They found an arid planet, however they are dejected because again there's no life form there. This is their 3rd lifeless planet they visited.

"Asha, next star system please." said Rein.

Few days later, they arrived at another terrestrial planet. Rein told Asha to sent surveillance drones on the largest continent. There as soon as the drone entering the atmosphere, they spotted a road, and further away they found a massive walled town with a vast palace near the center area. Rein was delighted, finally they found their first world with civilization.

They lower the drone to the crowded area while also carefully try to conceal it from the inhabitant. The crowded area seems to be a marketplace, although it seems they are preparing to held a festival. The inhabitant greatly resemble human albeit with long sharp ears covered with short hair. Their clothing is rather simple, although there are some who wear clothing with embroidered designs. Their cart is pulled by a green animal with spiral horns that cover both sides of their eyes.

"Alright, Asha please study their language." Rein then look at his teammates. "we're going to land and blend in with them. Sierra prepare the holo disguise."

"Uhmm.. we are not issued with any holo disguise." said Leena "Well.. because we are still a rookie, although my great great grandmother mention that it was intentional for testing our creativity."

"Really?" Rein is surprised

"True, with holo disguise we could easily blend in with any civilization." said Devine

Sierra look at the monitor, "Hmm.. we greatly resemble them, i could made those ears and copy their clothes, easy peasy." She said

"What about us?" Devine asked, gesturing to himself and Fabian "we can't wear those disguise."

"Well, i could make a mask to conceal your face and hooded clothes."

"Sierra, could you also make the item they sold on those market. You see, i have an idea, we'll be disguising as a traveling merchant." Rein suggested.

"So i have to make their cart too? but how do we get the animal to pull the cart?"

Rein told the other except for Kincade and Layla to help Sierra create their disguise and then they left for the bridge. Rein ask Asha to search the area for the wild animal that resemble the one inhabitant used to pull their cart.

After searching around the land, they finally found a herd of the similar looking animal, although they are a bit bigger and their horns are more ornate, also they have stripse. They then land a bit further as to not scare the animals.

"So how do we tame them?" asked Kincade as he donned his armored suit

"I.. actually have no idea, but maybe we could befriend them by giving them food, you know like the dog back home." said Rein, he shown Kincade a bag of vegetables and fruits he got from storage.

Layla was about to prepare her stun gun but Rein told her that they won't be needing it. They then get down from their ship and walk to the herd location, however as they come near them, the herd notice their presence and they hides behind the largest animal in the herd, Rein wonder if it's their leader. It look at them cautiously while also giving them gesture as if it warn them to not come closer.

Rein and kincade then slowly approach while extending their arm, showing the food they bring. The herd still looking at them cautiously, however one of the juvenile member of the herd seems interested with the food and it begin leaving the group and approaching them. Suddenly the leader jump in front of the juvenile and stop it from approaching. The leader then stand up on it hind legs and stomp at the ground which make Rein a bit scared, it stripes also glows red.

Rein decided to walk closer despite the aggressive stance of the animals which is a foolish move, because the next thing he know, the leader is charging at them. Layla was about shot the creature but Rein stop her and told her to hide. Layla was hesitant but Kincade told her to follow Rein order, She then obliged and hide behind the bush as both Rein and Kincade were chased by the animal.

They try everything to calm the animal but it keep charging at them, then Kincade suddenly stop, he turn around and charge at the creature.

"What are you doing?" shout Rein

"Maybe- if- i could- beat it-, it will submit-" said Kincade while struggling to pin the animal, because it way bigger than him.

Rein then sees Devine and Dianna approaching them along with Layla. Layla return to their ship and asked for help and. Devine is laughing seeing Kincade wrestle with the animal. Devine then whisper at Dianna, he then shout at Kincade

"Release them! let me try!"

"What!?" Kincade look at Devine for a moment before releasing the animal.

The animal jump back, it again stomp at the ground. Devine and Dianna then slowly approach the animal. Dianna open her bag as Devine try to calm the animal using his device which now mimic the animal sound. The animal is still looking at them menacingly. Dianna then throw something on the ground, the animal sniff it and is looking at them suspiciously, however after Devine use the device again, it eats it.

"What the?" Rein look at them bewildered. However Rein notice now the animal become friendly and allows Devine and Dianna to pet it.

"But how?" said Kincade, confused

"I fed it animal taming food." Dianna explained "It modified their brain, making it docile, only temporary." she added

"That's cheating." Kincade murmur as he wipe the dust on his suit.

