Last Ruler Of The Empty Throne-Chapter 135: Central building

"Three days?"

They had expected Jon to stay longer, but three days felt too short.

"We don’t know when another shift will happen. The journey we just made should have been five hours, yet it took us four days. I’m staying one more day to avoid suspicion, but after that, we move. Take this time to rest, because when we return, the work continues."

With that, Jon continued eating. The rest of the meal passed in silence, and soon after, they retired for the night.

The next morning, Jon, Laura, Robin, and Victor headed to the Central Building to find an occupation. To the public eye, Jon and Laura appeared as a couple, Victor as their imposing guard draped in a black coat, and Robin as a maid with her poised demeanor.

Whispers followed them.

"Who are they?"

"I haven’t seen them before."

"Then who are they?"

The Central Building was always packed with people dressed in an array of styles. Since the fall, people had embraced their own unique fashion, no longer bound by previous societal norms. But even among them, Jon and Laura stood out.

A bulky man with well-groomed facial hair stepped forward, his confident smirk directed at Laura.

"Mi’lady, why follow a level 12? I, Zedric Sedis, a level 22, should be the one protecting you instead." He bowed slightly, an air of arrogance around him.

And Jon didn’t even pause. He simply kept walking.

Gasps rippled through the crowd.

"Huh?"

When Zedric snapped out of his daze, he realized everyone was staring, even Laura.

To them, it looked as if Jon had fled from a confrontation with a superior opponent.

Zedric let out a booming laugh. "Hahaha! So you know your place. Good. Then, mi’lady, will you go out with me?"

Laura turned to Jon, then, with a sly smile reminiscent of Cynthia, she answered, "Yes."

-That fox.

Amelia muttered under her breath, instantly recognizing Laura’s ploy.

Jon, however, understood as well and just as he had played ignorant in the car, he would do the same now.

"Alright, later." He waved and kept walking.

Silence.

The crowd was stunned.

"What?"

"Eh?"

"Huh?!"

Even Zedric and Laura were caught off guard.

Wasn’t Jon supposed to react? To fight? To at least beg? But he had done nothing.

Zedric scowled. "Are you really going to leave her?"

"Yes," Jon answered simply. "I know how this new world works. The strong take what they want." He offered a slight bow before continuing on his way, leaving Zedric dumbfounded.

Robin and Victor had to suppress their laughter. They understood what Jon was doing, but still, his composure amazed them.

-Wow, you really are something.

Amelia’s eyes widened as she observed the exchange. She knew Laura’s backstory, and whether or not they talked much, Laura had grown closer to Jon.

"No, don’t leave me," Laura suddenly said.

With unexpected boldness, she left Zedric’s side, skipped over to Jon, and interlocked her arm with his.

’What am I doing?’ Laura questioned herself. From the moment they arrived until now, she had been acting on impulse. For some strange reason, Jon walked away and unsettled her.

For a moment, it felt more than a joke she took it as.

Jon glanced at her and smirked, "So, you’ve come to your senses." She couldn’t look up. At that point, she was too embarrassed.

Together, they entered the building, with Robin and Victor following behind.

Zedric, still stunned, didn’t dare pursue them. The crowd, having witnessed the entire scene, murmured amongst themselves.

The boy had surrendered, yet the girl had chosen to stay by his side instead of following a stronger suitor. It was a bizarre situation.

Unbeknownst to Jon, his actions that day would inspire countless future relationships.

...

As they entered the building, Laura whispered to Jon, "Have you noticed? There are no military personnel here." To avoid another embarrassing moment, Laura hadn’t left Jon’s hand even as they approached the counter.

It was strange. At the gate, the full force of the military could be seen; however, inside, one would easily forget their presence.

Jon nodded. His eyes gleamed slightly. "It seems they have their sector in the camp. They stay together but operate separately."

They approached the counter, where a woman looked them over with mild curiosity. It was rare to see a couple where both individuals appeared weak, yet their appearances hinted at noble lineage. She chose to remain polite.

"How can I help you?" she asked.

"Is there a smith here?" Jon inquired.

The counter woman blinked, momentarily confused. "Smith?"

Before she could respond further, a voice interrupted.

"I want you."

A sharp tension filled the air. An arrogant young man had stepped forward, his predatory gaze locked on Laura.

Her expression darkened. "What?"

She instinctively tightened her grip on Jon’s arm. Could this fool not see that she was already with someone?

The young man was a level 21, but the two figures behind him were even stronger, level 26 and level 30. First-realm evolvers.

"I said, I want you," the young man repeated, stepping forward with ill-concealed desire in his eyes.

Jon turned, frowning. Robin and Victor immediately positioned themselves protectively, standing between him and the intruders.

The young man sneered. "Who are you?" He gestured to his guards, and an oppressive aura erupted from them.

The crowd recoiled in fear.

"Urgh..."

"F-First realm..."

"Ahh..."

People trembled under the overwhelming presence, but Jon’s group remained unfazed. The two guards exchanged puzzled glances.

"How are they still standing?" the young man muttered.

His paranoia grew. "Are you hiding your level? Are you part of a gang?"

The surrounding evolvers began whispering, forming a circle around Jon’s group.

Victor stepped forward, his tone calm. "We arrived yesterday. We mean no harm."

A man in charge of the surrounding evolvers spoke. "You’ll have to come with us."

Laura sighed. This situation had spiraled out of control.

Meanwhile, Zedric, still outside, was kneeling from the first realm’s pressure, realizing how far out of his league he was.

Jon’s gaze hardened. "Is this how you treat those who seek refuge here?"

The arrogant young man sneered. "Take them. Leave the girl."

Jon’s expression darkened.

"Kill him."

A sickening thud echoed through the room.

The young man’s head rolled to the floor.

Silence.

The air grew heavy.

And with it, Jon’s presence became undeniable.