The day of Naga's departure arrived and in a few hours, his group will use a portal going to the Vast Sky City, the closest city to the capital.

The city lord's mansion was so preoccupied today, not because of Bella's departure, but because they received a message from the supreme council that they lost their communication with the shadow emissary.

The council wanted them to investigate and have an answer immediately.

"How can we give an immediate answer?" The old duke asked smiling.

"I am not sure if it is the House or just young noble Naga. However, it is them most probably." The city lord answered.

"Leave it. Just tell them that we will do our best." The old duke lightly shook his head and said smiling.

"I understand, grandfather." The city lord nodded and answered.

Naga was resting near the lake when Hextor arrived and said, "Greetings, my lord."

Hextor bowed down and continued, "Draxus and I successfully abducted the emissary. We imprisoned her in our base inside Blue Mist Mountain."

"Good." Naga said and chuckled while looking at the lake.

He looked at Hextor and commanded, "In a month's time, you will go to the Sacred Grail Academy and be my sister's guardian. Next year, I will go and enroll too."

"Yes, my lord." Hextor bowed down and said.

After that, Hextor left and went back to the Blue Mist Mountain.

Ian, Cris, and Nicholas arrived an hour before their departure.

Along with Naga and Old Samuel they went to the Sparrow's Meeting Hall.

"Two servants and three guards will go with you." Old Samuel said.

He continued, "All needed things are also in the luggage that the servants are bringing."

"Thanks, Old Samuel." Naga said and smiled.

"Boss, I already informed our contacts in the capital. Everything is ready." Cris said with a proud voice.

"Good. Thanks, Cris." Naga was confident with these men's arrangement.

They discussed some other details too and just after it, Bella and the city lord with their people arrived.

"I heard that you were busy these past few days." Bella said and smiled to Naga.

Naga smiled and answered, "Yeah. Important matters."

"Important matters." Repeated by Bella and smiled.

"Take care on your journey, young master." The city lord lightly bowed down and said.

"Thank you. We will make sure to assist the young miss." Naga replied to the city lord.

The city lord did not assign a lot of people to go with Bella. Only five people accompanied her. Bella's personal servant, three guards and just one city official.

Old Samuel activated the portal then Naga and Bella's group entered. 'Zoom!'

"The shadow emissary..." The city lord said with a low voice.

"I heard. I hope she's fine." Old Samuel smiled and said.

The city lord did not respond and only looked at the old elf.

"It is not Lord Willard. He doesn't need anything from the emissary." Old Samuel closed the portal and said smiling.

"I get it." The city lord smiled and answered as she understood the subliminal response.

Naga's group exited the portal and entered a huge city gate. A payment of three golds were made for the whole group to enter.

"This is a wonderful city!" Nicholas was really astonished.

Vast Sky City is the oldest city of the Azure Demon empire. Most buildings are ancient but still in good conditions. Historians said that the founding emperor started his dream in this place when the city was still a small village.

Naga agreed to let his group explore the city and to stay for a day.

"Hahaha! Come on, Cris!" Cheerfully said by Nicholas.

"Yeah! There are some places that I want to check too!" Cris agreed and hastily left with the elf mage, Nicholas.

Bella asked the old official who travelled with them to look for an inn to stay.

"Yes, princess." The old official agreed and brought two guards with him.

"Where do you want to go?" Bella asked Naga.

"A good place to eat. Wanna go with me?" Naga asked and smiled.

"Sure." Bella replied.

"Ian, stay with the rest. Use this leisure time to relax and explore the city too." Naga looked at Ian and said smiling.

"Yes, Boss!" Ian bowed down and said.

The guard from the city lord's mansion asked, "Hey, would this be fine?"

"Hahaha! Of course!"

"Come on, let's check out the city!"

The guards from the Iron Crow manor laughed and said. They have great confidence with Naga.

Ian looked at the worried guard and said, "Just relax. The boss will take care of the young miss."

Naga and Bella went to an alley in the central market of the city.

Naga held the coin given by the bishop to him and continued walking with Bella.

Bella thought that they were just circling around different alleys when suddenly, the surroundings changed.

The place became a dark alley with strong presence of distorted space.

"What is this place?" Bella was surprised and asked Naga.

"The way to Ol' Hunt Tavern." Naga smiled and answered.

After reaching the end of the dark alley, Bella saw a forested area with an old looking tavern and a gigantic man seating beside the door.

The gigantic man looked at them and said, "Welcome back, young archer."

Naga nodded and smiled then he entered the tavern with Bella.

When they entered, Bella was again surprised when she saw different races as customers.

The dark elf ranger, the orc lord and the dwarf king from before were all inside. They are all regular customers.

"Archer brat!" Said by the dwarf king with a loud voice.

"Hahaha! You guys are really fearless!" Said by the orc lord.

He heard that the emissary was missing and he believed that it was the House of Iron Crow who did it.

"We are innocent." Naga chuckled and said.

He went to a vacant table with Bella and gestured at the blonde waitress.

"The crows might be innocent but not your sparrows." Remarked by the waitress and smiled.

"Hahaha!" Hearing it, the customers laughed.

'Half-elf?' Bella was surprised. The waitress is as beautiful as the legendary fairies.

"Hey Kid!" Naga heard a voice and looked around.

He saw the Great Hunter Jin tossing a golden coin towards his direction.

'Catch!' Naga caught the coin and checked it.

The golden coin has designs of a crow at front and a sparrow at the back.

"Your own coin. A valued customer like you should have one." Said by the great hunter.

"Thank you, Mister Jin." Naga lightly bowed down and said smiling.

'The legendary hunter!' Bella was stunned.

"Oh! So you brought the princess with you this time?" The great hunter noticed Bella and said.

"Yes." Naga said and smiled.

Naga continued, "Bella, this man is the Great Hunter Jin."

Bella stood up and greeted the great hunter with a graceful manner, "Greetings to the legendary hunter."

She knew that the customers weren't ordinary people so she greeted them too, "Greetings to everyone."

"Well mannered compared to our archer brat." Remarked by the dwarf king.

"Hahaha! You are right!" The orc lord laughed and agreed.

Naga just looked at them and chuckled.

The other customers laughed too then continued what they were discussing and doing after a while.

Naga's ordered arrived too and Bella was so happy seeing their food and drinks. She thought that what they have were better than some imperial cuisines.

"You have far better connection to important people than a famous noble family, do you think so?" Bella asked and smiled.

"I am from the noble house of Iron Crow. The famous nobles, won't mind me, right?" Naga answered and smiled.

Bella just looked at him with a warm smile then started eating.