After a brief wave of dizziness, the scenery before Anser shifted, and an enormous city filled his entire field of vision.
Everywhere he looked stood dense clusters of towering buildings, seemingly endless massive city walls, streets packed shoulder to shoulder with people, a sapphire-blue bay, and an unceasing stream of ships of every size.
Behind them lay the countryside beyond the walls, crisscrossed by roads and dotted with countless farms, vineyards, and country estates.
Anser was astonished—not by the city's sheer size, but by the thought that such a metropolis had been built under the constraints of pre-industrial productivity.
To sustain so many people in one place required an extraordinarily advanced commercial and agricultural system.
"So? Pretty breathtaking, isn't it?" Stoll said, planting his hands on his hips as he gazed up at the magnificent city gates, a hint of nostalgia flashing across his face.
"It certainly is," Anser agreed with a nod.
He had seen modern cities far more awe-inspiring than this one, so he wasn't particularly overwhelmed. What impressed him was the unique impact of a fantasy civilization.
"Let me tell you about it. Waterdeep is no ordinary city—it's the Jewel of the Sword Coast..." Stoll began enthusiastically, his voice filled with admiration as he launched into an explanation.
Anser simply listened without interrupting.
Waterdeep stood at the mouth of the River Delimbiyr on the northern shore of Deepwater Harbor. In terms of wealth, influence, and stability, it surpassed every other city along the Sword Coast, earning titles such as the City of Splendors and the Crown of the North.
It was a melting pot of cultures, where the luxury and tranquility of the noble wards coexisted with the noise and chaos of the Dock Ward. Its laws were strict yet tolerant, racial conflicts were rare, and it was widely known as "a paradise for those who knew the rules."
The city's total population numbered at least two million, though most lived outside the walls. Within the city proper, the population remained relatively modest—only around two to three hundred thousand, not much larger than Baldur's Gate.
Yet Waterdeep's prosperity and wealth far surpassed Baldur's Gate's.
The key to Waterdeep's enduring success lay in its unique government and legal system. Rather than being ruled by a single individual, the city was governed by the Lords of Waterdeep, a council consisting of twelve Masked Lords and one Open Lord.
The Code Legal was also regarded as one of the most comprehensive legal codes in all of Faerûn.
"We're at Waterdeep's South Gate right now. The road beneath our feet is the High Road. Follow it all the way through the city, and you'll reach the North Gate..."
As he spoke, Stoll walked leisurely down the broad avenue. It was obvious he knew Waterdeep quite well.
Anser followed behind, dressed in an elegant battle suit with a longsword at his waist. Even without attendants, no one mistook him for an ordinary traveler.
Pedestrians instinctively stepped aside to let him pass. Their attitude appeared courteous rather than submissive, but those subtle gestures were enough to reveal Waterdeep's social order.
'Class distinctions exist everywhere,' Anser thought, unsurprised.
Waterdeep's legal system was highly sophisticated. On the surface, it emphasized that every crime would be punished, but in practice there were clear differences in enforcement and the distribution of authority. Nobles and adventurers enjoyed substantial legal privileges, and that was one of the defining characteristics of Waterdeep's social order.
Under the Code Legal, the punishment for killing a commoner was entirely different from that for killing a noble or a law enforcement officer.
The two strolled through the city gates. Guards in blue uniforms scrutinized them with curious eyes but neither stopped them nor collected any entrance fee.
Waterdeep was open and welcoming. It imposed no gate tax, though anyone staying for an extended period was required to register.
"Let's head to the North Ward," Anser said.
"Aren't we eating first?" Stoll sniffed the air, catching the enticing aroma of food drifting through the streets.
It was midday—the perfect time for lunch.
Anser's eyes lit up.
"Let's find somewhere lively. While we're there, we can ask around about the House Wyndrivver."
Gwyneth's situation is relatively safe. Whether they arrived a little sooner or later wouldn't make much difference.
