Dimension System - Chapter 85

Citizens moved out of the way to make room for the approaching entourage. The Kingsguard was escorting a well-dressed young man through the capital. Gossip and rumors were already spreading through the crowds.

Was he a foreign noble who had come to visit the king? A powerful businessman from another continent? A long forgotten bastard who had returned? Nobody knew the truth but that certainly didn’t stop them from discussing it.

The guards, on the other hand, had all stopped and saluted the group as they passed by. Looks of reverence could be seen on their faces, though I couldn’t tell if it was respect for the group or patriotism. It was understandable that the elite Kingsguard troops would command a certain respect and authority on their home turf.

Being exempt from security checkpoints really sped up the process. I was glad that we didn’t have to stop at those long lines. Little did I know that the King had passed down orders for me to be directly let through without being stopped.

I saw how the citizens and surroundings were distributed as we passed through each area. It was the opposite of a modern city structure, a sort of reverse suburbia. Though the outlying district was residential, these people were destitute and poor, scraping and struggling to survive every night.

With no formal guard patrols the area was haven for criminals, fugitives, and narcotics. I made a mental note, as well as a quick ‘back of the envelope’ calculation, about the potential ‘resources’ available. As we moved into the outer district the situation improved slightly.

There were basics shops and run-down shacks selling cheap, practical goods. The citizens here all had complete sets of clothing, even if some were almost worn threadbare. Their slightly higher standard of living saw that they eat everyday, making them look less sickly and pale than the outer slum inhabitants.

Making our through the outer district, we reached the inner district, where things started to look ‘normal’. Average people milled about their business in average clothes. They looked happy and fed, even if they weren’t the wealthiest, for they knew that life could be far worse. The stores here appeared to sell a range of goods, some even being cosmetic or decorative.

Passing through the crowds and rumors, the group proceeded even deeper into the capital city. Moving from the edges of the inner district, where the lesser nobles lived, we passed the final and strictest checkpoint into the royal palace grounds.

Much to my surprise, the royal palace grounds was actually another district onto itself! I had originally assumed that it simply held the palace itself. Behind the highest walls in the kingdom, a microcosm of a city presented itself before me.

It was obvious, at a glance, that the powerful and the influential lived here. Every single person was well-dressed, neatly groomed, and positively exuded an aura of smugness and superiority. Much like the structure of city, there was a invisible structure here, that one could innately sense.

The outskirts were filled with the beautiful houses of successful business owners, but no matter how much wealth they had, they would never be able to move even an inch closer to the palace. For further in were the mansions of the great nobility, who had history and prestige that money could never purchase.

Even at the top, there seemed to be a pecking order, with the direct descendants of the King living in the grandest mansions just outside the palace itself. One had to conduct their behavior accordingly, if they wanted to curry favor and increase their social standing. Luckily, I was here for business, not politics.

Unlike the other groups, who were shooed away, the people here were allowed to observe as the group passed by. Some things were ingrained in human nature, like the nature of curious people gossiping about the unknown. The rich were already talking about this mysterious new stranger, just as the poor did. The only difference being that they used more refined language to do so.

Finally, they reached the palace itself. The grandest structure in the entire city. It seemed that no expensive was spared in it’s exquisite construction. It was, after all, the pride on an entire kingdom. If it failed to impress foreign nobles and dignitaries, it would imply that the kingdom itself was not worth their time or consideration.

Xander and captain Marshall escorted me through the grounds, while the Kingsguard and Mary took their leave. Exotic plants and flowers lined the walkways, complimenting the beautiful architecture of the buildings.

It didn’t take long to reach the reception hall. Several staff were waiting at the entrance and opened the doors to the entryway. They even had man there in charge of announcing the guest’s arrival. As I entered, a series of horns were blown, while the crier rang out his announcement.

“Announcing the arrival of Zanir Coffey, merchant to the Dragons Den trading company!”

The light conversation in the air died down, as I made my way into the reception hall, proceeding forward as the butler directed. Several nobles were sitting around a large table casually dining. In the middle was a heavyset man with graying hair.

He wore a large crown on his head, which was inlaid with several precious gemstones. The man didn’t look exceptionally strong or powerful, but he had a certain aura about him, an almost ethereal quality that I couldn’t place.

Wait!

It’s those eyes. Beneath his jovial exterior, there was seriousness to his eyes that projected power. As I approached the king, ours eyes met, and I recognized an all too familiar look. It reminded me of every politician and used car salesman on Earth. This man was crafty and I would have to tread carefully.

“Welcome to my humble kingdom, Ishtar. Allow me to introduce myself, I am King Reginald the second.”

“Greetings King Reginald. I am indeed, Zanir Coffey, humble merchant. How may I be of assistance?”

During my response, I didn’t give the customary kneel to the king, which had shocked and upset some of the nearby nobles. This was an initial probe to see how the king would react. Everything would hinge on his next decision.