- Fantasy Lord: Start with Daily Intelligence
- FLDI Chapter 128
After traveling over 1,500 miles from the Dressrosa family territory and passing through the Emerson family lands, Thor and his group finally arrived in Pat City on the fourteenth day of their journey.
Pat City was undeniably more prosperous than Loren City. From a distance, its towering gates were the first to catch everyone’s attention.
Seeing the grand gates, the group couldn’t help but feel a sense of relief from their journey’s fatigue.
“We’re here!” Marshall murmured.
“So, this is Pat City?” Anna asked, gazing at the large city ahead with bright, curious eyes.
“Let’s go inside,” Thor said with a smile, leading the group forward.
Soon, they reached the gates.
Like Loren City, Pat City’s gates were divided into different sections: one for commoners, one for merchants, and another reserved for nobles.
Naturally, Thor’s group used the noble passage.
Compared to the other entrances, the noble lane was far more efficient. The group quickly passed through the massive gates and entered Pat City.
Upon entering, Thor could feel the bustling vibrance of Pat City.
Knights in armor and nobles with emblems filled the streets, lined with shops displaying all kinds of signs and banners.
Even the already flourishing Loren City paled in comparison to this.
“Lord Morris, please take Young Master Thor to our residence. I’ll take care of the goods,” Marshall said quietly.
“Understood, Uncle Marshall,” Morris agreed, and the group split up.
Morris led Thor and a group of knights toward the center of Pat City.
As a count’s family, the Dressrosa family had several properties in Pat City, including a tavern, a weapons shop, and a large estate.
Soon, Morris led Thor to the Dressrosa family’s estate.
The estate was spacious enough to accommodate their entire group comfortably and was well-maintained by resident caretakers.
Once settled, Morris smiled at Thor.
“Thor, the auction doesn’t start until tomorrow. Let’s relax today. After dinner, I’ll take you around Pat City. It’s been years since you were last here, right?”
“Right, it’s been many years,” Thor replied with a smile, accepting the invitation.
Even his past self had visited Pat City only twice, with memories that were now somewhat hazy.
After a short rest, servants brought dinner.
They enjoyed a satisfying meal, easing the fatigue from nearly two weeks on the road. Later, Morris took Thor out for an evening tour of Pat City.
Pat City was enormous, at least three times the size of Loren City.
Thor estimated its population to be around 400,000 to 500,000, possibly ranking among the top three cities in the Tulip Kingdom.
Pat City was also filled with nobles.
Even a casual stroll revealed several nobles.
This was unsurprising.
In the Northern Province, aside from Marquis Layman and a few royal nobles, most noble lords stayed within their territories. Few appeared in Loren City.
But Pat City was different.
The Frost Moon Province was stable, with minimal upheaval, and Pat City offered more opportunities than individual territories, drawing many nobles to settle here.
“Thor, you might not know, but Pat City plans to expand again this year. Marquis Pat has decided to extend the city by another mile. It might even surpass the capital one day.”
“Another mile of expansion?”
“Yes, it’s a five-year plan. Even if it doesn’t reach the capital’s size, it’ll at least surpass Autumnleaf City.”
The two chatted while admiring the sights of Pat City.
As time passed, nightfall descended, and Pat City grew even livelier.
With no curfew, lights flickered to life, turning the city into a vibrant, sleepless metropolis.
Just as they were about to find a place to rest, a commotion erupted up ahead.
The disturbance quickly caught Morris and Thor’s attention.
Looking over, they saw a large crowd gathering nearby.
“Shall we go check it out?” Thor suggested with a smile.
“Sure!” Morris nodded, equally curious, and they moved toward the commotion.
Noticing the noble emblems worn by Thor and his group, the crowd parted to make way.
They soon reached the center and found the source of the commotion.
It was an arena.
Two figures were locked in fierce combat atop the stage.
One was a massive, muscular black bear, and the other, a large, grayish-blue wolf.
The bear, likely a Level 2 Great Strength Bear, boasted immense strength but was known for its sluggish reactions.
The grayish-blue wolf, also a Level 2 beast, was a Blue-Grey Wolf with exceptional agility but weaker physical strength.
“Finish him off!”
“Come on, Shock! Didn’t you eat?”
“Yeah, kill him!”
“Bite him!”
“Just like that!”
Shouts and cheers filled the air, with many faces around them flushed with excitement.
“What’s this?” Thor raised an eyebrow, surprised at the spectacle.
“Thor, it’s a beast fight!” Morris explained, unfazed. “Some nobles enjoy pitting their animals or magical beasts against each other. It can resolve disputes or simply serve as entertainment.”
Listening to Morris’s explanation, Thor became intrigued and began watching the fight closely.
The shouting around them grew louder.
Among the spectators were many nobles, and two young nobles on a platform above seemed to be getting increasingly enthusiastic.
On the stage, the two beasts’ eyes glowed red from rage.
“Boom!”
The bear’s massive paw slammed down, aiming for the Blue-Grey Wolf.
With a quick sidestep, the wolf dodged. In the next instant—
“Rrrrip!”
