Chapter 42: City Council

While Zhen was busy flirting with Sara, there was suddenly a loud commotion from inside the town.

*Rumble*

There was a loud rumbling footstep of multiple people and someone screaming "I WANT TO SEE MY DAUGHTER!"

"....."

Yep, that voice was none other than John, Sara's father, and because of his identity. 

Zhen is pretty sure that the guard is having a hard time stopping him.

At this time, Zhen starts to have sweat trickling down my forehead because he might have said he doesn't care about whatever punishment but when it really comes. 

The pressure is really immense and you just can't help but think about the harsh punishment.

It didn't even take John 1 minute before John saw Zhen, Kuro, or most importantly, Sara.

"THANK GOODNESS" John shouted out loudly and ran to hug his daughter.

'Please don't see me, John, I'm invisible.' 

Zhen prayed to his heart that he would forget about him after seeing his daughter's safe return.

Alas, the reality is harsh as John turns to look at Zhen fiercely. If looks could really kill someone as people said, then Zhen would be dead by stabbing those dagger eyes.

"Uh, Hello father-in-law," Zhen said with an awkward laugh.

"HMPH, don't call me that, I haven't forgotten about you polluting my daughter's mind. It's because of you that she has turned rogue and destroyed my formation to sneak out." John exclaimed in a fury.

Zhen tried to signal Sara with his eyesight but she ignored him by shrugging her shoulder and turning away. 

'Sara, you cannot be like this to me.' Zhen cried out inwardly when he received the cold shoulder response from Sara.

"Before I decide on your punishment, come with me to the city council." John ignored Zhen's pleading and went on to another topic.

At least with John guiding us, they no longer need to wait in line as Zhen sees the guard saluting respectfully at John when they walk in.

'No doubt about it that some people that work for the city council will know a bit of John and respect him a lot. The guard eyesight was filled with respect and admiration, something that cannot be faked.'

===============

City Council ~

Once they're in the city council building, Zhen has to say amazing and applaud for its majestic building. 

It was similar to those castles with those cone-shaped towers.

Not to mention that there are multiple guards patrolling around the area and without a doubt, this should be the most defensive place.

When Zhen was busy trying to see how the building remains spotless despite having the walls in white color, Zhen was dragged in by Sara before he got the chance to admire the texture and details more thoroughly.

Kuro simply stayed silent and followed behind because Zhen told him to behave if he wants to eat some delicious food later on.

Hearing about the word food, Kuro became extremely diligent and well behaved.

'Finally, I figure out the correct way to tame this Kuro to behave well.' Seeing Kuro's behavior, Zhen wants to give a pat to himself for taming him this easily.

Once they're inside the building, Zhen instantly notices the furniture and decoration of this place truly would shame someone. It was even better than the exterior.

Everything is sparkly and shining and the floor is simply spotless where you could even slip.

Only one word came to Zhen's mind and it's 'Corruption' otherwise how is it possible for this building to be this spectacular when it is working for the benefit of the town.

"We're going to a secret room and you'll explain everything in detail on what happened inside the new dungeon. The people are the most trusted people so you don't have to worry about a traitor as they're being secretly dealt with." John spoke slowly to them when there was no one around.

However, Zhen knew his word was targeted at him since Zhen could feel his glare.

'Stop glaring at me already. I'm more innocent in this subject and already received my punishment from Sara.'

Zhen couldn't complain any further as they arrived in a discreet area. Zhen watched slowly as John placed his hand on a wall where there was a picture in it.

*Creak* 

The wall magically opens and Zhen was not even going to be in awe of this since he had seen his fair share of shock back in the dungeon.

John walked inside while telling them to quickly follow behind. After all of them enter, the wall reverts back to its original place and no one would notice anything abnormal on the outside.

After more twist and turn in this area, they arrived at a door where John chanted some weird language to activate the mechanism.

Slowly, they could hear a heated discussion inside about the black mage and the dungeon vanishing.

'Sigh, this is where we are forced to explain everything we know, and probably they didn't directly interrogate us nor apprehend them due to John's presence.' Zhen sighed at hearing the nonsense and useless discussion from the people inside. 

However, the main reason why Zhen sighed is that he feared something else.

Zhen has gotten a load of treasures and spiritual weapons and many more within the new dungeon but he prefers not to mention anything to keep everything to himself.

Wealth is meant to be hidden and not boast around to avoid danger. Zhen is definitely not the type to show off his wealth just for people to target his back every time.

If these people here want him to cough up anything that Zhen obtained in the dungeon, then they are dreaming a pipe dream. 

If they want him to answer some difficult questions, then Zhen would play the ignorant and innocent card.

"You finally arrived John" City Lord Jason Flare said when he saw their arrival.

"Indeed, the guard of yours is strictly interrogating each person entering the town and making my daughter wait in line," John replied in a sarcastic tone as he was clearly irritated about his daughter not being allowed entry right away.

The atmosphere became awkward when John completely disregards the City Lord. 

"Hahaha, you haven't changed at all my friend." Jason laughed at his comment after a moment of silence. They were good friends so if John were to be respectful toward him then he would really be mad.

Meanwhile, Zhen was confused by this sudden occurrence as he expected a fight to happen. 

'It would really increase my fighting experience if I get to see true experts fighting with their magic.'

Zhen really needs to attend an academy now and learn from the basics as his fighting experience can be non-eligible. Having raw power could only get him so far before he hit a block where he can never improve.

Sara at this time whispers something into Zhen's ear about the relationship of his father and the City Lord. 

Hearing the explanation from Sara, Zhen finally figured out the whole picture of why John is so respected and why his inn is popular.

They probably want to curry favor or get into his good book to avoid conflict in the future. John has a lot of influence that could have the City Lord go into action.

You can really never judge a person by its appearance. 

'Still, there is one person that John can never win against or even dare to retort. That person is his wife, Sandy Ruiz who has subdued him completely.'

Zhen smirked at the fact how a respectable person is completely subdued by his own wife before thinking about something.

'Wait a minute, aren't I being subdued by Sara too as we continue to get closer.' Looking at Sara and then remembering his sarcastic remark on John, Zhen was a bit scared that he may be the same as John in this aspect.