"What is it..." Guard One followed Guard Two’s gaze and froze. "Whoa."
The two had been Guards in Luojie City for over three years, familiar enough with most of the city’s adventurers to recognize their faces. Although they were used to seeing all kinds of new arrivals, they had never seen newcomers quite like these.
Among the sparse crowd of adventurers, two tall, heavily armored figures trampled through the murky, decaying dust of the wasteland. They towered over everyone else, striding through the crowd and drawing stares from all around.
One was a tall, lean Black Armor Knight. His menacing, pitch-black Armor was covered in dust, and he dragged a travel-worn, blood-red cape behind him, resembling a black snake with razor-sharp Scale Armor. His limbs were long and slender, as delicate and deadly as a spider or praying mantis. Yet, despite his build, he carried a heavy Hammer Spear on his back, shaped like a scepter. Though slender, he stood at an estimated two meters tall, striding forward with the aura of a Monarch.
The other was a rusted Copper Armor Knight, draped in a gray cloak over his armor. Cloth strips were wrapped around his leg armor and Hand Armor, which were covered in rust and ancient patterns. He pulled the brim of his tattered hood down with one hand, casting his helmet in complete darkness. He was about the same height as the Black Armor Knight, perhaps even taller, with a much broader shoulder-to-body ratio. His silhouette was rugged and imposing, though he hunched slightly to lower his profile. With a Rusted Copper Knight’s Long Sword at his waist and a plain Rusted Copper Kite Shield on his back, he remained silent and low-key, looking like an exiled Foreign Knight.
CLANG, CLANG. The heavy crash of colliding metal rang out with each step, as unstoppable as an iron chariot.
"The one in Black Armor is carrying an armor-piercing weapon meant for crowd combat, and the one in Copper Armor has a sword and shield... Interesting. Sword and shield infantry. They’re probably Warrior Knights, in full armor," Guard One whispered. "Damn, you rarely see Warrior Knights in full heavy armor these days—and these two are actually fighting on foot. Since the War of Kings, large-scale cavalry charges have become increasingly rare. Half of all Warrior Knights have switched to half-plate or light armor."
"They’re on foot... Are they really adventurers? Adventurers have to trek long distances in harsh environments for extended periods." Guard Two frowned. "What kind of terrifying stamina and endurance does it take to march long distances in full armor? Even drinking a strength Magic Potion like water every day wouldn’t give you that kind of stamina."
Meanwhile, Samael and Talia mingled with the crowd, trying to slip through the city gates as inconspicuously as possible.
"I think we might be a bit too tall, My Lord," Samael whispered. "I... I’m new here and never had a point of reference. I thought our heights were perfectly normal... Now that I’m seeing living people in this world for the first time, I’m realizing something isn’t quite right. Are we both really two meters tall?"
"My father is normally two point nine meters tall... with a shoulder width of one point five meters," Talia whispered back. "I’m considered petite and slender, and my current height and build have already been offset by my mother’s genetics."
"Our abilities might still be a bit too strong for ordinary adventurers," Samael muttered. "If anything happens, we need to hold back and conceal our true strength."
"Are those two Alliance Guards looking at us?" Talia lowered her voice. "We’re doomed. Do strangers have to be inspected to enter the city? I don’t remember the Alliance having a rule like that!"
"Don’t panic, we’ll just... cross that bridge when we come to it," Samael whispered. "If we get found out, the worst-case scenario is we make a run for it."
The two feigned composure as they took it step by step. Just as they were about to enter Luojie City, the Guards at the gate suddenly reached out and stopped them.
"Excuse me, are you two... new adventurers?" Guard One asked. "We haven’t seen you in Luojie City before."
"This poor monk—I mean... we aren’t adventurers at the moment, but we certainly hope to become ones... May the gods bless us." Samael pressed his palms together. "We are Wandering Knights from a distant Monastery, traveling in ascetic practice. We’ve trekked for a long time and were just thinking we might become adventurers. Of course, it would be best if we could hitch a ride to the Ederic Empire..."
"So you’re saying you two haven’t even registered as adventurers yet?" Guard Two asked.
"Y-yes," Talia replied. "We have devoted our everything to the gods and were originally required to stay in the Monastery for life. However, our mentor told us that the gods are always watching the world, and that only through worldly trials and ascetic practice can we touch the divine. That’s why we left the Monastery and traveled all the way here. We haven’t had the time to register as adventurers yet."
"May I ask what your classes are? With such specialized gear, you must already have one, right?" Guard One inquired.
"His gaze is sharp, and he is highly experienced," Samael thought.
"We are Warrior Knights," Samael answered aloud.
The two Guards exchanged a look.
"Although you two look experienced, if you want to become adventurers, you still have to start from the bottom as level-one rookies... That’s an Alliance regulation. The environment in the Barren Land is quite treacherous, and taking on adventure quests alone without experience can be exceedingly difficult. The Alliance doesn’t want too many reckless hotheads dying pointlessly in the Barren Land just because they hear it pays well. Please understand," Guard Two said gently. "Even though you seem like veterans, according to the rules, you will still be level-one rookies after registration. You’ll need to join a senior’s party and learn the ropes with them for a while before you’re allowed to work solo. If you two wish to become adventurers, would you like to join a decent party first?"
"We can guarantee that this party has an earnest and responsible young captain—and they just so happen to have a good quest on hand that suits the two of you." Guard One rubbed his hands together. "If you monks are interested, we can make an introduction. That young man can also conveniently help you complete the relevant adventurer registration procedures."
Samael and Talia exchanged a glance.
"Uh... sure," Talia said.
"Of course, we’ll trouble you with that, then!" Samael said cheerfully. "Thank you so much, sir!"
"Please wait here for a moment, you two." Guard Two nodded, then turned to call out to Guard One. "I’ll hold the fort here. Hurry up and call Randall over before he gets too far away."
"Why am I the one running errands?" Guard One complained, though he was already striding toward the adventurer’s hall in the city.