Not long after we returned to the tavern where I split up with them. They went to do some more shopping, while I had some business to see into.

I was in a market place, right across from it the flower shop stood, inside was a lone woman catering to plants and customers alike. The shop was nothing much with flowers of all kinds being visible on display, the same could be said about the woman.

" Hey young man. How much potatoes do you need?" The old lady from the market place asked me.

" About ten would be nice for me and my wife. We're having a anniversary so I want to prepare something special."

" Don't you need some help I know some recipes from my mother?" She said as she smiled at me showing some missing teeth.

" No, it's okay. I just have the right dish in mind. But say does the shop across sell good flowers. I don't want to be rude or anything if it's your neighbour, but I heard some rumours."

" I don't know what you heard. But since they opened their shop here the street smells better. Brigitte also bakes sometimes and invites all the people from the street to have a good time. All of us take some foods that we got and have a party. Although I don't quite know her husband as he isn't seen most of the time because of work, but he usually can be seen at the party too. He's a good company we always joke about his pale skin as he looks like a woman and he jokes back."

" Seems like a good company."

" For sure. If you meet him, you'll have a good time. He knows how to make people laugh."

" Does he have a work?"

" He works as a merchant that's why he's not here most of the time."

" Now, it must be hard for him as he can't go outside the town. I'm sure he must have another job, no?"

" I don't quite know I don't see him much often. To be honest there's some talk about him just leeching off, but you don't have that from me. Anyway, what else would you like to buy?"

I ended up buying onions, cabbage and other kinds of vegetables. I grabbed them all in bags and took them with me to the flower shop.

Walking in, I saw the shopkeeper talking with a couple. The man held a bouquet of flowers while they picked more to add to it. The shopkeeper was helping them pick the right ones while they gave her their opinions.

Seeing as that'll take some time, I looked around the shop.

Everything was way ordinary, a bit unrealistic to earn one's livelihood this way. Only a door beside the counter could be the source of the income.

" Excuse me, what're you looking for, if I may ask?" I looked behind me and saw the shopkeeper." I can help if you want me to."

" Well, I was looking for a bouquet for my wife. Like the couple before me." She giggled a bit at that, I just looked at her.

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" Sorry customer, but you misunderstood. They were choosing red and white flowers, bouquet for a dead loved one."

" Sorry, I don't quite understand the symbolism. As I'm not from around here."

" Yeah, It's okay. So, you said some flowers for your wife. Should I choose them?"

" Yes, please I'd be grateful." As I said that she got to it, carefully selecting each and every flower so they'll make the best impression. However I look at this, it doesn't seem to be a place of slave trade. But that's what they're going for.

" If I may ask, why did you open a flower shop?"

" It was my dream to one day be able to sell flowers to people and see their smiles."

" It must be pretty hard keeping the business afloat. Are you managing?"

" Thanks to my husband I can keep living my dream." She shook a bit while saying that.

" I wonder what his work is."

" He works as a merchant."

" He must have a hard time now, no? Having all that pressure on him. He must be trying to work for the family. I hope he didn't get himself into anything shady." I slid my hand into my pocket, gripping tightly dagger I waited for some reaction to come.

" Help" Just then the sound of the door was heard as two men came into the shop. With paced steps they split up into rows.

" I'm sure he doesn't. He'd never do such a thing."

I watched as the pair of men seemed to mind their business while looking through some of the white coloured flowers.

" I'm finished with your order sir. I picked a bouquet of pinkish roses and ornamental flowers so the roses will appear more prominent. Are you satisfied or shall I try picking another one."

" No this'll be fine. How much does it cost?"

" 30 Coppers please."

I handed her the money. " Here you go. Now I know why you're managing, with such prices."

" I have mouths to feed you know."

" That, I'm sure." With that I was done. I took all my groceries and flowers with me as I went out the door in the watchful eyes. They got on my tail as I went out, but knowing about them I shook them off after going through a few alleys.

It seems the situation is not that bad. They are on their toes if only my slight probing tipped them off. It can be hit anytime. The only thing stopping us now is finding an escape path.

I got back to the tavern and dropped the stuff off. Stella said she'll stay looking after Charlotte and left the buying of a map and scouting on me.

What a good partner piling up work for me. I guess this is the right quality for a higher up.

I ended up finding a shop that sold some maps and cartography stuff. There was a fair bit of maps, ranging from town maps up to the few world maps.

The world maps had three continents inscribed on them, the dated ones fewer continents, it left one curious seeing the empty white patches on the maps that were untravelled.

Other than these types of maps there were Dungeon maps, each being attributed to one city.

From the shopkeeper I bought a town map, there I learned that this town was called Whiterock town. I asked about the name to which he said it came from the cliff that's near here.

With it I also bought a Whiterock Dungeon map. It showed two Dungeon clearings. One the lush forest, where there were goblins and wolves, the other was called the Murky Swamp. When I questioned him about it he said it was an area full of miasma, infections and illnesses because of all the small insects in there.

As I came to understand it, it was more of a fight against the environment itself than the monsters which resided there. They were alligators and nothing else.

He described them like the normal alligators back on Earth. Nothing crazy, the only weird thing was the lack of any prey that might feed them. Since there were only insects and alligators. They had no way of feeding themselves. In the game that was no problem as the monsters were just rude and assets, but now they were living... Some were loving, but still they had to somehow feed themselves.

No use thinking about it.

I had everything I wanted and so I walked through the town, a safe distance from the flower shop, looking for possible escape routes.

If nothing goes wrong it could be hit tonight. But doing that the kids will have nowhere to go for a time.

I sighed. It's fucked having to decide between bad choices.