After Surviving the Apocalypse, I Built a City in Another World

At this time, Althea buried them on the ground with only their heads above the soil. She did it quickly by taking the soil she loosened with her ability back to her space.

”Tell us, does your lord answer to anyone else in the territory?” Luis asked, crossing his arms and looking down at them. This was to determine if there was anyone who might know the location of the token.

The guards looked at him as if he had asked a stupid question. ”How could our lord answer to someone else in their own territory?”

The others nodded even as their teeth clattered, shivering, trying to retain whatever sense of control they could. ”Even that Lord of Ferrol Town acts like a peer!”

This made the two’s eyebrows rise and they looked at each other. However, Jonathan did mention the opponent was a city, so Baltimore must’ve looked down on Jonathan by virtue of the connection.

However, while they were reluctant to bump against a city, they stayed firm in the end. While stealing Guia may mean irking a strong enemy, all they’d be able to do was to send village subsidiaries to them. They weren’t dependent on anyone in resources, so nothing could threaten them either.

They fought hard. They deserved Guia.

Also, they could really use that iron mine and those hundreds of goblins.

”Then is anyone close to your lord left behind?” Althea asked. She closed her fist and tightened the earth around them, making them shiver, but they refused to answer on principle.

She sighed. They only had a few hours before the war ended and they didn’t have the leisure for long torture.

Luis raised his sword. ”Since they’re useless, no need to keep them alive.”

”GAHHH! NOOO!”

”Don’t!!!”

”Wait, let me try something,” Althea intervened and the men looked at her with a bit of hope.

She narrowed her eyes at the guards for a moment, thinking. ”Their levels should be good enough,” Althea said, taking out a bottle from her space.

”There’s an experimental potion that could maybe help out,’ she said. ”Can you open their mouths please?”

At this, Luis and the others pried the guards’ mouths open and they force fed them the suspicious-looking liquid.

None of them were certain what it was, but they forced their mouths closed and pinched their noses so they had no choice but to swallow.

”HIC—”

”ARG—gurgle—”

After ensuring the guards had consumed all the potion, they stood up and waited for whatever should happen to happen.

For now, though, the guards just looked pale. Obviously, the medicine didn’t taste very good.

Curious, Luis turned to the woman. ”What is it, Miss Althea?”

”Truth potion.”

”...”

.

.

”Seriously?” he asked, and the others gaped at her in shock.

She thought for a moment before clarifying. ”Well, it’s more of a… suggestion potion. If we add a few more tempting conditions, we may be able to get what we want”

After saying this, she manifested some gold and dangled it in front of them. ”If you tell me all you could about your lord, I will give you this.”

These guards were also in their level 15 or so as well, so her potions naturally had reduced effects (it was why she didn’t bother using it against Ero or Seto), but it was still strong. After a few moments, the men started to look inebriated.

They proceeded to ask more about the territory, getting their maps in the process for free.

With those, they found out more about the locations of Baltimore’s properties. They also found out that all of Baltimore’s closest cronies had come with him, but he did have servants in his house who could… enlighten them.

”I think that’s as much as we could get,” Althea said and the others nodded, knowing it was time for them to take the next steps.

”We’ll leave you here,” Althea looked at the half-frozen men. ”Good luck.”

…

They entered from the side using Althea’s earth stairs without causing a commotion at all. Most people who remained were mostly in their homes, while the remaining slaves continued with their jobs.

This wasn’t a surprise. After all, Guia mobilized the majority of their forces to attack Alterra, retaining some low-level citizens here, which was why they hadn’t actually received the winning announcement yet.

Anyway, this place was grossly undermanned.

It not only had loose sentry arrangements but, based on their scouting, there were very few guards there at this time. Hey, most of them were probably already either dead or a prisoner in Alterra now.

However, they were not complacent and still did their best to minimize the danger.

Using the maps they got from the guards, the group separated into two, with the other group taking a look at the other possible places the token could be left in, while Althea and Luis headed straight to the Lord’s house—which was also the most dangerous place there at this time.

Like most other villages, the roads here were narrow and smelly. Of course, it didn’t get the title of most powerful village for nothing. It was still much better than others, especially to Luis who had been to many aborigine villages before.

Most people who didn’t participate in the war were in their homes. There weren’t many anymore, mostly women and disabled people supported by family. Obviously, Baltimore made strict orders that forced anyone with some force to the war.

”How do we get in?” Luis asked as they headed towards Baltimore’s home.

The villa was surrounded by level 2 walls. It was a customized building specifically made to appear more ornate than others. Compared to the simple houses around, it definitely stuck out like a sore thumb.

Baltimore didn’t seem like the person who’d prefer this aesthetic, so it was likely chosen by his ’guests’.

However, she also knew how it was in Xeno so her dirty appearance was actually more common than proper.

Luis gaped as Althea headed to the gate and knocked on it! She did it several times, too!

”M-Miss Althea!” Luis squealed through gritted teeth.

Althea remained cool though and Luis had no choice but to shut his mouth.

Soon, the door opened to reveal a guard, whose eyes sparkled a bit at the sight of her. ”What is it?”

Althea ignored his disgusting stare and kept in character. ”I… I’m a citizen from Ferrol Town… but my caravan was attacked…” she said, looking pitiful.

”I need to see your lord. Can I talk to him, please?”