I walked towards the mother and kid with a warm, gentle smile. The people in the market around me began to look at me and murmur among themselves.
They were of mixed races. Humans, Beastfolks, and Merfolks. They didn't look wealthy, just regular folks trying to survive on the fruits of a month's hard work.
"Is he one of those nobles who look down on us?"
"They have gotten themselves into big trouble."
"Poor them."
"Those nobles see us nothing more than lowly insects, no matter the race."
"I wish they all would just die."
I can clearly hear you, you punks.
I did my best to hide my irritation at their whispered insults. I walked up close to them and asked them to raise their heads.
"Please, don't worry about anything. I, myself, agree with you that my attire is quite strange for the people here."
The mother and her son raised their heads, and looked at me. The kid was scared, and the mother was worried and nervous. She was barely able to control her trembling.
People like those are everywhere no matter where you go, I guess...
"Please, be at ease," I said, smiling gently. "I bear no ill intent towards you."
"Hey, kid." I knelt down, and looked in the eyes of the kid. "What's your name?"
"R-Rauf."
"Alright. So, Rauf, do you like chocolate?"
The kid nodded, hesitatingly. I smiled out of relief.
"Let me show you a magic trick."
I was worried if he didn't like chocolate, I'd have to come up with something else to win everyone over.
To be honest, I'm planning to use them to gather information swiftly once I get on their good sides... Though, I don't know if it'll work smoothly.
I stretched my right arm towards the kid and showed him my hand which was, of course, empty. "See? Nothing up my sleeve, right?"
I then brought my arm backwards and gave a forward tug so fast that it took merely two seconds. The kid was amazed and his eyes sparkled with amazement.
"How did you do that?"
There was a chocolate bar stuck between my fingers. "That's a trade secret," I winked.
All I did was to hide the chocolate bar under the sleeve of my coat in a way it wouldn't fall out of it. Then I pulled my arm back so that I could give the maximum tug to the chocolate bar for it to come out of my coat's sleeve. There I bent my index and middle fingers so I could catch the opening-side and pull it out.
All within seconds. It takes a lot of practice and experience. I'm glad I've practiced it a lot and brought the chocolate Aariz gave me with me.
I gave the chocolate bar to the kid, and stood up. "You see, I'm not from around here. I'm looking for something... or someone." I turned my gaze around, and saw people looking at me with mixed expressions that were the reflections of their feelings.
"I'm hoping someone here can help me." I turned to Rauf, and forced a smile in a way that looked natural. I deliberately raised my voice loud enough for anyone near me to hear it. "Of course, I'm willing to make it worth their while."
I looked at the mother. "Ma'am, do you happen to know someone? Or do you happen to know a lot about this area?" I opened my eyes while my lips were still curled in smiled. "Or should I say, have you noticed... anything suspicious lately?"
"Err... I... uh..." The mother was averting her eyes as if she was worried about something, clearly anxious.
Did I hit the bullseye? I glanced around to observe for how the others were reacting.
They began acting somewhat strange. They were staring at me moments ago before I uttered those words, and now they were all minding their own business. However, I could still feel some eyes staring at me.
My reason? Experience. I'd encountered many like them before. At first, I was thinking that I was getting attention because of my attire, but now, I was sure that it wasn't the case. I had unintentionally walked right into their hideout unintentionally.
But the people here weren't involved. Rather, they were threatened.
"I-I don't think so, mister," the mother hesitatingly replied.
I turned my gaze on her, and deliberately smiled. "Thanks for your time, Ma'am."
I then looked at Rauf. He was firmly holding his mother's sleeve as if scared of something.
"Kid, don't forget to eat it before it melts, okay?"
"Well, then," I took a step or two backwards before turning. "I'll go my way now. I bid you both wellness."
I turned and continued my search. Many eyes fell on me as I walked through the market. Now that I was certain something definitely was amiss here, I had to find it out and eliminate the cause.
It may sound stupid, but if I want to be someone Kane could rely on, I'd have to solve things on my own. Having said that, I didn't want the ones I'd been looking for to be noticed that I'd already caught on something amiss here.
The market was exactly as one would imagine. A river flowing at the center and passing throughout the whole market. Bridges made at occasional points to cross sides. Railings at the corner of the side, as to prevent one from falling into the beautiful blue river. The market itself was cleaned and good looking.
I bought something to eat while I strolled around the market, pretending to be looking for something.
"How much would it cost?" I asked while I kept my eyes scanning my surroundings.
"30 coins, sir."
With a swift flick of my wrist, I materialized 100 coins in my hands which I then gave to him.
"Here, have some more as your tip."
I causally munched on a chicken drumstick, pretending to chat with the stall owner. The stall owner quietly took them.
Just as I thought, he needs the money. That's good. I can use him.
"There will be more, if you provide me some information that may prove useful to me."
