The one leading them wore a normal robe, embroidered in the center with a pale gold, eye-shaped pattern.
The robes of the others were sewn with thumb-sized metal Armor Plates, resembling a sort of lamellar armor. They had small metal shields strapped to their left forearms, also bearing the eyeball emblem, and gripped Gemstone-inlaid Nail Head Hammers in their right hands.
Judging by their attire, they had to be the Clergy of the White Tower.
These people paid no heed to the chaos on the docks, acting as if the fishermen and pedestrians didn’t even exist.
Colin was certain the White Tower had given no advance notice to the people at the docks about a group of Alien Races arriving today. Otherwise, it wouldn’t have been this chaotic.
Durandel smiled and shook hands with the leader from the White Tower.
After the two exchanged a few words, they turned and started walking toward the shore.
The group behind them followed Durandel, proceeding into the messy little town at the foot of the White Tower.
As they passed, most people on the streets stopped to stare. The surrounding crowd grew larger and larger, as if watching some kind of freak show parade.
Under the circumstances, hardly anyone in the group said a word.
So Colin kept his mouth shut and began to silently observe his surroundings.
The town below the White Tower probably had about six hundred households.
The town itself had no planning whatsoever, making it worse than even the slums of Thousand Masts City. After all, the new buildings in the slums were arranged by the gangs, so you could at least see a hint of design—of course, that was a different story if you were powerful enough that the gangs didn’t dare to cross you.
After looking around for a bit, Colin spotted a few townspeople who looked like they were in charge.
But they all kept their distance, showing no intention of coming over to ask any questions.
This village at the foot of the White Tower seemed to be separated from the Tower by an invisible film. The two sides had a relationship of mutual non-interference.
The group arrived at the entrance to the White Tower.
They waited for the gate’s drawbridge to be lowered before entering the tower together.
The leader from the White Tower exchanged a few more words with Durandel.
"Ladies and gentlemen, please follow these White Tower Guards to your respective rooms!" Durandel announced, clapping his hands. "The debriefings will be organized for you in due time!"
"Mr. Helder said I would be able to consult materials about Ora Kaim here," Colin asked, raising his hand, hoping for a clear answer.
"Patience, patience," Durandel said. "Once you’ve answered your questions, someone will make the arrangements."
After that, the White Tower Priests led the Adventurers into a small tower built into the first ring of the fortress wall.
The group ascended the tower’s staircase.
The teams were assigned to rooms one by one. The groups around them gradually disappeared until only Colin’s team was left behind the White Tower Priest.
At that moment, the White Tower Priest walking in front of Colin stopped and pointed to a wooden door beside them. "This is your room."
"Thank you."
As he replied, Colin glanced out the window.
As the last team to be assigned lodging, their room was basically on the top floor of the tower.
After watching the White Tower Priest leave, Kase walked to a window on the inner side of the corridor and looked down. "That Frost Giant has it rough," he said. "We get to sleep in a proper room, he gets a shed."
"Can’t be helped. It’s what he gets for being so tall," Colin said as he pushed open the wooden door and entered the room.
The room’s furnishings were similar to the Oak View room in Moss Stone Village, except the view outside the window had been replaced by a beautiful coastline, and the beds, tables, and chairs were all first-class and luxurious.
Colin and the others placed their luggage in a corner of the room, resting while they waited to be summoned by the Priests.
From their vantage point, they could see other Adventurers leaving the base of their tower and entering the second ring of the fortress wall. Each team that went out took several hours to return.
At this rate, it would probably take a few days to question all the teams.
Realizing this, Colin decided to relax.
He would occasionally practice his newly learned Disguise Technique and Swordsmanship. In his spare time, he bickered with Kase, was forced into some healthy meditation by Orelia, and gave Ale social lessons.
When he felt tired, he would go down to the small town with the others to have a look around. Life was quite peaceful.
「On the morning of the third day.」
"Gentlemen, are you in?"
The Priest pushed open the wooden door as he spoke. He looked curiously at the group sitting cross-legged in the room and asked, "Are you meditating?"
"Yes. Maintaining a balance between one’s emotions and soul can make the body healthier," Colin said, reciting the explanation Orelia had given him to ease the awkwardness as he slowly got to his feet.
"That might indeed have some effect. Many books mention it," the white-robed Priest said with a nod.
"So, is it our turn to report?"
"Not quite. Your research request has been approved. Please follow me. I will take you to the grand library to consult the specified books."
"Alright." Colin glanced back at the others.
Kase stretched. "We don’t have anything else to do, so let’s all go."
Standing nearby, Orelia and Ale nodded in unison.
"Then please follow me," the Priest said again, then turned and headed down the tower.
Colin hurried to follow him, making his way toward the central White Tower.
As they walked, he casually asked, "How many people are after us?"
"Gentlemen, you’re the last team. It will likely be your turn to report tomorrow or the day after."
’It’s probably because our danger rating was the lowest. The Priests here must not think the matter of the Ancient Empire is much of a problem,’ Colin thought.
After the group entered the second ring of the fortress wall, they were led into another one of the white towers.
After winding through spiral staircases and various corridors, they finally arrived at a wide hallway.
At the end of the hallway stood two steel statues over nine meters tall. They looked almost identical to the one in the main hall of the Black Tower in Thousand Masts City, only much larger, and the weapons in their hands were long halberds instead of Great Swords.
"Authorization—"
As the group drew near, a cold voice echoed from above.
Orelia and Kase jumped in fright.
Colin, who had been mentally prepared, was unfazed. He looked up to see two points of red light suddenly flare up in the eyes of the two steel statues.
These had to be two Steel Golems.
They possessed simple Intelligence and only acted according to their creator’s commands.
It was said that the cost to build one of these was calculated in units of a hundred thousand Gold Coins. Their combat effectiveness was more than worth the price; they could even take on a relatively young Giant Dragon. Only the wealthiest of Mages could afford to install such a defense system in their Mage Tower.
The Priest in the lead quickly held out his hand to display the Seal Ring he was wearing.
A beam of red light shot out from the Golem’s eyes, shining onto the Seal Ring.
After confirming it, the red light in the eyes of the two behemoths slowly dimmed, and they raised their hands to push open the large double doors behind them.
The room behind the doors was spacious, but it contained only a single table. On the table lay a few thick books, chained to the floor.
"There are the books you requested," the Priest said, pointing to the table in the room.