Free Web NovelChapter 210: Chapter 209: The Promotion Ceremony
"The Undercity..." Colin frowned.
Generally speaking, any city in the Northern Lands that managed to become a Super City-State inevitably controlled some unique resource.
Rommon lay on the east-west trade route, Holy Tear City boasted a remarkably hospitable environment, and even a place like Mokewick offered a safe haven for outlaws.
As the largest city in the Northern Lands, Thousand Masts City was in a league of its own when it came to overall power. And this city also controlled a unique resource.
—the massive Dungeon beneath the city.
The Undercity, the Infinite Dungeon, the Earth Vein Maze City... this Underground City had many names.
Compared to other so-called Dungeons, this one was endless.
The Dungeon’s interior was divided into several floors based on difficulty. To date, no one had ever seen the boundaries of any single floor.
It was also occupied by all sorts of different monsters. Just like those in the wild, these monsters had a habit of building nests and collecting Magic Items.
Thus, the Dungeon was essentially a gold mine, capable of endlessly producing Magic Items.
When Thousand Masts City was first founded, it made its first fortune by excavating Magic Equipment from the Undercity and providing services to the Adventurers drawn in by the Dungeon.
Reputedly, the predecessor to the Gray Squad was an official team that delved deep into the Dungeon to find Magic Equipment, only later becoming elite agents who dealt with troublesome monsters.
But for all the Magic Equipment it could produce, the Underground City also had one major problem...
It was simply too dangerous.
"No, we’re still too weak."
Colin said, "Back when we didn’t have many missions, I asked around about the Undercity. Even on just the first floor, only battle-hardened Warriors and Mages capable of Casting Tier Three Magic have a chance of making it out alive. If we go in now, eight times out of ten, we’d end up staying in there forever."
"But we’re the squad that defeated a massive Frost Giant Skeleton," Kase said, frowning. He seemed reluctant to give up.
Colin said grimly, "We can’t gamble with our lives."
At that, Kase dropped the subject.
"I got a notice this morning, too. Our rank promotion ceremony is in three days."
Colin continued, "After the ceremony, we’ll ask Edwin if he has any jobs for us. If not, we can look around for any worthwhile bounties or other missions. Sound good?"
"Sounds like a plan." Kase and the others nodded in agreement.
With the plan settled, the group finished lunch and went their separate ways to read and train.
Colin, on the verge of acquiring a new Specialty, shifted the focus of his training to Swordsmanship.
「Three days later.」
The party gathered at the Black Heart Tavern. After breakfast, they headed for Horn Castle.
Reaching the entrance, they looked out into the bailey. Horn Castle was certainly bustling today; a quick glance revealed about a hundred people.
These people were a far cry from the New Blood Colin had seen when he went to resolve the Blight incident in Silverpine Village.
Most of them had distinctive appearances: Ranger Scouts in Leather Armor, Warrior Knights in Chest Armor, Casters in long robes...
Although none of them had much in the way of Magic Equipment, they all possessed professional gear and a professional attitude. They weren’t like the Foresters or Militia who had been hastily pressed into service.
It was worth noting that there were many Alien Races among them. freēwēbnovel.com
Elves, Gnomes, and Halflings were a common sight. Occasionally, one could also spot Half-Orcs and Tieflings, but other races were far rarer. freēwebnovel.com
As Colin sized them up, the Adventurers inside looked back at them.
The group walked inside in silence.
Wherever they went, the crowd subtly, whether intentionally or not, parted for them. It was as if people were deliberately avoiding their squad, and they could feel many gazes sizing them up.
’That’s not right. It’s not like there aren’t other Half-Orcs and Tieflings here. What’s so strange about our squad?’ Colin grumbled to himself.
However, after a closer look, he quickly figured out why.
While there were races like Half-Orcs and Tieflings, squads that included a Half-Orc, a Tiefling, *and* a Half-Elf all at once were rare—in fact, there might not have been any others at all. That’s why everyone found them so peculiar.
Colin was left a little speechless.
’Since no one wanted to approach them, there was no point in trying to force it.’
Colin didn’t dwell on it and led his companions toward a corner. He didn’t expect to find an odd figure already lurking there.
This person had the unmistakable head of a Dragon Species, complete with draconic horns and sharp teeth. Brown scales covered any skin not hidden by Armor and clothing, and their legs were just like those of a Dragon Species—the digitigrade legs of a creature that walks on its toes.
’A Dragon Descendant?’
Seeing the person’s brown scales, Colin suddenly recalled the disgusting story the Gnome had told on the ship. He silently led the others to a different, unoccupied corner to stand.
After that, the Adventurers in the bailey forgot about the strange little squad and slowly resumed their conversations.
Colin listened in on the surrounding conversations for a moment.
The people gathered in the bailey all seemed to be field agents of the "Black Robe" rank. Only a few were newcomers being promoted to the Black Robe rank; the rest were there to celebrate.
’Come to think of it, the head of the Morninglord Sect he’d met back in Rommon was only a "White Eagle," which was the third rank.’
’In that case,’ Colin thought, ’the first two ranks must be the main force on the front lines, taking on missions. After all, starting from the third rank, you have people managing entire regions.’
’But for an organization as newly formed as the field agents, the third rank probably isn’t a management position yet. There isn’t that much territory for them to govern, after all.’
As he was lost in thought, the bailey suddenly fell silent.
He looked up and saw Edwin, Morel, and six other people appear on a low platform in the bailey.
All of them were now dressed in full gear.
Even a flighty Mage like Morel looked considerably more formal.
’Strangely, though, Edwin was still wearing that tattered Chest Armor and old Cloak. Colin recalled that there wasn’t any Magic Equipment on that getup, which was rather shabby for a Legendary Paladin.’
"New Black Robes, step forward! The investiture ceremony begins!" Edwin declared.
Amplified by Magic, his voice carried clearly and evenly to every corner of the bailey.
Colin led his group and the other newly promoted squads to the front of the low platform.
The rest of the crowd made space for them.
Judging by the expressions of the people on the platform, this ceremony was slightly more serious than the last, but not by much.
"Swear this oath with me!" Edwin boomed.
He stood with his feet apart, hands clasped behind his back, and recited in a clear voice, "I swear..."
Colin mirrored Edwin’s stance, and the others behind him followed his lead.
Edwin continued the oath from the stage, and the new Black Robes shouted the words along with him, one by one.
"...to protect the walls and people of Thousand Masts City, to stand against all threats, whether from within or without. I pledge my sword, my Magic, and my life to this city, until death takes me!"
The oath was sworn.
"Next, we will bestow the insignia upon our new ’Black Robes’!"
