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Oliver's lips curled into a small, mysterious smile as he responded, "Unfortunately, I'm not sure I can let you do that," his voice carrying a serious undertone that hinted at his hidden intentions.

The guard, attempting to assert his authority, leaned in close, yelling with misplaced confidence, "Huh, is that a threat I hear?" He then turned to his companion, the other guard, pointing at Oliver, and muttered, "Can you believe this guy? He's practically half my size and he's dishing out threats."

Suddenly, a sigh escaped Oliver, and in that fleeting moment, he unleashed a swift strike with his right hand. Time seemed to move in slow motion as the guard descended to the ground with a soft thud. The gold and silver coins were about to fall as well, but he swiftly secured them with his right hand, grabbing hold of them and placing them in his inventory.

The other guard, taken back by this unexpected turn, fumbled to sound an alarm, but Oliver's voice cut through the air, saying, "You can go ahead if you want."

Oliver's words caused the guard to pause, gazing at Oliver with a mixture of fear and seriousness. Oliver then added with an assurance that sent shivers down the guard's spine, "But I can assure you, once you sound that alarm, you and your sleeping friend here won't see another dawn." His hazel eyes glowed slightly with his green mana, giving off an ominous energy.

Though the guard harbored doubts about Oliver's ability to carry out his threat, an unspoken aura covered him, a presence that suggested he had the power to back his words. Waves of fear went through the guard as he trembled, eventually yelling to the others on the wall, "Hey, open the gates right this instant!"

One of the guards atop the walls immidatly replied, "Sure thing." He and the other three guards rolled up the gate using a lever with attached chains, and as it ascended, the guards invited Oliver and his group with a forced nice tone, "Gate's open, sir. You may go through."

Oliver released a sigh of relief, muttering, "About time." Turning to face Leona and Hestria, he said, "Alright, ladies, let's go in." Leona responded with a sigh, her words carrying a mix of irritation and hidden appreciation, "You and your methods, Oliver.

Why am I not surprised?" She shook her head, as if expressing slight disappointment, yet a small smile gave off a sense of admiration for his unconventional approach. "Good job, though," she remarked, addressing Hestria, "Alright, let's go in."@@novelbin@@

Hestria nodded in agreement, and with that, the trio began their gradual entry into the city. The gates stood open, welcoming them into the heart of Border Town.

As they slowly made their way into the cobblestone streets of Border Town, they took in the sight of snow on the rooftops and signboards. The streets, diligently cleared of snow, promised smooth transportation through the wintry scene.

Oliver shifted his gaze to Hestria, curiosity could be seen in his eyes as he asked, "So, you're familiar with this place, right? Why don't you point us in the direction of a really nice place to spend the night?"

Hestria, with a faint acknowledgment, mumbled, "Oh, right." She then took a few steps ahead of Oliver and Leona, momentarily turning around to face them. "Both of you should follow me." Her demeanor carried a sense of confidence, hinting at her knowledge of the town's secrets and hidden gems.

Slowly, they navigated the streets, passing building after building. The magic lamps of the city illuminated the night streets, casting soft glows on the snowy pavement, creating a welcoming ambiance that wrapped around them.

"We've arrived," Hestria indicated, coming to a stop in front of a rather tall building. A three-story structure with a bed sign hanging out front. Oliver leaned forward slightly, his eyes scanning the words on the signboard as he mumbled, "Dule Inn sounds basic."

Slightly surprised that Oliver could understand the words on the signboard, Hestria couldn't help but ask, "You can read that? I thought you monsters couldn't understand the human language."

Oliver chuckled slightly and added, "Have you forgotten Leona and I talked to the guards? If we couldn't understand the human language, communication wouldn't have been possible. Even when we stepped out of the forest, we have been talking to you in the language of the humans all this time."

Inwardly musing, Hestria considered Oliver's words. "Now that I think about it, he's saying the truth. But how come monsters can speak the human language? Did they learn it? Seems possible; they are intelligent creatures."

