Chapter 13: Head to the Royal Capital

After three days of travel, Dongfang Jiang and Pandana, under the escort of the Jones Family Caravan, arrived at Grey Tower.

“This is the Royal Capital?”

The moment he caught sight of Grey Tower in the distance, Dongfang Jiang thought he was looking at an abandoned water tower back home.

It wasn’t that it wasn’t tall—it was just too old.

The gray-white tower stood atop the highest hill, but its spire lacked the magical glow he’d imagined.

Instead, a worn-out weather vane creaked and spun in the afternoon breeze, occasionally catching a glint of light like a dying lamp.

The entire city was built on seven hills.

Layer upon layer of reddish-brown roofs climbed from the foothills to the hillsides, packed so tight it reminded him of the urban villages near a university town.

The distant city walls and the tower were made of the same material—dull gray, as if covered in a layer of dust that could never be wiped clean.

“So, is there anywhere to eat?”

Pandana asked softly beside him.

Dongfang Jiang didn’t answer.

He had imagined the Royal Capital of another world would be grand and magnificent like in a game, but it looked more like a slowly dying industrial city, covered in rust and time.

“Of course there is, Miss Douglas. We’ll enter the Royal Capital from the Lower City. Once we reach the Upper City, there’ll be plenty of good food.”

Just as Dongfang Jiang and Pandana were expressing their dissatisfaction with Grey Tower in their own ways, the caravan leader, Mister Mars, said to them.

“Oh, as long as there’s food, let’s head into the city, Mister Dongfang.”

Dongfang Jiang nodded.

Then he and Pandana entered the Royal Capital.

As the carriage moved slowly, Dongfang Jiang checked the System Map.

Now there were three red dots on the map.

One was right beside him.

‘That’s Pandana.’

Another was still flying across the northern part of the Kingdom.

‘That’s Xue. We came by carriage, so we ended up a bit faster than her.’

The last one was in the northeastern part of the Royal Capital.

Dongfang Jiang stared at that location for a long time, but the ring that had been activated since day one hadn’t moved at all.

‘Weird. The other rings move at least a little, but this one is completely still…’

While Dongfang Jiang was thinking, Pandana elbowed him.

“What’s wrong? Something on your mind?”

Dongfang Jiang shared his concerns with Pandana.

She stroked her chin and started thinking along with him.

“Mister Mars, who usually lives in the northeastern part of the Royal Capital?”

Dongfang Jiang posed the question to Mister Mars.

Upon hearing it, Mister Mars’s expression turned serious.

“Hmm, that’s trouble. That area is the Noble District. You might be able to get in, Mister Dongfang, but the rest of us can’t.”

“Oh?”

Dongfang Jiang’s curiosity was piqued by Mister Mars’s words.

Mister Mars didn’t hesitate; he scratched his head and laughed heartily.

“Dongfang is a surname of the royal family of the Dust Kingdom. Ordinary guards won’t be able to judge your identity, Mister Dongfang.”

“Could you be from the Dust Kingdom…?”

“Impossible.”

Dongfang Jiang rejected the idea outright.

As a fine young man of the 21st century, he naturally had nothing to do with the Dust Kingdom.

The caravan brought Dongfang Jiang and Pandana to the mansion rented by the Jones Family.

After a simple meal, Dongfang Jiang said to Pandana in front of him, “I’m going to look for the Stream Ring. Wait for me here at the inn.”

“You’re really going to try to sneak in?”

“Yes.”

“I’d advise against it. Eat something and cool down first. Sneaking in isn’t that hard, but getting into the territory of those noble lords is basically impossible.”

Pandana shoved an apple into Dongfang Jiang’s hand.

He held the apple, took a bite, and paced back and forth for a while.

Seeing him like this, Pandana shrugged helplessly.

She reached out, stood on tiptoe, and gently tapped the tip of his nose.

“Alright, if you’re set on going, you need a plan. Let’s set a time. If you haven’t come back by then, I’ll ask Mister Mars to come get you.”

“Fine. Give me two hours. I’ll just scout the area, nothing else.”

“Deal. I’ll wait for you on the outskirts.”

Dongfang Jiang and Pandana struck an agreement.

Together, they headed to the Noble District of Grey Tower City.

“Stay safe.”

After saying goodbye to Dongfang Jiang, Pandana released her Swamp Energy and concealed herself within it.

Dongfang Jiang took a deep breath, made himself look as normal as possible, and approached the guard.

“Halt!”

“Hmm?”

Dongfang Jiang raised his identification papers and tossed them to the guard.

The guard picked them up, glanced at them, and when he saw the surname Dongfang, hesitated for a moment.

“Forget it. Let him in. The ring on his hand is high-level—even those… lords in there, few of them have rings better than his.”

After some internal debate, the guards eventually let Dongfang Jiang in.

The reason was simple: they had seen many rings, and the level of Dongfang Jiang’s Earth Ring was considered high among them.

Dongfang Jiang entered the Noble District.

Compared to the commoner area he had passed through that morning, the moment he stepped inside, he saw smooth, clean ground.

The paving stones were different from those in the commoner area, faintly reflecting light under the street lamps.

Dongfang Jiang placed his hand on his temple and checked the Map to locate the Stream Ring.

Combining it with the map of the Noble District, he confirmed that the Stream Ring was in the Artificial Lake used for temperature regulation in the Public Area.

“Phew, luckily it’s in the Public Area. I can still retrieve it…”

Having located the Stream Ring, Dongfang Jiang decided to leave the Noble District immediately and regroup with Pandana.

Just as he was about to leave, a commotion came from a mansion nearby.

“What’s that noise?”

No sooner had Dongfang Jiang muttered than a spear flew past him, grazing his side.

He stopped and looked toward the mansion.

A large hole had been blown through the mansion’s wall.

Based on his senses, there were many different sources of Sun Energy inside, all converging on a single point, as if controlled by someone.

It was just like the Valen Ring Nata had described to him.

“The Valen Ring?! It’s here of all places?”

Dongfang Jiang naturally connected the situation to the Valen Ring.

He grabbed the spear that had been thrown, infused it with energy, and hurled it toward the mansion.

Then he summoned his Longsword and charged into the mansion.