Reincarnated as the Strongest Dragon

Chapter 27: Card’s Influence I

I landed in a secluded alley of what appeared to be a wealthier part of the capital and casually strolled out into the bustling streets.

“There sure are a lot of people walking around,” I said and looked around the busy street. “A lot of them appear to be quite drunk as well.”

“Are you surprised to find drunk people in the entertainment district this late?”

“Good point,” I smirked.

“What should we do now?”

“Do you think we can find a good inn here?” I pondered as I looked around at the various shops.

“I’m fine with a normal inn,” Liz said and looked at her clothes. “I don’t even know if I’m allowed to stay at the upper-class ones.”

“You mean some snobby receptionist will think your adventuring gear isn’t classy enough for their fine establishment?”

“Yeah, my gear looks quite common compared to your pretty clothes.”

“We can go somewhere else if you feel uncomfortable with going to such a place. I’m happy as long as I can have a bath, good food, and you.”

Liz smiled and took my hand. “Let's walk around and see what we can find.”

We walked around the district for a while, looking at everything the city's nightlife had to offer. “Do you want to check out any of these places or go straight to an inn?”

“Maybe we should focus on finding an inn first? Unless we happen to walk by something that looks interesting.”

“Sounds like a plan. It would be a waste if we can’t find a room after coming here.”

After walking down one of the smaller streets, Liz stopped and pointed towards a building. “That place looks cozy. Do you want to go take a look?”

The building she pointed to had exterior decorations made from dark brown wood with velvet drapes hanging alongside dim lights, giving off a pleasant ambiance. Two imposing men stood guard by the entrance.

What, really? That place?

“Uhm, that place over there? You sure?” I asked in surprise.

“I heard places like that have different kinds of alcohol other than what inns normally have.”

Oh god, she doesn't know. Don’t laugh.

“They might have, but it’s not why people go there,” I said while forcing back a grin.

“It’s not? It’s a tavern, right?”

I looked at the sign hanging from the wall with Whispering Desires written on it. “I’m pretty certain that establishment is what they call a house of temptations.”

“House of temptations? As in?”

“Brothel.”

Liz’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment. “Okay, let's NOT go there,” She said, tugging at my hand as she began to walk away.

I almost regret telling her. It would have been more fun to see her reaction if we went inside.

After walking for another fifteen or so minutes, we were back on the main street and stood in front of a big building with decorations out of marble. It looked more like a mansion than a house. The Gilded Retreat could be read on a sign. “This place looks like it would even turn away lesser nobles. Do you want to go in?”

“Do you really think they would let us stay here?” Liz said with an anxious look.

“I’m sure it will be fine even if neither of us looks like nobles. You can just blind them with your cuteness if everything else fails.”

“Isn’t that your job?”

“No, I’m the muscles,” I grinned.

Liz sighed. “I’ll just follow you. Don’t blame me if we get kicked out.”

We walked up the stairs and a well-dressed man opened the doors for us. His face clearly said we didn’t belong here, but I guess he didn’t have the authority to tell us to go away. A woman and an older man stood by the reception when we arrived.

“Excuse me, I would like a room for two for the night,” I said, in my most polite voice, while smiling at the woman.

The woman looked at me, clearly unimpressed. “Our rooms are quite expensive.”

“That is fine,” I said, still smiling.

She eyed us up and down. “We have a certain standard on our clientele.”

There it is, the look in her eyes telling us that we are dirty peasants. Obviously, Liz’s adventuring gear doesn’t look like the clothes of a noble, and my clothes are made more for comfort. But still, isn’t it wrong to jump to conclusions like that? What if I was an undercover princess? Time to find out what kind of clout my card gives me. I will be really disappointed if it doesn’t even let us stay here.

“I see,” I said and placed my card on the counter. “Could you recommend another establishment that would be willing to give us a room?”

Her eyes widened as she glanced at my card. “SSS?!” She blurted without realising it.

The older man took my card and, in a slightly peculiar motion, pulled it up and held it up in front of him. I noticed that he briefly glanced down to his left. “Our utmost apologies, Miss Luna! We will prepare our finest room right away, free of charge!” He snapped his hand at a man standing a short distance away. “Escort these two lovely ladies to the Velvet suite.”

Did he scan my card when he took it? So it’s not only the gates that have those devices. Good to know. Wonder why they hide that they check them like that, though? Maybe they don’t want to offend their guests by openly checking their cards?

