Time passed as swiftly as the newly built sewers of Dolos, rushing onward with a loud, continuous flow that never ceased, and in the blink of an eye, eight long years had passed.
Over those eight years, Dolos had undergone a complete transformation.
Now, the streets of the commoner district were wide, level, and carefully maintained, while the former sights of sewage flowing through every corner and garbage strewn across the ground had vanished entirely.
Even though the houses were not as luxurious or extravagant as those in the noble district, they were neatly arranged, sturdily built, and kept remarkably clean, giving the district an orderly and welcoming appearance.
Meanwhile, the public square no longer displayed prisons or cruel instruments of torture. Every household had gained access to clean drinking water, while rows of streetlights illuminated the city after sunset, driving away the darkness that had once blanketed the streets and making nighttime far safer than it had ever been before.
Children, dressed in tidy, well-fitting clothes, laughed and chased one another through the streets with carefree smiles and healthy, rosy faces, while the sickly yellow complexions caused by years of hunger and malnutrition had long since disappeared, replaced by the vitality that came from full stomachs and peaceful lives.
Although the noble district still remained, the nobles living within it no longer enjoyed the carefree luxury they once had. Lucian was like a tightening curse hanging relentlessly over their heads, watching their every move as their wealth, estates, and assets were placed under strict regulation.
Most important of all, at some unknown point, waves upon waves of 'new-generation rogues' had quietly begun to emerge throughout every corner of the city.
Even though none of these rogues were still very young, their abilities were anything but insignificant. Every single one of them was as slippery as an eel, as swift as the wind, sharp-eyed enough to notice even the smallest details, exceptionally cunning in both mind and action, and armed with remarkably tricky skills that made them extraordinarily difficult to deal with.
Most crucial of all, with the city lord personally standing behind them, they proudly bore the name Hearth Mansion and acted under the banner of 'robbing the rich to help the poor,' specifically targeting those with rotten reputations, corrupt conduct, and ill-gotten wealth.
Stealing?
It was a technical art!
Deception?
It was a speech art!
Moreover, every coin they obtained through deception was immediately delivered anonymously to those who genuinely needed help or handed directly over to the public treasury. Every account was meticulously recorded and completely transparent to the citizens, leaving no evidence or loopholes that anyone could exploit against them.
Realizing that, the nobles were furious to the point that their teeth itched. Some of them even marched directly to the city lord's manor to file formal protests, hoping Lucian would put an end to the rogues' activities.
Faced with their angry protests, however, Lucian obviously could not even be bothered to lift his eyelids.
"Oh, why'd they come after you? You seriously have no clue? I mean, it's not like they'd just show up and try to rob you for no reason, right?"
As soon as those words fell, every complaining noble fell abruptly silent, their earlier protests cut short as though severed mid-breath, leaving them standing there utterly speechless and unable to produce even a single word in response.
Was that reasoning even reasonable?
Didn't that mean that matters involving property in Dolos were handled without any need for the law?
Directly allowing rogues to pass judgment in the name of justice?
If that had truly been the case, then those rogues would have been no different from Dolos's enforcers.
Because they employed every conceivable method to gather evidence, investigate crimes, and obtain intelligence, they were virtually impossible to guard against or deceive.
In fact, calling them Lucian's personal guards would not have been an exaggeration in the slightest.
As time passed, the nobles gradually learned their lesson.
They either tucked in their tails and behaved themselves, doing everything they could to present themselves as 'virtuous,' or they tightly shut their doors every day, praying that they would never attract the attention of those energetic, highly skilled, and 'overwhelmingly righteous' young rogues.
With that, after eight years of gradual reform, the entire atmosphere of Dolos had been completely cleansed.
Now, the nobles and priests no longer dared to flaunt their authority or act arrogantly as they once had, while the commoners had truly gained new lives filled with dignity, stability, and hope.
By then, 'rogues' had become the unmistakable 'calling card' of Dolos itself, a symbol recognized throughout the city.
Under their influence, Dolos continued to prosper and improve with each passing year, while its new reputation as the City of Rogues spread farther and farther across every corner of Amphoreus.
As the city's fame continued to grow, the legends surrounding 'City Lord Lucian' and his 'catgirl' became increasingly exaggerated as well, passing from mouth to mouth until they had taken on an almost mythical quality.
===
"You people have never seen it! Lucian, the City Lord of Dolos, is probably a Titan who came down to the mortal world with some crazy, unfathomable methods!"
Inside a bustling tavern in Okhema, a bard spoke animatedly from atop a table, his voice rising and falling dramatically as spittle flew from his mouth. Every exaggerated gesture only drew more attention, and before long, nearly everyone in the tavern had turned to listen.
"He can steal!"
"He can steal anything!"
"Not just money or objects—he can even steal your minds!"
"I saw it with my own eyes—there was this foreign assassin who said he was gonna take out the city lord, bragging about his skills and strutting around all arrogantly the day before!"
"But the very next day, the guy turned into a complete idiot, didn't even know his own name, then went and publicly tried to stew himself in an iron pot!"
"Some people there were saying the city lord straight-up stole his sanity!"
As soon as those words fell, the tavern erupted into an uproar.
Countless patrons stared at one another in disbelief, while others immediately began whispering among themselves.
Some laughed it off as another exaggerated tale, but many wore uneasy expressions.
Okhema prided itself on being a holy city protected by the Titans, and its people had never feared war or powerful enemies.
However, if they encountered someone who could even steal their mind, who would not be afraid?
"And lifespan!"
One of the travelers suddenly chimed in from a nearby table, raising his voice so everyone could hear.
