"Can’t bring myself to do it, everything here is just so miserable…"
Tao Yu had only stashed away the tactical vest into the Corpse Hiding Mirror, and on a superficial level, his shirt and vest didn’t look too different from the attire of the nearby residents, except for the fact that the material and workmanship would reveal differences upon closer inspection.
With no money on him, Tao Yu had been prepared to rely on his still agile skills to play the part of a gentleman of the night.
But after breaking into several residences in a row, he ca up empty-handed.
Moreover, he discovered that the lives of the people here seed to be very modest; many rooms were rented out to multiple occupants, with traces of people sleeping on the floor, all living a hard life.
However, thanks to his still superior hearing and his own Dexterity, Tao Yu had gathered so understanding from the nurous conversations he had eavesdropped on.
His current location was the capital of a kingdom called Loen, Becland, and this place appeared to be a part of Becland’s East Borough, likely a slum.
The inco was quite complicated, the main currency seed to be sothing called Sule and pence, and there were also Gold Pounds, which seed to be infrequently used, at least by the people here, and although they were called Gold Pounds, they seed to be banknotes.
Many people here also held beliefs, but their faiths were quite complex. The Divine Spirits they often thanked included Night, Storm, and Steam—quite peculiar.
Considering the perspective he had when entering this world and so hints from the will of the world, Tao Yu felt it was possible that this world had True Gods; otherwise, it wouldn’t have been able to block those entities from beyond the planet to form a protective shield.
It was likely that these three were the actual Divine Spirits.
"They still recognize gold and silver, that’s good. I do have so on , ti to gather so information…"
Tao Yu glanced at the street sign that read ’Daravi Street’ and then noticed a pub that was dirty on the outside but bustling with noise inside.
Let’s check this place out, as these kinds of spots usually have the most up-to-date information; maybe there’s sothing like a Thieves Guild around here as well…
…
He squeezed into the pub, the sll of alcohol and sweat imdiately hitting him in the face. Although lively, the pub was quite cramped, with a heavy flow of people, which probably suited the spending power of this East Borough.
But after all, Tao Yu had mingled in the outer city areas, where the conditions were even worse than here, so he wasn’t fussy.
Scanning the surroundings, Tao Yu locked his gaze on the direction of the bar and then made his way over, leveraging his still exceptional strength.
His aggressive manner drew so angry glares, but that show of strength kept anyone from talking back.
Having hung around the outer city areas, Tao Yu understood how to deal in such places well: showing muscle could reduce trouble.
But soon, Tao Yu felt a strong force bump into him, seemingly also headed toward the bar, which surprised him, prompting him to start pulling back and then looking to the side.
Huh?
He didn’t see anyone!
This…
Uh~
Looking down at a tuft of ssy blonde hair, he noticed it belonged to a little person under one and a half ters tall.
Yet the strength was formidable, and certainly not what he, or rather, she seed capable of producing, prompting Tao Yu to stay cautious.
"Excuse , please move aside."
A muffled voice ca from the little person, seemingly disliking the nearby odors which caused so discomfort.
Tao Yu obligingly stepped aside and then followed her.
Seeing her head towards the bar, she seed to be looking for soone.
Tao Yu discreetly positioned himself to one side as though he was contemplating sothing.
Quickly, she seed to find the person she was looking for—a young man in his twenties with a look of anness between his brows, but also with a sowhat gentle face, as though he crafted his deanor specifically to survive in this environnt.
"Williams, I need to talk to you,"
the little person said gruffly, banging on the table, creating a loud bang. Her strength was indeed great.
The people around her didn’t seem too surprised, suggesting that this individual might have so notoriety locally.
But then again, even if Tao Yu was left with less than half his usual strength, to be noted for her power among these ordinary folks definitely ant sothing significant.
"Oh, Hugh, haven’t seen you in days. Heard you got locked up before,"
the man nad Williams said with a slight slurring of words, indicating that the two were acquaintances and that this little person nad Hugh had a certain reputation and influence in the area.
"Yeah, a big shot helped get out because I acted too harshly,"
Hugh didn’t deny it.
Tao Yu took interest in the fact that Hugh had been locked up, most likely not a law-abiding citizen, which would match the unusual strength she displayed.
Acted too harshly? How harsh? To the point of killing a person, maybe?
"Oh, to celebrate your newfound freedom, let’s have a drink,"
Williams raised his glass.
"Are you mad, giving her alcohol?"
The pub owner wiping glasses behind the bar interrupted Williams with a panic-stricken face.
This puzzled Tao Yu. What’s the issue, she can’t drink?
Worried that she might be taken advantage of when drunk? This owner seems unusually kind…
Then Tao Yu heard Hugh inquiring the tipsy young information broker for details about a noblewoman.
The information seed quite common; although the two spoke in hushed tones, Tao Yu could easily overhear everything.
Apparently, she was the daughter of a great noble, Count Hoor, extrely wealthy.
