After walking for about an hour, I could see the slums again. In Vermillion, the daytime was shorter compared to other places. The sun rose at 6:00 AM and started getting dark around 5:00 PM. This meant there were only about 11 hours of daylight. However, people in the city didn't go to bed early. The city remained active at night, thanks to streetlights powered by a special mineral called sun rock. Sun rock absorbed sunlight during the day and glowed at night. But this mineral was too expensive for most people to buy, and it needed to be exposed to the sun to work. So, it was only used for outdoor lighting. Inside houses, people still used fire or light-producing artifacts.

However, these advancements in lighting were limited to the city itself. The slums had no such luxuries, making them quite dangerous due to the darkness. Until today, this hadn't been a significant concern for me. After all, I possessed nothing valuable to steal. This meant that the dangers at night were pretty much the same as during the day. However, things had changed. I not only had a spatial ring, which was an extremely expensive artifact, but it also contained 2000 Loris. If I were to be robbed, the loss would be substantial. But I had to traverse the slums to reach the city. As I contemplated my options, I suddenly remembered something – the Hercules Bless. I was no longer weak; the Bless had made me strong enough to defeat a boar with a single punch. This meant that dealing with a group of thugs shouldn't pose too much of a problem.

I ventured into the slums, finding the streets empty. The moon provided some light, but it was still quite dark. After 15 minutes of walking, I finally reached the outskirts of the city. The city was divided into three distinct areas. First, there were the slums, not truly a part of the city, but rather where people with limited or no money lived. Then, there was the coastal zone, where the port and the largest part of the city's shops, pubs, and inns were located. This area was inhabited by regular folks who weren't rich but also weren't destitute. Lastly, there was the north zone, which was well-guarded and home to high-class establishments, shops, the mayor's mansion, and the city's affluent residents.

I wasn't wealthy enough to live in the north zone, of course, but I could easily find lodging in an inn in the coastal zone, preferably closer to the port where the prices were cheaper.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

I strolled through the streets in search of an inn and eventually stumbled upon one named "The Siren." I entered, finding it comprised of a reception area where a young woman with a light brown ponytail stood on the balcony. There was also a kitchen with a table zone where a boy, sharing the same hair color, was hard at work. A staircase on the left side of the balcony likely led to the rooms.

Approaching the almost taller than me balcony, the lady greeted me with a warm smile.

"Good evening. I would like to rent a room," I said.

"Hello, little boy," she replied. "I'm sorry, but you need money to rent a room. However, we can offer you a free meal if you'd like. The dining area is empty."

Naturally, she assumed I had no money, given the sorry state of my clothes even after cleaning up. But offering a free meal showed her kindness.

"No need to worry; I have the money. I've already eaten, so I'm not hungry, thank you," I assured her.

"Very well. One night costs 30 Loris, and any meal is 7 Loris. How long do you intend to stay?" she inquired.

"For now, one week, and I'm undecided about the meals," I replied.

"The meals will be added to your account; only the stay requires upfront payment. One week totals to 210 Loris. Can you manage that?"

"Yes, absolutely," I answered.

I retrieved the money from the ring, which consisted of 50 Loris coins, and handed over five of them.

"You indeed have the money! That makes 40 Loris in change. Here you go," she said as she handed me the change.

I collected the money and thanked her. "My name is Sonia, and the boy over there is my brother, Talon. Our father is a silver-ranked hunter who established this inn as a family business. And you?" she inquired.

Silver rank, I pondered. I wasn't entirely sure how the ranking system worked, but did that mean ten of him could defeat that monster?

"My name is Allen," I replied. "I'm just a seven-year-old orphan whose luck has recently taken a turn for the better."

"I see," she said, her face displaying a sympathetic smile. "Well, Allen, your room is number 21 on the third floor. If you need any assistance, don't hesitate to ask."

"Thank you. I'll head to my room now," I said.

"Have a good night!" she wished me well.

I went up the stairs to the third floor and, after crossing the hall, arrived at my room.