He was the only one getting out with his arms crossed.

"Heh, who the fuck are you?" one of the adventurers laughed before his pupils shrunk. His lung deflated then he saw the ground approaching him. ( Huh?? ). His face was slammed against the steppe and a loud crack brought the cold frost toward the other adventurers' spines.

Graham let the back of the head go from his hand before he stood up straight. "I don't like the tone, you're using against my master, eat dirt."

The adventurers immediately took a step back altogether as they gulped.

"H-Hey! What are you doing?! Do you know what you've done?!" said one adventurer as he gulped.

"What?" Assid answered before he crouched down and grabbed the back of the head then threw the entire figure against the other adventurers to be caught.

The adventurers immediately caught the flying body, standing. His head had tilted down and his eyes didn't have any pupils in them. The man was unconscious with blood running down from his temples.

"Heh," Lyon smirked. "What's wrong, you seem a little scared, where did the gung-ho go?"

"W-Who are you?! Why are you doing this? Don't you know that you would make the Guild Links your enemy?! You're inviting trouble that you can't handle!" shouted one adventurer.

"You're just putting a front, do you think that the Guild Link cares enough to avenge you? Besides, Graham here has avoided all fatal injuries to your friend, he merely bleeds, like a child that tripped over and bruise its sheen and knees, no need to be a worry-rat," said Lyon as he shrugged his shoulder.

"Kh?!" the adventures had no words to reply as a flash flood of thought flush their mind. Their status, their ranks, what did they mean to Guild Links? They were here to guard the checkpoint, merely a guard. They were nothing compared to the high-leveled elites that regularly explored the new areas and got celebrated.

"Open the way for me, and when you see a luxurious carriage with a flame symbol engraved on the door, stopped him and tell them that I, said Hi," said Lyon with a smirk. "Don't worry, he understands."

Cecile stepped out of the carriage before calmly standing next to Lyon, "I'm sorry for my husband's rough behavior, but we'll be taking a rest at this checkpoint and the next."

"No need to apologize, Cecile," said Lyon. "They wanted to squeeze my wallet dry, but little do they know that I've spent it already."

"You what?" Cecile turned before Lyon felt his ears turn stiff from the jolt of her tone.

"I-I'm just joking," said Lyon as he steps away and had a wry smile before he sighed. "Fine, I give all of it to Assid since he is better at spending it than me."

"That's right, young miss," Assid bowed. "I have it with me."

"That's a wise decision," Cecile nodded before he faced the group of adventurers. "We'll be resting here, I hope that there is no disturbance?"

Tha adventurers immediately shook their heads altogether, well, all of them except the one that they were carrying.

"Alright, don't forget about my message," said Lyon before he stretched his arms out to the sky.

Luna, Lumina, and Kesya stepped out of the carriage as Assid proceeded to take the carriage to suitable parking. He undid the straps on the horses before feeding them with fruits he had prepared.

The adventurers could only watch them going for the cottages that were prepared for adventurers and merchants alike. The place was regularly maintained and occasionally a firefly or two would hover over the little settlement.

The night then continued as the adventurers were still at the post. Their unconscious friend was resting inside a nearby camp before one of them noticed another carriage coming toward them. The flare of the Flame Guild insignia immediately brought their brows to the ceiling.

Di was inside with his legs crossed on top of the other and his hands clasped.

"Sir Di, we are arriving at the first checkpoint, do we continue or do you want to take a break?" asked the driver up front.

"We continue," said Di. "We can rest at our destination, no need to rest here."

"Affirmative... though..."

"Hm? What's wrong?"

"It seems like the ones guarding the post wanted to stop us?"

"That's odd," said Di with his brows furrowed. "Fine, let's hear what they want to say first, don't be aggressive."

"Yes sir!" said the driver.

The luxurious carriage was pulled with the now cantering horses before it stopped right at the first checkpoint. The group of adventurers immediately surrounded the driver as one of them said.

"Good evening, sorry to bother you, may I have a word with the one inside the carriage?" said one of the adventurers.

"That's an odd request, but sadly, I need to speak with Sir Di first."

"Di?!" most adventurers exclaimed with their eyes opened wide.

"You want to speak to me?" the door opened before revealing the figure.

( It's him! In the flesh! ) thought the adventurers.

"Well? What do you want to talk about?" asked Di.

( Damn his presence is ever so terrifying!! ) thought one of the adventurers.

"W-We have a message."

"A message?" Di tilted his head.

"Y-Yes, that's right, he told us to tell you that he said Hi," said one of the adventurers.

"He? Who?" Di frowned.

"W-We don't know, b-but he and his party are currently settling inside the cottages," he gulped.

"Hmm," Di pondered before he rubbed his chin.

"What does he look like?" asked the driver.

"He looked like—?! There, there that's one of his fellows," said one of the adventurers in a low voice.

Di hovered his glance before his eyes turned sharp. He smiled.

"Huh?" The adventurers were surprised by his smile but the latter turned to them.

"You must treat them with the utmost respect, especially the one that ordered the message, got that?"

The adventurer was stupefied but nodded nonetheless.

"I can see questions floating out of your head," Di chuckled, "Let's just say that I can't defeat him, that should be enough right?"

"Gh?!" the adventurers had their jaws slacking down in disbelief before one of them was handed over a pouch.

Di nodded, "This is for your trouble, remember, treat them with the utmost respect that you can, that's all."

Di left them baffled as the luxurious carriage hit the road once again.