The two of them left the apartnt and headed down the main road.
Previously, when Colin walked through the city, he would usually be lost in thought, recalling various pieces of knowledge.
Now, with Ale by his side, he could no longer just zone out.
Of course, that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.
Colin noticed many sights he had grown accustod to, yet now saw in a new, unfamiliar light.
The brilliant morning sun shone down on the stone-paved road. Much of the snow had lted, and the wet patches on the stones reflected specks of golden light, as if countless Gold Coins had been scattered across the ground.
A salty sea breeze blew past them in gusts, and occasionally, a few white gulls could be seen flying over the rooftops.
The houses lining the road were mostly built of wood, bearing the marks of corrosion from the sea wind. Vines grew wherever they could find a foothold, creeping up the walls and adding a touch of green to the streetscape.
Of course, so residents, though not wealthy, had a love for life and placed flowerpots on their windowsills. The flowers in them, however, were not yet in bloom.
It was still early, and you could see many weary-looking night-shift dockworkers getting off work.
Colin glanced at the dilapidated streetlights and so of the run-down, ramshackle huts that had fallen into disrepair.
The Dock District was Thousand Masts City’s poorest area. Like the slums outside the city walls, it was also a place rife with gang activity.
However, thanks to the efforts of the City Guard, the gangs didn’t dare operate in broad daylight, much less brazenly collect protection fees everywhere like they did in the slums.
The gangs that gathered here were mostly composed of pickpockets and smugglers.
The forr’s business extended even to stealing oil from streetlights, while the latter were the criminal group most despised by the citizens of Thousand Masts City—their handled goods included addictive substances smuggled in from outside the city.
"Are we going to the Grand Market now?" Ale asked.
"Pretty much," Colin said. "But we have to get breakfast first."
"Breakfast? We can eat a little later, can’t we?"
"No, we can’t. If you eat later, it’ll ss with your stomach. Don’t worry, it won’t take long." The people of Thousand Masts City took breakfast very seriously, a sentint shared by the city Colin had lived in during his past life.
"I’m not worried about wasting ti," Ale said.
"Then it’s settled."
The two followed a fragrant aroma to a wrap stand on the street corner and got in line. The small shop’s counter was open to the street. The owner was busy grilling wraps, and next to him was a large pot simring with a thick stew.
The pot was filled with braised animal organs, which looked thick and gooey, like so kind of sauce.
The two waited for a little while.
After buying their wraps, the custors ahead of them would quickly step aside and imdiately start eating the hot food.
The line moved quickly.
Soon, it was Colin’s turn at the counter.
"A large wrap," he said, handing over six Copper Coins.
Before, when he was broke, the best he could afford was a regular-sized wrap. Now that he had more money, he didn’t have to worry about that.
"Colin, right? I rember you," the middle-aged woman running the stand said with a smile, efficiently preparing his food and handing it over.
Colin took the wrap, stepped to the side, and watched Ale as he ate.
The Half-Elf hesitated for a mont, then lightly lifted the hem of her skirt with both hands, stepped forward, and perford a flawless, standard curtsy.
Only after completing this gesture did she speak. "May the morning light grant you peace, respected madam. Please forgive my impertinent interruption, which causes great unease. During your ti of great business, might I be so fortunate as to inquire what delectable flavors of wraps have been prepared in your establishnt today?"
Seeing this, Colin cringed so hard he felt it from head to toe.
’It’s over...’
’She was just like this the second ti we t. She must have learned it from that book, *The Upper Crust of Thousand Masts City*, or whatever it was called.’
"Well, look at this, everyone! We’ve got a beautiful princess in our little shop!" the owner called out with a laugh.
The people in line behind them started laughing, and even custors further back who didn’t know what was happening stood on their tiptoes to get a look.
"Just give her the sa thing I got," Colin said quickly.
Just then, Ale took out her coin purse and tipped it into her palm, managing to shake out four copper pieces.
"You can have this one. That little speech of yours just now was worth two Copper Coins!" the owner said, handing over the wrap.
Ale looked up at Colin. "Please, lend two Copper Coins, Mr. Colin."
The money they’d get from selling their spoils later would definitely be more than two Copper Coins, so Colin wasn’t worried about her not being able to pay him back.
He promptly took out two Copper Coins and gave them to the owner.
With that settled, the two left the wrap stand and returned to the main street.
They walked on, leaving the Dock District and following the main road toward the Grand Market inside Thousand Masts City.
"Why did you say all that just now? You could have just ordered like I did," Colin asked.
Ale lowered her head. "I thought you were acquainted with the owner. I figured if I was approaching her myself, I should be polite."
"Right... I guess."
Colin took a huge bite of his oversized wrap while studying Ale closely.
Although her expression remained blank and her body language hadn’t changed, he could sohow sense that the Half-Elf was now a bit dejected, as if she had just made so unforgivable mistake.
"Most people in Thousand Masts City like to joke around like that. You don’t need to worry about it," Colin said.
"Mm," Ale nodded.
After a mont, she asked again, "Then why do people here like to joke so much? Co to think of it, I feel like the atmosphere in Mokewick and other human cities is really different from here."
"Of course it’s different. Look over there."
Colin pointed to a few citizens walking by. "See them? What’s different about them compared to people from other city-states?"
"I don’t know."
"They’re not ard. No Scimitars or Daggers or anything," Colin said. "That’s a pretty rare thing."
Ale tilted her head and took a bite of her at wrap, looking confused.
"To put it simply, look at . I’m wearing Plate Armor with a sword at my hip. In any other city, I’d look like an Adventurer you don’t want to ss with."
Colin continued, "But in Thousand Masts City, if I were to get into a dispute with those unard civilians, they’d still dare to argue with , because they trust the City Guards to uphold justice."
"I think I understand," Ale said, watching two City Guards walk past.
"Of course, there are plenty of corrupt individuals among the City Guard—no city-state can avoid that. But it’s definitely better here than in other city-states."
The two chatted as they walked onto one of Thousand Masts City’s main avenues.
Since the weather was nice, they saw a lot of pedestrians along the way.
Every now and then, they could see a few horse-drawn sleighs pulling passengers along the snow-covered road.
These sleighs were like taxis, but the fare was quite expensive.
In comparison, Colin preferred to trust his own two feet... unless soone else was paying.
They walked along the avenue at the edge of the Dock District, arriving at the northern end of the Castle District. From there, they could see the Grand Market not far off in the distance.
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