The Lumengarde prisoner, who went by the name of Sarah, was true to her words and guided them through the winding labyrinth of tunnels in the Sahuagin base until they arrived at an opening that led out to a rocky hill with a waterfall, similar to that of the one from the Sage island. Only this time, they didn't have to climb up or down behind the waterfall.
The loot they had acquired from the Sahuagin corpses was massive and was handed over to Aaron for safekeeping until they got to Lumengarde. Once there, they would get the promised free reserved accommodation before the loot was sorted, sold to merchants who would be happy to make a trade, and the monetary value split among themselves based on the roles they all played in clearing the dungeon.
There were a total of seventeen prisoners rescued from the Sahuagin dungeon, with the Sage candidates forming a protective formation around them as they made their way on foot to Lumengarde.
The Sage candidates couldn't help but take in the beautiful sights of the forest and what nature had to offer. The trees were twice the size of those you'd come across in a forest on Earth. There were different species of giant mushrooms with crowns that could swallow a person whole. The soil was brown and soft and interestingly made the journey on foot so much fun even in silence. And the air... Felix couldn't help but be intoxicated by just breathing the pure and fresh air, carrying the sweet scent of wet soil, wild fruits, and garden flowers.
Felix was certain there was nowhere left on Earth where the air was still this pure. In fact, it felt like if there was any place being infested by dark creatures and beasts from the underworld, it would be Earth.
Everyone had a smile on their face as they journeyed to Lumengarde. The prisoners smiled at their freedom and their journey back home. The Sage candidates smiled at their first firsthand experience in Vastoria, and at their amazement at how peaceful it seemed, unlike what any of them or the civilians back on Earth pictured Vastoria to look like.
Not even Athenae could wipe off the subtle tug at the corners of her lips, and for the first time, Felix actually thought she looked pretty. He thought she would be even prettier if she were to grow her hair and start to act more ladylike.
"What the fuck are you looking at?"
Cough. Felix was unaffected by her rude remark.
A couple of hours later and the city walls of Lumengarde came into view. And so far, there were no attacks or signs of danger whatsoever. This made the Sage candidates start to let their guards down and re-evaluate the intel they had received on Vastoria. All except Felix, who was constantly reminded by the bonus attributes still filing in from Sage Jessica wherever she was. And though it had slowed, it was still coming in regardless.
On getting closer to the city gate, the guards could be seen squinting their eyes at them from atop the walls in the distance before one ran off to inform their superior of the unlikely group approaching.
By the time they got before the gate, there was already an armed battalion of foot soldiers lined up before the previously open gates, which were now shut tight in their defense.
"Stop right there! Step away from those people and state your business!" The Chief In Command's voice spread through the area loud and clear.
Aaron, who was at the forefront, raised a fist to signal them to halt. Then he took a step forward and continued towards the chief in command, who stood before his battalion.
"Stay right where you are or we will be forced to take actions against you!"
The command seemed to fall on deaf ears as Aaron neither flinched nor said a word as he kept his pace towards the chief with a passive face.
Felix couldn't help but notice Aaron had a way of walking for someone in power and authority. Like those cold billionaire heir CEOs walking an entourage of officials and securities through a press-infested airport. Only now with the aura of a Sage and the class system making him look formidable and almighty like the approach of a demon emperor.
The battalion was intimidated.
The battalion of archers hiding behind atop the walls quickly stepped forward, nocked their bows with an arrow, and aimed at him with their bows drawn.
On seeing Aaron was neither intimidated by this nor faltered even for the slightest second, the chief deliberately ordered for the arrows to be released.
The sky was suddenly darkened as a rain of dark arrows filled the sky, aimed at the sole figure who, even at this, didn't stop nor falter in step. He only casually took out his shield, his expression passive from the start.
The Sage candidates frowned at this whilst the prisoners exclaimed in panic at the implications of what was happening.
"Uhh… what's up with him?" Chelsey couldn't help but ask. "This is unlike Aaron from the time we've spent together to declare war on a city. The same city we had just saved."
"I—I think he's angry…" Sarah stuttered, which made their frown deepen.
"Angry? Angry at what?" Michael asked in confusion.
"F—Felix, maybe?" Lucy mumbled.
"What?" Felix was flabbergasted. Could Aaron be mad just because he stole the boss kill count? Now that would be absurd.
"Hey girl, you'd better start explaining what you meant by that," Athenae grabbed Sarah's cheeks imposingly.
"Ah… T—That's… they sacrificed us. That they sacrificed us to the Sea Devils so they would stop terrorizing our city and taking our children at night…"
"What?!"
Felix was as shocked as his fellow Sage candidates. Why would a big city such as Lumengarde resort to such tactics when the council of Sages existed for cases such as this? He found it hard to believe.
But if it were the truth, then was Aaron's goal all along to taunt the city to attack first, as it was forbidden for a Sage to attack a Vastorian under any circumstances, except if the individual threatened your life with the intent to kill.
Was Aaron about to raze Lumengarde to the ground?