Lian memperlihatkan undangan resmi di sebelah kartu identitasnya di meja pendaftaran. Tempat yang ingin dikunjunginya menuntut sejenis visa dan izin masuk, dan undangan inilah yang bisa dipakai sebagai salah satunya.
Pegawai itu memeriksa tujuan di layar.
"Verendal, benar?"
"Benar."
"Transfer langsung sudah aktif."
Angka biaya muncul di layar.
Tanpa reaksi istimewa, Lian membayar semuanya dalam dolar, lalu beberapa menit kemudian ia sedang berdiri di depan salah satu gerbang transfer.
Permukaan portal bergerak seperti lapisan kaca cair, dan lampu hijau menyala.
Ia melangkah masuk, merasakan tekanan singkat menyeluruh di tubuhnya. Sejenak, tak ada tanah di bawah kakinya, tak ada udara di sekitarnya. Lalu kakinya menyentuh batu lagi.
Udara di sini berbeda, lebih sejuk. Mencium aroma hujan tua dan batu basah.
Lian meninggalkan pusat transfer, dan Eropa pun terbuka di hadapannya.
Verendal tak seperti kota-kota baru yang dibangun ulang, tak pula seperti kota lama yang ditambahi bagian baru.
Yang pertama kali mencolokkan perhatiannya adalah usia kota itu, yang terlihat dari jalanan berbatu gelap, gedung dengan dinding batu ratusan tahun, dan jendela-jendela tinggi.
Atap gentong gelap menjulang di atas gedung-gedung itu, dan di beberapa tempat menara sempit melambang di antara rumah-rumah.
Beberapa menara beldong tetap terlihat di antara gedung-gedung, meskipun sistem komunikasi modern sudah dipasang di sebagian di antaranya.
Keluarga Pendragon tak mereka hancurkan hanya untuk menjadikannya kota modern.
Mereka menempatkan teknologi di dalam arsitektur kuno.
Lampu listrik ditempel di dinding yang mungkin sudah empat ribu tahun. Mobil modern melaju di antara gedung yang sudah bertahan melalian perang dan berbagai periode sejarah.
Tapi perbedaan sebenarnya antara Verendal dan Medes taklah pada arsitektur, melainkan pada kepemilikan.
Medes bukan kota Keluarga Vorhelm.
Keluarga Vorhelm memang salah satu kekuatan terbesar yang berdiri di sana, dan properti-properti keluarga yang luas tersebut berada di area terpisah kota.
Tentu saja, karena Vorhelm adalah kekuatan terkuat yang didirikan di kota itu, seluruh dunia pun cenderung menganggap kota itu milik mereka.
Tapi Verendal? Seluruh kota adalah wilayah Keluarga Pendragon.
Tanah, tembok-temenbok kuno, pusat latihan, pangkalan militer, properti utama, pasukan keamanan, dan bahkan banyak bisnis tua—semua ini secara langsung atau tidak langsung terkait dengan keluarga tersebut.
Ini bukan sekadar tempat tinggal keluarga, kota itu sendiri adalah rumah keluarga.
Dan bukan semua orang diperbolehkan memasukinya. Setiap orang butuh visa atau izin masuk yang sama.
Pusat transfer tempat Lian muncul berada di luar cincin keamanan utama.
Di sepanjang jalan ke pos pemeriksa, kerumunan yang mengelilingi upacara semakin tampak ramai.
Mobil-mobil mewah mengalir satu demi satu di jalan pribadi. Beberapa sederhana, dan ada pula yang begitu mewah sehingga kelihatan lebih seperti pengibaran kekuatan ketimbang sarana transportasi.
Para penjaga bertogel pakaian dari berbagai keluarga terlihat di sekitar gerbang.
Dan bendera-bendera berbeda berdiri di atas mobil-mobil itu, dengan simbol kecil dari bendera-bendera itu di dada bagian dada para penjaga.
Lian mengenali sebagian dari mereka. Ia bisa melihat tiga dari enam keluarga besar dari kejauhan.
Stormheart.
Valemont.
Beberapa mobil di bawah mereka telah berhenti di sana, dan para penjaganya sedang memeriksa izin masuk.
Di bagian jalan yang lain ada Ravencrest dan akhirnya Eisenwald.
Enam keluarga besar yang dikenal sebagai keluarga paling berkuasa di dunia dan telah ada lebih dari 250 tahun.
Pendragon, Vorhelm, Stormheart, Valemont, Grendalz, dan Blackthorn.
Semuanya mengirimkan perwakilunya, dan ini masih hanya keluarga besar semata.
Bendera-bendera puluhan keluarga kecil, asosiasi, organisasi, dan kelompok kuat lainnya juga terlihat.
Upacara yang digelar bukan hanya sebuah peristiwa keluarga, melainkan kesempatan bagi sebagian orang paling berpengaruh dari generasi baru dan lama untuk berkumpul di satu tempat.
