As Leon stepped out of the tavern, the cool evening breeze brushed against his face. The lively hum of the market had faded, leaving only the muffled chatter of distant voices and the occasional creak of wooden carts being wheeled away. He noticed a woman a few steps ahead, her cloak swaying gently as she moved toward the edge of the cobbled street.
He followed at a casual distance, careful not to seem intrusive. She paused beneath the dim light of a hanging lantern near the tavern's entrance, her head tilting slightly, as though sensing his presence. Without turning fully toward him, she spoke, her voice low and steady.
"You didn't have to get involved, but nonetheless, thanks for the help."
Leon stepped closer, stopping just far enough to respect her space. "You didn't seem like you needed it," he replied, his tone neutral. "But they were getting out of hand. Figured it was better to stop it early."
The woman turned her head slightly, the faint light illuminating the edge of her face beneath the hood. Her features were sharp, composed, and entirely unreadable. "Trouble like that follows. They're all bark until someone shows teeth."
"You seemed ready to show yours," Leon quipped with a faint smirk.
She turned fully now, folding her arms loosely over her chest. "I handle myself just fine, but... you saved me the headache. So, thank you." Her words were simple, her tone unwavering.
Leon shrugged. "Don't mention it. You're not from around here, are you?"
"No," she said after a brief pause. "But neither are you."
For a moment, silence hung between them. The world seemed quieter, the night colder. Finally, she adjusted her cloak, pulling it tighter around her shoulders. "You should watch yourself. And if possible, get out of this city."
Leon raised an eyebrow, her cryptic tone piquing his curiosity. "Is that advice or a warning?"
She didn't answer immediately. Instead, she turned away. "Goodnight."
Leon watched as she disappeared into the darkened streets, her silhouette swallowed by the shadows. He stood there a moment longer, the cool breeze nipping at his skin, his thoughts racing.
"Hmm... I don't know what to make of her," he muttered to himself. There was something in her voice—a weight, an authority—that reminded him of his commanding officers in the army. It wasn't something he could put into words, but it lingered, unsettling yet intriguing.
The tavern door creaked open behind him, and Leon turned to see the merchant stepping out. Spotting him, the merchant walked over briskly.
"So, sir, when can I expect the supply?" the merchant asked eagerly, his eyes gleaming. Leon knew what he meant—salt.
"Tomorrow, maybe," Leon replied casually.
"Ah, fantastic! I just hope everything goes as planned," the merchant said with a grin.
Leon nodded silently. The plan was simple: make this merchant the most powerful trader in the city. From there, Leon would consolidate control, using the merchant as a front while quietly expanding his influence. It wasn't a fast process, but it was effective.
---
In a finely decorated room with a plush bed and ornate furnishings, a woman stood by the door, a silver tray in her hands. On the tray sat a steaming cup of tea.
"Here, tea," she said softly, her voice carrying a calm, practiced tone.
"Put it there, Elys," Leon said, gesturing toward the small table by the window. Elys nodded silently, setting the tray down before stepping back, her posture straight and composed.
Leon leaned against the windowsill, his gaze fixed on the view outside. It had been a week since his arrival in this world, and in that time, he'd discovered something peculiar. The system had revealed to him that time flowed differently between the two worlds: one day in his main world equaled an entire month in this one. The system attributed the phenomenon to his main world's proximity to a black hole, causing time dilation.
He could spend months building his plans here and return to his original world with barely a day gone by.
The merchant, bolstered by the salt Leon provided, was gaining influence rapidly. But Leon knew better than to let him grow too fast. A meteoric rise would attract the wrong kind of attention. He had instructed the merchant to move cautiously, keeping a low profile while consolidating power. For Leon, it was equally important to ensure his own identity remained unconnected to the merchant's operations. The last thing he needed was to draw unnecessary trouble to himself.
And then there was that woman—the one he'd encountered outside the tavern. She hadn't crossed his path again since that night.
"Elys," Leon said, breaking the silence.
"Yes, sir?" she replied, standing attentively by the door.
"Have you heard of anyone unusual in the city lately? Travelers, mercenaries, anyone who doesn't belong?"
Elys hesitated for a moment, her hands clasped in front of her. "No, sir. I haven't heard anything," she said softly. "I don't talk to others much. I just… stay here."
Leon studied her for a moment, noting the slight tremor in her voice and the way she avoided his gaze.
"Alright," Leon said after a pause, turning back to the window.
turning his gaze to the floating screen
[Mission Alert: Uncover the Secrets of the Market]
[Objective: Investigate and uncover the hidden secrets behind the market's strange happenings.]
[Reward: 200 RP, Shop Unlock – Mystery Item.]
He muttered to himself, "What secrets?" Days of searching had led him nowhere. No news, no strange occurrences—nothing out of the ordinary.
Behind him, Elys lingered near the door. She watched him in silence, wringing her hands as if debating something with herself. Her steps were hesitant as she approached, her heart pounding in her chest.
Leon didn't notice her at first, too lost in his thoughts. But then, he felt it—a soft, tentative touch on his shoulders.
His body tensed immediately, and he turned his head slightly, startled. "What are you—"
"Just… let me," Elys interrupted, her voice barely above a whisper. Her hands trembled slightly, but she didn't pull away. "You've been so tense lately. "
Leon blinked, caught off guard by her sudden boldness. He thought about brushing her off but stopped himself. Instead, he let out a slow breath and turned his gaze back to the window. "Alright," he muttered.
Elys hesitated for a moment, then pressed her fingers gently into his shoulders. The tension in his muscles was immediately apparent, but she worked carefully, testing the knots before applying more pressure.
Leon closed his eyes, letting out a low sigh as the stiffness in his shoulders began to ease. "You've got a knack for this," he admitted, his tone softer than usual.
Elys didn't respond, too focused on her task. Her movements grew more confident as she continued, the nervousness in her hands fading away. She moved from his shoulders to his neck, her touch firm but soothing.
For a while, the room was silent except for the faint sounds of her hands working and Leon's steady breathing. The tension that had been building in him for days seemed to melt away under her careful attention.
"You're braver than you look," Leon said after a while, a hint of amusement in his voice.
Elys paused, her cheeks flushing. "I just… wanted to help," she said quietly.
When she finally stepped back, Leon rolled his shoulders, testing the newfound lightness in them. He glanced over his shoulder at her, a rare smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Not bad."
Just as he leaned back into the chair, something caught his eye—a small piece of paper fluttered in through the open window, landing right on his face.
"…What?" Leon muttered, pushing the paper away and picking it up. He glanced at the unfamiliar writing. Something seemed to be written on it, but it was in the native language. He could speak it, but for some reason, he couldn't read it.
He frowned, holding it out toward Elys. "Elys, can you read this for me?"
She nodded, stepping closer to take the paper from his hand. She scanned the text for a moment, her brow furrowing slightly, then spoke softly.
"…It says, 'Meet me at the city gate.'"
Leon's eyes narrowed, his mind racing. "That's it? No name, no explanation?"
Elys shook her head. "Just those words."