End of Days Game: I'm the Only One Who Can See the Hidden Cues

After two arduous days of traversing challenging terrain, Jeremy and his entourage finally reached their ultimate destination: the illustrious Nocturne City.

During these two days, they encountered a fascinating array of individuals, each adding to the rich tapestry of their journey. This was only natural, given that Nocturne City, as the principal metropolis within this particular instance, was the most bustling and vibrant location they could hope to arrive at.

What truly sets Nocturne City apart is the colossal sun that hangs perpetually in the sky at the city's very center, never setting.

Additionally, the city walls are adorned with numerous smaller suns, each emitting light and heat to fend off any threats that could jeopardize the safety of Nocturne City.

As the group approached Nocturne City, stopping about a mile away, Heber addressed them.

"Before we can gain entry into Nocturne City, we must first undergo a thorough inspection by the city's guards." Heber elucidated, multitasking as he directed the caravan guards to unload their cargo while simultaneously explaining the protocol to the rest of the group.

"Given the recent spate of events." he continued, "Nocturne City is undoubtedly aware of the cataclysm that befell Dawn City. Consequently, we can expect the inspections conducted by the city guards to be significantly more stringent this time around."

The reason Heber took the time to remind everyone was that he was keen to avoid any further delays. His primary objective was to expedite their entry into Nocturne City.

This way, he could promptly sell off his remaining valuable goods and swiftly find a suitable location for Master Bard to concoct his potions.

Jeremy and the others nodded in understanding, acknowledging Heber's sense of urgency.

Jeremy took special care to store all his powerful weapons within his storage space.

Meanwhile, both Bonnie and Master Bard were meticulously checking their respective belongings. Only Nina stood apart, gazing curiously in the direction of Nocturne City's imposing walls.

As the daughter of Dawn City's lord, Nina had visited this place before. However, each time she came here, her father would hurriedly rush inside Nocturne City to meet with its prominent figures, leaving her with little opportunity to explore.

Nina would invariably be escorted by her mother to stay in some of Nocturne City's luxurious hotels. Consequently, she had never taken the time to truly observe the surroundings of Nocturne City.

"Haven't you ever been here before?"

Jeremy asked, approaching Nina as she stood lost in thought, staring at the city walls.

Nina turned her head and, upon seeing Jeremy, smiled faintly. "I've been here a few times." she replied, " but I was always with my mother. She never let me stay outside the city walls for too long. She always said it was too dangerous out here."

Jeremy nodded affirmatively.

"This time, you'll have the chance to properly take in the scenery outside the city walls. There are so many people queued up ahead of us that who knows how long it will be before the guards of Nocturne City get around to inspecting us."

Hearing this, a faint blush spread across Nina's cheeks as she slowly turned to Jeremy and asked,

"In that case, would you mind accompanying me for a little walk around the area? There might be dangers lurking nearby."

Recognizing the validity of her concern, Jeremy agreed to explore the surroundings with her.

Jeremy and Nina departed from the caravan and made their way toward the distant city walls.

It didn't take long for Master Bard and Heber to notice their movements.

Master Bard deliberately approached Bonnie and, with a hint of implication in his voice, remarked.

"It seems that young Nina understands Jeremy's heart better than anyone else."

Bonnie's expression turned slightly sour at Master Bard's remark.

"Unlike you, I don't cling to Jeremy. I have enough skill to handle my own issues."

Bonnie maintained her characteristically haughty demeanor.

Though she felt a twinge of irritation at Nina's constant attachment to Jeremy, she would never allow herself to openly display her jealousy.

Master Bard chuckled heartily a few times before sauntering away.

Only Heber, with a tinge of worry coloring his tone, remarked, "I hope Jeremy can focus on the tasks at hand and not get entirely caught up in his playful banter with Nina."

"Although Jeremy might seem somewhat frivolous on the surface, I truly believe that when it comes to critical matters, he understands how to prioritize."

