In the nation of Free People Coalition, human settlements are categorized into four. From small to big, they are hamlets, villages, towns, and cities. While the term is mainly used to differentiate the density of population in other nations, it is not so in the Coalition.

Even if a town grew to the population of millions and millions of souls, it will not be called a city if it lacks something crucial.

A Level 5.

Free People Coalition is a nation born from the ashes of a great empire. The empire couldn't stand the test of time and perished. The surviving nobles hated each other’s guts and couldn't set aside their differences. The empire became splintered as a result. The nobles retreated to their own fiefs and ruled independently.

These powerful families drew boundaries, created laws, and defended their sovereignty.

They made their own kingdoms in all but name. Over hundreds of years, people flocked to the places where they resided, seeking protection from the harsh and dangerous world.

Their seats of power became cities.

The Free People Coalition is a collective of these dynasties and areas under their jurisdiction. Only when there is a serious external threat they would band together.

In time, people began to call the head of each noble family Governor-Kings.

Excerpt from the Atlas of Civilizations, written by Bartholomew the Grand Voyager.

***

Tlok. Tlok. Tlok.

On a well-trodden road, there was a man riding on a horse. His face was covered by a black veil in the style of the desert people. There was a small opening around the eyes so he could see.

“Easy, Brownie.”

The reddish-brown mare’s pace slowed down to a trot. Using the reins, the man steered the horse to a small mound.

Brownie was a good horse, docile and obedient. The man wasn't with her long but he already liked her.

The horse halted its hooves atop the mound. The man pulled down the veil on his mouth and took a deep breath while looking at the city from a vantage point.

“It’s in sight. Our destination,” Viers spoke.

Thirteen days had passed since Viers left Pecan Village. He had put serious miles behind. Through hills and rivers, through wildlands and obstacles, Viers reached a city at last.

“That certainly isn't what I imagined.”

“A city…”

“What a dump. We’re staying there?”

The girls were commenting, and like a trusted host, Viers narrated.

“Marakkus city. The city of crooks and criminals with a heart as black as tar. A vermin pit of all sorts of nasties. Cruelty, poverty, inequality, insanity, iniquity… The privileged live like kings while the middle and lower classes eat each other up to survive. At Marakkus, for those without power or influence, life is cheap. Rumor has it if travelers die there, the hobos would eat their corpses till only bones remain. You’ll never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy-” Viers solemnly said. He looked at the city as if it was a terrifying beast that would swallow him whole.

Paina gulped her saliva despite not actually having any because of the tension. Even Farley and Clarissa felt uneasy.

“-in this province… We must be cautious.”

Viers added a line after a dramatic pause and the tension took a sudden drop. Paina suspected Viers did so on purpose, that he must be playing her. She was correct. The world was wide, Viers didn't want to make false claims but he just couldn't pass up the opportunity to say that famous line.

It really is a fucking shit city though, mark my words.

Viers strode to the mouth of the beast.

After he was near one of the city’s numerous entrance gates, Viers went off from Brownie’s back and led her forward by walking beside her.

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The people around him were rough-looking and dirty, who knew the last time they took a bath. In all fairness, Viers wasn't looking too different, he had spent days on the road but he was eager to clean himself up.

In front of him, he saw men and women that were in chains, brought into the city by unsavory-looking men.

Slaves.

A terrible fate that happened to uncountable people in this world.

Viers kept walking to the gate, only two guards could be seen at the gate of such a wide entrance.

The people that walked in front of Viers didn't pay any attention to the guards and went in without showing any papers or undergoing any check.

One city guard was leaning on a wall under a shade while drinking from a bottle that smelled like alcohol, unconcerned who went in or out from the gate. The other had the eyes of an unconscious man. It took a few seconds for Viers to realize that he was sleeping while standing while on duty in broad daylight.

Viers wore a veil covering 90% of his face and had no identification. He was already preparing ‘these are not the droids you’re looking for’ but the guards’ state was outside his prediction.

Yeah, welcome to Marakkus city.

