Chapter Forty-Nine: Refugees

Falling Cloud City was teeming with life at this hour, and our lovely, adorable Landis appeared beside Li Ren with a drowsy, half-awake expression.

“Hey! You’re finally awake?” Li Ren greeted her kindly, only to receive a massive eye roll in return. “What do you mean ‘finally’? I just took a little nap, all right? Beauty sleep is a woman’s secret to staying beautiful! Hmph!”

“You call that a little nap? You’ve lost another whole day—how is that just a ‘little’ while…” Li Ren grumbled inwardly, but he didn’t dare say it out loud.

“Say, Landis, why don’t you come over and take a look at the current guard divisions? Any suggestions?” Shadow, uninterested in their meaningless banter, turned to regard the breathtaking girl with pale blue eyes.

He knew well that in the old days of Falling Cloud City, Landis had commanded the entire Legion with an iron hand. Especially during the city’s developmental phase in the mid-game, without her firm strategic deployments, so many things that followed might never have happened.

“Oh? As things stand, there’s no real problem. In such a small city, those little monsters outside wouldn’t be able to break in. But! How can you just call me Landis? Try calling me Your Majesty the Queen!” she drawled lazily, casting a sidelong glance at Shadow.

She had no reservations when it came to Shadow.

Li Ren snickered on the side. “Ha, now it’s your turn. Her Majesty the Queen—this is too funny.”

Shadow rolled his eyes. “So her guilty pleasures are already coming out in the open. The nickname I couldn’t escape in my past life has come back so soon.” A death wish flickered in his heart, but he pretended not to hear the last part and simply ignored it.

“Hey! Call me Your Majesty the Queen!” Landis refused to let Shadow off so easily. She burst out with regal authority, enunciating each word with force. That commanding presence—yes, it was worthy of a former commander. Though her voice was clear and sweet, it carried an intangible aura. Indeed, the aura of the Queen herself seemed to envelop the hall, at least in Shadow’s eyes.

Shadow wanted to resist a bit longer, though he already knew the outcome. But before a queen’s might, what use is resistance? If effort mattered, she wouldn’t be the queen.

With a smack of her hand on the table, the Queen stood up. The bang triggered some painful memories for Shadow, who reflexively bolted in retreat. Landis froze for a second before letting out a cold snort and chasing after him. In an instant, the lord’s castle descended into chaos.

Li Ren watched the two chase each other around the hall, grinning from ear to ear. There was something truly delightful about this sense of camaraderie.

While the three of them were making a scene in the city, a group of uninvited guests appeared outside the walls.

They looked every bit the part of beggars—so pitiful it was almost painful to witness. Several children, thin and frail from malnutrition, trailed after the adults, weary and spent.

A single small cart held all their worldly possessions, proof enough that these people had nothing else to bring.

“Chief! Look! There’s actually a town ahead!” A middle-aged man at the front, who had been on watch, hurriedly reported to a wiry but spirited old man behind him as soon as he saw Falling Cloud City.

The old man paused, gazing at the city for a long while, thoughts churning in his heart. “There’s too much demonic energy here. It bodes ill for us to enter.” Yet, when he saw the hopeful looks in the children’s eyes—the cautious yearning shining on their faces—his heart ached. With a sigh, he made his decision. Even if disaster struck, he would gladly give his life as long as the children could escape.

In the children’s excited eyes, all they knew was that their beloved grandfather had finally agreed to rest in the city. They didn’t see the tension and confusion in their elders’ expressions, nor wonder how long this wandering would last.

Their arrival drew little attention. The players who saw them speculated briefly about their purpose, but upon realizing they were merely a group of NPCs with no special quests, promptly ignored them.

The crowd of players, armored in dazzling gear, puzzled the old man. According to his knowledge, there shouldn’t have been any city here, let alone one so vast and filled with so many players. It was almost unbelievable. The patrolling skeletal guards radiated demonic energy, yet beneath it, he sensed a subtle aura of peace—an odd harmony that made him nod in approval, and all the more curious.

Li Ren was the first to notice something amiss. Amid the throngs of brightly armored players, a group of ragged figures stood out starkly—impossible to overlook.

Seeing Li Ren’s reaction, Shadow, who had already resigned himself after a bout with Landis, also began to pay attention to this group.

“Hmm? Refugees?” Shadow wondered aloud, uncertain.

“Refugees? There are refugees? In a game?” Li Ren was surprised.

“Logically, there shouldn’t be any at this point.” Shadow was still puzzled, but a kick from his queen shut him up quickly.

“All right, so they’re refugees. Usually, there’s nothing remarkable among them, though sometimes a few may have notable abilities. But at this point in time, the odds are slim,” Shadow hastened to explain.

Li Ren nodded; it made sense. If any of these people had real ability, they probably wouldn’t have fallen to such a state.

“But the backgrounds of the NPCs in Land of the Gods are so realistic—it’s a bit…overwhelming,” Li Ren said, gazing at the wretched group before him.

“NPCs, hmm? Maybe they’re more than just NPCs…” Shadow mused mysteriously. Li Ren and Landis eyed him curiously.

From the look on Shadow’s face, Li Ren knew it must have something to do with his self-imposed “secrecy agreement,” so he didn’t press further. Still, the plight of these NPCs drew his attention.

“Chief, it looks like we’re the first to arrive. While that one hasn’t noticed us, should we…” a middle-aged man whispered.

The old man shook his head. “Wait here. I’ll pay my respects to the city lord myself.”

The man nodded and withdrew.

After settling the others, the old man, supported by a companion, walked slowly toward the city lord’s castle.

Li Ren thought for a moment, then sat in the front hall and removed the Ring of Deception, revealing his skeletal form. He signaled Shadow to bring the newcomers inside. Before he could speak, Landis was already standing behind him. Li Ren grinned, only to hear a faint snort from behind. He burst out laughing, but the proud queen silenced him with a well-placed punch, and the laughter died away.

Ps: Please recommend and add to your collections~~