The Dark Mage Of The Magus World-Chapter 98 - 99: The City of Rhine

Hutson had no intention of lingering in Brown City. The borderlands were never truly peaceful, and the mix of travelers, merchants, and wanderers made for an unpredictable crowd.

He needed to press deeper into the heart of the Kingdom of Dolis, far enough to find stability. He would need a coachman for the journey, and Ed was a perfect fit.

Hutson’s plan was simple—find a suitable place to settle, conduct alchemical experiments, and, most importantly, search for any trace of Moonstone Grass.

Like Dragonbeard Herb, Moonstone Grass was an extremely rare high-tier alchemical ingredient. Hutson only knew that it could be found somewhere within Dolis, but its exact location remained a mystery.

Dolis was vast, and for the first time in a long while, Hutson wasn’t sure where to begin.

The line at the border checkpoint crawled forward at a frustrating pace. By the time Hutson stepped up for inspection, he had been waiting for over half an hour.

"Gerant Logan?" The border officer, a middle-aged man with sharp eyes, examined Hutson’s documents carefully before glancing up at him.

The general description and age matched well enough. After a final, assessing look, the officer stamped Hutson’s papers, granting him legal entry.

In this era, without photographs, identity documents simply recorded basic physical characteristics. If they matched at a glance, that was enough.

The most critical factor was Hutson’s black hair. In this world, black hair was rare. Wherever Milo had found a noble with the same trait was a mystery, but it made Hutson’s borrowed identity far easier to pass.

Hutson held up another set of papers. "I also have a slave," he said, gesturing toward Ed.

The officer barely spared Ed a glance before waving him through. "One slave is fine. If you had more, it’d be considered slave trading, and you’d be taxed accordingly. You may proceed."

Taking back his stamped documents, Hutson returned to the carriage and addressed Ed. "Drive on."

"Yes, my lord!" Ed answered eagerly, leaping onto the driver’s seat and snapping the reins.

The carriage rolled into Brown City, but Hutson wasted no time. After purchasing supplies from several shops, he left the city behind and set off toward his true destination—Rhine.

Unfolding a large map of Dolis, Hutson traced his route. Rhine lay at the crossroads of several major trade routes, a crucial hub of commerce and travel.

Its strategic location had ensured its prominence for centuries. Now, under the stable rule of the Dolis monarchy, Rhine had grown into a bustling metropolis.

With a population of nearly eighty thousand, it was one of the kingdom’s largest cities. Trade flourished, markets brimmed with goods, and life was comfortable.

From Brown to Rhine, the journey by carriage would take six to seven days along the main road.

As they traveled, Hutson occasionally lifted the carriage curtain, observing the passing countryside.

Dolis was unlike many other kingdoms he had seen. He noticed an unusual lack of wandering beggars and refugees.

Villages dotted the roadside, their inhabitants appearing well-fed and content. Unlike the gaunt, hollow-eyed peasants of some lands, these villagers had a sense of stability.

Perhaps it was because they lived near a major road, ensuring a steady flow of trade and resources.

"Dolis is under the jurisdiction of Dream Isle."

Hutson recalled the information he had studied before departing.

Dream Isle was the very mage faction to which Dino belonged—the same man whose ship had brought Hutson to the continent of Kalag.

Hutson had spent months aboard that ship and had come to respect Dino.

Unlike factions such as Moonlight Glade or Green Hollow, which kept to themselves, Dream Isle’s influence spanned the seas.

Dolis’ western coastline stretched for miles, its numerous ports bustling with trade. Every day, countless ships set sail from its harbors—though not all returned.

Seven days later, long before the city itself came into view, Hutson heard the unmistakable roar of a thriving marketplace.

Lifting the carriage curtain, he took in the sight before him.

Rhine stood surrounded by towering walls, its massive gates flanked by two sprawling market districts that extended beyond the city itself.

The air was thick with voices—merchants shouting, buyers haggling, goods changing hands in a constant, chaotic dance.

Hutson’s eyes swept across the crowd. The people of Rhine hailed from every corner of the world, their clothing diverse and their accents mingling into a symphony of trade and commerce.

As the carriage neared the market, eager vendors swarmed around, waving their wares.

"Sir! Finest silk, imported straight from the east!"

"Young master, a taste of Greenpeak’s finest wine?"

A dozen different voices clamored for attention.

Ed had no choice but to slow the carriage to avoid running anyone over.

Hutson smirked as he watched the spectacle unfold.

Among the sellers, a particularly shady-looking man wrapped in a ragged turban sidled up to the carriage. Lowering his voice, he murmured, "Young lord, I have something special for you. Girls. Any style you like. Just say the word."

Hutson chuckled, pulling the carriage curtain shut and reclining inside.

Seeing that their wealthier-looking passenger had lost interest, the merchants quickly lost interest as well. After all, a mere slave driving a carriage was unlikely to be a paying customer.

And so, the journey into Rhine began.

As the carriage rolled to a stop before the towering gates of Rhine, Hutson stepped down, landing lightly on the cobbled road. Without hesitation, he retrieved his documents and handed them to the gate guards.

The soldiers examined them carefully, their scrutinizing gazes flickering between the papers and Hutson himself. After a moment, finding nothing amiss, they stepped aside and waved him through.

The moment he passed beyond the gate, Rhine’s sheer scale struck him. The streets stretched wide—broad enough to allow three carriages to travel side by side with ease. Unlike the cramped, winding alleys of smaller towns, this city had been built for movement, for commerce, for grandeur.

His first priority was finding lodging. He quickly secured a room at a modest inn, intending to book two chambers—one for himself and one for Ed. But Ed refused, insisting on sleeping by the carriage.

He claimed it was to keep watch over their belongings, but Hutson suspected the truth ran deeper. Ed still saw himself as a slave, unworthy of a proper bed beneath a sturdy roof.

In this age, such beliefs were deeply ingrained. Hutson knew that forcing the issue would only make him stand out—an oddity in a world governed by rigid social order. Sometimes, it was wiser to let things be.

Descending to the inn’s common room, Hutson spotted the innkeeper, a wiry middle-aged man with shrewd eyes and an eager smile.

Seeing his guest approach, the innkeeper greeted him warmly. "Ah, sir! Are you here for a meal? Just say the word, and we’ll have it sent up to your room."

Hutson nodded. "Something simple. Two dishes will do. And prepare a portion for my slave as well."

The innkeeper, ever attentive, swiftly jotted down the order and handed it off to a waiting servant. "Of course, sir. It will be brought to you shortly."

Leaning against the wooden counter, Hutson let his gaze wander across the room before casually asking, "By the way, do you know where I might rent a house?"

The innkeeper’s eyes gleamed with interest. "Ah, looking to settle in for a while, are you? You’re in luck—I know plenty of people in that business. I can make the introductions."

Hutson nodded, offering the man a faint smile. "That would be most appreciated."