Chương 66: Guilds of the Market City

The chaotic noise of the Outer Market slowly began to fade as they walked further down the wide cobblestone street. Ahead of them stood the dividing wall. From a distance, it had looked like a simple white barrier, but as Jack got closer, he realized the sheer scale of the engineering. The wall was easily forty feet high, made of massive blocks of polished white stone that fit together so perfectly there was barely a seam between them. It was a physical manifestation of the strict class divide.

"That is an incredible amount of heavy stone to move," Jack noted, his eyes scanning the smooth surface. He thought about the rough pine logs his skeletons had dragged through the snow to build his own palisade.

"I assume they did not use peasant labor to build it."

"They did not," Silas replied smoothly, walking at a steady pace.

"The wall was raised over two centuries ago by the Earthen Aegis, one of the native Mage Guilds. They used earth manipulation to pull the stone directly from the deep quarries and shape it on the spot." They approached the massive iron gates set into the center of the white wall. Unlike the open, flowing traffic of the Common District, the area around the gates was highly organized and heavily guarded. Dozens of soldiers in polished steel armor stood at various checkpoints.

Alongside them were several individuals wearing gray and blue robes, clearly low-tier mages acting as magical security.

"How do they manage the daily labor inside?" Jack asked, his mind immediately finding a flaw in the system.

"If this wall separates the commoners from the magical elite, who chops the firewood? Who carries the heavy crates of food? A city cannot survive if its wealthiest citizens have to wash their own floors." Silas offered a small, approving nod at the question. It was a very practical thing for a lord to ask.

"The guilds manage the logistics through controlled entry points," Silas explained, keeping his voice conversational.

"The common farmers and laborers deliver their goods to large, heavily guarded storehouses built directly into the outer base of this wall. From there, the Merchant Guilds use enchanted cargo carts and bonded servants to move the goods inside. An ordinary commoner is strictly forbidden from simply walking through these gates."

"So, what are the rules of entry?" Jack asked as they joined a short line of people waiting to be inspected at the main checkpoint.

"There are only three ways to legally pass through," Silas stated calmly.

"First, you can present a registered token from one of the recognized Guilds. Second, you can present the official crest of an Imperial Noble house. Or third, if you are a vagabond or a traveling mercenary, you must physically prove your core level to the guards to show you have the magical right to enter." Jack leaned on his cane, watching the checkpoint ahead of them. A rugged-looking man with a sword strapped to his back was standing before one of the robed mages. The mage held out a clear, crystalline stone.

The rugged man placed his hand on the stone and pushed a small burst of mana into it. The crystal flared with a bright, steady green light. The guards nodded, recorded his name on a parchment ledger, and waved him through the iron gates.

"He proved he has an Iron Core," Silas murmured, observing the test.

"That is the minimum requirement for an unaffiliated traveler to enter without an invitation." Jack looked down at his own wooden cane.

"My noble house is a minor northern fief. Our crest holds very little political weight out here in the west. And I certainly do not have a guild token." Jack was also actively suppressing his Iron Core.

"Do not worry, Lord Jack," Silas said pragmatically.

"You are traveling with me." They reached the front of the line. A heavy-set guard in polished steel armor stepped forward, blocking their path with the shaft of a heavy halberd. The guard took one look at Jack and his wooden cane, and then looked at Karen, who was shrinking nervously behind Jack's shoulder.

"Halt," the guard ordered gruffly.

"This gate is for the Inner Ward." The guard didn't even notice Silas at first, as the Inquisitor had been standing slightly to the side, his white robes blending in with the white stone of the wall. Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. Silas did not argue nor did he act insulted. He simply stepped forward, reached inside his robes and pulled out a solid gold badge shaped like a sunburst—the absolute authority of the Holy Church.

At the exact same moment, Silas released a tiny, heavily controlled drop of his Gold Core magical pressure. It wasn't enough to cause a shockwave, but the air around the guard instantly turned suffocatingly heavy. The heavy-set guard froze. All the color drained from his face in a fraction of a second. He recognized the golden badge, and his instincts screamed at the terrifying density of the magic pressing against his chest. The guard immediately pulled his halberd back, dropping to a rigid ninety-degree bow.

The other guards and the robed mages at the checkpoint noticed the badge and instantly followed suit, bowing deeply in absolute silence.

"We are passing through," Silas said quietly.

"Y-yes, Your Eminence," the captain of the guard stammered, keeping his eyes firmly fixed on the cobblestone street. He frantically waved his hand to the soldiers manning the winches.

