It would not be that much of an exaggeration if one would say that the City Lord Allen was hoping for something that was akin to a miracle. His hopes that someday, somehow, the things that were bothering the progress of the city would suddenly disappear, uprooted from its core.

Yet he felt that this miraculous day had finally arrived.

As a young genius himself, Allen was an unparalleled student back in the days before he had to take on the responsibilities of being a city lord. During those times he was an exceptional talent in regards to magic. If it had been fully nurtured, it would have made him one of the most domineering spellcasters throughout the Blaz Continent.

Although it had been quite awhile since Allen had trained and polished that talent of his, he was still pretty confident within that regard. Due to this, the commotion that he had felt last night had given him a glimmer of hope. He was fairly certain that the commotion was coming from the hidden black market under his city. The magic surge that he had felt was likely to be coming from the people within it... and his ability to detect those magic traces had made him smile in happiness. He had sensed that all of those spellcasters had seemingly vanished in an instant... Which would mean that something catastrophic must have unfolded underground that had caused their sudden disappearance.

The city lord's galloping horse had finally arrived at the gates. There he had witnessed that there were indeed a gathering of beasts that had suddenly popped-up within his city. But it seems that these beasts were extremely tame as they tiptoed their way in avoiding the citizens of the city as they approached the city gates.

Allen had rubbed his eyes a few times to make sure that he was not imagining things. These beasts are obviously following orders, but from whom? He had immediately gone another route so that he could be closer to the entrance. There, he saw Feihren, gallantly riding atop a huge hound that is emitting a terrifying presence.

"Eh? Isn't that Lady Marie? What is she doing?!?" 

Although this was surprising and all, what immediately caught Allen's attention upon his arrival is the yelling Marie that seems to be scolding the man who was leading this group of beasts. Marie and Allen had held a good working relationship together as she was one of the most faithful workers he had ever met.

Only after the arrival of her father, Mark, had it seems that she had quieted down and returned to her composed self. Although she was now quietly backing off, she was not leaving room for Feihren to breathe as she was still staring at the man intently.

"Ah, it's you, Sir Allen. My humble apologies. For you to witness such chaotic mess due to my daughter..." Mark had immediately greeted the approaching city lord.

The young city lord only nodded at the apologies of Mark as he threw a casual smile towards this father and daughter duo, before gazing back towards Feihren. Although both of them were still mounted, the tall figure of the Spirit Wolf dwarfed the ordinary horse which made Allen tilt his head to look at Feihren's face.

"Apologies milord." Feihren immediately dismounted as he bowed slightly towards Allen.

Allen followed suit as he also dismounted before he earnestly greeted Feihren.

"I am the current lord of the Sechua City, Allen Romeo, nice meeting you Sir?"

"Ah, I am Gama Feihren, I am uh..." Feihren was a bit indecisive as he wandered his gaze towards Mark, who just nodded as a sign of approval. "...am the current king of the Wolfenstein Kingdom."

The people who had managed to hear the seemingly quiet voice of Feihren admitting who he really was were creasing their brows as they could not believe what they had just heard. 'A King? Who is this whom suddenly arrived in this city without anyone even knowing that he was here?' A few of those guards that had stopped Feihren back when he first entered interrupted.

"King? Did you not tell us that you were just a hermit from the central woodlands forest? A king does..." Allen had immediately signaled the guard as to stop talking before he continued forth himself.

"My apologies then Your Majesty..." Allen then bowed deeply before standing back up.

"You believe me? Huh..." Feihren did not anticipate that this city lord was so humble. Feihren was fairly certain that there would have been more commotion from all this yet...

"Well, I don't see any point for you to lie about it Your Majesty," Allen replied as he threw as smile towards Feihren. "Now then, what seems to have brought you all this way Your Highness?"

"Hmm..." Feihren paused for a few moments before replying.

