<div class="floatright">(https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/DhNtnTaN4HLgQLt3wpnXwD-1200-80.jpg)</div>Lord Balebrook looked on the still broken female adventurer who had been placed at one carriage (other than his own) for comfort and replied; "A very crude comparison, but you see things only black and white and I see no reason clarify the differences." Then Mephis stepped in to intervene, and once it was all over and on Josephine's parting words he replied; "Same to you." With a mock bow to finish it off, as Mephis spoke he nodded and replied; "Definitely not an appropriate moment for that sort of game. By master's authority; punishment ceased." The vibrations end, but the aftereffects still linger as they did stoke on her natural, corrupted, hunger and all cum in the room definitely was a dizzying meal in her eyes and makes hard to focus.<br/><br/>Lord Balebrook replied to Mephis mental message mentally;<em>"You should have told that definitely sooner, and I wait for the complete report once we are in private."</em>Seeing the mess overall lord Balebrook says to Mephis; "Continue cleaning with anyone who wants help, also once we are done, you should show where folks can sleep. However I will not accept Josephine to stay in my carriage, there's bad blood between us now. I have no control over who are members of the company I sponsor, as otherwise, I would have fired her already. But I can decide to withdraw my sponsorship and also remove Mephis from the company as simply commanding her to do so...but I do not abandon an otherwise good basket of apple goods cause there is one rotten in the bunch. So long rest of apples are not infected." The silent glance lord Balebrook gave to everyone was a clear warning that he will not tolerate much further rude behavior towards him from anybody else from the group.<br/><br/><em>Meanwhile</em><br/><br/>The room beyond which she had stormed into, Josephine had entered appeared to be the back balcony of the carriage. Space enough for four people to lounge and enjoy drinks and lounge on chairs or one divan arranged there and a table, where beverages could place down when the carriage is not moving, as now it would be hazardous to keep mugs steady. Even with suspensions, the carriage shook little on the country road which it traveled through and the rest of the caravan moved at a casual easy pace. Enough slow pace anybody could walk alongside the caravan easily.<br/><br/><em>2 days later</em><br/><br/>Besides the drama of the initial day and the conflict between lord Balebrook and Josephine which escalated to point that Josephine had no permission to enter his carriage (she had to sleep whenever she could find the spot for it like the rest of the mercenaries). The rest of the party could sleep in the main room (assuming they can control themselves and not blow up the entire room with cum). Mephis and her master had separated a small bedroom at upstairs of the carriage, either they were doing nothing or the room was sound-warded magically. Considering things later is more likely. Besides Josephine and lord Balebrook's relations being chilly, lord Balebrook tried to get along with the rest eccentric group and be a good host.<br/><br/>But soon there were cheers and someone yelling "City on sight!", it alarmed everyone to stir and take a closer look beyond the hill that the front of the caravan had reached and descending down towards the valley where Azure City was located.<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Azure City</div><div class="spoiler_body">(https://i.pinimg.com/originals/8a/b8/37/8ab837a06b02929fae15070e44e18e32.jpg)</div></div><br/><br/>The city was built on multiple small islands in the massive lake, every district was split but the island on itself own and connected by a network of bridges and there were several barges also area around the massive lake was heavily inhabited and then protected by forty feet tall white walls with guard towers which every tower atop it had glowing floating blue crystal. The exact magical nature of the crystals is unknown, but many suspects they provide likely potent magical buffs or wards to city residents or the city's famous azure knights.<br/><br/>There was a sense of excitement in the caravan among both merchants, traders, and mercenaries alike. Some are first-time arriving cities, others are returning back what they view as home or view place for grand profits. Overall compared to any city in Free Nations, Azure City is the brilliant blue shining crown jewel. Josephine who had seen similar splendor in Atlantica's capital and the royal palace could see this city was glorious in own way. More colorful even, than the capital city which had fewer races besides the few races which weren't persecuted by society or the church by viewed as 'unpure'. She saw merfolks openly swimming in the lake's waters, there were goblin workers repairing sewage in one street and there were literal giants in the docking area helping carry cargo off ships or into ships by wenches.