Viers pulled the reins on Brownie and stepped foot into the streets of the Vice City.

He saw beggars on the side of the road, stalls with questionable hygiene were selling rat meat. On the other side of the road, there was a man wearing the written sign of ‘killer for hire’ on his neck.

And nobody batted an eye to any of them, except for newcomers like Viers.

A skinny man with lizard-like eyes approached him.

“Ey, wanna buy Angel Dust?” He whispered with the voice of a devil.

A drug seller. How lovely.

Before Viers could answer, things were already in motion.

“Oi.”

A man with a big scar on his lips put a hand on the drug seller’s shoulder. As he turned, the scar guy slipped a knife to the drug man's chest. He gasped and fell as the knife was yanked out.

“That’s for selling me fake stuff the other day,” the scar guy said.

His face was red and he reeked of booze. He must have been drinking despite the fact the sun was still out.

While the drug-man was bleeding out, the scarred guy took a pouch from his victim and took a sniff.

“Hoh. You got the real thing this time, huh? You’re forgiven. What are you looking at, brat?” the thuggish man snapped at Viers who was watching the whole thing. “You got something to say?”

“No.”

Viers resumed his steps and left them to their business.

A hundred paces later, a pickpocket no older than 7 years old tried to steal his pouch. Viers grabbed her hand in defense then let it go. She bolted to the dark alleys.

“What a horrible place…”

Nobody disagreed with Paina.

A wretched place Marakkus might be, it was still a city. Like the laws of gravity, the wealthy and powerful resided in the nicer parts of the city, usually in the very center, not at the fringe.

Even Viers had standards so he kept walking in the main road while he searched for lodging. He found a few but decided to keep walking to the better and better parts of the city.

In the middle class area, he passed by a few inns until he found one that called to him, an inn named Bird Nest.

Because he was currently a migratory bird, Viers simply felt he must stay in this place. He put Brownie in the stable and went in.

“Give me the cleanest room, two beds. I want a meal and a bath. Take care of my horse, treat her like the queen of horses,” Viers spoke to the guy at the counter.

He eyed Viers from head to toe, weighing how much he could get if he sold Viers to the butcher. Before his imagination ran wild, Viers put a few silver coins on the table, showing his ability to pay.

“If you die, your belongings that remain in your room become the inn’s property. Have a nice stay,” the innkeeper said with the tone of someone reading an advertisement on the bottom page of the newspaper.

The inn man slid forward a key that Viers took without question.

“I want an immediate bath.”

“I will get it ready. Room to the right,” he showed the direction with his chin.

Viers went inside the room with the same symbol on the key. It wasn't a disappointment at least. The room was quite nice and comfy. Viers put down his luggage and sat on a chair to relax a bit.

The innkeeper came carrying two buckets of warm water and poured them into the big empty wooden tub in the room. He repeated this two more times.

“Thanks. Bring the meal here when it is ready, please.”

He left and Viers enjoyed some cleanliness at last.

While he was dipping in the tub, there was a knock.

“Come in,” Viers spoke loudly.

A girl came in with a plate of food.

“A-apologies for intruding, great sir.”

“Thank you. Just leave it at the table and you may leave. You can take the coin there. It's your tip.”

“Eh? B-but sir, it's a silver coin!” The thin girl was imagining she was accused of stealing and her hand was cut off.

“Yep. Keep it a secret from the owner, yes? And spend it wisely.”

“Y-yes! If there’s anything wrong, just call me whenever, great sir, err, great noble sir!”

Viers appreciated her enthusiasm.

“Don't forget to close the door.”

Viers waved with his back towards the girl. The tub was quite high so he was able to lean on it. What the girl could see was the backside of his shoulder and head.

For obvious reasons, Viers didn't want to show his face.

I’m already halfway to Valkut city. No signs of pursuers from the church thus far. After I’ve concluded my business here, should I stay for a bit or leave immediately? There are risks staying in this Sin City but also opportunities. Decisions, decisions…