Their return trip took about four days, but Michael and Liara patiently waited for their turn to enter Galgalake. The line stopped moving for about twenty minutes. Liara stood up on the Magic Cycle, looking ahead.

“Anything going on?” Michael asked.

She leaned forward, purposedly resting her breasts on his head to mess with him. “Looks like an accident. It looks like the guards are trying to get it cleared up.” She said, looking down toward his face.

“Anything we can do to help? I’m sure Rana and Lily are getting anxious since we said we would be home any minute by now.” Michael asked.

“I think we could. We just have to let people we go by know that we are heading up to help. People don’t like it when you cut in line.” Liara stated, sliding down onto the seat. She turned and informed the people behind them that they were mercenaries and would help up ahead. The old merchant thanked them.

“Alright, let’s do this.” Michael said, thinking, ‘LEEEERROOOOOY JENKINS!’ Revving the engine, Michael pulled to the side of the line and steadily made his way forward.

Liara took care of informing the other people waiting that they were heading up to try to help.

As they approached the accident area, they could hear shouting. When it came into sight, they could listen to the argument.

“I’m in a hurry! Why did you even brake!? The line was still moving!” A demi-bird man yelled.

He was wearing a nice set of clothes that looked expensive.

“As I said, I had no choice but to stop! The little girl tripped, and I didn’t want to risk hitting her! Why can’t you understand that!? And don’t you dare try to push the blame onto them again!” An older demi-leopard man yelled back.

The guard that was present seemed like he was getting frustrated beyond belief.

“Looks like a noble or perhaps someone wealthy. I am guessing noble since the guard is having a hard time.” Liara informed Michael.

“So, tread carefully?” He asked her. She nodded.

They stopped closer to the guard and dismounted.

The accident happened at the worst spot, right before the gate. People could have gone around if the accident had happened several feet back.

“Hmm?” The guard saw Michael and Liara approaching and sighed. “Look, if you have complaints, we are working on it.” He informed them.

“Actually, we came to see if we could help,” Michael informed the guard.

“Unless you can move that carriage and wagon, we’re stuck. Why’d it have to be that viscount?” The guard said, muttering his question to himself.

Michael approached the accident.

“Hey! What the hell do you think you’re doing!? Get away from there!” The noble yelled at Michael.

“Greater Strength Boost,” Michael said, momentarily flaring his mana about his body.

This was a trick Liara had come up with before to hide that his physical strength was insane. By stating the name of the skill and purposely flaring his mana to make it seem like a skill was activated, he could ‘temporarily’ use his real strength.

Michael reached under the carriage and began to lift it. The vehicle was a bit heavy for Michael, but he could manage it. Raising it above his head, Michael steadily carried it off to the side and placed it down as gently as possible.

The noble was in such shock that he couldn’t say anything. Other witnesses were in awe at his strength.

Michael repeated his actions with the wagon, moving it to the side. Once they were moved out of the way, he headed over to his Magic Cycle and took a seat, pretending to be winded.

“Good job, my dear. I called Rana and informed her of the situation. She said she’ll meet us at the guild.” Liara said.

“Thanks, huff.” Michael couldn’t make himself sweat on command, but he kept up the act that he was trying to collect himself.

The guard saluted Michael with reverent respect. “Absolutely amazing, sir! Truly a sight of strength! Your base strength must be quite high.”

Michael smiled at the soldier. “Happy to help.”

The guards began moving the line again, bringing the noble to his senses.

“Y-Y-Y-You! How dare you do that!?” The noble stomped his way up to Michael.

“Do you have any idea what you have done?!” The noble shouted at Michael.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

Michael blankly stared at the noble. “I cleared the way. It’s not like you are going anywhere anyway.”

“That’s not the point!” The noble shouted. Liara was beginning to get annoyed.

“So, what was the point? Was your goal to block the entrance into Galgalake? Make that old man’s life miserable? Trouble the guards? Hurt the little girl? Huh? What was it?” Michael asked.

The noble opened and shut his mouth several times like a fish before yelling again. “You damaged my property! You will compensate me!”

“Ahh…” Both Michael and Liara understood why the noble was causing so much trouble. He didn’t want to spend money fixing the damage he caused.

The guard looked like he wanted to drag the noble away from the people who helped clear the way, but he couldn’t without significant risk.

“What is going on here?” A familiar demi-lizard in shiny armor approached.

“Excellent! Knight-Captain Lucas, arrest this degenerate demon! He damaged my carriage!” The noble was quick to stand before the knight.

Lucas looked toward Michael and gave him an inconspicuous wink.

“Viscount Pauli Albatross.” Lucas took an official stance. “I watched the recorded video and audio while waiting for a clean-up crew to arrive.”

The noble tensed.

“It was clear that the accident was due to your inattention as you were on your Crys-Link. You rammed into the back of that man’s wagon when he had to make an emergent stop to keep from hitting a child. You are at fault. A copy of the recording will be sent to Judicial Hall for judgment.” Lucas turned to the demi-leopard man. “Sir, could you speak with my subordinate there. She will get you the necessary information to retrieve your compensation once a judgment is made.”

