Just as Lyan left with Liza and his family, more people began disembarking from the ships behind them. They had all co from other cities.
So were rchants, so were commoners, and a few were beastkin hiding their identities. After news spread of West Sun City aiding North Wind City and crushing the horse bandits, the city earned a strong reputation, leaving many with a naturally favorable impression.
Additionally, Niu Wu had secretly distributed stories about West Sun City, and more and more people beca tempted to co and give it a try. Ships arriving like this had beco a daily occurrence, with anywhere from dozens to over a hundred newcors each day.
“I say, old Pete, why’d you suddenly decide to co here?”
A two-ter-tall fat man waddled off the boat, his enormous belly jiggling with each step. His chin practically rged with his neck, and just walking down the ship made him breathe heavily. He gasped, “Huff… puff… shouldn’t we have gone to Blazing Horse City instead? That place is bustling. We might also be able to find so leads on that White Haired Enchantress.”
Next to him was a short, skinny old man in his fifties, and he was 1.56 ters tall. He looked so frail that it seed like he could be knocked over by the wind.
“Harold, be serious for once. If you were a wanted fugitive with a bounty on your head, would you hide in a crowded city or a remote one?” Pete scratched the few scraggly hairs on his chin.
“Probably a bustling city. More food there.” Harold patted his large belly as he spoke, the fat of his body rippling.
“Cough cough…” Pete nearly choked. He rolled his eyes. His fat partner always thought that eating was the most important thing.
“Am I wrong?” Harold rolled his eyes, glanced at Pete, and muttered, “Forget it. I’ll leave the thinking to you.”
“Right, and you just worry about catching people.” Pete carried a small burlap sack on his back. He’d co to West Sun City after hearing rumors that it welcod beastkin fairly, reminding him of a possibility. Could that elf, called the White Haired Enchantress, have co to West Sun City too?
It was worth checking out. If nothing else, he’d get to see what was so special about this place. Even the dock underfoot was flat and hard like stone- an impressive first impression.
The two followed the crowd to a checkpoint made of wooden fencing. People were lined up, and soon it was their turn.
“First ti in West Sun City? Are you rchants? Tourists? Job seekers?” asked a clerk seated behind the barrier.
Several armored soldiers stood just ters away, making Pete feel a little solemn. If a conflict broke out, they’d probably be skewered in a second.
This was the simplified version of an entry checkpoint. It didn’t have real infrastructure yet- no entry tax, for example. It mostly served as a way to inform newcors and prevent people from bringing in too many weapons.
“Tourists,” Pete replied smoothly.
“Okay. This paper has so basic information about West Sun City. Enjoy your stay,” the clerk said, handing each of them a slip of paper.
Pete and Harold took the papers with so confusion. Unbeknownst to them, the clerk wrote a note on another piece of paper: A two-ter fat man and a scrawny man under 1.6 ters- highly suspicious.
Tourists? When it was almost winter? 50% chance they were here to do sothing illegal. The clerk would pass the note to the higher-ups so people could be sent to keep an eye on Pete and Hal.
Pete read the paper. “One copper coin equals ten steel coins. Carriage rides cost three steel coins per person… Urinating and defecating on the grounds are prohibited…”
“What kind of nonsense is this?” Harold yanked the paper from Pete, crumpled it up, and tossed it into the dead grass on the roadside. “Caring about where people poop but not about whether they’re hungry?”
“You’re still as hot-headed as ever.” Pete rolled his eyes. He hadn’t even gotten a chance to examine the thin material that could hold writing, and it was way better than parchnt.
“I’m in a bad mood when I’m hungry.” Harold’s voice turned gloomy. They’d been on that boat for two days, and the food they bought back in North Wind City had long been eaten.
“Alright, let’s head into the city.” Pete flagged down a carriage and handed over a copper coin, receiving four steel coins in change.
Soon, they arrived at West Sun City. They got off at the city gate, and after walking only a short distance, they heard a surprised cry nearby.
“Wow! Lyan, this is the West Sun City you talked about? The roads are so wide! And look- there are even beastkin!” Liza exclaid like an excited child, gawking in every direction.
“Okay, okay. I’ll take you sightseeing later. Let’s get the stuff ho first,” Lyan said, gently pulling her along. The kind city lord had given him a full day off to spend with his family today!
“…?”
“Beastkin?” Pete followed her gaze and spotted an elderly goatkin leading a group of young beastkin children for a walk.
“Grandma Mary, are we buying yummy veggies?” a little beastkin clung to Mary’s sleeve, speaking in a soft, milky voice. “The pizza Big Sis Wei Ya bought the other day was so good!”
“Grandma Mary, are we getting pizza? I heard it’s really expensive! It cost a whole copper coin!”
“That’s right. Today, we’re taking out a few at dishes from Drunken Night Restaurant to celebrate Lil Ya’s birthday,” Mary said with a kind smile. “Pizza will have to wait until your birthday.”
“Yay! Yay!” the kids cheered.
It was a day Mary could never have imagined. All the beastkin children over six at the orphanage were now attending school. Only a few younger ones were left.
So today, she brought two or three of them out to buy so good food. She’d heard the first-floor hall at Drunken Night Restaurant had so reasonably priced at dishes- perfect for a birthday al.
Although the orphanage received food from Liu Feng, Mary and the others had to do all the cooking themselves, and their skills weren’t great. So in order to give the children a happy birthday mory, she decided to buy so food from Drunken Night Restaurant.
“Yaaay! We’re getting at!” the little ones squealed.
“Don’t run off. Stay close,” Mary called as she led the children away.
“…”
Pete stared at Mary’s retreating back, a strange feeling tugging at his heart. She looked a lot like his late wife- aside from the goat horns, of course.
“Old Pete? What are you daydreaming about? Isn’t she just an old beastkin?” Harold said, belly jiggling as he spoke.
“Hal, do you believe in love at first sight?” Pete looked up at the mountain of flesh beside him, his cloudy eyes full of nostalgia.
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