On the corner table of a hall, a boy could be seen eating his meal. Around him were many tables with other people.
Unlike others who focused on devouring their food, he was more interested in their discussion.
It had been some hours since he had arrived in this place; this was a village on the outskirts.
The Phantom Claw Bandits had raided this village; this was one of the villages that suffered due to them.
He was here for his mission, and when he tried asking, people tried to maintain distance from him.
They disliked outsiders and blamed them for their suffering. The bandits would target them more if someone came to investigate.
Rishi learned it early and decided to learn bits and pieces by observing the people. He was right; they frequently talked about the bandits.
While it was hard to differentiate rumors from accurate information, he was getting some clues.