The old man thanked Sir Lucas for his assistance and went to speak with the lady knight.

“Regarding the demon here, I saw how he easily lifted and moved a whole carriage. I feel that I would be crazy to yell at and demand compensation from someone who could easily throw me over the wall.” Lucas smugly commented to the noble.

Blood drained from the viscount’s face as he realized the danger he put himself in. “B-B-But, he would be arrested for that!”

“When emotions run strong, it clouds the judgment. Just like how you yelled at the giant of a man.” Lucas thumbed toward Michael, who was now standing, giving the noble an angry look.

The noble quickly retreated and headed toward the city.

Once he was gone, both Michael and Lucas laughed together.

“Good to see you, Sir Lucas,” Michael said with a wide smile.

“You as well, Master Caeldaemos. I am glad to see you are well.” Lucas looked at Liara, who was enjoying watching them. “This is?”

“Oh.” Michael became a bit bashful. “This is, uh, my wife.”

Liara giggled and hugged her big lug. “Liara.”

Lucas seemed to remember the name. “Liara the War Priest? I thought…” He looked down at her restored leg.

“What can I say? I have a great husband.” Liara blushed as she hugged Michael tighter.

Lucas laughed again. “Truly a loving man. Few would be willing to spend that kind of coin on a high-grade elixir to regrow a limb lost years ago.”

Elixirs could regrow limbs, but the longer the time passed, the higher grade would be needed.

“Well, she is special to me,” Michael said, remembering the Special Buff, Spouse of the Demon-Lord.

Lucas sighed. “I need to go deal with this mess that idiot viscount caused. We should catch up sometime, Master Caeldaemos.” The knight extended his hand.

“Absolutely.” Michael shook the knight’s hand, and Lucas headed toward the gate.

“Um, sir.” The guard stepped up to Michael. “If you show us your IDs, we will let you in immediately.”

Michael thanked him, and the couple got their IDs confirmed.

After passing through the gate, they headed to the Mercenary Guild to turn in their job completion.

As the couple pulled up to the guild building, they saw Rana’s wagon sitting out front, but neither she nor Lily was inside or around the vehicle.

Thinking they were waiting inside for them, they headed in.

There were quite a few parties present for once at the kiosks. Most of the mercenaries looked tired or dirty, so Michael assumed they had recently returned.

At one of the tables with a few mercs were Rana and Lily. Rana seemed to be discussing something with the mercenaries, while poor Lily looked bored out of her gourd. But the moment she saw Michael and Liara, she hopped to her feet and ran to greet them.

“Hey, Lily.” Michael patted her head, smiling warmly down at her.

Rana noticed them and wrapped up her conversation before coming over to them.

“Welcome back, my lord and Liara.” Rana smiled.

“Good to be back,” Michael said, patting Rana’s head too, since Michael saw a bit of envy in the mother’s eyes with her daughter getting head pats.

“So, what’s going on?” Liara asked, looking about the room.

“Ah, yes. I was curious about that as well. It turns out a new dungeon spawned an hour by vehicle to the east of Galgalake. A young party stumbled across it two days ago. The groups there are the ones returning from the Dungeon.” Rana answered.

“Serious!? Cael! We have to go!” Liara became excited.

“What’s the deal with dungeons?” Michael asked.

Liara brought them to an empty table to explain what a dungeon was.

Dungeons were basically a massive Tress generator for mercenaries. Rare monsters whose parts could sell for a lot or be used for new equipment, hard-to-find plants, or potion ingredients. They could even find rooms filled with mana stones, an item used for most manufacturing. But with all the benefits, there was a massive risk as well.

From in-depth research done by a past hero, Dungeons were pseudo-living beings. They would watch and learn as prey marched through its corridors. It would evolve and change, becoming more intelligent and dangerous. Dungeons would never become so hazardous that everyone would die after entering, but there would be casualties.

With the Dungeon being new, it had yet to learn how to get the best results, making it a prime target for mercenaries.

“There is also a special, guaranteed thing you can get if you are the first to beat the dungeon completely,” Liara stated.

“And that is?” Michael asked.

“A hereditary ability.” She smiled.

“Wait. Is that the only way for a bloodline to get one?” Michael asked, and Liara nodded.

“That is great news! I heard that no one has reached the fiftieth floor yet!” Rana exclaimed.

A bored mercenary at the table next to them chuckled and joined their conversation.

“Hey, sorry to inform you all, but if you want to even get into the dungeon, you will want to move quickly.” He said.

“What’s going on?” Rana asked.

Liara smacked her forehead, realizing what the merc was getting at.

“They’re going to close it off.”

“That’s right. With the Demon-Lord sneaking about, they want to arm the Heroes with as much as possible. I heard the empire did that for their hero, so I am sure they will do it here too.” The man said.

Rana put a plan together as quickly as she could in her mind. “My lord, we need to go to the market immediately.”

“What?” Michael was still trying to wrap his head around what was going on.

Liara agreed with Rana, and the two ladies and Lily dragged their big oaf out of the guild hall.