One thing was clear to me: No matter how much I tried to pose to be a run-of-the-mill "traveler", I couldn't help but shake the feeling of being tailed by some people. And thus, I was on my guard.
"I..." The stall owner hesitatingly opened his mouth, but didn't say anything.
"200 coins." I smiled while chewing the bite I took.
"I-I can't provide much information. I don't know what's going on myself." He answered, nervously.
"Then tell me about two things." I picked up another drumstick from the paper-like plate I held in my other hand. "First, did you notice anything strange happening lately? Second, what's going on here?"
I began munching the drumsticks, making sounds on purpose so that the ones keeping an eye on me wouldn't hear anything.
The way they tried to stay close to me while maintaining distance told me they lacked superpowers like mine. But still, I didn't want them to suspect him of anything, and later on torture him for information. He was still averting his eyes.
"Please, hurry up, mister. I might just end up eating all of these delicacies without hearing the secret," I looked straight into his eyes as I continue, "behind your delicious drumsticks."
I made sure to said it aloud enough for the ones tailing me to hear it whilst pretending to be talking to the owner about his secret recipe. He finally gathered up the courage to speak up, but was still nervous and hesitant.
I leaned in closer, deliberately, putting my ear near to his mouth so that he could whisper to me.
"Some random people appeared out of nowhere a few months ago and said that they'll make peace among themselves by eliminating the Royal Family." He whispered while trying to keep an eye on our surroundings. "Of course, we took them as some lunatics. However, day by day, they began to force their way on us. We, ordinary people, couldn't do anything against their superpowers. They forced us to gather some materials for them, though we had no idea what they were for."
"Oh! I see! That's interesting! Please, enlighten me more!"
"Either today or tomorrow midnight, they plan to attack Royal Family and annihilate them completely. Afterwards, they'll show it as an act of revolution against Royal Family. However, no one here bears such ill intent towards Royal Family, so the fact they, The Revolutioners—a terrorist group—would never be suspected of it as it'll be portrayed as an act of revolution. That's all I know..."
I see. I see. This guy here is trying to hide some of the information. So...
I pulled back my ear, and faced him. Then, in a loud voice, I exaggerated my gestures and expessions like someone who had found a diamond in search of gold. To be honest, I was exaggeeating my emotions and all, but at least I was getting what I wanted.
"But, sir! Why aren't you telling me the crucial details?! Please, tell me! I will give you 400 coins for the secret you're telling me! I swear, my brother would love my cooking more! So, just a bit more!"
I looked at him with my eyes sparkling with excitement and awe. Although it was all but fake.
"Argh! You're so full of your energy!" That owner pull up his arm to cover his eyes from the radiant lights emerging from me because of my excitement and awe for him.
I didn't say further, but smiled with steadfast eyes. He gave up and sighed.
"Lean in!" He motioned at me. "Guess I'll tell you a bit more. Hahahaha!"
I'm glad that he's easy to catch on things.
"There's actually two secrets bases. The one here is pretty much like a base for their gathering and making plans. But it's mostly used to stored materials for their experiment which is being conducted on slum-dwellers. That's where the main hideout is. One-fourth of their forces are here, while the rest are at slums. That's all I know. Be careful of the ones tailing you. They're not merciful in the slightest."
I then straightened up my posture, and instantly held both of his hands with my eyes sparkling with awe. Most of the people around me were looking at me like a weirdo, but I didn't care.
"Thanks, sir! I'll be sure to follow your advice!"
While pulling my hands back to myself, I secretly put all the coins that I promised to him on his apron's pocket.
I then turned before running off. "Your drumsticks were delicious! See ya later, Sir!"
I then dashed off from there with my full speed.
I bet that one or two people might have come to him to ask, "Who was that weirdo, man?"
And that owner would've replied, "I don't kmow, really. But I can say this for sure: He liked my drumsticks so much that he asked for some cooking tips in exchange for a few coins."
The stall owner must say that or else the ones who were keeping an eye on us the whole time will torture him to death for every information he had about him which in reality wasn't much. If he hadn't played it smart, he would've died died for nothing.
However, that wasn't my worry now! It was Kane! He was in slums all alone!
I've to inform brother about the situation so he wouldn't make moves on his own!
I knew Kane would react on his own upon hearing that innocents were being tortured and used as guinea pigs!
[Skill, "Telepathy", has been activated.]
[You cannot contact the person you are trying to reach using "Telepathy" at this moment.]
[Skill, "Telepathy", has been automatically deactivated.]
What the hell?! This shouldn't be the case! I should be able to contact brother, so why I can't?!
There are two cases in which one isn't able to contact the other using [Telepathy].
First, they are out of the range, as in they are in another Realm, which is unlikely in this case.
Second, they're either dead or are blocking the connection themselves. But Kane had no reason to block my connection... Don't tell me—! No, no! Think positive!
I've got to hurry back to the slums and save brother!