The morning had arrived, and I followed my usual routine of washing my face, getting dressed, and having breakfast. With these habits ingrained over the past two years, I left the inn.
Unlike Roberta, the capital wasn't divided by economic power but by zones. These zones included the commercial zone, the gates, the military zone, the residential zone, the palace, and finally, the academy. The city was constructed differently as well. It resembled a mountain, with the commercial zone at the base, surrounded by walls. As one moved closer to the residential zone, the narrow dark streets became more apparent. The higher one went within the residential zone, the more luxurious the houses became. Finally, there was another wall beyond which lay the military institutions and the academy, along with woods maintained for training purposes. In the middle, there was a final wall—the palace walls—which stood at the city's center and top.
It was 8:30 in the morning, and I needed to reach the academy for the test. I had dressed well to avoid any issues at the city gates, and I carried my sword at my waist instead of storing it in the ring to fend potential troublemakers and make my intentions less dubious. I kept a normal pace as I made my way through the city; During the last two years, i had learn how to controll my hercules bless, as well how to enchant my body with mana using the first aura technic, but using them inside the city would not only call for unwanted attention, as it would damage the streets, so I decided to move with a normal rhythm, however without getting tired.
After navigating the dark streets and passing by the grand houses at the top of the residential zone, I finally reached the gates of the second wall. There were soldiers stationed there, so I approached them.
"Good morning, sirs," I greeted them. "My name is Allen, and I'm here for the academy's entry test."
They promptly requested my identification. There were several ways to prove one's identity: having a family symbol, a rank badge, or documentation. I had none of these, which meant I could only enter in one way.
"I don't have it; I'll pay the bail."
The bail system allowed the no citizens to move freely by paying a specified fee.
The soldier questioned, "How did you pass the first gate without bail or identification, boy?"
"I arrived on the train."
Using the train was a way to enter the city without proper identification. However, in cases where a city had multiple gates, you couldn't proceed beyond the first one without the required documentation.
"You came on a train, you, a boy with no identification, and you also intend to pay the bail? Do you even know how much it is?"
"Is it more than 1000 Loris?"
"No, it's 750 Loris."
"Then it's no problem."
I retrieved the money and handed it over.
"Be honest, boy. Where did you get this money, and that ring? That's a spatial ring. Did you steal it?"
"Steal it? No, I've had this ring for a long time."
"Stop with the excuses. Did you think that just because you're dressed normally and carrying a sword, we wouldn't question you? Everything about you seems suspicious. I'll have to confiscate that ring, and you're coming with me; you're under arrest!"
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"Under arrest? For what? Wanting to pay the bail and breathing?"
"For possible robbery and lying to an on-duty soldier."
This was a problem. Until now, life had been relatively good, but this situation was dire. I needed to reach the academy and take the test; otherwise, I'd have to wait another month for the next testing opportunity, and I didn't have enough money to sustain myself in the capital for that long. Furthermore, this guard was determined to apprehend me, and I had no way of explaining how I acquired the ring. After all, it had been given to me by Peacock two years ago, but no one would believe that I received it from a man I met in the forest. The soldier reached for my hand, preparing to confiscate the ring, and that's when I remembered something Swen had told me: if I ever got into trouble with soldiers...
"Wait! I invoke the Duel Law."
The Duel Law was a legal provision that allowed anyone accused by a soldier without an officer's rank to request a duel. If the accused won, the charges would be dropped. This law existed in a nation where the strongest often prevailed and was designed to prevent abuse of military power.
The soldier responded, "Boy! Do you dare to accuse me of corruption by invoking that?Doing so not only implies that you believe I am corrupt, it also means that you think you are stronger."
"Because I do."
I managed to free my arm from the soldier's grasp, leaving him surprised and angered.
"Very well, then. Have it your way. I, Specialist Grover, accept your duel. If I lose, the charges will be dropped, and you will be free to pass."
"You talk as though you could refuse. Come on, then."
I began taunting him to anger him further. Provoking one's opponent and clouding their judgment was the first step in winning a fight. Over the past two years, I had honed my combat skills. My fighting style wasn't straightforward and honest but was filled with tricks. Don't misunderstand me; I didn't use tricks because I couldn't win an honest fight; I used them because they made battles more enjoyable.
"You shall regret your arrogance, boy."
The soldier drew his sword and activated his mana armor, the Second Technique of the Thirteen.
"You claim you've come for the academy test, but I doubt it. You probably came for some questionable job. Let me tell you, there's a difference between us. Not only do I have more strength and combat training than you, but I also possess mana. I'm a Bronze rank, and the likes of you could never defeat me."
"It appears that lower-ranking soldiers are quite dumb. Why would I be here to commit a crime? Beyond these gates, there are numerous formidable figures from the Vermillion army, including the Emperor himself. What could a supposed boy with no mana possibly do? I would need to be an Overlord to stand a chance in such a scenario. But I suppose you didn't even consider that. Let me guess: you were tired of arrogant young brats from well-off families that came for the test treating you like the insignificant person you are. So when you saw a boy with no identification and an expensive item, you decided to take out your frustration on him. How low."
"Shut up, brat!"
The soldier lunged at me, swinging his sword. I halted his attack with my own blade.
"Too bad for you. You were wrong not only about my actions but also about my power. Unfortunately for you, not only I have more combat skills than you, I also possess mana. My rank although not officially it's also higher than yours, which isn't much of an accomplishment; I've never seen someone boasting about a Bronze rank. I'm Silver. As for my strength, let's just say you'll be surprised."
I applied strength to my legs and vanished from the soldier's line of sight, reappearing next to him in mid-air. I delivered a swift kick to his head, sending him flying into the gate's wall, where his body left a crater-shaped impression as he lost consciousness. I returned my sword to my ring since keeping it at my waist appeared to make no difference.
"That was easy. Now, if you'll excuse me..."
I walked through the gate, leaving the other soldier atonished looking at his unconscious colleague.
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Vermillion's army hierarchy
Officer's ranks
1- General
2- Colonel
3- Major
4- Captain
5- Lieutenant
Enlisted Ranks
1- Sergent
2- Corporal
3- Specialist
4- Private
5- Recruit