Chapter 156: Slums

"Identity... Oh, it’s Guild Leader Marianne!" The guard quickly stood upright, saluting sharply as he recognized her face through the vehicle’s lowered window.

​"How are things going on here?" She asked, turning her gaze toward the Awakened with authority.

​"Everything is going smoothly! Those from the Slums are also quiet and behaving!" The man yelled out like a strictly trained soldier reporting to a high commander.

​"Alright, open the gate. We are heading out."

​"Understood! Open the gate!!" The man bellowed over his radio, turning to the operator controlling the massive 20-meter-tall metal gate that intersected the colossal outer wall surrounding the whole of Silverspire.

​BAM!

​The heavy iron mechanism groaned as the gate opened wide, creating a passage just large enough for Denise to drive their armored Jeep right through.

​"I am the one in charge of the North Gate." Marianne explained, turning slightly in her seat to look back at Asher:

"You see, the first and second walls have a total of four main gates, which are located across the North, South, East, and West sectors. The top four guilds in Vaeloria are officially assigned the prestigious task of guarding these structural defense gates."

​She paused, adjusting her leather gloves before continuing: "I got the news of what happened to the fourth guild recently, so the fifth guild on the official rankings will step up to assist them. Anyway, our primary responsibility is to keep the entirety of Silverspire safe... After all, it is Vaeloria’s grand Capital city."

​Asher nodded slowly, turning his head to observe the dilapidated neighborhood passing outside his window. Broken cobblestone streets, crumbling concrete structures, and destitute shacks lined the road. Even though it was still early morning, he could feel the cold, sharp pricks of countless hidden eyes watching their car from the dark alleys.

​"Who is protecting these people?" He asked, his voice low as he turned back to Marianne, who fell silent for a short while.

​"Um... We are officially tasked only to protect those from the Second and First districts... But I try my best to keep a quiet watch on things here when I can." She admitted softly, a hint of frustration in her eyes.

​Asher gave another quiet nod. This place was clearly treated as a human dumping ground by the high society. Only those who had nothing left, or those deemed utterly useless by the world, were thrown into these shadowed streets—especially convicted criminals and unranked outcasts. Based on Marianne’s explanation, the Awakened Association didn’t enforce much law here. Most of the local operations were completely out of their jurisdiction.

​’Assassin guilds, shadow hitmen, and illegal black-market traders... Although this place is built for lowlifes and helpless people, there must be deadly, unregistered Awakened hiding in the dark shadows. If I eventually take this whole district under my wing, my overarching influence in Silverspire will drastically increase... Seems I have more tasks to delegate to the Ten Great Demons.’ Asher thought strategically, his gaze sweeping over the distant wall.

​’At least those living in the Outskirts still have free, regulated access to the First District... But these guys trapped in the Slums have to pass through this military gate, which I am sure is virtually impossible for an unranked civilian.’

​"I think you should rest for a bit, Lord Asher. We will arrive at the second gate in half an hour at most." Marianne said, looking over her shoulder at him with a soft expression.

​Asher nodded, choosing not to say another word. He simply turned his dark gaze back out the tinted window, staring right into the eyes of several muscular thugs standing outside a ruined storefront a short distance away, watching their vehicle with predatory hunger.

​"Those guys will never dare to attack us because of my Holy Sword Guild’s emblem." Marianne noted, noticing his gaze. "The white sword emblazoned on the door represents my absolute authority. If they ever move against my people, I will personally come down here and obliterate them..."

​"So they only fear the strong?"

​"Well, that’s the one common rule that governs our entire world," she answered with a light chuckle.

​"Good to hear." Asher nodded his head, a cold, calculated glint in his eyes.

​’Those thugs standing by the corner are all SS-Rank Awakened... Why would an SS-Rank Awakened willingly stay in a ruined landfill like this, when they could easily head to the First District and join a prominent guild?’ Asher sighed inward, analyzing the underlying criminal ecosystem:

​’It seems there is a powerful Boss secretly watching over and controlling things here. That actually makes things much easier for me.’ He closed his eyes, settling into the leather seat.

Taking over an already built empire is better than building one.

____

​[35 Minutes Later.]

​"We are here." Marianne announced as the heavy jeep hummed to a gentle stop in front of yet another massive metal gate.

​Outside, a high-ranking border officer walked towards their car, holding a complex tactical device that Asher instantly recognized.

​’This is the exact same scanning device they used during the fair incident.’ He thought silently, his eyes cracking open.

​"I apologize, Lord Asher, but this final gate is jointly controlled by my guild and the Awakened Association. Anyone leaving the boundary of Silverspire must strictly verify their identity." She explained smoothly as the officer stopped right beside her window.

​"Good morning, Guild Leader Marianne." The officer greeted, performing a crisp, military bow.

​"Can we skip the formal scan for today? We are in a severe rush." She said, her voice firm as she stared at the man.

​’We are already five minutes late compared to our agreed departure time.’ she thought anxiously, glancing at the rear-view mirror to check Asher’s expression.

​"Huh? Well... Ma’am, regulation dictates—"

​"Just handle this quickly." Denise cut in smoothly from the driver’s seat, tossing a small, heavy leather pouch directly to the guard through Marianne’s open window:

"That is a official token of appreciation from our Holy Sword Guild." He casually disguised the fact that he was blatantly bribing the border guard.

​After a few tense seconds of quiet hesitation, the officer weighed the heavy pouch in his palm and gave a firm nod: "Alright, I understand!" He backed away, waving his hand toward the control tower: "Open the main gate!!"

​Asher observed the entire quiet transaction from the shadows of the backseat, remaining completely silent as the heavy Jeep’s engine revved once more. As they rolled forward, his vision picked up a vast, shimmering blue transparent barrier covering the sky a short distance outside the steel gate.

​’So there is an active magical barrier enclosing the whole of Silverspire... Two massive reinforced walls and one continuous magical barrier. Impressive defensive infrastructure.’ He thought as the shimmering blue wall parted smoothly down the center, creating an open space for their vehicle to pass through.

​Asher looked out through the reinforced window, taking note of the heavy spirit energy-mounted cannons stationed along the top of the wall, alongside dozens of powerful, fully armored Awakened keeping vigilant watch over the wasteland.

​’A genuinely solid defense system... I hope it lasts when the true chaos begins. When I have spare time, I will personally come back and inspect how things are run here.’ He thought as their Jeep cleared the cracked opening of the barrier, officially crossing the border into the unmapped Wilderness.

​’SSS-Rank Dungeon, here I come.’