The Beast Zone was the infamous borderland between the Duchies of Bradley and Alton. Yet hidden along its edge lay a narrow, relatively safe passage known as the Fiery Gates, a route often used by merchants and weak travelers. This was the destination Robin and Caesar sought.
Although its name sounded dangerous, it was still far better than dealing with the horrors of the Beast Zone itself. The two children had skirted the zone for several hundred miles, eventually reaching the safer road. But safety here applied only to beasts, not to humans.
Two mortal children carrying a large sack were little more than walking prey in the eyes of many. For that reason, Robin and Caesar relied on their wits to the utmost. They marched openly at noon, keeping to the crowded roads under the protection of public eyes, then vanished from sight for the rest of the day.
This strategy, combined with the long distance, greatly delayed their arrival. Nearly a month had passed before they finally reached the Fiery Gates. To their surprise, the "border" turned out to be nothing more than a small town with a crude sign at its entrance reading The Fiery—a sight that made Robin burst into laughter.
After a moment of thought, though, it made sense. Both duchies belonged to the Kingdom of the Black Sun; naturally, there would be no heavily fortified border between them. Robin stopped one of the street merchants."Uncle, how do we reach the capital of the duchy—the city where the Duke and his family reside?"
"You want to go to Bradley's Pearl City?" The man snorted, looking down on them. "Head northeast for two hundred miles. But don't get your hopes up—I doubt they'll let the likes of you inside."
"Oh, looks like we have another long walk ahead, Dad. Let's rest here for at least a few hours," Caesar murmured.
"Kids these days," Robin sighed, shaking his head as he moved toward a tall tree, "no determination at all." With that, he began climbing, Caesar right behind him.
the street merchant went silent as he heard this weird conversation "0_0"
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Another two weeks passed before the children stood before the gates of Bradley's Pearl City. The metropolis rose with towering walls, worthy of being the heart of a duchy—far grander than Jura, the city of Robin's birth.
"Stop where you are!" shouted a guard, leveling his spear at them. "Where do you think you're going? If you're not residents or don't have an invitation, get lost at once!"
"Lady Mila Bradley was the one who invited me," Robin declared, his voice loud enough to draw the attention of every guard at the gate. The reaction was immediate—all the guards and even the surrounding commoners turned to look at him.
"You… Do you know the penalty for lying about Lady Mila?" one soldier hissed, glaring at Robin as if he were already a corpse.
"Then simply tell her that the one who saved her life in the Outer Beast Zone over a hundred years ago has come to see her. I hope you understand how serious this matter is. If you dare to mock me or refuse to deliver my words… you will pay with your blood." Robin's words were firm, though his small frame still made him look almost innocent.
But his declaration sent a chill down the spines of every guard. The one who saved her life… If the boy spoke the truth and they mistreated him, not only their heads but their families' lives would be forfeit.
"Go to the Ducal Palace at once and inform Lady Mila what is happening here!" the captain barked, sending one of his men running. Then he turned back to Robin, eyes flashing briefly with killing intent before softening. "For your sake, boy, you had better be right."
Robin leaned toward Caesar and whispered, "When I give the signal, throw the bag at the nearest guard and run to the right. I'll run left. We'll meet at the last tree we camped beneath yesterday."
"Are you insane?! Was this all an act? Those guards will tear us apart!" Caesar hissed back, his voice low but frantic.
"She seemed like a woman of her word," Robin muttered with a shrug, "but who knows what she's become over the years? How could I predict her reaction?" He stepped a little away, clearly preparing to bolt.
After ten suffocating minutes, the messenger guard returned—but alone. The tension spiked until suddenly, a beautiful woman descended from the skies like a falling star. Robin recognized her instantly: It's her!
Yet when his eyes caught her voluptuous figure, he hesitated for a moment, almost doubting himself. But the way all the guards bowed deeply confirmed her identity beyond doubt.
Her gaze lingered on Robin in silence before she pointed coldly. "Take him to my residence." Without another word, she turned and departed as magnificently as she had arrived.
"You fools! You almost got yourselves killed!" Caesar roared with laughter. "Hahaha! Dad is a personal guest of the Duke's daughter herself! Go on, bow before him!"
Hearing the word Dad made all the guards exchange strange looks, just like the merchant before. In the end, they decided it must be some odd nickname.
Robin and Caesar, now accompanied by two guards, were escorted toward Mila's mansion. On the way, Robin grabbed Caesar's arm and muttered, "Stop calling me Dad! You're taller and stronger than me now, you bulky idiot. Call me Big Brother."
Caesar found it hard to answer. He had been calling Robin Dad for more than twenty-six years—any other title felt alien on his tongue.
The guards delivered them to Lady Mila's residence, a grand estate neighboring the Ducal Palace itself, and quickly relayed what had happened before departing.
A servant led Robin and Caesar into the main hall and instructed them to wait until Lady Mila returned. It might take hours… or even days. Robin simply sat down, prepared to fill the long wait with cultivation. Once the servant ensured everything was in order, he quietly left the room.
At that moment, a shadow streaked in through the window and a hand clamped around Robin's throat."WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU?!"
It was Mila. Gone was the calm and dignified facade she had shown at the city gate. Her eyes widened with shock the moment she saw Robin, but here—away from prying eyes—she no longer needed to hide her emotions.
"Why is everyone asking me that lately? Am I too handsome for a human?" Robin chuckled, ignoring the fact that he was dangling in mid-air.
"Don't you dare change the subject!" Mila's voice shook with fury. "More than a century ago you were already an old man at the tenth level of Energy Foundation. How is it possible that you now stand before me as a twelve-year-old child who hasn't even reached the first level?!" Her grip tightened around his neck.
"…Alright, it's me," Robin rasped, his voice strained. "I didn't think you had such a sharp memory—it seems I left quite the impression, huh? Hehe… But you got one thing wrong. I wasn't old back then. I was a teenager… just like you."
"LIAR!" Mila hurled him aside, though she controlled her strength to ensure he wasn't badly harmed. Her voice thundered, "I was—and still am—the supreme genius of the entire Black Sun Kingdom! No one dares claim greater talent than mine! And yet you say that when we were the same age, you stood above me by a whole level?!"
Robin dusted off his clothes, coughing slightly. "Is that old man still alive?"
Her eyes narrowed. "Who do you mean?"
"The old man who guarded your safety when we first met. He must have seen through my real age. Bring him here, let him testify—and then we'll talk."