Curious, Oliver asked, "Oh, I can't help but ask, what even is the name of the language of the humans? I mean, it's a language, so it should have a name."

Hestria mumbled, "Well, the name of the language humans speak is known as Galden. Does the language the monsters speak have a name?" She leaned in close to Oliver, a gesture that carried an air of curiosity.

Oliver then mumbled, "Ummm, I don't really think it does, none that I remember, at least. So I guess not."

Hestria mumbled in response, "Really? Guess monsters don't really see the need to name their language, huh?" She gestured inquisitively, her body language expressing the subtle intrigue of the moment.

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Leona let out a weary sigh, her shoulders slumping under the weight of the day's events. "That's enough, both of you. Let's just get some rest for the night, then we set out for the empire in the morning."

"Alright," came the simultaneous response from Oliver and Hestria. Leona, looking between them, added, "Alright, Hestria, lead the way."

Hestria took slow steps forward, her hand reaching for the door. With a gentle push, she opened it, revealing the warm, inviting interior of Dule Inn. The receptionist, a woman dressed in a combination of white and blue garments, looked up from behind the wooden counter and greeted them with a friendly smile. "Welcome to Dule Inn. How may I help you tonight?"

Hestria approached the counter, placing her hands on the smooth wood. "We need a couple of rooms for the night."

"Alright, give me a sec. Let me check the back for the available rooms," the receptionist replied, turning away to inspect the lodgings. Meanwhile, Oliver, a mischievous glint in his eyes, seized the opportunity to propose a plan. He turned to Leona and Hestria, his tone playful as he spoke, "Ladies, why don't we share a room for the night?

I mean, I'm not sure the gold with me will be enough for each of us to take a room. And we'll also need to eat something in the morning, so it's the best option available to us."

Leona and Hestria exchanged a brief, skeptical glance, their eyes conveying an unspoken suspicion toward Oliver. It was could be seen that they sensed there might be ulterior motives behind his seemingly practical proposition.

Leona, always perceptive, spoke with a measured tone, "Oliver, are you sure this is just about the gold? You've been known to have your own 'way' of doing things."

Oliver, flashing his signature grin, feigned innocence. "Come on, Leona, you wound me. I'm just thinking practically. Besides, you are basically like a sister to me, I wouldn't dare do anything to you."

Leona then replied, pointing out. "But that doesn't guarantee you won't do anything to Hestria."

Oliver's response carried a playful lilt, accompanied by a confident grin. "Oh, come on now, ladies. I'm a true gentleman, and I wouldn't dream of harboring any ulterior motives. You have my sincere word on that."

Leona, a subtle furrow creasing her brow, couldn't resist seeking clarification. "If that's the case, then why suggest sharing a room? What exactly do you have in mind?"

Oliver's response was accompanied by a charming demeanor. He placed his right hand over his heart, his smile carrying a hint of mischief. In a soft, almost conspiratorial tone, he replied, "I simply thought it'd be a delightful opportunity to witness you beauties gracefully drift into sleep. Nothing more, I assure you.

Besides, Leona, this is our first time in the outside world, we can never know what might happen. Is it not best we stay be each other's side at all times?"

Leona, though not entirely convinced, sensed a genuine quality in Oliver's expression. She sighed, a mix of wariness and acceptance in her voice. "It had better be just that, Oliver."

Inwardly, Oliver mused, "Of course, it's just that, although I'm not sure how much a single gold coin is actually worth. There were only five pieces in that pouch I found. It's also part of the reason I decided to knock out that guard to take that one back. We don't know exactly how much food is worth around here.

Although we are very fast, and I'm sure we won't have any problem stealing to survive if we did run out of coins. But I'm not sure someone as upright as Leona would want to resort to such things." A small smile graced his lips as he mused further, "I guess that's part of the reason my liege made me follow her on this mission."