Once the others were settled, Jared vanished, dashing deeper into the mountain range. With Bastian no longer slowing down, moved like a blur.
Before long, two cities came Into view, straddling the mountain range. They spanned its width like twin gates, with only a narrow passage between them.
At the sight of this, Jared’s suspicions deepened.
That small city at the top of the range was clearly important, more so than even the main city where Jovan resided. These two cities were clearly there to protect it.
The cities teemed with soldiers. Massive discs were mounted on each gate, though Jared couldn’t tell what they were for. The cities’ size and strength far surpassed any others they’d encountered. And there was no way around them. Dozens of soldiers patrolled the skies, the security tight as a drum.
After observing for a while, Jared quietly retreated.
“How did it go? Once we get past this, will we reach the other beast races’ domain?” Eason asked when Jared returned.
Jared shook his head, his expression grim. “There are two more cities ahead blocking the way. We’ll have to pass through them.”
“Can’t we go around?” Madman asked.
“No… We have to pass through them. If we can’t, we’ll have to turn back, and we’ll definitely run right into whoever’s chasing us.”
“What are these two cities like? Can we move through them unnoticed?” Eason asked, concerned.
“It won’t be easy to get through them. There are tens of thousands of soldiers inside,” Jared said. “All we can hope for is that their communication lines are bad. If we’re lucky, we can slip through before they realize who we are.”
After all, they were all part of the beast race, so it was only natural for them to come and go through the city gates frequently. Still, Jared was worried that Jovan might’ve already sent word about them. If that were the case, they’d be recognized the moment they showed their faces.
“Let’s give it a shot, but be ready for a fight!” Eason nodded in agreement, and the four of them made their way toward the two cities.
As they approached, they saw rows of soldiers standing tall atop the gates, each one exuding a stern presence and an icy aura. Jared took a deep breath and headed straight for the gate.
“Hold it right there!” A squad of soldiers stopped them abruptly, the captain’s voice cold. “Where are you coming from?”
“We came from the main city. Just hoping to meet some friends,” Jared answered smoothly.
As spoke, casually pulled out a bag of celestial coins, hoping to grease the wheels with a bribe.
That trick had always worked in the mundane world. But the moment the coins appeared, the captain’s face darkened, his brows knitting together.
“Who are you people? Surround them!”
Whoosh!
In an instant, Jared and the others were encircled by soldiers. Jared was caught off guard, not quite sure what the captain had misunderstood.
Was the bribe too small?
“You think I’m short, changing you? No worries, I’ve got more. Here, take this, and split It with your squad…”
He offered another bag of celestial coins. But the captain’s face twisted in fury.
“Are you trying to insult me? You’re definitely not from Winged Tiger City. Who are you really?” The captain drew his weapon without hesitation.
“Jared, that’s not how the beast race does things! You’re basically slapping in the face.” Even Madman was momentarily stunned by Jared’s move.
