The guard stood there in a daze, trembling as he carefully held up the small, shattered three-headed emblem.
He did not understand what the councilor Viktor mentioned actually represented, because he was nothing more than a simple gate guard.
But looking at the man in the black trench coat in front of him, he knew Viktor was definitely not someone to mess with.
The guard picked up the emblem and spoke respectfully to Viktor,
"…Yes, I… I'll go inform the city lord right away!"
He hurriedly turned to leave, but just as he turned around, Viktor suddenly called out to him from behind.
"Don't rush off yet."
The guard turned back, looking at Viktor with some fear.
Viktor had both hands in his pockets and spoke in a flat tone, "Let them pass. Now."
———
In the end, Viktor and Henny were allowed into the city by that guard.
After hearing Viktor's words, the guard plunged straight into the sea to find the city lord.
Naturally, he let the two of them enter the city.
As soon as they entered, Henny's eyes widened.
Looking at the magical city before her, she felt utterly shocked.
The entire city seemed to be wrapped in layers of water element. Tall buildings made of water of all sizes stood densely across the surface of the sea.
Curving streams of water wound around the buildings, like the earth rising up and placing the entire city in the palm of its hand.
It was called land, but in reality, the ground beneath their feet was nothing but soft flowing water.
Looking further down, the enormous city extended continuously downward through the floating water surface, reaching deep into the dark sea.
Those scattered lights followed the sea downward, tiny red dots like faint flames burning beneath the ocean, weak yet unending.
Below the sea, coral of all colors spread around the buildings, as if they had been carefully carved by someone.
Various kinds of algae floated in the air, drifting without purpose.
At night, combined with the pale blue city, everything looked extremely beautiful.
The entire place felt like a magical scene, captivating her and drawing her into it.
At this moment, Henny looked around again.
Along the way, there were people coming and going everywhere.
Like the guard at the entrance, ancient and mysterious patterns were painted on different parts of their bodies.
They walked across the sea's surface, yet their clothes did not get wet at all.
If Henny had not used magic to block the water from her clothes, her robe would have been soaked long ago.
Then Henny noticed their necks. All of them wore the same kind of necklace, flowing like water.
Their wrists were also wrapped in streams of water, drifting like ribbons.
Henny felt confused and then looked at her own arm.
On her arm, there was the same stream of water.
And she remembered that this was given to her by that guard earlier.
It seemed that without this, the guard would not have allowed them into the city.
Of course, that guard could not resist Viktor's forceful attitude.
In the end, they still entered this City of Water.
Thinking of this, Henny walked behind Viktor, secretly lifting her head to look at his back, at his arms.
There was nothing on the professor's body. No strange streams of water, and nothing carrying any 'water' element at all.
Perhaps that was why the passersby kept looking in their direction.
Henny was very sensitive to other people's gazes. Along the way, she constantly felt many people watching them.
Those looks carried all kinds of emotions.
Curiosity, doubt, disgust, contempt…
It was hard to imagine that so many emotional gazes could be directed at them at the same time.
Being stared at by so many people made Henny feel scared, even though she knew most of those looks were aimed at Viktor.
There was almost no hostility directed at her.
'Could this be the exclusion of outsiders that the professor mentioned, the sea people's attitude?'
Then what about her? Why did these sea people not show hostility toward her?
"Because of the 'Ocean Pact' on your arm."
"The Ocean Pact?"
Henny froze for a moment, lowered her head, and looked at the faint stream of water wrapped around her arm.
Viktor nodded and said, "The sea people will show hostility toward anyone who enters the Sea City."
"But having this means you have accepted the ocean."
Viktor pointed at Henny's arm. The water stream there seemed to activate, slowly flowing around her arm.
The water droplets floating in the air also began to circulate.
Looking at the ring of flowing water on her arm, Henny could not help feeling surprised.
"You are willing to become a part of the ocean."
Viktor explained calmly, but Henny felt her head starting to spin a little.
'What did this have to do with becoming part of the ocean?'
She still did not really understand.
At this moment, Viktor withdrew his hand and put both hands back into his pockets.
"This thing can stay on your arm for now. The city lord here will find us through your 'Ocean Pact.'"
"We'll rest here for a day. Tomorrow, Duke Levi and Erica will also arrive."
Hearing Viktor's words, Henny blinked.
Knowing that Erica would be coming too made her feel very happy.
After all, she had a good relationship with Erica, and Henny considered them to be friends.
Henny had very few friends, almost none, so she treasured anyone who treated her well.
But without realizing it, Henny also felt a slight sense of loss.
She did not know where it came from.
Perhaps it was because she had been looking forward to a trip with just the professor, only for it to suddenly become four people.
The little succubus never hid her emotions. If she was unhappy, she was unhappy.
Viktor noticed her mood and casually glanced down at her.
