Unlike Metapetatto, which is surrounded by Jungle on three sides and only faces the sea on one, Geo Wandreo is a quintessential maritime city.
It is situated upon the Land Bridge that separates the Inland Sea from the Wardre Sea.
Over the course of more than a hundred years, the people of Geo Wandreo used chisels and hammers to gradually excavate the Land Bridge, carving out a canal that connects the Inland Sea to the open ocean.
(Looking at the official map, there is no strait, so they really had to dig a canal...)
One generation plants the trees, another enjoys the shade.
This canal has now become the most critical hub for maritime trade in the Old World; even cargo departing from Dundorma Harbor must pass through here.
Countless merchant ships come and go every day, and the taxes collected merely from canal transit are enough to sustain the city's prosperity.
Looking down from high above, the merchant ships lined up to pass through the canal and the continuous sprawling sheets of sails are a unique sight found only in this place.
—--
The Airship slowly descended toward the dock at the edge of the canal.
The two humans and two cats disembarked from the Airship one after another. The moment Isis stepped onto the gangway, the iron-shod solid wood steps let out a groaning "creak" under the strain, sounding as if they might snap at any second.
Startled, Isis quickly leaped over the remaining steps and bounded onto the ground.
Altaïr's lips twitched; Isis in full gear weighed upwards of an estimated three hundred kilograms. Compared to the heavy Basarios Armor Set and the steel-forged Defense Corps Gunlance, her actual body weight seemed like a mere fraction of the total.
After asking a passerby for directions, the group headed straight for the local Guild Hall.
They didn't plan on staying long in Geo City this time; if they could successfully meet that Gunner and convince her to hunt the Duramboros with them, they should be able to leave before dark.
As for whether they would part ways afterward, become regular hunting friends, or become permanent partners like him and Isis, that would depend on their compatibility during their interactions and the hunt itself.
Along the way, Isis's steel battle boots clattered loudly against the stone pavement, and pedestrians instinctively moved aside to both sides, fearing they might be trampled by this "humanoid monster."
Thanks to the Basarios Armor Set, Isis looked incredibly intimidating when fully armed, especially now, with her helmet on and Clawdia perched on her shoulder, baring her claws and teeth.
However, the moment she took the helmet off, her imposing aura would immediately plummet. Seeing that delicate little head popping out from between those exaggeratedly large pauldrons was somewhat comical no matter how you looked at it.
To avoid pushing through the crowds, Altaïr also wore his helmet just like Isis, which achieved the same effect of making everyone steer clear.
Yet, unlike Isis's sheer sense of pressure, his suit of bluish-black armor, which looked like a scorpion come to life, tended to give people the immediate first impression of "someone up to no good."
—--
They eventually arrived at the Guild Hall.
In terms of architectural scale, the Guild Hall here was indeed not as large as the one in Metapetatto, and its facilities weren't as new, but the number of Hunters inside was more than double, making it extremely lively.
It was no longer appropriate to wear their helmets at this point, so the two removed them, hanging them from their waists as they walked toward the Quest Counter.
Over the short distance of less than twenty meters, several curious and probing gazes fell upon them, sizing up these two young and unfamiliar faces.
At the same time, the two ladies behind the Quest Counter also looked over.
One was very young, appearing to be in her early twenties and wearing a guild receptionist uniform; she was clearly the guild receptionist here.
The age of the other was harder to judge. Her long, pointed ears revealed her identity as a Wyverian; she looked to be between twenty and thirty, though her actual age was likely at least double that.
This lady had light coffee-colored skin and pale blonde wavy hair. Her outfit was full of ethnic flair, a somewhat revealing robe that traced the shapely lines of her body, which, combined with the beauty mark near the corner of her mouth, made her appear exceptionally charming.
Altaïr couldn't help but steal a few extra glances at the Wyverian lady, while Isis's gaze shifted back and forth between Altaïr and the woman several times.
Then, leaning toward Altaïr's ear, she whispered, "Her skin and hair colors are a lot like yours. And that robe is Desert nomad style, isn't it? One of your folk?"
Altaïr withdrew his gaze from the triangular patterns on the trim of the Wyverian lady's robe and replied in a low voice, "She's from the Desert regions, likely from a very ancient tribe.
The Wyverian elders in my old tribe had similar patterns on their clothes; they were said to be traditional styles from Shiki Country."
When the two reached the Quest Counter, the young guild receptionist folded her hands in front of her, offering a fresh and enthusiastic smile. "Welcome to the Geo Wandreo Guild Hall. Is there anything I can help you two with?"
Before Altaïr had the chance to explain their purpose, the Wyverian lady spoke first. She didn't use the standard common tongue, but rather the Nomad language of the Desert.
It was a traditional greeting.
Altaïr froze for a moment upon hearing it, then pressed his palm to his chest and responded in the same language.
The polite, faint smile on the Wyverian lady's face became visibly more sincere. Under the curious gazes of the guild receptionist and Isis, the two exchanged a few more sentences.
"My apologies." Realizing at last that this was somewhat impolite to Altaïr's companion, the Wyverian lady switched back to the common tongue. "It has been a long time since I've met a compatriot who speaks the Nomad language. I lost myself for a moment.
I am the Guildmarm of the Geo Wandreo Guild. You may call me Miss Safar."
Sajji clambered onto the counter and asked curiously, "Are you working as a guild receptionist here too, meow?"
The Wyverian lady named Safar blinked in surprise, then understandingly rubbed Sajji's small head. "No, I am not. I simply came to the counter to confirm a few matters.
You've come from Metapetatto, haven't you? Is that child Noya still working as a guild receptionist?"
"Yes, meow." Sajji blinked. "I've always been curious, meow... Is Miss Noya really only twenty years old, meow?"
Safar extended a slender finger and flicked Sajji's ear. "I cannot tell you, little kitty. Inquiring about a lady's true age is a very impolite thing to do."
Sajji nodded vigorously. "I see! I understand now, meow! That 'twenty years old' thing really was a lie, meow!"
Safar's smile remained unchanged; she was clearly a devious one as well.
Altaïr helplessly picked up Sajji and set him behind his back. "My lady, we've come here today looking for someone. Do you happen to know a Gunner named 'Nymera'?"
"A 4★ Hunter, Miss Nymera? Why, of course I know her." Safar didn't pretend to be ignorant just because they might be here for recruitment; instead, she said:
"During her leisure time, she's often down by the estuary. You can go down there and ask around; she shouldn't be hard to find."
Isis blinked. "Leisure at the estuary? Is she fishing?"
"Not exactly," Safar said with a smile. "The canals of Geo Wandreo span the Land Bridge, connecting the Inland Sea to the ocean. It's not just ships that pass through here, Monsters from the sea often appear as well.
Because of this, the Dock Merchants' Guild hires Hunters to take turns standing guard at the estuary. Miss Nymera often goes there to stare blankly at the sea, and whenever a Monster appears to attack passing merchant vessels, she steps in to repel it."
"She sounds like a very relaxed person," Isis said, nodding.
"Not entirely, but Miss Nymera is indeed a very suitable companion. She has good skills, a kind personality, and is both serious and responsible.
It's just that she has never permanently joined a hunting group. Perhaps it's because she truly enjoys that sense of independence."
For the sake of their shared homeland, Safar offered Altaïr a few extra details.
"Understood. Thank you very much." Altaïr gave Safar a gesture of gratitude used among the nomads of the Desert.
Her words put his mind at ease; though a long-term team-up was a discussion for another day, a temporary partnership shouldn't be an issue.
"Let's go. We're heading to the estuary to find this Miss Nymera."
(Translated by yourtl.app)