Bonnie suddenly declared, her expression turning serious as she addressed Heber.

Heber couldn't help but feel a bit taken aback. While he had always sensed that Bonnie had a fondness for Jeremy, this was the first time he had ever heard her speak so positively about him.

Realizing she might have revealed too much, Bonnie quickly made an excuse and left.

Meanwhile, Jeremy and Nina strolled near the city walls, taking in the landscape.

They both instinctively stayed close, knowing that entering Nocturne City was their primary objective.

After about an hour, Heber dispatched a guard from the caravan to fetch Jeremy and Nina.

"The guards of Nocturne City are about to inspect our caravan. You two had better hurry back. If we miss our turn, who knows how long we'll have to wait." the caravan guard warned.

Without hesitation, Jeremy and Nina followed the guard back to the caravan.

Arriving just in time.

As they rejoined their group, a squad of Nocturne City guards approached the front of Heber's caravan.

Clad in red and yellow armor, the guards bore the emblem of a crowing rooster on their breastplates.

"Who is in charge of this caravan?" the lead guard demanded sternly, addressing the group.

Heber quickly stepped forward. "I am. Here is my merchant's permit."

The guard captain took Heber's permit and glanced at it dismissively.

"Your permit is no longer valid. Recent events have led to changes, and Nocturne City now requires a new pass. To enter, you must prove that you pose no threat to the city."

Jeremy felt a pang of anxiety at the guard captain's words.

He couldn't shake the feeling that the mastermind behind their troubles, known as the "Sun." was watching him.

The change in the city's pass regulations might be a sign that the "Sun" was already targeting him.

Despite his unease, Jeremy remained calm and took a subtle step back, gripping his weapon just in case.

Fortunately, the guards did not notice his movement.

As their attention was wholly focused on Heber. Heber, meanwhile, reached into his pocket and produced a string of gemstones.

"Brave guards of Nocturne City, your diligent service is commendable. Please accept this small token of our appreciation." he said, offering the gems to the guard captain.

The captain glanced around briefly before snatching the bag of gemstones from Heber's hand.

"And how exactly do we prove that we are no threat to Nocturne City?" Heber asked urgently.

The guard captain lowered his voice and replied.

"Just keep all your weapons hidden. Here is the new Nocturne City pass. Present this at the city gate, and the guards there will let you in."

Handing the pass to Heber, the captain then led his squad toward the next caravan in line.

"I doubt the Nocturne City pass has actually been revised! This is just a ruse by those guards to line their pockets."

Master Bard grumbled after the guards had left.

"Regardless, we can finally enter Nocturne City now, can't we? Let's move quickly. I have a bad feeling about lingering here." he added with a sense of urgency.

Jeremy found Master Bard's concerns reasonable.

However, since Heber had already handed over the gemstones, there was no point in dwelling on the matter any further.

Though Heber felt a twinge of regret, he accepted it as part of the cost of doing business.

As a merchant, he was accustomed to greasing palms each time he visited Nocturne City.

"Now that we have the pass, let's proceed to Nocturne City without delay."

Heber commanded, directing the caravan towards the city gates.

Though the city gates were only about a kilometer away, the sheer number of people ahead of them meant it took the caravan a full hour to reach the entrance.

At the gates of Nocturne City, two guards lounged lazily against the wall.

"Do you have a pass? If so, show it and enter quickly! If not, step aside!" one barked.

Heber promptly produced the pass, along with two smaller gemstones from his pocket.

The guards' eyes lit up at the sight of the gems.

"Dear guards, is there anything we should be aware of in Nocturne City?" Heber inquired, seizing the moment to gather information.

The guards frowned in thought before one of them, lowering his voice, said.

"Avoid the central administrative district for now. Something troubling seems to be happening there. That's all we can tell you."

"Thank you for the heads-up!"

Heber expressed his gratitude and then led Jeremy and the rest of the group into Nocturne City.