Chapter 49: Hometown

After sixteen days’ trudge, they finally approached the Isolated Cliff City. Along the way, Han Jin learned a lot about this city from his companions. Like Beitman, which was adjacent to it, the Isolated Cliff City also refused to join any war. They were both, to some extent, neutral states. Beitman maintained its neutrality, because it was distrusted by other states due to its unsteady position. While the Isolated Cliff City had kept its neutrality since the establishment of the state.

The interior systems of the Isolated Cliff City and Beitman were very different. In Beitman, the four owners of the acropolises controlled the whole country by turns. While in the Isolated Cliff City, all governmental affairs were decided by nine local commercial corps together. They established an association made up of nine elders. As long as any decision was agreed by five or more elders, it could be put into force.

Anyway, they were in troubled times, and the nine commercial corps had been developed into armed forces. But inside the city, there was another group that could confront them,the Association of Mercenaries. Policies made by the commercial corps could only govern ordinary civilians, but not mercenaries, who lived a free life by working as private bodyguards, protecting business groups, or hunting holy animals.It was unwise for any of the commercial corps to interfere with the freedom of mercenaries. They would never make a concession. On the other hand, commercial corps had their own military force, thus none of the mercenaries dare to go too far. A subtle balance was madetherefrom.

The nine commercial corps once planned to bribethe high grade mercenaries with high priceto disperse the strength of the Association of Mercenaries, but facts proved that its loss outweighted the gain. Any mercenary, as long as he was not too lazy, could gain a great deal of money while still live a free life. He could either work or rest according to his own will. If you wanted to hire a high grade mercenary to serve for you all day, then you must pay several times the price for occasional service. No matter how rich you were, you could not afford a great number of high grade mercenaries. What’s more, human beings were born with laziness. If one could get money regardless of he or she worked or not, who would rather to work hard? Moreover, mercenaries had been used to free life, they would felt displeased if being ordered like a servant. Unlike armymen, they would only cooperate with others, but not be manipulated as puppets.

But most importantly, the downfall of the Association of Mercenaries did no good for the Isolated Cliff City. The situation in this territory was complicated. The city could only be governed by severe laws and rules, and mercenaries were the best performers of these laws and rules. Only the Association of Mercenaries would keep justice and impartiality againstall of the nine commercial corps.

Of course, allthese were just superficial information, as for those internal, none of the outsiders knew.

The Isolated Cliff City was located in forest. But the dense woods nearby had been cut down and changed into wheat fields, which looked very neat from distance. There was an abrupt high mountain behind the citythrusting straight into the cloud.That’s why the ‘Isolated Cliff’ City got its name.

Delight filled the faces of them.Finally they could live a normal life! But obviously, Moxinke was not as happy as the others. He walked slowly and reluctantly behind them. The closer they got to the city, the slower his movements were. He acted so stealthily that even a fool could detect somethingwrong with him.

Han Jin stopped and turned his head around: “What’s wrong with you, Moxinke?” He asked with his eyebrows knitted.

“Nothing…I am all right.” Moxinke replied with a forced smile.

“Tell us the truth, Moxinke, is there anyone hates you in the Isolated Cliff City?” Han Jin said: “If there is, tell us now, so that we can make preparation for this.”

“He’s right, Moxinke. If there is anything, tell us now, don’t you believe us?” Cessacioun said.

“Not someone hates me… You misunderstood.” Moxinke scratched his head.

“Then what makes you so afraid?”

“A…a woman.” Moxinke faltered. Everybody’s looking at him, and he knew he couldn’t keep from them anymore.

Han Jin’s eyes lit up. He cast a glance at Cessacioun and asked curiously: “A woman? Whatis she like?”

“She is… It’s hard to describe, just an ordinary woman.” Moxinke said with his eyes glancing around to avoid direct eye contact with them.

“How old is she?”

“More than 20.”

“How old exactly?”

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“Three years older than me, what’s wrong?” Moxinke asked back.

“Nothing. I am just curious.” Han Jin laughed: “Is she beautiful?”

“Not ugly.”

“How long have you known her?”

“Nearly… ten years.”

“You have very good relationship with her?”

“You… are you going to leave here or not?” Moxinke was ashamed into anger at last: “If not, I will go alone!” This said, he strode forward directly, but stopped and returned back only after three or four steps.

“Er… could you lend me your magic wand, Cessacioun?” He asked.

“To do what?” Cessacioun was confused, but he still passed it to Moxinke.

“Hold this.” Moxinke gave his giant sword to Cessacioun.

The sword was forty pounds in weight at least. Cessacioun nearly failed to hold it. Fortunately, as a man who had traveled a lot, he was not that weak.

“And your cloak, could you lend it to me?” Moxinke turned to look at Miss Keeley.

“But this is a cloak for women.” She said surprisingly.

“It’s okay, just lend it to me.” Moxinke begged.

Miss Keeley had no choice but to take off her cloak and passed it to him. Moxinke put it on directly without saying another word. But his head was even three times larger than that of Miss Keeley’s. The hood wrapped around it tightly. He looked very ludicrous.

Moxinke didn’t mind it at all. He turned around and walked forward. Everyone burst into laughter, even Sunier was bowing forward and leaning backward due to laughter. The cloak could reach Miss Keeley’s knees, but couldn’t even cover the butt of Moxinke. In addition, compared with his large and sturdy body, the wand in his hand was just like a toothpick. What a ridiculous dressing up.

“Do I look so funny?”Moxinke looked around, but he couldn’t see himself at all. “Release an art of mirror image for me, Cessacioun.” He said.

“I am just a high grade warlock now. How can I release it for you?” Cessacioun showed a bitter smile.

“It only makes you more noticeable, Moxinke.” Han Jin laughed: “In fact, if you really want to disguise yourself, just shave off your beards, then no one can recognize you.”

“Good idea!” Moxinke yelled pleasantly and surprisingly: “Come on, Cessacioun, give me a hand!”He said while trying to put off the cloak, but it was too tight. Fizz! The hood was ripped in half.

“I wonder what kind of woman can frighten Moxinke like this.” Sunier muttered smilingly.

“Me too.” Han Jin responded. He looked at the Isolated Cliff City in the distance: “This must be his hometown.”