248: Chapter 248 Refugees in Chaotic Times! City Entry Rules! The Noblewoman's Predicament!

One week later.

Early morning, the sky was just beginning to brighten.

The South Gate of Gino City.

The city gate had not yet opened, but the official road outside was already completely blocked by a dense mass of people.

Looking down from above, the winding queue resembled a dusty gray dragon, stretching as far as the eye could see.

Most of the people in the line were dressed in rags.

Cries, pleas, shouts, and coughs mingled together, rising and falling in waves.

"Please, open the gate! I've been waiting outside all night!"

"I have money, let me in quickly!"

"Mommy, I'm so hungry..."

Within the crowd, Flora Lawrence also sat by the roadside, wearing dusty gray clothes with black soot smeared on her face.

She no longer looked anything like the third young lady of the Earl Silverleaf household.

She looked no different from the refugee girls around her.

A full seven days had passed since that night she fled Silverleaf Castle.

That night, Knight Adeline had risked her life to protect her and fight out of the castle, hiding in a place within the city to wait for news.

But what she received was nothing but bad news. Her father had died in battle. Silverleaf Castle had fallen and completely turned into a dead zone.

Soon, order in Velen City completely collapsed.

Without the suppression of the City Guard, the evil intentions hidden in the shadows surged out like a tide.

Robbery, murder, sacrificial rituals... various bloody events played out every day.

Knight Adeline had been seriously injured while breaking out of the castle. The two dared not stay in the city and could only blend into a group of refugees to leave, fleeing all the way to the outskirts of Gino City.

"Cough... cough..."

A suppressed cough came from behind her.

Flora turned around abruptly, a flash of joy in her eyes, and lowered her voice to say:

"Knight Adeline, you're awake!"

The female knight lying on a tattered blanket opened her eyes groggily.

Her face was pale, her lips were chapped, and fine beads of cold sweat seeped from her forehead.

She struggled to move her eyes, looked at the surrounding crowd, then at the distant city wall, and said in a weak voice:

"My lady... the city gate... has it not opened yet?"

"Soon, soon." Flora quickly grasped her hand: "Once the city gate opens, we can enter the city. Then we can find someone to treat your wounds, and you will be fine."

Knight Adeline nodded slightly, her lips moving, as if she still wanted to say something...

But in the end, her injuries were too severe, and she lacked the strength. Before the words could leave her mouth, she fell into a coma again.

Seeing this, Flora bit her lip, then raised her head and looked toward the direction of the city gate.

Open quickly...

Another while passed.

The daylight grew brighter.

Rumble— The heavy city gates slowly opened to both sides.

A squad of City Guard wearing brand-new armor filed out and quickly formed a line at the city gate.

The refugee crowd suddenly became restless and surged forward.

"The city gate is open!"

"Let me in first!"

"Don't push! Don't push!"

The City Guard immediately raised their shields to block the crowd.

The leading officer shouted sternly:

"Back up! Everyone back up! Those who do not follow order will not be allowed to enter the city!"

At this moment, inside the city gate, a group of local residents of Gino City were gathered at the base of the city wall, stretching their necks to look outside.

This had become a new habit for the residents of Gino City over these past few days.

"Tsk tsk, so many people again. The city gate is about to burst from the crowding these past few days, right?"

"Indeed. I heard that several neighboring noble territories have suffered. Over in Velen City, I heard that the entire family of Earl Silverleaf was killed, and the castle is gone!"

"Not just Velen City!"

"My cousin escaped here from Ice Lake City the day before yesterday and said it's chaotic over there too, with people dying in the city every day. Who knows how many nobles have run away from inside!"

"Sigh, the outside world is truly getting more and more chaotic. It's fortunate that our city has The Count presiding, otherwise..."

"Who's to say it isn't!"

At the city gate, Portia looked at the ragged, terrified refugees and sighed slightly in her heart.

Although Gino City was not small, it could not accommodate so many refugees.

If they were all let in without screening, not only would the city's supply of goods collapse, but public security would also rapidly deteriorate. Who knew what kind of people were mixed in among them.

They must be screened.

As for the criteria for screening... she had already received instructions from The Count.

Portia withdrew her thoughts and nodded to a soldier beside her.

The soldier understood, stepped forward, and shouted at the top of his lungs:

"Line up, do not push! Come one by one! Everyone listen up! You must undergo inspection to enter the city; only those who meet the conditions will be allowed to pass!"

He paused, turned around to post a notice on the city wall, and pointed at it, announcing loudly:

"First, those who have relatives to receive them in the city or have a fixed residence may enter the city after presenting proof!"

"Second, those with sufficient financial means who can pay the entrance fee and have the ability to purchase a residence within the city may obtain a temporary residence permit!"

"Third, those with sufficient strength, a High-level Apprentice Knight or above, who are willing to join the City Guard and serve The Count, may enter the city directly!"

"Fourth, young women who meet the conditions and are willing to sign a contract to enter The Count's mansion to serve as maids may pass through that special passage over there for quick inspection and entry!"

As soon as the four rules were announced, a commotion immediately broke out in the crowd.

"It's over, it's over!"

"These conditions are too harsh!"

"I'm just a farmer, how could I have any relatives in the city! They didn't require these conditions to enter the city before!!"

"What's the price for a residence in the city?!"

"Great! I just broke through to High-level Apprentice Knight a few days ago!"

Complaints, doubts, pleas, and questions began to rise and fall.

But the City Guard remained expressionless, with no intention of making any compromises.

In the refugee camp, after hearing the four rules for entering the city, Flora's expression changed.

She did not meet the first condition. There was absolutely no one she knew in the city.

For the second, it required sufficient financial means. She did not have that either. When she escaped from the castle, she hadn't had time to bring any valuables.

For the third, it required the strength of a High-level Apprentice Knight or above, which she certainly did not have.

Since childhood, she had studied etiquette, music, painting, and dance. Although she had learned basic Knight Breathing Technique, she was not cut out for it.

And although Knight Adeline was a Senior Knight, at the moment, the other party was still in a coma...

She could not meet any of the first three conditions.

As for the fourth... she bit her lip.

Of course, she knew what the so-called signing a contract to enter The Count's mansion to serve as a maid meant.

That was a common form of personal contract.

Signing it meant selling herself to The Count's mansion; from then on, her life, death, glory, and shame would no longer be up to her.

She hesitated. She wondered whether she should reveal her identity?

The daughter of Earl Silverleaf—perhaps this identity could earn her some favorable treatment?

But immediately, she shook her head with some frustration.

There was no friendship between the Earl Silverleaf household and the new Count Golden Flame of Gino City.

Who knew how this Count Golden Flame would treat her after learning her identity?

Moreover, it was said that there had been significant territorial friction between the Silverleaf Territory and the Golden Flame Territory in the past.

She... dared not gamble...