<br/><br/>Also, the city was much noisier. In Atlantica, everyone was quiet and doing their business and not attracting undue attention to themselves or else church paladins or inquisitors would berate them be noisy. Only during church-led festivals, noise was allowed and celebration is done. Here noise, music, and boisterous laughter echoed in the city altogether to create a powerful background murmur that radiated vibrantly with life. Also, the city, albeit it had some universal themes, had let the districts define themselves by their own styles freely. There were neighborhoods built by humans, elves, and dwarves but also monstrous races like centaurs, orcs, giants, beastfolk, mongrelfolks, and other varieties of monsters that would have outright slain on sight in Atlantica. But here they work and live together with humans, peacefully co-existing.<br/><br/>In the center of the lake was what was probably a royal or crown district equivalent; a palace with blue azure roofs forming into dizzying tall spires. Probably resident of the most powerful entity in the city; the blue dragon who had wrecked both Atlantica and Free Nations armies and forced a cease-fire in her territory and declared her area as a neutral zone where monsters will not be hunted nor slain without reason. Force peace by sheer pure might.<br/><br/>As they approached one entrance gate in the forty-wall barrier which protects the city, gates were massive with double three feet thick steel doors which are swung open and kept most of the time open unless facing an invasion. In each gate apparently, there is one azure knight in charge of mercenaries and adventurers hired on guard duty. Guards wore a variety of gear and armor but each one bore a blue shoulder cape and city crest in the cape. Azure knight in their gate was man wearing a knightly styled armor (https://i.pinimg.com/originals/b4/27/f6/b427f683a110182e17de923ea768b112.png), Josephine who had experience both in royal guards and black knights, the man radiated a similar aura of power as he stood there silently observing the caravan and hearing reports from the hired help to handle the chaos if incoming people.<br/><br/>The guards took contact with the caravan leader, then they made a quick sweep through the caravan inspecting randomly carts and cargo. The caravan leader gives the guards the caravan manifest, which lists everyone's names, the cargo they listed to bring, and the goods they had. After a brief double-check on things which took ten minutes the guards then gave the caravan permission to proceed into the city and then the caravan entered the streets. The city was smartly designed to have roads exclusively for caravans and carts use only while having sidewalks for people who walked and side alleys and streets smaller meant for smaller traffic.<br/><br/>Once they reach the central market hub in the city, it's there where the caravan splits up entirely. It's here where Cairn Nyrood (https://cdnb.artstation.com/p/assets/images/images/019/042/913/large/mateusz-mizak-1merchant-1-art.jpg?1561747317) pays for mercenary guards, meets every other merchant and group who traveled with him and has a brief word with each one and once he reaches lord Balebrook's carriage he says to him; "Okay, I hope you enjoyed the carriage ride and hopefully my Guild associates hear from you in future whenever you want to rent in future his top quality carriages for your pleasure. Also good luck with your sponsored company, you have a promising future lord Balebrook. As a reminder you need likely deliver the adventurer back to the adventurer guild of this city, you find it at end of the street over there. Can't miss the five-story tall building which appears a mix of the tavern, hotel, and chaotic storage house blended together. The bounty another hand you need to deliver to Azure Knights directly, their headquarters are over there." Cairn points to a small white fortress building side the main market square which has pair of darkwood doors with white lined shield crests and azure banners with a golden dragon depicted in them at each door. In front of the said door stood a lone azure knight with pair of guards who watched calmly the marketplace.<br/><br/>Once done talking Cairn bows and departs to talk to some others until he himself departs elsewhere. The carriage which was the party's home later half of the journey is driven off after being inspected by a member of the guild and found it in good condition. Lord Balebrook's belongings could be placed into four leather bags which were picked up by his two valets who carried all of them (besides their personal bag). He says to the adventurers; "I go seek accommodation at one local hostel, I heard only good things from a place called Rosewood, so you can find me there if have a need for me. But you can find me later in the adventurer's guild as I make inquiries there as well for possible work offers for you." He bows and he departs with two valets and two bodyguard soldiers with him, he had in advance told Mephis she can hang around with the group or explore the city at her leisure.