"I'm tellin' ya, there was this old loan shark in Dolos, a total bloodsucker who ruined tons of families!"
"And y'know what happened? Overnight, he got so old you couldn't even recognize him—just skin and bones, dyin' with his eyes wide open."
"And that same day, the whole city's out there sayin' the city lord got his lifespan ripped away as punishment."
As soon as those words fell, the lively tavern instantly fell silent for a brief moment before the crowd erupted into another wave of shock.
Expressions of disbelief spread throughout the room. Even those who had been skeptical just a moment earlier could not help but exchange uncertain glances.
"I know that city lord, too!"
Another traveler shouted, his face filled with excitement.
"He's never been the merciful type."
"From what I heard, the charity funds his rogues collect actually go to people who really need them."
"Who'd even dare skim some off the top? Who'd try to embezzle them?"
"If anyone's got the guts, there are always empty spots on the city walls just waiting for 'em."
Hearing that, the tavern patrons burst into cheers and laughter.
Tankards clashed together amid the noise as countless people praised the City Lord of Dolos as an extraordinary figure, ruthless in both judgment and methods—surpassing even the Imperator!
"Ah, by the way, even that city lord's catgirl is insane!"
A merchant chimed in with a grin, clearly eager to contribute another unbelievable story.
"I heard she's, like, the top dog among the new generation of rogues, named 'Cipher.'"
"Girl shows up outta nowhere, dips without a trace—when she steals, she straight-up tells you beforehand and takes it right in front of you, and all you can do is watch."
"A couple of years ago, some king from a nearby city-state got his treasury wiped, came over to start shit, and said he was gonna attack Dolos."
"You know what happened? He was running his mouth for a few days, then the very next day, boom—dead. And his city-state? It ended up becoming a vassal of Dolos."
"Oh, right, I also heard the city lord straight-up said he'd steal the Coreflame of Trickery and hand it over to the girl."
"Tsk, tsk, ain't that basically spitting right in the Trickery Titan's face?"
A collective gasp instantly swept through the tavern.
Provoking a Titan?
Even worse, it was the pettiest of them all—the Trickery Titan.
Just thinking about it made everyone's scalp tingle.
How much courage would that require?
Was that city lord truly not afraid of retaliation from a Titan?
Naturally, what ordinary people knew, the leaders of Okhema knew as well—and they knew far more than the rumors circulating among the common folk.
Cerydra had long since heard that the City Lord of Dolos ruled with an iron hand, employing ruthless and uncompromising methods that left no room for mercy.
In that regard, his temperament bore an undeniable resemblance to her own.
===
"Hanging people on the city walls? It seems this method carries greater deterrence—I should learn it as well."
Seated upon her throne, Cerydra swept her gaze calmly across Tribbie and Aglaea, who stood respectfully before her, before making the remark in an almost casual tone, as though discussing nothing more than an ordinary administrative matter.
"Hmm, this Lucian is capable, turning a notoriously infamous City of Thieves into what it is today... unlike those other useless ones."
"I must admit, his reputation is even good... better than mine..."
Cerydra paused briefly, a trace of genuine appreciation flashing through her eyes.
"Well, he suits my taste—someone worth recruiting and cooperating with."
In her understanding, the City Lord of Dolos evidently possessed both ruthless methods and exceptional ability.
To someone like her, who valued results above all else, such a person naturally commanded a measure of respect.
Hearing Cerydra's words, Tribbie and Aglaea nodded in agreement.
Although the rumors surrounding that city lord were mixed with exaggeration, the transformation of Dolos was an undeniable fact that no one could deny.
"As for his intention to steal the Coreflame of Trickery..."
Cerydra paused once more, a confident curve lifting at the corners of her lips.
"Before he makes his move, bring him into the Flame-Chase Army. Dux Goldweaver, go to Dolos and act as my envoy—ensure that he is brought under my command."
Her tone remained calm throughout, yet every word carried unquestionable authority, leaving no room for objection.
Seeing Cerydra's unquestionable expression, Aglaea could only nod in acceptance.
"As you command, Imperator."
However, just as Aglaea turned around, intending to prepare for the journey to Dolos, Cerydra suddenly spoke again, a faint smile appearing on her usually stern face.
"Dux Goldweaver, I have seen your loyalty clearly, so be careful—don't let him steal your loyalty away."
Cerydra's lighthearted joke caused even Tribbie to blink in surprise.
"Such a thing will never happen." Aglaea turned her head and replied firmly. "I will remain forever loyal to the Flame-Chase Army."
Satisfied with the answer, Cerydra merely gave a slight nod, signaling that Aglaea could depart.
===
At the center of Dolos, inside the city lord's manor, Lucian, with nothing to occupy his time, lounged lazily in a rocking chair in the courtyard, basking in the warm afternoon sunlight as he always did.
On this warm afternoon, a gentle breeze carried the faint fragrance of flowers through the courtyard, causing the leaves overhead to rustle softly while the rocking chair swayed back and forth at an unhurried pace, making the already peaceful atmosphere feel even more tranquil.
Just as the warmth of the sun began to make Lucian feel slightly drowsy, Cifera, now known to everyone as Cipher, suddenly rushed in like a gust of wind and leapt straight into his arms, causing him to suddenly feel two soft masses press firmly against his solid chest.
*Creak—*
In an instant, the rocking chair creaked slightly under the sudden impact, but Lucian remained perfectly steady, instinctively wrapping an arm around the energetic catgirl before she could lose her balance.
"Fera, looks like you've gotten a little heavier again."
At Lucian's words, Cipher immediately pouted cutely, her cheeks puffing up in obvious dissatisfaction.
"Nonsense! I haven't! You're just getting weak!"
===
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