Blood sprayed as a chunk of flesh was torn from the Great Strength Bear’s hind leg.
“Argh!”
The bear let out a pained roar, growing more frenzied as it tried to slam the wolf again. But the wolf was too fast.
Unable to land a hit, the bear suffered more wounds each time the wolf struck.
Eventually, the bear could no longer stand.
With a heavy thud, it collapsed to the ground.
The Blue-Grey Wolf pounced on the bear, tearing into it savagely.
“Ah, lost again!”
“The Blue-Grey Wolf is too strong. Even early-stage Level 2 beasts can hardly match it.”
“Indeed!”
“No wonder it’s the Emerson family; that magical beast is indeed powerful.”
The murmurs among the crowd were filled with excitement, though some sounded disappointed as well.
Amidst the mix of cheers and sighs, people began to disperse.
Since the match was over, there was no reason to stay.
Meanwhile, the noble youth who controlled the Great Strength Bear had a dark look on his face.
“Emor, this time, you win!” he spat coldly. “But next time, you won’t be so lucky.”
With that, he ignored his defeated bear, still being torn apart, and stormed off the stage.
“Ervin, if I beat you this time, I’ll beat you again next time!” Emor laughed, brimming with confidence. “I’ll be waiting for you to keep sending food for Shock!”
But just as he reveled in his victory, Emor’s gaze shifted, his brows furrowing slightly.
In the crowd, he spotted Thor and Morris.
Nothing was unusual about the two, except the emblem on their chests—a spreading eagle, unmistakably the Dressrosa family crest. Emor’s eyes flickered with a hint of malice.
“Dressrosa…” he muttered softly, his cold expression transforming into a sly grin.
A pulse of mental energy shot from him, directing his wolf.
At that exact moment, the Blue-Grey Wolf, previously feasting on the bear, lifted its head, its eyes turning blood red as it locked onto Thor and Morris.
In an instant—
“Whoosh!”
The wolf launched itself toward Thor and his companions.
“Watch out!”
A panicked voice called out from the high platform. It was the young noble Emor, putting on a show of “alarm.”
But no one had time to notice him.
The sudden charge of the Blue-Grey Wolf caused chaos among the crowd, many of whom hadn’t yet dispersed.
“Damn it! The wolf’s out of control!”
“Run!”
“Look out!”
Shouts of fear erupted, and the scene quickly devolved into panic.
Morris’s expression shifted; he unsheathed his knight’s sword and stepped in front of Thor.
But before he could make his move, a foul wind came rushing toward him.
“Boom!”
The wolf’s massive fangs clashed with the knight’s sword, and Morris felt a tremendous force accompanied by a putrid smell.
“Ugh!”
Morris stumbled back, his face darkening.
“Thor, be careful! There’s something off about this wolf—it looks like it’s been fed a berserk potion!”
Morris’s voice was urgent and worried.
He hadn’t expected to encounter a magical beast rampage during a simple outing. Such events were rare, but here it was, and worse, the beast was enhanced by a berserk potion.
The wolf’s strength had clearly increased by another level.
Ordinarily, Morris would have been stronger than the wolf, especially since agility was the Blue-Grey Wolf’s strength, not raw power. But during that recent clash, he’d barely managed to fend it off.
“Hold on! Shock’s gone out of control!” the young noble called, his tone filled with “concern” and “fear.”
Morris, however, was too focused to care about him. His face tense, he drew on his life energy and prepared to defend himself fully.
Sensing the next strike, Morris tried to sidestep.
But it was a moment too late.
The Blue-Grey Wolf lunged at him, its sharp fangs targeting his neck.
“No!” Morris’s face paled, eyes flashing with fear.
But just as panic began to spread through him—
“Buzz!”
A ripple of energy surged forth, and suddenly, Morris felt an intense, icy coldness permeate the air.
His blood seemed to freeze.
The crazed Blue-Grey Wolf’s body stiffened, its lunge toward Morris halting in mid-air.
At that exact moment—
*“Swoosh!”*
A clean sound pierced the air, followed by a spray of crimson as the wolf’s massive, menacing head flew from its body.
Its large form collapsed lifelessly.
*Thud!*
Its body hit the ground with a dull thud.
Moments later, the head dropped from mid-air.
In that instant, silence fell over the entire area.
Morris stared, stunned by what had just happened, then instinctively turned to look at Thor, who had somehow unsheathed his knight’s sword without him noticing.
For a moment, Morris’s mind went blank.
In the distance, the young noble who had feigned “panic” froze, as did the previously frantic crowd.
The abrupt turn of events left everyone in shock, with eyes fixed on the young figure standing in their midst.
“Gulp…”
“One strike… just one strike!”
“So strong!”
“This… this!”
After a few seconds, someone murmured, breaking the silence.
But as people gradually processed what had happened, they noticed the familiar noble youth who had caused the commotion, and a few shuddered visibly.
“Let’s go!”
One quick-thinking onlooker murmured and hastened to leave.
Others, still dazed, remained rooted, staring at Thor with a mix of awe and exhilaration.
*(End of Chapter)*