However, according to what Williams heard, her character was quite admirable.
I wonder what that little dwarf wants with this information.
And it seems that she has co just to find out this simple piece of intelligence, paid for the informant’s drink, then hopped down from the bar stool.
Not to ntion, when she turned her head, she surprised Tao Yu sowhat.
Although her golden hair was disheveled and she was short and flat-chested, her features were delicate and soft, but still immature, giving her a sowhat green appearance.
At this mont, Tao Yu also hesitated slightly. He wanted to follow the little dwarf to see what kind of extraordinary power system she was involved in, but he also wanted to find the informant to learn so relevant information.
In the end, he just casually ruffled her ssy hair and left behind a wisp of magical trace for positioning.
But this action imdiately elicited an angry look from the little dwarf, as if she was about to lose her temper on the spot.
Tao Yu said with a tone of persuasion,
"Don’t block the way, children shouldn’t co to such places too early."
"Aha, a child..."
Ao seed to have heard sothing unacceptable, as if she was about to do sothing about it.
It was still Williams who spoke up from behind,
"Hey, he’s a stranger here, probably new, so it’s normal he doesn’t recognize you. Hey, you there, this is our famous ’Arbiter,’ you shouldn’t underestimate her. Apologize quickly."
Indeed, it was apparent that Williams, who put on a ferocious face, seed to be a decent person.
After leaving behind a magical trace, Tao Yu also pretended to be enlightened and used the ladder to get off the stage.
"Oh, I apologize, you look like my little brother, and I don’t want him to co to such places at a young age."
Although Ao was stepped on her sore spot by Tao Yu, she wasn’t an unreasonable person and it just happened that she had a little brother herself.
Upon hearing what Tao Yu said, she managed to suppress the anger in her heart, but still felt sowhat stifled.
"Don’t misidentify people next ti, move aside."
After saying that, she pushed past Tao Yu with displeasure and squeezed her way out again.
"She’s a girl."
Williams waited until Ao had left before he carefully offered a reminder.
"Oh, is that so? I thought she had delicate and handso features, I must have misjudged. I’m actually here for you, I heard you have so information."
Tao Yu laid a few gold beans on the counter.
Although not a traditional currency, they still caught Williams’s eye with a glint.
Ordinary people wouldn’t dare to accept such things, but as soone who dealt in information, he certainly had no problem. He had the necessary discernnt.
"Oh, my friend, you’ve co to the right person. I’m clear on all the local news."
"I’m a countryman who has just arrived in Becland, looking to make sothing of myself here, so I want to learn so precautions and need a more secluded place to discuss so other issues."
"No problem, follow , we’ll talk in my room."
Continue reading on .Côm
Seeing the gold beans Tao Yu offered, Williams was very accommodating and then led him to a room on the second floor of the tavern...
...
Clearly, it was impossible to learn all the precautions and customs of Becland in a short ti.
But having taken Tao Yu’s money, Williams tailored a plan of action for him.
First, it was to help him arrange a set of identity papers. Since he was in this line of work, he had the necessary connections.
"Don’t worry, these identities are real people who had unfortunately t with various accidents. We’ve carefully selected so without relatives, no need to worry. One of them fits you perfectly."
Williams wasn’t concerned with whether Tao Yu genuinely wanted to make a fortune as a foreigner in Becland.
Since Tao Yu said so, he believed it and simply selected the identity of a foreign worker who had been fired due to illness and was subsequently forgotten, becoming a piece of their data.
"The managent of migrant populations isn’t strict to begin with. It’s normal to accidentally lose identity papers. This should suffice for your needs."
Tao Yu took a look; it was an identity of soone called ’Fokke Soxy’ from Tingin.
"I’m not familiar with Tingin. Won’t I get exposed?"
"No, he had no relatives there either. You just need to know that Tingin is the city of the university. Everything else you can say you’ve forgotten because it’s been so long."
Williams then continued,
"You can use this identity to rent a place to live, and you can say you moved from the dire conditions of Puslan Street to improve your living situation. Do you need to recomnd a place for you?"
"If you could, that would be great. Also, on my way here, I heard so supernatural legends that I’m quite interested in. Do you have any information on that?"
Tao Yu took out a few more gold beans, not worrying that this ordinary man might try to swindle him.
Yet, upon hearing Tao Yu’s words, Williams’s face twisted in conflict, and he ultimately turned down Tao Yu’s new offer,
"Sorry, I don’t know much about that. Ordinary people who get too involved in such matters can easily encounter misfortune. My only advice is, if you’re an ordinary person, you’d better not delve into it..."
Tao Yu could sense that the man knew a thing or two but was probably worried about sothing and hence decided not to earn this bit of money.
It might have sothing to do with the little dwarf, but Williams seed to have so basic principles and chose not to betray her just for money.
Tao Yu nodded and didn’t press further.
He had left a trace on the little dwarf earlier and should be able to track her down later...
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