"Open the gate! Clear the path!" No one even asked Jack or Karen for their name and purpose. The guards didn't even dare to look at them. Silas tucked the golden badge back into his robes and smoothly walked through the open gates. Jack followed right behind him, keeping his pace steady.

"I have to admit," Jack thought to himself, a small, highly amused smile touching his lips.

"Having a terrifying, highly efficient Church enforcer as a tour guide is incredibly convenient." The moment they crossed the threshold and stepped into the Inner Ward, the atmosphere completely shifted. The noise of the Outer Market vanished, blocked entirely by the massive white walls. The streets here were paved with smooth, flawless marble rather than rough cobblestones. The buildings were towering structures made of polished stone and clear glass windows. Wealth was visible in every single detail.

But the biggest difference was the air itself. Jack took a slow breath. The air in the Inner Ward felt physically heavy. It was incredibly clean, but it was dense with ambient magic. Thousands of high-tier artifacts, protective wards, and powerful mages were constantly radiating energy, creating a thick, localized atmosphere of pure mana. Behind him, Karen let out a soft gasp. She stumbled slightly, holding her hand to her chest.

As a normal human with no magical core, the sudden shift in mana density was making her feel breathless and slightly dizzy.

"Breathe slowly, Karen," Jack instructed gently, pausing to let her catch her balance.

"Your body will adjust to the pressure in a few minutes. Just take shallow, steady breaths." Karen nodded quickly, focusing on her breathing until the dizziness began to fade.

"It is a highly concentrated environment," Silas noted, waiting patiently for them.

"The Guilds have spent centuries building mana-gathering formations into the foundations of this district. It makes spellcasting easier and keeps their artifacts charged." Silas turned and began leading them down a wide avenue lined with luxury shops and guild halls.

"Since you are going to be conducting business here, Lord Jack, you need to understand the power structure," Silas said, stepping back into his role as a professional guide.

"The Western Market City is not ruled by a single lord or a simple governor. It is ruled by a council of factions."

"The Guilds," Jack guessed.

"Precisely," Silas nodded.

"There are Four Mage Guilds that control the magical laws and the defensive military power of the city. First is The Holy Sanctum. That is the Church-affiliated guild. They manage healing, blessings, and maintain the spiritual order."

"And the other three?" Jack asked.

"They are native to the West," Silas explained." The Azure Spire focuses strictly on destructive elemental magic. Fire, water, wind. They produce the finest combat mages. Then there is The Earthen Aegis. They focus on physical constructs, defense, and heavy warding. They built the wall we just walked through." Silas gestured toward a tall, strange-looking tower in the distance that seemed to shimmer slightly in the sunlight.

"Finally, there is The Veiled Eye," Silas continued.

"They are the smallest of the Mage Guilds, but highly respected. They focus on rare utility magic. Alchemy, spatial manipulation, and sensory arts. You will not see them often, but they control the flow of knowledge." Jack processed the information, sorting the factions in his mind.

"If the Holy Church has a presence here, why do they share power with three native guilds? The Church usually prefers absolute control."

"Because of the economy," Silas said pragmatically.

"The West is the financial heart of the continent. If the Church tried to crush the native Mage Guilds by force, it would trigger a massive civil war. The trade routes would collapse, and the Imperial Capital would starve. So, a balance of power is maintained. Which brings us to the true rulers of this city." Silas stopped walking and pointed down the street.

"The Mage Guilds have the raw power, but the Merchant Guilds hold the purse strings," Silas stated.

"There are two massive Merchant Guilds that dictate every piece of gold that moves through this side of the continent. The Iron-Route Syndicate controls all the raw materials. Timber, iron, stone, and the trading of magical beasts."

"And the second one?" Jack asked.

"The second one is where we are going right now," Silas said. Jack followed Silas's gaze. Sitting at the end of the wide avenue was a massive, palatial building. It was constructed from pure white marble, with towering pillars lined with veins of real gold. Heavily armored guards stood at attention on the wide stone steps, and a constant flow of wealthy nobles and powerful mages moved through the massive double doors. Above the entrance, a massive emblem was carved into the stone: a pair of golden weighing scales.

"That is The Golden Scale Consortium," Silas said, his tone entirely serious.

"They control the high-tier banking, the distribution of Spirit Stones, and the trading of all advanced magical artifacts. If you want to enter the grand auction and buy what you need for your fief, we must go through them." Jack looked at the towering marble building. He adjusted his grip on his wooden cane and nodded.

"Then let us go," Jack said smoothly.