Di acara ini, pemimpin berikutnya dari salah satu organisasi paling berkuasa di dunia akan diumumkan—sebuah keluarga yang keputusannya bisa mengubah jalannya seluruh dunia.
Banyak yang hanya datang untuk memuji-muji dan menunjukkan rasa hormat, sementara kekuatan sejawat yang lain hanya mengirimkan delegasinya untuk menjaga hubungan diplomatik.
Lian terus berjalan, dan perbandingan tak diinginkan muncul di pikirannya.
Struktur Keluarga Pendragon berbeda dari keluarganya sendiri; di sini kekuasaan jauh lebih terkonsentrasi.
Ada seorang patriark dan seorang matriark, berdua berada di tingkatan keputusan tertinggi.
Ada sebuah dewan tetua kecil, namun tidak seperti Vorhelm, kekuasaan tidak dipecah antara puluhan faksi yang hampir setara kekuatannya.
Tapi Keluarga Vorhelm berbeda. Dewan, cabe-cabang keluarga, istri-istri patriark, faksi tua, dan di atas semua itu, patriark yang saat ini tidak langsung hadir—semua memiliki peran dalam pengambilan keputusan.
Itu sendiri sudah cukup untuk membuat keputusan sebesar memilih pewaris akan membawa seluruh keluarga ke dalam kekacauan yang tenang.
Pendragon setidaknya terlihat lebih terorganisir dari luar. Apakah mereka benar-benar seperti itu atau tidak, itu urusan lain.
Pos pemeriksa utama tak terlihat seperti gerbang kota biasa. Dua tembok batu tinggi berdiri di kedua sisinya, dan beberapa lorong kontrol telah dibuat di antara keduanya.
Setiap lorong dilapisi mekanisme pemeriksa dan beberapa penjaga, pasukan juga ditempatkan di menara-menara di sekitarnya.
Meskipun di hari biasa, Verendal bukanlah kota yang terbuka untuk wisatawan.
Anggota keluarga, kekuatan yang terafiliasi, pekerja yang disetujui, tamu resmi, dan pedagang dengan izin khusus—hanya kelompok ini yang diperbolehkan masuk.
Hari ini? Keamanan telah ditingkatkan berkali-kali.
Pemuda Vorhelm memasuk kedalam antrian tamu resmi, dan tidak lamakah beberapa menit ia tiba di seksi pemeriksa.
Penjaganya adalah seorang laki-laki berusia pertengahan yang mengenakan pakaian resmi keluarga.
"Nama dan afiliasi," permintanya tanpa mengangkat suara.
"Lian Vorhelm."
Sejenak, tatapan penjaga itu semakin tertuju. Ia mengenali namanya.
Lian menyodorkan kartu identitas dan undangan resminya, dan pria itu meletakkan undangan di atas layar pemeriksa.
Sejenak cahaya melintasi undangan itu.
[ identitas terkonfirmasi. ]
[Undangan Resmi
Lian presented the official invitation along with his identity at the reception desk, the place he wanted to go required some kind of visa and entry permission, and this invitation could be used as one.
The employee checked the destination.
"Verendal, right?"
"Yeah."
"Direct transfer is active."
The amount appeared on the screen.
He paid the cost in dollars without any special reaction, and a few minutes later, he was standing in front of one of the transfer gates.
The surface of the portal moved like a layer of liquid glass, and the sign turned green.
He entered and felt a short pressure across his entire body, for a moment, there was neither ground nor air, then his shoes were on stone again.
The air was different and colder, with the smell of old rain and wet stone in it.
Lian left the transfer hall, and Europe was in front of him.
Verendal did not look like the new cities that had been built, it did not look like the old cities that had also gained new parts.
The first thing that caught his attention was the age of the city, which could be seen to some degree by looking at the dark stone streets, buildings with stone exteriors that were hundreds of years old, and tall windows.
Dark sloped roofs rose above the buildings, and in some places, narrow towers rose from between them.
Several bell towers could still be seen among the buildings, although modern communication systems had been installed on some of them.
The Pendragon Family had not destroyed the city to make it modern.
They had placed technology inside the old architecture.
Electric lights were placed on walls that were perhaps four hundred years old.
Modern cars passed by buildings that had survived several wars and several historical periods.
But the real difference between Verendal and Medes was not the architecture, it was ownership.
Medes was not the city of the Vorhelm Family.
The Vorhelms were one of the greatest powers established there, and their huge family properties were located in a separate part of the city.
Of course, because the Vorhelms were the strongest power established in that city, it had caused the whole world to consider the city as belonging to them.
But Verendal? The entire city was the territory of the Pendragon Family.
The land, old walls, training centers, military bases, main properties, security forces, and even many old businesses were directly or indirectly connected to the family.
This was not a place where the family lived, the city itself was the family’s home.
And not everyone was allowed to enter it, everyone needed a visa or the same entry permission to enter.
The transfer center where Lian had appeared was outside the main security ring.