"I know just the place." Stoll took the lead, his pace quickening with every step.
The two followed the High Road north for about fifteen minutes before turning west onto Selduth Street and stopping in front of a restaurant called Lucky Portia.
The restaurant had three floors. Its décor was simple and cozy, clearly aimed at ordinary folk, yet business was booming. At a glance, hardly a seat was empty, while a group of halflings carrying trays weaved effortlessly through the crowded dining room.
Standing at the entrance, Stoll's earlier excitement gave way to hesitation. The short flight of steps before him somehow took over ten seconds to climb.
The moment he crossed the threshold, he looked toward the counter.
His entire body froze.
Anser had already guessed that Stoll's reasons for coming here weren't exactly innocent. Walking past him, he headed straight for the counter.
Behind it stood a "little girl" busily balancing the books. She was only about a meter tall, with two flaxen braids and a sprinkling of freckles across her face. Aside from her size, she looked like a perfectly proportioned human child—small and adorable.
But Anser knew she wasn't human.
She was a halfling woman who simply happened to fit human standards of beauty.
"Do you have any tables available?" he asked, lightly tapping the counter.
The halfling girl looked up. The moment her eyes landed on Anser, a radiant smile bloomed across her face, her eyes curving into crescents.
"We still have seats on the third floor. I'll take you up."
With that, she tossed aside her pen, hurried out from behind the counter in quick little steps, and cheerfully beckoned for him to follow.
Anser pointed at Stoll with an amused smile.
"There are two of us."
The halfling girl turned to look.
The smile gradually faded from her face.
The two stared at each other for several seconds before she suddenly turned back to Anser.
"Is he your father?"
The words had barely left her mouth before she shook her head vigorously, her braids swinging onto her chest.
"No, that can't be right. He's way too ugly. There's no way he could have a son this handsome!"
"We're just friends." Anser shrugged, grinning at Stoll, who could only laugh awkwardly.
The burly, bald old man had completely forgotten what to do with his hands.
'Looks can be deceiving. So this is Stoll's type,' Anser thought to himself.
"You can eat here," the halfling girl declared firmly. "He can't."
"Why? Is there some kind of misunderstanding?" Seeing Stoll remain silent, Anser had no choice but to speak for him.
"Because he's ugly!"
"Well... I suppose that rules out any misunderstanding."
The halfling girl briskly headed upstairs without paying Stoll another glance.
Anser hurried after her, looking back to give Stoll a reassuring look.
From what he could tell, the two definitely knew each other, and there was... something awkward between them. This was exactly the kind of situation where a third party could help.
Sometimes an outsider's narration could bridge a gap better than two people stumbling through an uncomfortable conversation—or being too embarrassed to say what they really meant.
"My name's Anser. I'm from Durlag. This is my first time in Waterdeep," he said, watching the braids bouncing in front of him as he cautiously started the conversation.
"I'm Portia. Where's Durlag?" Portia asked, sounding deliberately casual.
"It's east of Candlekeep, quite a long way from here. Do you know Stoll?"
"Not really."
"I see. Stoll doesn't have many friends. He's spent the last several years in Durlag, looking after the orphan of a close friend."
Portia paused.
She said nothing else as she led him to a table by the window on the third floor.
"What would you like to eat?" she asked, handing Anser a menu. Her tone had noticeably softened.
Anser didn't take it.
"Just bring us some of your house specialties."
"All right."
Portia called over another halfling, quietly gave a few instructions, then began preparing a tea set.
"Waterdeep really is prosperous," Anser remarked. "Disasters have been breaking out all over lately, but this place doesn't seem to have been affected. Durlag was attacked repeatedly by a green dragon and by Amn. If Stoll hadn't been there, it would have fallen long ago."
"Waterdeep... isn't exactly peaceful either." Portia shook her head. "The Undermountain erupted into chaos, and the Yawning Portal was almost blown apart..."
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