They were getting further from the paved road. They walked on the uneven ground now. The houses were slightly different than the houses at the town. They were built by mixing wood, brick, and little iron. As if the people there built it by gathering whatever materials that they got.

"this is what you mean by "not welcomed" sir Yana?"

"yes, turned out you're starting to have a sharp observation Shanti"

"a...anyone would notice that"

"are they?"

"don't be mean, sir Yana" She still didn't know how to handle Yana's teasing

Lorick saw them and still couldn't believe that girl was the same girl that wanted to kill him earlier.

"she's looked totally different around that man, geez"

"hey, Lorick. Can we really trust them? what if they are that commander's spy or soldier?"

"haah, if they are, then you and me are already dead by now"

".... that's make sense. But still, do you think this is a good deal?"

"why not? they will pay us for some information. Hell, that's totally a good deal for me"

"...-fuuh- then i will trust you" Rhoam nodded

They took a stairs down and arrived at small street with quite people there and several shops could be seen.

"there are lot of people here too, but...."

Shanti noticed the people here were less enthusiastic than the people she saw in the town. Pessimistic face, sad face, and not so bright atmosphere. They're not showing it directly, but somehow she could feel it.

"is this some kind of market?"

"yeah, you can call it that"

"so, where are you gonna bring us?"

"there's a shop called PanPan just around the corner"

"what's special about this shop?"

"well, they foods are edible, and they're cheap"

"seems promising"

"i wonder... i don't know the taste of common people like you"

"interesting. So if we are common people, then what are you?"

".....you seriously ask that?"

"well, you can guess"

"-sigh- better talk after we have arrived at the shop"

"after you"

They passed through the market and found this small alley. After taking few stairs, they could see a small shop with a wooden name tag on the door.

"PanPan, so here it is"

-criing-

A tiny bell responded when the door was opened by Lorick.

"Pan!! are you here? i bring customers here!"

They came into the shop. Even though the shop was small, but it was arranged neatly. One table with four wooden chairs was set nicely. There are six tables and one big table at the corner for a larger party.

"oi! Pan! there are customers here!"

"wait wait! i hear you Lorick!" A woman's voice replied

She came from the back room. She rubbed her hands on her small apron and welcomed them from the counter.

"welcome at PanPan shop~~, we will serve you a good food with a cheap price!!" She smiled

"for now... it's okay for you to spend 40 bronze for the complete food choice in this shop?" Lorick asked

"sure, go ahead"

"you hear the man Pan, one big set please"

"ok~~, one big set come in a moment" She raised her hand

Pan was a woman with quite voluptuous body. Everytime she moved or reacted to something, her breast would jiggle a little. She wore a simple white clothes with showing her neck and upper shoulder. Her long braided brown hair was really looked good at her. No one could guess her age. She's like a young woman yet she also had this mature aura.

"so while we're waiting, can we start?"

"yeah, sure"

Yana leaned on the counter and arranged his questions in his mind.

"first, what's this district name?"

"Khal'ard, the shattered pommel"

"hmmmm, shattered pommel....i see. Then, what're people who live in Khal'ard called?"

"....Temelhine, it's short from temessa balhine, the people who've failed to defend their home"

"Temelhine, let me guess. This commander is the one who gave this name to all of you?"

"... you're right"

"i see. Then, do the town's water source come from the river in the north?"

"yeah, it's the raven's tears river. This river already helps us since our ancestor built this town"

"and recently the water is not like the usual?"

"true, the quality become less and less drinkable. Rumor said it because of the wapeer is poisoned the water to make us weak then attack us after that"

"hmm, it's matched with the information from the barkeeper earlier"

"so what else do you want to know?"

".....say...are the children and old people missing recently? more over, it's only missing at this district?"

-braak- Lorick slammed the counter. Rhoam and Shanti were startled while Ragha kept his guard.

"tell me...from where you get those informations?"

Yana turned at him and smiled.

"well..."

Suddenly, Pan interrupted their conversation while bringing their food.

"here ~~ this is the first food~"

"well, should we eat first? while it's still hot?"

Yana looked the food in front of him and felt some nostalgic feeling.

-----( Chapter 51 "Shattered pommel" )-----