Ren walked silently down the quiet street, his footsteps soft against the cold ground. His eyes were fixed on the bar the kid had pointed out. The night air was cold, and the lantern lights flickered as he passed by.
When he reached the bar, he stood in front of it. The faint smell of smoke and ale floated through the air. Voices from inside drifted out—laughter, arguments, and the clinking of glasses.
"This must be the place the kid mentioned."
As he approached and opened the door, he entered. He was greeted by the smell of alcohol, smoke, and heavy tension in the air.
There were people in armor, hooded figures, and muscular men. In one corner, people argued, their voices sharp and tense. Some sat in groups, and some sat alone.
Ren approached the counter. There stood an old man—one-eyed, with a long beard. He paused what he was doing and studied Ren with narrowed eyes.
"What do you need, young man?" the old man asked, then he continued cleaning the glass in his hand.
"A map," Ren replied calmly. He placed the Sea Stone on the counter.
The old man stopped for a moment.
"Not an ordinary map," Ren continued. "I want a map of the entire world."
The old man slowly raised his head. His narrowed eye saw the Sea Stone in Ren's hand. He stared at it in silence.
The old man was silent for a moment, then gestured toward a young girl standing by the door.
Ren shifted his gaze toward the young girl.
"This is Mira. She will take you to the back," the old man said, then continued cleaning the glass.
Ren walked and followed Mira out of the main hall, stepping lightly on the creaking wooden floor. Not a word was exchanged between them.
At the end of the corridor was a locked iron door, engraved with a two-headed snake. Mira pushed it open.
Ren's eyes narrowed slightly as he stepped inside the room. The room was filled with things—scrolls, crystals, weapons, artifacts, and many other items.
"Here, you'll find things not shown on the surface," Mira said.
Ren looked around and noticed a corner full of papers and scrolls. He approached it, looking through every paper. Then he saw what he wanted—a map. It was a detailed map of various continents and tiny islands spread before him.
"How much for this?"
His voice was soft but inquisitive. His finger traced the edge of the paper map while he looked at it in his hand.
Mira smiled slightly. "There are two ways of payment."
"First: valuable things, even gold is fine. Second: a secret." Her face became serious.
Ren became interested in the second payment and looked into her eyes. "What kind of secret?" he asked.
"A secret locked behind the eyes."
His gaze was unwavering, his lips pressed together in seriousness. He stood there, waiting for her answer.
Ren smiled slightly. He understood what kind of secret they wanted.
"I see…" he murmured.
For a moment, he considered the second option. But he chose not to reveal anything unnecessary, because not long I'm here this world, he doesn't know everything in this world.
The only i know is in Outside.
Instead, he extended his hand and placed the Sea Stone and several gold coins on the table.
The Sea Stone faintly reflected the dim light of the room.
Mira's eyes widened a little when she saw it. She reached out her hand and carefully took the payment. She examined it for a moment, then nodded in satisfaction.
"This is enough," she said. "The map is yours."
Ren held the map firmly in his hand. The paper felt old and valuable.
As Ren turned to leave, his eyes swept over the room, catching another man silently watching from the shadows. Ren's gaze met his, sharp and unflinching.
Exiting the bar, the cold night air wrapped around him again. The map was in his hand.
"This is only the first step of what I want," he muttered, carefully opening the map as he walked back.
In the room inside the bar where Ren bought the map, Mira felt something wrong with man. Her eyes shifted toward a man in the shadows. She sensed danger and immediately signaled someone.
"Hey? Kirn? What's wrong?" she asked.
Kirn stepped out from the shadows, his full body covered in a black suit.
"I think he saw me," Kirn replied.
"That's impossible! Only a Grandmaster can see you from the shadows," Mira said.
"I don't know either. My instinct tells me that man is dangerous!"
"Hmm… but he's just an ordinary man," Mira said, frowning.
Kirn's eyes narrowed, still scanning the place where he had seen Ren.
"Ordinary?" he muttered. "No, I can feel something about him… something I can't explain."
Mira crossed her arms, watching him carefully. She didn't believe what Kirn was saying.
"Maybe… you're overthinking. He just bought a map and left. That's all."
Kirn shook his head. "No. My instincts don't lie. That man… he's strong. I could feel it in my bones when he glanced at me after he left."
Mira sighed, her eyes following the spot where Ren had disappeared.
"Don't mind it. Our only goal here is to sell these things and gather information."
Kirn nodded and melted back into the shadows, disappearing from sight.
Mira stayed for a moment, thinking about what Kirn had said.
She looked down at her hand, the one that had taken the Sea Stone from Ren. The stone felt cold and heavy, even now.
"…Who are you?" she whispered softly.
For some reason, she couldn't forget his eyes. They were calm, but deep… like he was hiding something far beyond her understanding.
She shook her head and put the Sea Stone away.
"It's none of my business," she muttered.
Meanwhile, outside the bar, Ren walked alone under the dim lantern lights. The night was quiet, and the cold wind brushed against his shirt.
He observing the map while walking. His eyes moved across the continents, the oceans, and the unknown lands.
"So this is the world…" he whispered.
When the morning arrived, Ren woke up early. The bright sunlight touched his face through the window, making him open his eyes slowly. He sat up on the bed and looked outside for a moment. The town was already awake.
He stood and prepared himself. He carried a small bag. Inside it were only the map and some gold. Nothing more. Nothing unnecessary.
While he walked toward the exit of the inn, the wooden floor creaked softly under his steps. The innmaid, who was busy cleaning the floor, noticed him. She paused and straightened her back.
"Oh, you're leaving, sir?"
Ren nodded slightly. "Yes. Thank you for your hospitality."
"Be careful on your journey," she said, clasping her fingers together. A faint smile appeared on her face.
Ren inclined his head politely and stepped outside. When he exited, the sunlight poured onto his face. The surroundings were quiet. The sky was bright, and birds flew energetically in the air.
As he walked, he held a piece of bread in his right hand. He was eating while walking. He bought it from a street stall near the inn. He planned to head to the South Gate of Ageh Town.
He noticed the group of mercenaries he had seen yesterday. The female leader stood in front of them. Their eyes met. Her gaze was sharp, enough to make weak people feel fear.
Ren didn't flinch. His expression remained neutral. He kept eating his bread calmly.
"Looks like they got nothing," he muttered to himself, chewing slowly.
"Their clothes are still clean. There's no trace of blood. It's as if they left and returned without anything happening… like it was just a trip."