On the way to the checkpoint, the crowd around the ceremony became more noticeable.
Luxury cars passed through the private road one after another.
Some were simple, while some were so luxurious that they looked more like a display of power than a way of transportation.
Guards wearing the clothes of different families could be seen around the entrance.
And different flags were on the cars, with small symbols of those flags on the chest parts of the guards’ clothes.
Lian recognized some of them, in fact, he was able to see three of the six great families from a distance.
Stormheart.
Valemont.
Several cars under them had stopped there, and their guards were checking their entry permits.
In another part of the road were Ravencrest and finally Eisenwald.
The six great families that were known as the most powerful families in the world and had existed for more than 250 years.
Pendragon, Vorhelm, Stormheart, Valemont, Grendalz, and Blackthorn.
All of them had sent representatives, and this was still only the great families.
The flags of dozens of smaller families, associations, organizations, and other powerful groups could also be seen.
The ceremony that was being held was not only a family event, it was an opportunity for some of the most powerful people of the new and old generations to gather in one place.
At this ceremony, the next leader of one of the most powerful organizations in the world would be announced, a family whose decisions could affect the course of the entire world.
Many came only to flatter them and show respect, while other forces of the same level only sent delegations to maintain diplomatic relations.
Lian continued along his path, and an unwanted comparison formed in his mind.
The structure of the Pendragons was different from his own family, power here was much more concentrated.
There was a patriarch and a matriarch, both of them were at the highest level of decision-making.
There was a small council of elders, but unlike the Vorhelms, power was not divided between dozens of almost equally powerful factions.
But the Vorhelm Family was different, the council, family branches, the patriarch’s wives, old factions, and at the top of them all, the patriarch who was currently not directly present, all had a role in decision-making.
That alone was enough for a decision like choosing the heir to bring the entire family into a quiet chaos.
The Pendragons at least looked more organized from the outside, whether they were really like that or not was another matter.
The main checkpoint did not look like an ordinary city gate.
Two tall stone walls stood on both sides, and several control paths had been created between them.
Each path was covered by checking mechanisms and several guards, forces were also stationed on the towers around them.
Even on a normal day, Verendal was not a city open to tourists.
Family members, affiliated forces, approved workers, official guests, and merchants with special permits, only these groups were allowed to enter.
Today? The security had been increased several times.
The young Vorhelm entered the line for official guests, and it did not take long before he reached the checking section.
The guard was a middle-aged man wearing the family’s official clothes.
"Name and affiliation." he asked without raising his voice.
"Lian Vorhelm."
For a fraction of a second, the guard’s gaze became more focused, he recognized the name.
Lian presented his identity card and official invitation, and the man placed the invitation on the checking screen.
A short light passed over it.
[Identity confirmed.]
[Official Invitation: Pendragon Family.]
[Issuer: Aurelia Pendragon.]
The guard returned the card, and this time his behavior became slightly more formal.
"Entry confirmed, Mr. Vorhelm."
He stepped aside.
"Welcome to Verendal."
The inner gate opened, and he entered the Dragon City.
Inside the main ring, the crowd was even larger, guests were moving in small groups.
Family staff were guiding the guests to different accommodations.
Some streets had been closed for official delegations to pass through, and security forces could be seen at almost every main intersection.
He took out his phone and wrote a message to Aurelia Pendragon.
"I arrived. I am inside Verendal now."
Send.
He lowered the phone, he did not expect an answer right away, Aurelia was probably one of the busiest people in the family during the days before the ceremony.
Lian continued along his path and decided to look around the city.
But five minutes passed and there was no message.
Ten minutes, and still no answer.
He checked his phone again, the message had been delivered and had even been seen, but there was no reply.
He put it back into his pocket, it was not a problem.
He could go to the accommodation that had been prepared for the guests first, but he had only gone a few hundred meters farther along the main street when something changed.
The people moving in front of him moved slightly to the side, not because of him, but because they recognized a group coming from the other side of the street.
Six people were coming toward Lian, all of them wearing the same dark clothes with a small Pendragon symbol on their chests.
Their behavior was different from the guards at the entrance, their steps were coordinated and the distance between them was clear, none of them looked around.
The young Vorhelm did not slow down, but he opened his perception toward them.
The pressure of their presence was enough immediately, all six of them had gone through at least two evolutions, and some had probably gone even further.
It was too many people for welcoming a young guest.
The group came directly toward him, and stopped several meters away, the man standing in the center took one step forward.
There was no hostility on his face, there was even formal respect in his behavior.
"Mr. Lian Vorhelm?"
Lian’s gaze briefly moved over the five people behind him.
"That’s me."
The man lowered his head slightly.
"Our patriarch has asked to speak with you before you attend any other event."
Lian said nothing for a few seconds.
The Pendragon Patriarch.
He had not even seen Seris yet.
Aurelia had not even replied to his message.
And now, before he could even reach the accommodation, the highest-ranking man of the Pendragon Family wanted to see him.
Could something have happened?
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