Passing through the City Gates, the tide of noise and atmosphere instantly engulfed Lu Hongze.
Unlike the silence of the wilderness, this place was filled with lively clamor. Shops lined the flagstone roads, displaying signs painted with images of wine glasses, bread, and weapons. The air was a mixture of the wheaty scent of freshly baked bread, the rich aroma of wine wafting from taverns, the clang of forging from metal shops, and various spice smells he couldn't identify.
"It seems almost everyone is female," Lu Hongze thought to himself.
Men were not absent, but they were few in number and mostly appeared... different. They were usually more slender, following alongside women or engaged in tasks such as record-keeping, carrying light objects, or tending stalls. Their demeanor also seemed gentler and more reserved. Occasionally, a man walking alone on the street would subconsciously avoid crowds and quicken his pace.
A society dominated by female power. This was the conclusion he reached; he had been unsure when he saw women working in the fields earlier, but now he was basically certain.
However, he found it strange that everyone here wore colorful badges. Perhaps they were some form of identity proof.
His appearance inevitably attracted attention. His outstanding looks, even with his head lowered, could not be completely hidden.
The contrast between his tattered clothing and refined face, along with his vulnerable posture, tightly leaning on Amber, made him the focus of attention.
But unlike the pure scrutiny outside the City Gates, the gazes within the city were more complex.
Some well-dressed women, wearing a few pieces of jewelry, looked at Amber and the Lu Hongze she was supporting with an air of unreserved appraisal.
They would slightly raise their chins, their eyes shifting between Amber's badge and Lu Hongze's face, carrying an almost evaluative expression, as if confirming whether this Knight was "worthy" of protecting such a rare "item."
Lu Hongze felt that they showed Amber little of the respect generally accorded to a Knight, treating her more like a... guard who provided a necessary service.
Meanwhile, more people dressed plainly with weather-beaten faces had cautious, even distant, gazes. They would quickly glance at Amber, then immediately look away, quicken their pace, or lower their heads to focus on their work. When a patrol team of Knights of Favonius walked past, Lu Hongze noticed that the roadside vendors would instinctively tense up until the team had moved far away before relaxing. This was not the closeness felt toward a protector, but rather a reverence for power and rules, or perhaps... fear?
What were they afraid of? Was The Knights a violent organization? Lu Hongze wondered inwardly.
Leaning on Amber, he walked up to a fruit stall where two women who looked like housewives were complaining softly, although he couldn't understand what they were saying.
But their words contained clear, repeating syllables that sounded like "Tithe" and "War Bond"?
"Tithe and... War Bonds? If it's English, that's what it should mean." Lu Hongze thought to himself. His English wasn't very good; he hadn't studied well in school, but his general knowledge was wide but disorganized—he knew a little bit about everything, but only a little.
One of them waved her hand in frustration, while the other shook her head helplessly. Their brows were tightly furrowed, clearly indicating the topic was not lighthearted.
Knights, taxes, bonds... These fragmented clues, intertwined with the class differences and subtle attitudes he observed, sketched a vague yet heavy outline in his mind: the relationship between this city-state's residents and its protectors was far from simple.
Amber clearly noticed these gazes and the atmosphere. She straightened her back, and although her face still bore her usual sunny smile, there was an added, barely perceptible tension beneath it. She deliberately amplified the authority of an Outrider, returning sharp looks to those who stared too rudely, while trying to shield Lu Hongze from most of the gazes with her body, showing expressions of disgust toward the residents where he couldn't see.
She occasionally turned her head to say something to Lu Hongze.
"Almost there."
Her tone was still reassuring, but she also seemed eager to leave the turbulent street as quickly as possible.
They passed through the marketplace, which was permeated with invisible pressure, and proceeded along an uphill ramp. The surrounding buildings became grander, there seemed to be fewer pedestrians, and the atmosphere grew more solemn.
Lu Hongze noticed that eye-catching pieces of parchment, printed with complex patterns and numbers, were posted on the bulletin boards of some buildings—he guessed these were the so-called "bond" announcements. People watched silently, their faces expressionless.
Finally, Amber stopped in front of a magnificent, massive building. On a tall flagpole, an eagle-shaped banner, similar to the one on Amber's badge, flapped in the wind. Knights in full plate armor patrolled the entrance, their expressions solemn. When their eyes swept over the occasional approaching commoner, they carried a condescending scrutiny.
"Alright, we're here. This building right here is the home of the Knights of Favonius."
Amber said to Lu Hongze, her tone carrying a hint of task completion ease, but also subtly revealing the solemnity that the real business was just beginning.
Supporting Lu Hongze, she stepped onto the stone steps in front of the Headquarters.
Just as they were about to enter the main door, a female Knight with a serious expression, who was checking documents nearby, stopped them. She quickly said a few words to Amber, her gaze falling on Lu Hongze with a businesslike scrutiny, then held out her hand.
Amber was stunned for a moment, then realized, a hint of embarrassment appearing on her face. She quickly rummaged through her small personal bag and pulled out a hard card printed with The Knights' insignia and complex numbers, stamped with a red seal.
She handed it over. The Guard Knight carefully inspected the card, then compared Amber and Lu Hongze, her gaze lingering especially on Lu Hongze's tattered clothes for a moment. She frowned imperceptibly, then nodded and stepped aside.
Lu Hongze's heart sank abruptly. He understood—entering this core of power required "money" or "status" as a stepping stone.
Amber's Knight status and the Bond Certificate were the passes, and he, this penniless outsider, could stand here entirely relying on others' "investment" and temporary soft-heartedness.
Amber put away the card, giving Lu Hongze a slightly embarrassed smile, seemingly wanting to explain the rule, but ultimately settling for a reassuring look, and continued to support him as they walked through the heavy door.
Inside the door was a high-ceilinged hall, where light streamed through stained glass windows, casting dappled shadows. The air smelled of old paper, wood, and faint ink. It was much quieter here, but also more oppressive.
Lu Hongze raised his head, looking toward the tightly closed office door deep within the hall, which was carved with a lion motif.
He took a deep breath, collecting all unnecessary emotions on his face, leaving only pure, naive vulnerability and confusion.
He knew that the next, and more crucial, "Interview" was about to begin.