The town of Amberfield was quieter than before when Ryuto and his party returned. The fear of the dragon's attacks weighed heavily on the townspeople, and the damage to their homes and crops had left many in despair. Ryuto could feel the tension in the air as they made their way back toward the village square.
"Where do we start?" Nina asked, glancing around at the weary villagers who avoided eye contact as they passed.
"We need to find someone who knows the underground in this town," Roland said, his eyes scanning the crowd. "Thieves like that don't operate in the open. They'll have people who know them, people they can trust to keep secrets."
Ryuto nodded. "The elder mentioned there were rumors. Let's start with him."
They approached the town elder, who was sitting on a bench near the village's central well. His face was drawn with worry, but he looked relieved when he saw Ryuto and the others approaching.
