It could be called a "transportation hub" in times of peace and a "military transit station" in times of war.

Logically, Palmer should have been a strategic location coveted by all factions, but war rarely broke out there.

The reason was simple—the Wizards were too strong.

Though many professions existed, Wizards, with the Magic from their Magic Cards and their own innate Magic, were essentially invincible artillery platforms as long as they weren’t engaged in close combat.

This led to the saying: provoke anyone but a Wizard.

Even the belligerent Far North Suluka, when forced south by the northern frost, would typically either attack the neighboring Knight’s Kingdom of Amel or take a detour through Prole to harass Haiwede.

Only when they were truly desperate would they send small detachments to plunder the villages around Palmer.

Being too strong led to them being too idle. With nothing to do, some Wizards took up a side gig as Alchemists.

After returning from their studies in Haiwede, influenced by emerging schools of thought and the invention of the steam engine, they combined disciplines like astronomy, metallurgy, gunpowder science, and alchemical mechanics. They then improved upon the steam engine, and by harnessing electricity, they pioneered the Mechanical School.

Fude City was the first city-state in Gillian to allow the Steam School to establish itself. In fact, back when Count Ford took the city, steam power had already begun spreading from Fude City to all of Gillian.

After Lewis came to power, while preserving the modifications the Steam School had made to Fude City, he also brought in Alchemists from the more advanced Mechanical School in Haiwede to further transform the city.

What interested him most about the Mechanical School, besides their more advanced and novel use and modification of the steam engine compared to the Steam School, was the invention and creation of electricity.

Therefore, he specially approved a plot of land in the Dongcheng District for the members of the Mechanical School to conduct their research, inventions, and modifications.

This was why so many things unseen in the West City District—such as electric lights, asphalt roads, and even utility poles—could only be found in the Dongcheng District.

"Who improved the steam engine?"

Maguire leaned against the window, marveling at the many novelties on the street. He saw children on what looked like longboards powered by some kind of electricity and asked curiously.

"Field. He was said to be a Missionary from the east. There isn’t much information about him, other than that he was the founder of the Mechanical School."

Morey explained.

Baron, who had been about to say, ’Don’t tell me it was Watt,’ shut his mouth. A ripple went through his heart, but he suppressed it.

’He still didn’t understand the relationship between Prole and the two Sides. If this is an Otherworld, why is the official language English? And why are the class systems so similar? The Demon Hunter factions, the Knight classifications—they were all the same as on the two Sides. But if it isn’t an Otherworld, then what’s the relationship between Prole and Great Britain? Is this the "other world" recorded in the Dwarven Book? And besides me, could other people get here through different means?’

At this thought, Baron shook his head, temporarily pushing these speculations to the back of his mind.

’The priority right now is to increase my own strength. The questions about the two worlds will have to wait until my more immediate problems are solved.’

The Dongcheng District was much more crowded than the West City District, with little brats in shorts and short-sleeved shirts running around everywhere.

The streets weren’t exactly dirty or chaotic, but the noise and the smell of kerosene certainly filled this district, where the future and the past seemed to collide.

On the asphalt roads, horse-drawn carriages ran alongside the tracks for the Snow Dragon. Beneath electric lights connected by wires, old kerosene lamps that hadn’t yet been removed still hung.

Next to the utility poles that supplied electricity to every corner of the Dongcheng District stood faith monuments from some sect or another. The inscriptions claimed that the Mechanical School had offended the gods and that on the day of the gods’ reawakening, all scholars of the Mechanical School, as well as anyone who relied on steam engines and electricity, would be executed.

The only thing that could save them was an Absolution Certificate issued by the Church, costing twenty Silver Coins each. The greater the sin, the higher the price. After purchase, delivery would be made via the Iron Dragon—a creation of the Mechanical School—to all parts of Fude City.

Morey leaned against the window, looking left and right. "We’re almost there. We get off at the next stop."

Maguire was a bit doubtful. "Morey, are you sure the Dongcheng District has the potion L is looking for?"

Most Magic Pharmacies were located in the commercial district downtown. It was rare for one to be in a residential area.

Zod chimed in, "Magic Pharmacies sell legal Magic Potions. What L wants is obviously not."

