"Sorry, rules are rules. We hope you understand."
"Yeah, if you've got a problem, take it up with our superiors."
The two guards approached Kaelin, weapons already loaded. If she so much as tried to resist or escape, they wouldn't hesitate to open fire.
Just then—a voice echoed from behind the city gates.
"What do you think you're doing?"
Everyone turned. A woman with short white hair in casual clothes and jeans had appeared, standing casually in front of the gate.
"Lady Obsidian, it's you!" The guards immediately straightened up, respectful.
Obsidian approached, her expression cool. "What's going on? I just got here and already hear shouting."
"It's this mercenary, miss," one guard said, glancing back at Kaelin. "She was found to be carrying a large amount of weaponry. Without a local firearm permit, we were preparing to detain her."
"Is that so?" Obsidian turned her sharp gaze toward Kaelin, giving her a thorough once-over—until she suddenly noticed Tianlang nearby.
"Wait, is that... Moon—ahem—I mean, Tianlang? What brings you to Sin City?"
Noticing her sudden shift in tone, Tianlang smiled. "Miss Obsidian, it's been a while. I'm here on some business. But during our journey, one of my companions lost their permit. That's what led to... this situation."
"I see." Obsidian nodded in understanding, then turned toward the guards with a faint smirk.
"These four are Tianlang's personal guards. I can vouch for this lady. Let her through."
The guards blinked in surprise. "Huh? But Lady Obsidian, we—"
"What, are you saying my word doesn't mean anything?" Obsidian crossed her arms, her voice turning cold.
"N-no, of course not! We're just afraid of getting blamed by HQ—"
"I'll explain everything to Clorinde myself," Obsidian said, relaxing her fists. "That should ease your minds, no?"
The guards exchanged glances, then finally nodded. "Very well. If Lady Obsidian says so…"
They turned to Kaelin. "You're free to go. But keep in mind—this city is far from safe. Don't stir up trouble."
"O-of course! Thank you!" Kaelin answered at once.
After they entered the city and walked some distance from the gate, Obsidian came to a halt.
"Alright, no one will overhear us here." She turned back to Tianlang, her tone now formal. "Forgive my boldness, but Lord Moon Saint, may I ask what brings you to Sin City—and who these companions of yours are?"
She glanced at Mo Yan and the others. Tianlang didn't bother hiding anything.
"Well, it's a long story. These friends of mine are from beyond Teyvat. You've heard about the Lightloss Syndrome incident, haven't you? They were the ones who helped me contain it and avoid major casualties."
"I see. And what brings them to this city?" Obsidian asked again.
"They're looking for a way back to their own world," Tianlang said. "I suggested they come here to seek out Evilbane. Perhaps he can help. You're one of his contractors—do you know where Gloright is now?"
"Lord Evilbane?" Obsidian lowered her gaze in thought. "I'm afraid I don't. You know how it is—he comes and goes like a ghost. Meeting him is never up to us."
"I figured as much."
"Still…" Obsidian continued, "with all due respect, Lord Moon Saint—you and Evilbane are both Guardians. Shouldn't you be able to sense the presence of each other's contracts?"
"I should," Tianlang admitted. "But as you know, I'm something of a half-baked Guardian. After exhausting my power to treat Lightloss, my senses are a mess. Frankly, I wouldn't be surprised if he couldn't sense me either."
"You two are... actually this close?" Kaelin, who had been standing off to the side, finally stepped in with an incredulous expression.
Only then did Tianlang remember her. "Ah—right. Kaelin, this is Obsidian. She's the second member of the wolfkin to forge a pact with Evilbane, after Williamneil. She's a hybrid, so most people around here don't know her true lineage."
"You're saying Miss Obsidian is part wolfkin?" Kaelin looked at her in disbelief.
Obsidian nodded calmly. "That's right. I may not look it, but I've lived for centuries. You came from Mount Fenrir, right? You must've met my brother."
"You mean Williamsk? Yeah, we met him. A little gruff, but a decent guy."
Obsidian smiled softly. "He's always been like that. In any case, since you're friends of Lord Moon Saint, that makes you guests of mine. Welcome to the Dark Domain. As the gate guards said, this city is not like the others—be careful."
She turned and began walking into the city. "Come with me. I'll take you to a nearby inn. Consider it a small gesture of hospitality—the lodging is on me."
Kaelin lingered behind, watching Tianlang and Obsidian walking together, feeling… conflicted.
"Ugh. You call that a god? Where's the majesty?" she grumbled.
Williamsk was the same. Now Obsidian, too. None of them treated Tianlang with reverence—if anything, they were like old friends. You tell someone he's a god, and they'd laugh you out of the room. Worse still, what kind of god admits he's only half-competent?
Mo Yan nodded slightly.
"Maybe we've just built gods up too much in our heads."
That only fueled Kaelin's frustration. She exploded.
"Come on! Everyone else who gets isekai'd ends up with some super system or divine mascot, and we get a half-baked Guardian? If not for what he pulled off in Xuanyue Town, I'd think he was just a fraud!"
"Give him a break. He did just pull some strings to get you out of jail," Mo Yan said with a helpless smile.
"Yeah yeah, I know, but still…"
"Save the ranting for later. We fall behind any more, we're getting left behind." Mo Yan gave her a nudge.
The two of them caught up with Tianlang and Obsidian and stepped into the city. Much like Xuanyue Town, the place had a medieval aesthetic—but the atmosphere here was very different. The streets were eerily silent. It was just past noon, but the stillness felt almost like during the Lightloss outbreak.
"It's so quiet here…" Kaelin murmured, instinctively stepping behind Mo Yan.
"Our arms dealer's actually scared?" Mo Yan teased.
"None of your business!"
~~------------------------
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