The dirt path became more well defined as the antiheroes got closer to urban civilization, and eventually became a gravel walkway.

After walking for a while, the antiheroes arrived at a medium sized village.

The larger buildings were made of a stone or marble with foundations, however most buildings were made of wood from what they could see on approach. There was a residential area on the outer edges of the village, and as they entered the houses started out small and got larger when they were closer to the center of the village.

People wearing tunics were all about the village walking back and forth and the density of people increased as they got closer to the center. On reaching the center, there was a circular plaza which was a large marketplace. Many tents and stands were set up all around, and vendors were openly selling their goods.

"Fresh meat! Get your meat here, right from the stockades!"

"We have a new shipment of lumber from the southern forest! Get it while it's cheap!"

As she walked through the town, Ashley felt the desire to produce a few evil eyes to hover around her. She had taken the habit up as a dictator where she was allowed to do as she pleased and she enjoyed the terrorized faces that some of the subjects would give her at first, but unfortunately she wasn't able to do so due to their current incognito status.

She sighed as she continued walking through the residential area.

'What are we even doing here? Do we have some sort of goal?', she wondered.

She of course knew that they were trying to gain information, however... was there anything more to this? No direction? No course of action? Wasn't Trevor supposed to be concocting complex schemes or something? Perhaps he was thinking something up right now.

Ah well....

She knew one thing.

If the people here treated her with respect, they would be saved and allowed to come under the rule of the dictatorship as her slaves... if not... then they would be removed as incapable of recognizing greatness.

The people did not seem to pay too much attention to the group. Most people wore regular white tunics similar to the Greeks or Romans, and there was a large amount of activity that occurred within this market area. Carts of grapes, olives, oils, fabrics, and many other goods passed by the antiheroes as they walked through the town. There didn't seem to be many staple foods such as wheat, rice, or potatoes.

'Perhaps this is a town focused more on luxury good production and sales.', Trevor thought.

The antiheroes only had 2 silver coins in their name.

'Ah... maybe we should figure out how much everything costs so that we can see how much money is actually worth in this world.'

They had of course learned before about the system which allocated values to the different coins, however that didn't say much about what they could actually buy with a given amount of money. Was a silver worth a lot, or was it only worth a single meal? As usual, lack of information inspired Trevor to acquire the knowledge he did not posess.

"Theo, shouldn't we take a look around and try to figure out the worth of money.", Ashley asked.

"Indeed. I was just thinking that. Your intuition is spot on as usual."

The four decided to head over to what looked like a bakery. It was a building outside the ring of stands, which had a stone foundation and a wooden structure. A sign which read 'Bernard's Bakery' that had a piece of bread on it hung from the awning.

"What better way to find the worth of money than by measuring the value of bread- that which is worth more than anything else in hard times, yet worth hundreds of times less than useless luxuries in prosperous times. It certainly is an interesting phenomena that when times are good the price of such a necessity is so low, however during times of struggle people fight tooth and claw over that very thing. The price of bread and other basic needs can tell you much about the prosperity of a country.", Trevor explained as the four walked into the shop.

The smell of pastries, cooked bread, and cakes filled the noses of the antiheroes as they entered the shop with the ring of the doorbell.

"Welcome welcome! Is there anything I can get for you all?", A woman wearing an apron asked. She had hair cut slightly shorter than her shoulder length and a wonderful smile. She stood behind the counter where all sorts of delicacies were being displayed.

What was this? Ashley's intuition was telling her that she shouldn't trust this woman, or rather that this woman didn't trust her.

Ashley had always held a deep hatred towards people who were looking down on her, and so even without her sharpened intuition she would have been able to tell.

'This woman is a bitch, and for some reason she is sneering at me.'

"We're just looking. I will let you know if there is anything we are interested in.", Trevor responded in a calculated and stern response.

He was a businessman, and he knew how to shut people down from trying to sell him anything through compliments and small talk.

"I see... if you need anything let me know! The posted prices are actually 75% off of what we usually charge for these!"

'These prices are actually double what we usually charge though.. heh heh...'

Samantha of course overheard this, and Trevor from his own instincts as a businessman knew a scam when he saw one.

Garett and Ashley started grazing over the pastries inside the glass while Trevor and Samantha stood back with their arms folded and let them do their thing. To the woman behind the counter, it almost looked like two parents who were taking their impatient children out to walk the city. Ashley's intuition told her that something was off, but enticed by the smell of the bread she instead focused on the pastries and ignored her own intuition.

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'Mmm... these smell good...'

A line of drool came down from her lip, and she wiped it onto her elven tunic.

The prices for the pastries ranged anywhere from 4 coppers to 10 coppers. It seemed that 2 silvers was enough to carry around, however it would be desirable for them to make some more money here and there.

The chef then came out of the back room, which was covered not by a door but simply by a curtain which he slid out of the way by backing into it. He was wearing a white tunic that had long sleeves and wearing oven mitts, which held a metal tray full of freshly baked bread.

He was a largely built man with brown hair and a well trimmed beard which covered his face. He started placing the steaming hot rolls onto the display shelves, and upon seeing the four elves stood there a smile came on his face.

"Customers, eh! Welcome! I've just made some freshly cooked bread. Why don't you all have some samples! Careful, though! They're fresh out of the oven."

The man placed four slices of bread on a plate with tongs and handed the plate across the counter to Garett who took it.

'After tasting these samples they wont be able to resist purchasing something... especially if these elves are new to the country and don't know the value of things yet...'

