The forest grew quieter as evening approached. Without wasting time, he began walking toward the exit. Within twenty minutes, the trees thinned out, and a massive structure came into view.
A grand, towering gate stood before him, tall and imposing, guarding the entrance to the city like a silent sentinel.
As he approached, he noticed a long line of merchant carriages stationed near the gate. Horses snorted. Guards stood watch. Merchants conversed in low voices.
One name painted boldly on a carriage caught his attention.
White Mountain Merchant Group.
His eyes lingered on it for a moment before he walked toward them.
"Ah, excuse me," he called out.
A man sitting atop one of the carriages turned his head toward him. His gaze swept over Alex from head to toe, sharp and assessing.
The look wasn't directed at his face.
It was directed at his clothes.
Only then did Alex properly observe the people around him. As he had read countless times in novels, most wore simple cotton robes in dull, muted colours, secured with cloth belts around their waists. Their long hair was tied neatly behind their backs. The women wore plain, flowing dresses, some with their hair partially tied while the rest cascaded down freely.
Compared to them, Alex suddenly felt… different.
And the man's strange expression made perfect sense.
After a brief silence, the merchant finally spoke.
"Do you need something?" he asked, his tone calm, as if he had already guessed Alex's purpose.
"Do you buy things?" Alex asked directly.
"Yes, if they are worth buying," the merchant replied without much interest.
"Then… could you look at these?" Alex said as he revealed the plants in his hands.
The moment the merchant saw them, a flicker of surprise flashed across his eyes. It was subtle, but Alex caught it. However, just as quickly, the man's expression returned to its earlier indifferent state.
"Where did you find that?" the merchant asked, pointing specifically at the purple flower.
Alex glanced at the plant in question. "In the forest. The outer area," he answered honestly.
The merchant's gaze sharpened slightly. It was clear now that Alex had no real understanding of what he was holding.
"The plant in your hand is called Foxglove," the merchant explained.
Alex listened attentively.
"It is a highly poisonous herb," the merchant continued, "but when processed correctly, it can be used as medicine to treat certain heart conditions."
Alex felt a chill run down his spine. Poisonous.
Relief quickly followed.
He had been cautious. He had avoided touching the thorns carelessly. If he had acted recklessly, the outcome might have been very different.
"You are quite lucky not to have been affected," the merchant said with a faint smile. "So, do you wish to sell it? I can purchase the others as well."
His finger shifted toward the ordinary-looking plant.
"Except for that one."
Alex glanced at the plain plant but said nothing. He simply nodded.
Moments later, coins exchanged hands. The weight of the money felt satisfying in his palm. Without lingering, Alex moved toward the back of the line leading into the city.
Time passed slowly as he waited among merchants and travellers. Eventually, his turn arrived.
A man clad in Armor stepped in front of him, blocking the entrance.
"Identification card," the guard said flatly.
"I don't have one," Alex replied.
"Then six silver coins."
The guard extended his hand without changing his expression.
Alex didn't argue. He paid the fee and stepped past him.
For the first time since arriving in this world—
He entered the city.
The inside of the city was far livelier than Alex had imagined.
People hurried along the streets, each heading toward their own destination. Merchants stood on both sides of the road, loudly advertising their goods, trying their best to attract customers. The air was filled with noise, movement, and life.
Alex walked through the streets slowly, his eyes moving everywhere. He wanted to remember everything. Every shop, every building, every street corner. It felt like a place where one could live an entire lifetime without ever getting bored.
As he walked along the street, Alex quickly noticed something uncomfortable. Most of the people passing by were staring at him.
Some glanced briefly. Others openly looked him up and down.
He let out a quiet sigh.
'Looks like I need to buy some clothes first,' he thought, feeling slightly out of place.
Keeping his head steady, he continued down the road, searching for a clothing store. After walking for a short distance, he finally spotted one and stepped inside.
The shop was big and crowded. Many customers were browsing fabrics and robes, speaking with attendants.
'Quite popular,' he thought as his eyes scanned the interior.
Then he noticed something else.
It was cool inside.
Much cooler than outside.
His gaze shifted around the room. With so many people inside, the temperature should have been warmer, not cooler. Unless… they had some kind of temperature-regulating formation? Or something like air conditioning?
Alex wasn't unfamiliar with the concept. From the countless novels he had read, formations could be used for all sorts of purposes, from defence to concealment to controlling the environment itself. Regulating temperature did not seem impossible. As they have AC on earth as well.
"Brother."
The sudden voice pulled him out of his thoughts.
He turned around and saw a man standing nearby, dressed neatly, likely one of the shop attendants.
"Are you looking for clothes?" the man asked politely.
"Yes," Alex replied, confirming what was already obvious.
"Do you have anything specific in mind?"
"Nothing in particular."
The attendant gestured for him to follow and began walking deeper into the shop. Alex followed without hesitation. Soon, he was led to a quieter section away from the crowd.
There, the attendant took his measurements carefully, making quick and practiced movements as he assessed what would fit best.
"Please sit here. I will return shortly," the man said before stepping out.
He came back within minutes, carrying an armful of neatly folded robes in various colours and styles. He placed them gently on a table.
"Sir, these are the most suitable options for you. Please feel free to choose."
Alex examined the fabrics. Different shades. Different cuts. Simple yet elegant.
He selected a few and asked if he could try them.
"Of course," the attendant replied, stepping outside to give him privacy.
Before closing the door, he added, "If you need anything, please ring that bell." He pointed toward a small bell placed neatly on the table, then closed the door softly.
'Such hospitality,' Alex thought, genuinely impressed. The people here were surprisingly polite.
He tried on the clothes one by one and eventually chose three sets that fit him well. He did not worry about the price. The herbs he had sold earlier had earned him quite a fortune. After all, the herbs he sold are quite valuable and hard to come by, especially the Foxglove.
Satisfied with his choices, he rang the bell.