After a couple more days of walking, eating, and sleeping, we finally arrived at the city.
"We're here," Wei Ling announced. "My home."
As I looked at the massive walls in front of me, I could hear the bustle of everyday life coming from within the city.
When Wei Ling saw the long line queuing up to enter the city, he said, "Come with me, they'll let me in."
We walked directly to the front of the line, earning some grumbles from the people in the line.
While Wei Ling spoke to the guard, I looked around, seeing many missing person posters on the wall.
As I was surveying my surroundings, I heard a shout coming from Wei Ling, "You don't recognize me? Okay, even if my face is a bit dirty and I lost my identification card, that's still no reason for you to not recognize your mayor's son!"
Wei Ling trembled in anger as his finger shook in front of the guard's nose.
The guard frowned and replied, "Sir, if you cause any more of a disturbance, I will have to resort to force."
Wei Ling laughed angrily and shouted, "You-" before he was interrupted by a commotion coming from behind him.
"Make way, make way!" came a shout.
There was a carriage with an emblem of a coiling dragon on the side, surrounded by guards dressed in silver armor.
When the carriage reached the front, the guard respectfully shouted, "I welcome Young Lord Wang Ling!" before making way for the carriage.
Before the carriage entered the city, however, a voice drifted from inside the carriage, "Wait."
A hand lifted the cloth covering the window of the carriage and a face that resembled Wei Ling's, but more mature and refined, peeked out curiously at Wei Ling and me before chuckling.
"Well, well," Wang Ling said. "If it isn't my younger brother. Why are you so filthy?"
Wei Ling gritted his teeth in anger and replied, "You know damn well! Isn't it because of you?"
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Wang Ling laughed again before saying, "Don't make baseless accusations you cannot back up, Wei Ling. Guard, let him in, this is my younger brother."
Wang Ling signaled to his entourage and they continued into the city.
The guard respectfully bowed to Wei Ling and said, "I'm deeply sorry for not recognizing you, Young Lord Wei Ling. I am relatively new to the job..."
"Whatever," Wei Ling waved his hand and walked past the guard, with me following him.
"That was your older brother?" I asked Wei Ling.
"Yeah, but don't be fooled by his hypocritical smile," he replied angrily. "He hasn't been the same since our mother passed..."
Wei Ling then said, "I'm going to have to postpone that promise. I have some family matters to take care of, in the meantime just enjoy your time around the city. Meet me at the Ling's family manor in a few days!" before running off.
"Wait," I called out, but Wei Ling had already disappeared into the crowd.
You didn't leave me any money, bastard...
As I wandered around the city, I saw many delicious-smelling foods being sold in the stalls, yet I couldn't taste any of them. I still have enough morals to not steal from others doing honest work.
As I sighed, I noticed a poster out of place next to all the missing person posters.
Biannual Eating Competition - Winner receives 100G
Perfect.
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"Come place yer bets here! Come place yer bets here!"
As Anna took out all the gold she had saved over the last few months at her job and handed it to the man taking bets, she nervously prayed.
This time for sure, she will win. Although every time she placed a bet, she lost all her money, this time for sure, she will win. She definitely will strike it big this time.
After all, she had done her research beforehand and picked the contestant with the highest chance of winning, Fjorn from Steelheart City. A man with an appetite so huge, he could devour up to five cows for a single meal.
"Young lady, who are you bettin' for?" the man at the stall asked.
"Contestant 6, please."
"Alright, here ya go."
The man handed Anna a ticket and she followed the rest of the crowd into the arena where massive tables were already set up.
As Anna took her seat, she glanced at her ticket, giving her a shock. The man at the stall had made a mistake and gave her the ticket for contestant 9 instead.
She tried to stand up and go back to resolve the mistake, but it was too late, the betting stall had already closed.
She could only hope that Contestant 9 would be able to eat more than even Fjorn.
As the contestants walked out one by one, Anna nervously watched, waiting as they announced her contestant.
"ANNNNNNNNNND OUR LAST AND FINAL CONTESTANT!" the announcer's voice boomed through the arena with the help of magic.
As contestant 9 strolled onto the stage, everyone looked on disinterestedly as all of Anna's hopes shattered.
It was a man who looked out of place standing next to all of the other portly contestants. The man was lean, skinny, even.
Anna held her head in her arms lamenting about how screwed she was.
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In the Ling's family manor...
"Kolyer, that arrogant fool failed," Wang Ling said to his butler, his closest confidante.
"Yes, Young Lord," the butler replied. "What are your plans now?"
Wang Ling sighed as he pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Wei Ling, that idiot younger brother of mine," Wang Ling stated. "I'm going to find another way to get him out of Starbright City."