"An illicit Sedative that’s hard to detect... If I’m not mistaken, you can probably only find it in *that* kind of place."

As soon as he said this, Baron understood immediately.

Based on the requirements he had described, compared to pharmacies that only sold healing, wound-treating, and detoxifying Magic Potions, only *that* kind of place would have what he needed.

"What kind of place?" Maguire didn’t understand.

Just then, Morey glanced out the window again and stood up. "We’re here. Let’s go."

The sky was just beginning to darken.

Their destination was a long street in the Dongcheng District, bathed in a decadent, hazy light. It was surrounded by dilapidated buildings, with no utility poles, only old-fashioned kerosene lamps.

The buildings were adorned with a complex and dizzying array of projecting signboards.

Maguire glanced at them and noticed most were for places like "Annie’s Inn" and "Sevina Tavern."

Pedestrians on the street hurried along, most of them hiding their faces with high-collared coats. The fading light of the setting sun stretched their shadows long.

Led by Morey, Baron and the others entered a tavern. There was hardly anyone inside. A wooden counter split the small space in two, and behind it, a burly, thick-waisted owner was wiping down glasses with a rag.

"What can I get for you gents?" the owner asked without even lifting his eyes.

Maguire was about to angrily retort about the poor service when the Blood Loss Knight said calmly, "Four cups of Grape Pearl."

"Two Silver Coins a cup."

"Two Silver Coins?! Why don’t you just rob us?" Maguire was about to say, but Zod jabbed him in the arm with an elbow. He opened his mouth but said nothing.

"Eight Silver Coins. Who’s paying?" Morey turned around.

Baron counted out eight Silver Coins from his pocket. After taking them, the owner produced four cards from under the counter. "Someone will show you the way once you’re inside."

... 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Maguire was stunned by the scene before him.

Although he had suspected there was more to the tavern than met the eye and had tried to imagine what it could be, he never would have guessed that it concealed an entire underground city!!!

A massive ceiling supported by steel and alloys was studded with electrically powered chandeliers. Their light diffused over a street so wide you could race horses on it.

The street was teeming with people. Maguire even recognized a few of them as fugitives whose bounties were posted at the First Hunter Association in Fude City.

He instinctively reached for the Long Saber at his waist, but Zod stopped his hand. "Don’t do anything if you want to leave this place alive."

"Where is this place?"

"Fude City’s underground market. A place beyond the reach of the law," Morey said. "You can buy things here that aren’t available on the surface, and you can get rid of things that are hard to sell openly.

Places with a high concentration of Alchemists and Law Enforcers usually have a place like this. This street, built underground, is Fude City’s dark underbelly."

"Where are we going? Morey, do they have the Magic Potion Baron needs here?"

Maguire was captivated by the bizarre and dazzling scene. Coming from the countryside, he had never imagined a place like this could exist in the shadows of Fude City.

Morey was quiet for a moment, then said, "Follow me. My Knight’s badge is vibrating. There are prostitutes nearby."

"Huh?"

Before Maguire could react, Zod pulled him into a small alley.

The alley was lined with scantily clad, voluptuous women who smiled and waved when they saw the four men arrive.

A more demure girl cooed, "Come have a drink with me, sirs!"

A wilder one said, "Fuck me! I guarantee you’ll be satisfied!"

Seeing the dumbfounded look in Maguire’s eyes, Morey said calmly, "Fude City is one of the few city-states in Gillian that prohibits prostitution. If you want to find a brothel, you have to come to an underground place like this."

With that, he picked a brothel where the streetwalker out front was particularly busty and started to head inside. Zod followed without hesitation, and after a brief pause, Baron went along too.

Only Maguire hesitated. Seeing the other three looking at him, he blushed and said, "I... I have a fiancée. I can’t do anything to betray her."

’He’s actually the faithful type?’

Baron was quite surprised.

Such a disposition was rare among the typically promiscuous Demon Hunters.

Just then, the busty girl in front of the brothel flashed Maguire a captivating smile.

"Come on and play, handsome."

"...Okay."

Maguire hesitated for only a moment before following them in.

Baron: "..."

’Brother, did you forget your fiancée already?’

’You caved way too easily.’