Dorian sat at a worn wooden table, his fingers deftly manipulating a bronze coin between them. The coin's surface was adorned with a striking symbol—a meticulously crafted sword, etched with intricate details that gleamed even in the dim candlelight. On the reverse side, a regal face stared back at him, the likeness of the esteemed King Titus, founder of the Titus Kingdom that would later evolve into the Titus Empire.

‘74 pennies - Not bad.’

Turning his gaze towards Peter, Dorian's grin widened. "You sure you don't have any more, Peter?"

Peter's eyes widened in disbelief. "What do you mean you don't have any more?" he retorted, his voice laced with frustration. "You took everything I've been saving up for the past two years! Why don't you take the house too while you're at it?"

“Well, there is the price of my life plus the interest, and the fees you have to pay for me to stay at your house.”

Fifty pennies, formally known as bronze thalons, make up a sliver, or silver thalon. Twenty slivers had the same value as one sun, or gold thalon. The only coin lacking slang was a crown, worth 10 suns.

‘Nobody calls them by their formal names though’

‘I’ll have to visit the market later to get a hold of the actual value of the currency. All I know is that the stale bread was one penny a loaf.’

“Did they say anything else? Did you at least recognize them?” asked Dorian.

“Who?”

“Who else?”

“Ohhh no, and I’ve seen two of them walking around from time to time, but I don’t know anything about them,” replied Peter.

“Don’t the city guards keep a record of everyone who enters and leaves the city? We just need to see which member of the brutes entered and left 3 days ago at around dinner time.”

“How do you plan to distract the guards?”

“What’s your innate ability?”

“I can use Fire Mana more efficiently. I suppose it’s not much different from not having one at all. The only way I’ve seen it apply to real life is just increased fire resistance.”

“Hmm,” Dorian's fingers continued to manipulate the coin in his hand, flipping it between his fingers with an air of nonchalance. With a slight tilt of his head and a sly smile, he uttered, "You're gonna tell the guard that you saw a shadow jumping from house to house in some random direction while I sneak in."

“No way”

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

“I’ll pay you 25 pennies.”

“Deal.”

As they prepared to execute their plan, Dorian and Peter made their way towards the garrison by the city gates. The night air was cool and crisp, the moon casting an ethereal glow upon the cobblestone streets.

Peter struggled to keep up, his breath coming in ragged gasps. He turned to Dorian, panting heavily. "Have you been working out or something?" he managed to ask between breaths.

Dorian smiled and said, “Let's just say I have my ways of staying fit.”

‘I don’t even know why either, and you’re asking me?’

‘He’s not wrong though. This body really is athletic, and I barely feel tired’

Arriving at the garrison, they noticed a sleepy guard slouched in a chair, his heavy metal armor clinging to him. The moonlight painted a faint silver glow on his tired features, and his eyes were glazed with drowsiness.

Peter approached the guard cautiously, trying to shake off his exhaustion. He reached out and tapped the guard's armored shoulder, causing the man to jolt awake with a start. His eyes flickered open, momentarily disoriented.

"What? What's going on?" the guard grumbled, his voice thick with sleep.

Peter feigned panic, his voice trembling as he spoke. "You have to help! I saw someone lurking in the shadows, whispering about wanting to kill someone! They could be dangerous!"

The guard's grogginess evaporated, replaced by a sudden surge of alertness. He sat upright, the weight of his armor creaking with the movement. His eyes darted around, scanning the area for any signs of the supposed threat.

"Where did you see them? Which way did they go?" the guard demanded, his voice now charged with urgency.

Peter pointed frantically in a random direction, his heart pounding with the realization that his deception had worked. "Over there! They were moving quickly, disappearing into the night!" he exclaimed, his voice laced with anxiety.

Without hesitation, the guard sprung into action, his heavy footsteps echoing through the deserted streets. He rushed off in the direction Peter had indicated, determined to apprehend the perceived threat, with Peter in tow.

Dorian observed the scene with a satisfied smirk, his eyes glittering with amusement. “‘Not bad, Peter,” he murmured under his breath.

Now, with the guard distracted and the path clear, Dorian stepped out from his hiding spot behind the wall. He moved swiftly and silently towards the entrance of the garrison, his footsteps barely making a sound on the cobblestones.

The door creaked open, revealing a dimly lit room inside. Rows of shelves lined the walls, filled with scrolls and books. Dorian's gaze fixed upon a large book, positioned prominently on a sturdy wooden desk at the center of the room.

As Dorian scanned the pages of the book, his eyes narrowed, searching for the specific date he desired. His fingers traced the worn parchment, finally coming to rest on the entry for two days ago. The names sprawled across the page, each accompanied by a brief description of their purpose for entering or leaving the city.

Most of the names were familiar to him, belonging to residents of the slums or humble farmers seeking to sell their goods in the market. However, four names caught his attention. Three of them were associated with the Tibet Merchant Association, while the fourth name,“Red”, linked to a brothel, piqued Dorian's interest.

‘It’s definitely this guy’

Name(s): Red, Ared, son of Harry

Affiliation: HaveFun Brothel

Dorian's gaze swept across the room, searching for any further clues. His eyes settled on a section labeled "Residence Registry," a collection of records detailing the locations of individuals within the city. A surge of relief washed over him as he realized the registry was arranged in alphabetical order, making his search easier.

‘Thank god it’s in alphabetical order’

Navigating through the shelves, Dorian located the section he sought and began his meticulous examination. The scent of aged parchment filled the air as he flipped through the pages, his eyes darting from one entry to another. His finger traced along the names, searching for the one that corresponded to Ared.

And there it was—a house listed beside the name "Ared." Dorian's heart quickened with excitement.

‘So he’s in the area just before the second wall that separates us from the rest of the city’

‘My job here is done.’

Satisfied with his discovery, Dorian returned the file to the corresponding shelf. The dimly lit room receded behind him, and the cool night air greeted him as he stepped out into the deserted streets.

Dorian's footsteps echoed through the empty alleyways as he made his way back to Peter's house.