The captain of the guards widened his eyes, his mouth slightly agape, seemingly unable to process what had just occurred. Behind him, several soldiers remained frozen in defensive stances, their gazes shifting between the suddenly manifested giant Shark Pruning Shears and the unconscious Goblin on the ground.
It took several seconds before the captain suddenly snapped back to his senses, letting out a light cough to hide his loss of composure. He waved his hand, signaling his subordinates.
"Quickly, secure that Goblin and check the cart. Be careful, there might be accomplices."
Several soldiers immediately sprang into action, cautiously approaching the fallen Goblin to bind it with ropes, while others began to carefully search the haystack on the small cart. Only then did the captain turn around and offer a solemn military salute to Luna Belle and Ellen. His gaze was filled with gratitude, and his tone became exceptionally respectful.
"Noble ladies, thank you for your assistance. I am Roy Sterling, captain of the third squad of the White Thorn City guard. If not for this... uh... maid miss's timely intervention, I'm afraid there would have been unnecessary casualties."
Ellen simply gave a lazy yawn, the lollipop rolling in her mouth as she responded vaguely. "No need for thanks. It was just too noisy and disturbed my rest."
Her shark tail swayed listlessly, appearing completely uninterested in the scene. Luna Belle quickly took over the conversation, offering a friendly smile.
"Hello, Captain Sterling. My name is Belle, and this is my companion, Ellen. We are travelers passing through and were just about to enter the city."
Captain Roy nodded, his gaze carefully appraising the two of them. Ellen's shark-kin features and her exaggerated weapon clearly piqued his curiosity, but he didn't press for details.
"Regardless, you've done us a great favor. This Goblin is likely a controlled pawn; recently, monsters have frequently been trying to infiltrate the city." He lowered his voice slightly. "As a token of gratitude, I can offer you some conveniences. From the looks of it, this is your first time in White Thorn City? Would you like me to introduce the basic situation of the city to you?"
Luna Belle's eyes lit up; this was exactly what they needed. "That would be much appreciated, Captain Sterling! We truly know nothing about this place."
Roy led them to the Guard Post by the city gate, where there were a few simple seats made of wooden logs. Ellen found a log to sit on, continuing to lick her lollipop in a half-asleep state.
"White Thorn City is one of the most important border towns of the Silver Moon Duchy," Roy began. "Because it is near the Gloomy Forest and the Misty Mountains, it serves as both a trade hub and a strategic military base. You'll often see merchants and adventurers from all over." He pointed to the marks of battle on the city walls. "Due to our proximity to dangerous areas, city entry inspections are quite strict; I hope you understand."
Roy continued, pulling a silver coin stamped with a maple leaf from his pocket. "Regarding currency, we primarily use silver and copper coins issued by the Silver Moon Duchy, though imperial gold coins are also accepted." He then took a small coin pouch from his waist and handed it to Luna Belle. "This is the bounty for that Goblin from the guild—five silver coins in total. Although you didn't accept the quest, you are still entitled to the reward."
Luna Belle was stunned for a moment, then joyfully took the pouch. This was the starting capital they desperately needed! "Thank you so much, Captain Sterling!"
"If you need a place to stay, I recommend the Silver Oak Inn," Roy added. "However, keep a few things in mind: don't leave the town area alone after dark, and don't easily team up with strangers. If you encounter trouble, you can come to the guard squad for help."
Just then, a soldier ran over to report. "Captain Roy, some stolen silverware and packets of suspected contraband potions were found in the cart."
Roy sighed. "As expected. My apologies, ladies, I must handle this." He handed Luna Belle two small metal badges. "These are temporary passes for one week. Welcome to White Thorn City."
Luna Belle thanked him once more as he turned to deal with the smuggler. She looked at Ellen, who was stretching her shark tail.
"Finally, we can find a place to get some proper rest," Ellen said vaguely. "I could sleep for a while longer."
Luna Belle shook her head with a smile. "Let's go. First, we'll find that Silver Oak Inn, take a nice hot bath, and have a warm meal."
As the two walked into the city, Captain Roy watched them go before heading straight for the Guardhouse. He pushed past the busy clerks and soldiers on duty to his office and picked up a metal plate embedded with a blue crystal—a magic communication device.