"Hold on, if you have that, why you didn't gave those to that serpentine creature?" Rein asked Devine

"I did, but i guess it didn't work on a creature that size."

After they pacify their leader, the whole herd become much friendlier. They then choose 2 of the animals and bring them back to the ship. When they're back at the ship, they see Sierra has already finished building the cart, she made it bigger to accommodate all of them. Sierra then distribute their ears and new clothes, she also give Kincade a mask because his bionic eyes might become center of attention.

Rein will be the merchant while the girls except for Layla will be his assistant; Layla, Devine, Fabian and Kincade will be acting as a hired bodyguard. Sierra also made new exosuits for Devine and Fabian which resemble the one used by the local towns guard.

Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

After Instructing Asha to stay put and guard their ship, they ride the cart and head to the town. It took them few hours but they finally reach the town's gate. Rein asked the other to re check their translation device while waiting for their turn to enter the town.

After waiting for quite some times, it's finally their turn, the guards begin to inspect their cart, however they seems to be shocked seeing their animal and begin whispering at each other. Rein was confused, he look at his teammates who share his confusion. Then the guard start inspecting their goods, although they still seems cautious not to get to close with their animal.

"Do we get the wrong animal?" whispered Rein to his teammates.

The guard then allows them to enter the town. They head to the location of the market place. Along the way, Rein notice the townsfolks seems afraid and avoiding them, some of them even point at their animal while murmuring with each other

Finally they arrived at the market place near the entrance of the palace. Again their animal become the center of attention, also it scares the other animals belong to other merchant there. Devine told Rein that he will bring their animal to a nearby stables.

Rein and the other put their goods on display, they also converse with the fellow merchant, to make them more believable and not cause anymore suspicion, they introduced themselves as a merchant from far away, this allowed them to learn about the inhabitant culture.

According to the other merchant, they are at the capital city of a country called Goldialong, the palace near them is where the ruler of Shirli Dynasty reside. They are actually at the middle of an annual moon goddess festival that were already held for few days. One of the merchant then suddenly ask how they tame 2 magu sherlons.

"magu sherlon?" asked Rein

The merchant told them that magu sherlon is one 6 guardian beast that are protecting this land since ancient times. According to the legend they were blessed by the moon goddess and will grant good omen to the one who see it.

"But aren't those pulling your cart also a sherlon?" said Verna

"Those? Those are lharlei." said one of the merchant

"They are just an animal that resemble a magu sherlon." said the other merchant

"Which reminds me, Only the first Shirli's emperor managed to tame a magu sherlon and that's a long time ago." said the merchant, suspicious

Dianna make up a story of how they stumble upon the infant magu sherlons, they raise them and thus allowed to befriend the animals. The merchants still suspicious but they then return to continue setting up their stall. They too continue with their stall and as they finished putting their last goods on display, Rein see Devine finally get back from the stables

"What took you so long?" asked Verna

"Those 2 caused a ruckus, they scares the other animals, so i had to bring them to a stables further from here." Devine sigh

Rein then told Devine their conversation with the merchants

"A moon goddess festival?" said Devine. "I'm not really interested with the goddess festival, but 6 guardian beast, i want to know more about them."

As the night came, the place are now fully flocked with the townsfolk. They manage to sold more than half of their goods, earning them lots of the local currencies which are 3 different color stones. A blue stone is equal to a thousand white stones , while a yellow stone is equal to a thousand blue stones. Due to their high quality goods, they almost get a total of 5 yellow stones which is a lot, they already on the level of the wealthy merchant in the country. Most of the their goods are brought by the local wearing embroidered clothes, which they later learnt that they are the wealthy class and the palace officers while the one wearing plain clothes are commoners.

Because the have lots of currencies, they decided to split some between them and take turn stroll the festival. Rein and Leena offered to be the 1st to watch their stall. Then a women wearing a cloak approach their stall followed by maybe her attendant, she is interested with the item they sold.

She buys several items, but when she's about to pay, she suddenly cough violently making her cloak slide from her face revealing a beautiful girl. There's a blood on her hand.

"Are you alright?" asked Rein as he offer a napkin to wipe the blood.

Her attendant motion at Rein to stay back and quickly cover the girl face with the cloack. The attendant pay for the items and they then walk her away and vanished among the crowds.

"i hope she's okay." said Leena "If only Fabian was here."