Then he walked over to a roadside vendor selling accessories and pointed at one crystal ornament.
That ornament looked like a water droplet, carved vividly and sparkling gently, as if it were filled with flowing clear water.
"How much is this."
The vendor was also a sea person. His thick arms were covered in patterns, and even the Ocean Pact on him looked broader and stronger than most.
When he saw Viktor, his expression immediately darkened.
He cast an unfriendly glance at Viktor, the corners of his mouth turning down slightly.
"I won't sell you anything…"
BOOM!
A scorching bright red spell burst from Viktor's fingertip, and a sharp flaming steel spike embedded itself into the floating sea surface.
The spike began to break apart, and flames slowly fell onto the sea.
The next second, a wall of fire rose out of nowhere, completely surrounding the vendor.
Seeing the fire wall about to swallow him whole, the vendor was instantly terrified. He dropped to the ground and scrambled backward a few steps.
But behind him was still intense heat, leaving him curled up in place.
Viktor's voice remained calm, "How much."
"O-one thousand Geo."
Geo was the common currency of this world, not limited to the empire.
This could be considered one of the features of the game world.
The price was not expensive, roughly the cost of one bottle of a Klevenar family brand magic potion.
So Viktor casually waved his hand, and a bag of coins appeared out of thin air, landing in front of the vendor.
Viktor took the water droplet ornament as he wished, and the wall of fire gradually disappeared.
The shop owner, however, was still shaken by the heat from before, his emotions taking a long time to settle.
The surrounding passersby had long noticed the disturbance Viktor caused. They watched him warily, their faces filled with seriousness and fear.
After all, the power of the magic Viktor had just released could not be underestimated.
Moreover, Viktor's behavior was simply too abnormal.
Who uses fire magic in the Sea City? Was he treating the sea people as if they were nothing?
Even so, after Viktor showed his strength, no one dared to direct any more looks at him.
No matter where you are, having a hard fist is always the ultimate rule.
Henny stood there, staring blankly at Viktor.
In his hand, he held the blue, water droplet-like ornament and walked toward her step by step.
Could it be that the professor did this for her…
Henny's feelings suddenly became complicated.
She felt both happy and flustered.
If the professor really planned to give that item to her, how should she respond?
Accept it, or refuse it…
'No, no, Henny, I can't figure this out!'
Seeing Viktor get closer and closer, even pinching the water droplet ornament between his fingers and lifting it slightly.
In her panic, Henny quickly closed her eyes.
She could feel her heart pounding rapidly, completely out of control.
But the touch she was expecting did not come, even after a long while.
Then Henny opened her eyes.
She saw Viktor's hand slide down over the crow's head on his shoulder.
On the pitch-black crow's head, a water droplet ornament flowing like water was now sitting there.
The crow lifted its proud head and looked at her, as if showing off.
Henny blinked in confusion, then heard Viktor say, "This isn't for you."
As the words fell, disappointment appeared on Henny's face.
Right. What was she even imagining?
The professor had even seen through her thoughts and deliberately reminded her.
No one would prepare a gift for her.
Even if it was the professor, she had imagined too much…
"But…"
Hearing his voice, Henny froze slightly.
But before Viktor could finish, suddenly, countless guards holding long spears formed from flowing water rushed in rapidly from both ends of the street.
Without exception, pale blue streams of water were wrapped around their wrists.
Countless guards gathered here, attempting to surround and suppress the two of them.
Seeing this, Henny felt a wave of panic. She pressed tightly against Viktor, afraid to move.
When had she ever seen a scene like this?
But Viktor, in contrast, kept both hands in his pockets, his expression unchanged.
As if he had long expected this situation, he did not take these guards seriously at all.
After a while, a tall figure stepped down slowly from a vehicle that skimmed across the sea.
On his chest was a small badge, like a bright blue star.
Under the night sky, it shimmered with faint starlight, as if someone had plucked a star from the heavens.
At a glance, it was clear that he was no ordinary guard.
"Foreigners without an Ocean Pact up ahead, listen carefully."
"Your actions have disrupted the order of the Sea City. Now, stop resisting and immediately submit to our arrest and investigation."
As the words ended, all the surrounding guards raised their spears. Water rippled along the sharp spear tips as they pointed straight at Viktor.
That's right. Viktor had triggered an investigation by the Sea City's guard force.
He thought to himself.
'In the game, any player who entered the Sea City by force without an invitation would be surrounded by the guards.'
And at that moment, what would a player usually do?
Almost at the exact moment the man finished speaking.
Behind Viktor, a fierce, scorching flame erupted.
Crimson patterns instantly spread across his trench coat as it burst into raging fire, like an enraged ferocious beast.
The guards widened their eyes, gripping their spears tightly.
Within those furious flames, Viktor's voice slowly rang out, "Arrest me?"
"Are you qualified?"