"I had a few matters that needed settling. Two of which involved the black market within your city? If you do not mind, I have already taken care of everything for you. It seems that you are that kind of a city lord that cares for his citizens, and not a greedy one that supports dirty works. So it seems that we are on the same page."

Feihren did not tailor any of the information as he straightforwardly said everything towards Allen, He might sometimes be a little bit dense, but he could clearly see a good man when he sees one.

"...Many thanks, Your Majesty." A teary-eyed Allen replied as he then suddenly burst into tears.

The crying image of a young city lord made Feihren nod as he pondered 'He is indeed young, yet he had to carry such huge burden. It must've felt really good to have removed such a huge thorn in his heart'.

The city guard and the others who witnessed this scene had their hearts squeezed in empathy. It was indeed a huge burden for such a young man to carry. Yet, he had powered through it despite the adversity.

Feihren slightly patted his back as he comforted him. 

"Come on now, there is no point in crying for that long." 

He slightly joked around as to bring the atmosphere back to a jollier tone. 

"Although it does not decrease your manliness, let's try to tone that down a bit okay? And besides, you have an entire city to run, so you should probably get going. As for me, I also have to return to my own responsibilities..." 

Feihren's smile had calmed him down a bit as he stood back up, wiped his dirtied face, and patted his own chest a few times.

"Thank you, my king." Allen sincerely thanked Feihren as he continued "But I have one favor to ask you, Your Majesty."

"What is it? As long as it is within my power, then I'll try." Feihren replied.

"I wish for you to accept my proposal. For Sechua to be a vassal city of your Wolfenstein Kingdom, Your Majesty." Allen straightforwardly asked Feihren as he immediately kowtowed in front of him.

This was Allen's way to ensure the growth of Sechua city for the future. Being an independent trade city had its advantages, yet the disadvantages were also as clear as the daylight. There is nobody to rely upon except itself during times of trouble. And it had been proven that an independent trade city could easily be manipulated by the wrong hands, or those that hold the power of money.

Having the Wolfenstein Kingdom as a mother state could be used as a deterrent for cutting short any and all inconveniences that would fall upon Sechua City in the future. It was a win-win situation for the entire city and its development down the road.

Feihren, as someone who had a high profile background back on Earth, had also arrived at the same conclusion the moment Allen had asked for this 'favor'. It was just perfect for the situation. The crippled illegal organizations in the core of Sechua City would uproot by itself the moment the vassalage was approved. And all this would also benefit the kingdom in the near future. Having another branch as a means of trade would definitely be good for its further improvement.

Feihren nodded in response as he replied. "That is a good 'favor' you're asking there" Feihren smiled as he continued, "I will be waiting for the formal proposal when I arrive in Wolfenstein. I'll have a little talk to my prime minister first, about all this."

"My deepest thanks, Your Majesty." Allen bowed a few more times before he mounted back on his horse, "I will immediately send the formal proposal as soon as possible Your Majesty," Allen replied as he glanced towards the city guards "Allow passage for his highness."

Feihren just replied with a casual nod as he proceeded to mount the Alpha Spirit Wolf.

"It seems I have to go now." Feihren directed his look towards Mark as he continued." Although it won't be long until I return here. I'll just have to return all these beasts to their homes and head back to Wolfenstein. Hahaha, it seems that I have dragged myself through something troublesome again. I have to inform my prime minister and the Senate about this."

"I apologize for being hostile towards you, Your Highness." Marie suddenly interjected as she threw a direct apology with a straight face.

"It's fine. Besides, I understand that everything you do is for your father." Feihren replied 

'Ah, at least she's not like somebody else I know of, good thing she just straightforwardly apologized and didn't run away all of a sudden...'

Mark smiled as he added, "Your Majesty, let my daughter escort you back to the elven forest."

"Ah, no no no. I am fine alone, I'll go now." Feihren hurriedly replied as he immediately slipped out of the city gate and guided the 'flock' of beasts behind him.

'I don't need a scream machine as my escort you know...' Feihren thought to himself as the group of beasts disappeared within the central woodlands.