Several minutes later, Devine and Dianna return because it is now their turn to watch their stall. Rein and Leena then stroll around the festival. Leena stop at one of the stall and check their goods. Rein spot Fabian, Verna and Sierra at one of the stall selling beverages. Further ahead, He see Kincade and Layla, Layla is cheering for Kincade who is in the middle of eating competition, he already ate twice the portion of his competitors, even the chef can't keep up with his eating speed. Rein chuckle, everyone are having a good times, even Layla, Rein never seen her this happy before.

"Hey Rein, is this suits me?" Leena suddenly asked

Rein turn to look at her, Leena is now wearing an animal shaped hairpin, it kind of cute looking. "That's suits you Leena." Rein then notice a hairpin that resemble a star, he put it on Leena's hair. "I think this suits you better."

Rein notice Leena cheek is turning red. She then stutter and said to the clerk that she will buy both. After that they walk to the beverage seller to meet with Fabian, Verna and Sierra. They then head to the eating competition. Kincade won the competition and he get a cooking set as rewards. He secretly hand the cooking sets to the drone and told them to bring it back to their ship.

They suddenly hear a loud banging sound, Then a group of towns guard came and asked the townsfolk to clear the center area. Rein and the other return to their stall, the stall owner next to them explain that it's time for the moon dance to honor the goddess and it will be performed by the Emperor's consorts.

"What's a consort?" asked Leena

"I have no idea.." said Rein

"It's another word for the spouse of a king." Fabian explained "well.. it is a really old custom, i read it at the library."

"I never know about it." said Rein

"It was from old story books our ancestor found from earth." said Verna "You know only Victoria's inhabitant love those ancient era stories, so.. all of those copies ends up there."

They see the palace gate open and a group of people carrying a podium with a man wearing ornate gold clothing and silly looking hat sitting on the throne that have carved Magu Sherlon as the ornament. One of the guard then shouting the announcement of the emperor arrival. Behind the Emperor podium, there are more people carrying smaller podiums which each stand 5 females wearing a clothes that resemble a butterfly, their faces is half covered by a transparent fabric.

The 5 females then walk to the now emptied center area. When the music starts. Rein notice something glowing suddenly fly from behind him towards the center area as the 5 females start dancing.

"Those glowing things- resemble a butterfly?" said Devine "

"Really?" said Dianna as one of them land on her palm for a moment before continue flying to the center.

Rein is captivated by their twirling dance, although one of them moved more gracefully than the other. the glowing butterfly swirl across the center area as if it also dances along. The 5 keep dancing for maybe an hour and when they stop and raise their hands to the skies, the moon now shines bright blue.

"Wow!" Rein awed

"This is odd.. i don't detect any particle on the atmosphere that could change the moon color." said Fabian "As if the moon itself become blue."

The townsfolk then give applause to the 5 dancers as they walk to the emperor's podium. The emperor gift each of them some kind of glass spheres, something swirling inside the it. The sphere given to the graceful dancer is much more beautifully crafted than the other.

Fabian and Verna chuckle. "Must be his favorite." Fabian said

"What his favorite?" Rein confused.

Before Fabian could explain, the Emperor stand from his throne and start addressing his loyal subject about the preparation for the final day. He then sit on his throne before being carried back to the palace along with the 4 dancers. When the palace gate closed, the festival ended and they begin packing up their stall and locked their goods inside their cart.

Rein and the other left their cart on the marketplace and begin searching for a place to stay for the night. After walking around, they finally found a shabby looking house that still have vacant room. The young girl welcomed them when they enter the house. Rein pay 40 white stones for 4 rooms and meals.

"I'm going to check our magu sherlon." said Devine, he then left, Dianna decided to follow him.

Rein head upstairs and enter the room along with Kincade. The bed is made of wood and only covered with thin animal skin. Rein try lying in the bed, it's hard and uncomfortable, but it is the best they got. He then hear a loud crack from the room beside them and hear Fabian panicking. They all goes to check for him and found Fabian had accidentally split the bed into half when he try lying down on it. The young girl and maybe her parents head upstairs and shocked to see their damaged furniture. Rein give them several white stones as compensation and Fabian promised to fix the bed tomorrow.

After some laughter, they all head back to their room. As he lies in the bed, Rein stare at the window for few moment before falling asleep. He is later awoken by another loud crack, this time he hear Devine panicking. Rein chuckle and he continue sleeping.