The most approachable location would be the hall of the palace. While it may be hard to get to, it’s easier to access it than the King’s library. Many Officials attend sessions there afterall.

Thinking about it for a moment, I realise that I don’t actually have to go to the place myself. Simply finding out from the blueprints of the hall could help me ascertain if the item is there. If I manage to obtain the blueprints, it’s also another bargaining chip I can use in the Shui Country.

I set off quickly to find the related personnel. The key to this would definitely be the architect for the project.

There’s the chance that the construction was done centuries ago, and the blueprints were lost from generation to generation. However, that’s highly unlikely that the Architect’s family would have let go of such an important document which holds immense value to the right people.

Disguising myself, I cover myself up with some mud on my face, displaying a rather rugged look, before wearing a worn out mage robe. This attire is fairly common, since many people desire to hide their identities.

I stroll along a dark alleyway, to reach a dilipitated shop in the corner. I find a discreet corner and lean myself down against it, like a homeless person simply wasting his life away.

Occasionally, I glance up to to observe the ‘shop’.

A rugged looking man with a huge scar on his right arm walks in with a grim look. He grips a small sack of coins, presumably gold coins, before entering the shop. After a long wait, he then leaves the shop with the same expression, just without the bag.

Soon after, a young boy about the age of 12 briskly walks in. He only takes a few minutes before leaving the shop quickly, as if hiding something important.

A number of people of all backgrounds enter and leave in different manners.

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Soon after, I witness a stern looking man walk in. He’s covered up in a worn robe like mine, but as he walked, his wrist revealed a thin bracelet with a small ruby sparkling under the sunlight adorned on it. His face is covered in mud, and you wouldn’t be surprised if you found him lying on the streets somewhere.

The ruby on the bracelet is cheap too, nothing that would fetch a huge price. Truly a perfect disguise, however, he left a huge flaw.

The man enters the shop unhurriedly, before leaving the shop in a grave manner.

I quickly turn to follow him.

As he makes his departure, he makes many weird detours, turning at every possible turn.

I begin to think he may have noticed something fishy, but before long, I watch the man enter a noble’s mansion, flashing a medallion over to the guards. The guards look about left and right before letting the man in.

I heave a sigh of relief, before proceeding back to the shop.

I walk in unhurriedly into the shop, before enquiring to the attendant, “How much for general news within the Kingdom?”

The attendant glances at me in disregard, stating, “10 Silver for one piece of new, 90 silver for 10.”

“I’ll have 10 then.”

“Alright, please wait a moment.”

Before long, she comes out with a few small scrolls. She beckons to me, gesturing for payment. I pay the 90 silver. She continues, rolling out some of them and reading them, before saying, ‘The Kingdom’s price of bear fur has been on the rise due to the over hunting of them, the Xin Family’s branch family has raised their banner in revolt after years of suffering oppression, the Kingdom’s Duke Qiu’s Son is rumoured to be secretly talented, the wife of Marquis Lin has fallen gravely ill…”

Before long, she finishes the 10.

I nod, expressing some satisfaction.

As she turns to want to show me the door, I ask, “How about if I wanted news on the layout of the Kingdom’s Palace main hall?”

She has a look of surprise, showing me a slight glare, before reverting to her cold look, expressing, “Please wait a moment.”

A plump man walks quickly down the stairs, led by the attendant from before.

He pants for a bit, before grasping his hands together, “Esteemed guest, please follow me to the inner room for further discussions.”

I frown slightly, before accepting his offer.

I didn’t think that they would attach this much importance to this small piece of information. However, it seems like some people have similar conjectures to mine, if such importance was attached on the insignificant blueprints of the main hall.

Don’t get me wrong, the main hall of a palace is important and occupied by many important people. However, precisely because it is being used by this many people, there’s a lower value since everyone knows the overall layout.

The only reason why this would be considered expensive would be that someone speculated that the war deterrent item was located there as well, and needed the intricate layout for more information. Who would even need the layout otherwise?