“Right away, sir.”

“Thank you very much,” I said. I took my card and started following the man. I saw in the corner of my eye the woman getting scolded as we walked.

I’m such a bad person. She probably just did her job as instructed, sending the peasants away before they offended some of their noble guests. But from that little test, I can assume that I am probably in the ranks of an upper noble when it comes to treatment.

We walked up to the fifth floor and the man guided us into the room. “If you need anything at all, just use this device and someone will come to your room. Next to it is a list of our services as well as our dinner choices if you want food to be delivered to your room. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to call for us,” He said and walked out the door. “Enjoy your evening.” 

This place has many features that a more modern society would expect. I have never experienced room service before, in either world. And this place is huge. The man did call it a suite, after all. I also have to look at that service list later, I might find something fun. 

We looked around the room if you can even call it that. “This place is huge,” Liz said and opened the door to another room.

“I think it’s half of the fifth floor. I only saw one other door in the hall... And it was free. I almost feel bad for that woman, though. She only did her job.”

“Just almost? You’re such a bully.”

“She was the unfortunate recipient of my experiment. Someone had to be,” I smirked.

“What experiment?”

“Wanted to see what treatment my card would give me. Good to know if I have to rely on it.” 

“I think you are probably considered upper nobility or royalty.” 

“Well, I am royalty,” I grinned. “But I didn’t think it would give us a free room.”

Liz let out a deep sigh. “I don’t think you understand just how big of a deal that card is.”

“I know high-rank adventurers get good treatment. It’s not the first time I’m max rank.”

“Were you the only max rank then as well?”

“No, this is the first time that there aren’t any other max ranks,” I tapped my chin. “Actually, I once got rank eleven when ten was supposed to be max. I was the only one then. Can’t say I got treated any differently… I think? I honestly don’t remember.”

“That card would probably give you an audience with the king if you wanted.”

“Can’t say I have any interest in meeting him.”

Liz shook her head. “My point is, people will go out of their way to accommodate you.”

“I’m still just an adventurer.”

“You don’t get it. You would probably need to be powerful enough to level the city alone to be promoted to SSS rank. What do you think would happen to whoever made you leave the country because they treated you badly?”

“Oh…”

I vaguely remember Saria telling Grahl that the king might take his head if he made me leave. I’m starting to think getting SSS was a bad idea. I’m such an idiot for not looking into it before.

“Do you think they could demote me to S? I kind of regret getting SSS now.”

“I doubt it.”

Oh well, what’s done is done. Let’s just forget about it for now.

“Well, I’ll figure something out later. Let’s focus on enjoying ourselves for now.”

Liz sighed. “You make it sound so easy. I feel out of place here.”

“Hey now, don't be like that,” I said and patted her back. “Just look at that bed, you can probably fit five people on that.”

“Does that mean you won’t wrap your tail around me tonight?” Liz asked with a pout.

“I never said that,” I said with a playful smile. “Are you hungry? Ordering food to our room sounds fancy.”

“You shoved a lot of food in me in the hot spring so I’m good for now,” She said and touched her hair. “But I could go for a bath. The hot springs were nice, but my hair is a mess.”

“Can you start filling up the bath then? I want to look at the list he spoke about.”

Liz entered the bathroom while I walked over to the table and looked at the list. “They have a whole lot of different things here, alcohol as well.”

They have proper drinks here, not just ale or wine but mixed drinks. We should try some later.

“Did you say something?” Liz asked as she popped her head out of the bathroom.

“No, just talking to myself,” I said before moving to the bathroom. “Wow, this place is huge. You could fit at least two full-size foxlings in this bath.”

Calling this a bath doesn’t feel right. It looks more like a small pool. How did they even manage to build something like this on the fifth floor? 

“It takes forever to fill up,” Liz said while looking at the waterline slowly increasing. “By the way, I have been wondering about something.”

“And what might that be?”

Liz held up one of her sleeves. “Did you wash my clothes?”

Yeah, I used magic to wash them because I got hydra guts on you.

“I did.”

“May I ask why?”

I shrugged. “The dungeon was dusty.” 

“I see… I was wondering why they felt so fresh.”

“Speaking of clothes, how about we get you out of them?” I said with an enticing gaze. “I’ll wash your hair for you while we wait for the bath to fill.”

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