Garett seemed to be staring intensely at the bread, and after using [Analysis] to confirm that it was safe to eat, he held the plate out to the other four who each took a piece and ate it.

"It's acceptable.", Trevor noted.

"Thank you for the samples, however don't think this means that we will buy anything. We are merely here to browse.", Samantha coldly noted.

"Whew! How cold! You lot seem like an interesting group to be here in the Empire. I am Bernard, the owner of this Bakery, and this is my wife Malicia. We live here with our two sons, and make a living off this shop here. What about yourselves?"

Samantha stood forward to speak, however before that happened two young boys- probably around 4 and 6 years old, wearing short tunics came running out playing from a side room.

"Hey look!"

"Those people look stupid! Look at their ears!"

"Hahaha! Stupid elves! And look at that one! Her hair is covering her face! Is she scared of people seeing her face or something!?"

"Probably because shes ugly!!"

"Haha! Ugly elf!"

The antiheroes stood frozen still as Ashley seemed to be eyeballing the two kids while they frolicked about happily.

"Oi, you two! These are customers! Go back to your room to play while were working here!", The father reprimanded in a harsh voice, and the mother took the two sons back to the room.

"I'm really sorry for my children! They need to be taught some manners."

'Well, not that they said anything wrong... I don't like dealing with elves either, but they need to learn to keep their mouths shut in order to do potential business... ah what to do... I love them to death, but I need to teach them more about prudence and understanding when it's ok to say something and when it isn't.'

Samantha was irked at the fact that the father was looking down on elves along with the children... the man she loved was an elf after all, even if they were all originally human..., but even moreso, she was irked that those children had insulted Ashley.... who seemed like she was doing everything she could to fake a smile and pretend like she didn't hear anything.

Her eye was definitely twitching, and she seemed to be holding back a wicked and corrupted smile with every muscle she had. She was on the brink of bursting.

"Ah, no problem! Kids these days are so bold! Don't worry about it. We are mercenaries who have just arrived from the Alliance. We are currently looking around for work to perform.", Samantha explained.

"Ah, mercenaries! You know... there is actually something I could use some help on. Do you all think that you could provide me with some information? Of course, I would pay you well."

"What is the issue?", Garett asked.

"See now... I am actually on my last store of wheat for the pastries I bake. This batch is actually the last I was able to make before we have to purchase more, but our usual farmer has had a pestilence and he is unable to provide any wheat for us to purchase. I am currently looking for another supplier. If you all could give me a location for someone like that, it would sure save us..."

Garett grinned deviously.

His face looked like that of a scheming demon, and he stood up from the counter and started speaking to the man.

"Actually.... I know just the right person for you..."

Garett's demonic instincts were pushing him to do something evil.

"Oh, really!? How much would you all like to receive for that information?"

Trevor then stepped forward.

"How much is it worth to you?"

Bernard felt a chill down his spine as Trevor said this. This man wasn't playing around.

"1 silver."

"Ah... I see... that's all your business is worth? 1 silver."

"W-wait! 4 silvers! 4! That's all I have right now!"

"That's more like it."

Trevor then allowed Garett to take back the spotlight.

"Fine then... do you have a map? No, probably not... I suppose I will have to give you verbal directions..."

Garett then explained the way to Bella's farm, which they had recently came from.

Garett's devilish side was laughing the entire time as he wondered what would happen if he sent these people there...

'That woman... she was nuts... it should be an interesting spectacle to send these people there...'

A small spider with a single eyeball on its back crawled its way out of Garett's pocket, down his leg, underneath the counter, and up the leg of Bernard and into his pocket.

It was a security camera that Garett had crafted.

"Oh, she is a wonderful lady! And her two children are just adorable... You have two sons as well... You should bring them along! I'm sure they would be delighted to meet each other!", Garett stated in an excited tone.

"Oh, thank you so much! I will do so! How kind of you all!"

'Kind my ass... half of my savings are now gone....', Bernard thought.

Why was Garett doing this?

Curiosity?

Garett himself did not understand, but none of the antiheroes stopped him. Perhaps it was because of his love for Ashley, and the fact that he couldn't stand her being insulted like that.

And the others were just as curious... and demented as Garett was.

They wanted to know what that woman would do to these people if they were sent there.

"Oh yes, she was really such a lovely mother. I am sure you all will get along with them.", Samantha chimed in.

"Ah, let me get the money for your payment. Thank you all so much! You have really saved us from a lot of hassle! Here you go.", The man said while fiddling through his own pockets for a small sack of coins before giving it over to Garett.

'Shitty elves... making me pay so much for some measly information... they wont last long in this country if they keep taking people for granted like this... never trust those bastards.', Bernard thought.

'Like taking candy from a baby', Ashley thought. 'These people are idiots... we could have just made this up on the spot... I suppose this is what they get for listening to every person who comes into their shop, and assuming that others will naturally do the right thing... heh heh... those stupid ass kids... I hope they all get what's coming to them...'

None of the antiheroes were naive enough to assume that others had good intentions, however with the newfound ability to read minds, they were now able to see through anyone with false intentions.

Even so...

There was something about seeing this happy family that made Ashley want to puke. It wasn't even the fact that the kids had insulted her. It was something else.

Was it jealousy?

Perhaps.

Either way, Ashley was thrilled to find out what would happen if they were sent to that woman.

The four left the store waving and headed down the street before arriving at a building with a sword and a pouch of money on the sign that said 'Mercenary Guild'.

This was the place they were looking for.

It was getting late, but this was where job requests should be posted for mercenaries to perform.

The four looked at the building, breathed in, and entered.