The morning sun touched Horus' beige-colored skin as he dressed himself up.

He was pleased since the breakfast the maid brought was light and warm, reminding Clay of his grandmother's cooking.

"Young master Hok, the carriage is ready."

Gil, the butler, knocked as he spoke behind the door.

Horus had already told Gil yesterday evening to prepare him a carriage in advance.

Horus plotted to buy something in Franz City - a city intersecting the border between the Flint and Durkton territories - which did not bother Gil as if it happened frequently.

His real motive, however, is going to Enn Village, the village where Axel's home resides.

"The knight that will guide you is also waiting outside."

Horus recalled his conversation with Gil yesterday.

He was relieved when he asked Gil to tell the Count that he was going somewhere in the morning.

Gil, who was handing him the pouch of his allowance, casually replied:

'The Count said he will approve it, but as long as you bring a knight with you, of course.'

Horus tidies up his thin-layered but elegantly weaved clothes as he speaks.

"Enter."

Gil entered so, bowing while also handing him a small rectangular-shaped case.

Horus took it and slowly opened it.

It was a pair of simple but elegant black sunglasses.

"What is this for?"

He gave Gil a puzzled expression as he suddenly remembered that Horus often wore sunglasses in the academy.

He didn't know why, perhaps for fashion, so he just accepted it.

"Young master, I thought-"

"Ah, thanks."

Not letting a chance to query, he casually wears it, then walks past the stiff butler.

"I'm off. Tell father I'll be back before daybreak."

The gates swung wide open as he stepped off the porch where the main hall and the estate garden met.

An opulent-looking carriage with a griffin crest was waiting by the gate.

A knight and a coachman were standing side by side at the entrance of the carriage.

"Young master, my name is Dale, and I was assigned to be your guardian knight for today."

The old coachman and young and tall, brown-haired knight bowed as Horus arrived at the carriage.

Without addressing either of them, he waves a hand, indicating to unbow themselves as he helps himself to hop in.

The coachman sat on the carriage's front ledge while the knight mounted on a half-armored horse behind it.

Soon, the carriage started to move as Horus whipped out the map he had drawn himself last night from his pocket.

It's a small, dreadfully drawn map of the western side of Franz City.

He knew he needed a map; he did not want to get lost in a broad city.

The Enn Village was located in the north-western outskirts of Franz City, passing through a lush alpine forest.

'It will take about an hour to reach the city by carriage, plus another to the village while walking.'

In a quiet but well-lit room in the Durkton Estate with shelves on each corner, a table with cluttered papers on top stood in the middle.

A man of gray hair on the seat was brushing his temples, flashing fatigue on his tired eyes.

It was Count Glen reading the recent reports from the north.

"The hunting season this year is quite early."

The Count let his hands fall from his temples, then turned to Gil, pouring a cup of tea in a porcelain cup.

"It is indeed. The number of hunters also doubled this year. I already sent a letter to Count Flint to address it as you requested, my lord."

The Count then takes a short, noble-like sip and replies.

"Boy, I still doubt if the Flints will comply with it. Gil, send Duchess Therese the letter I prepared. It's time to face the naughty Flint."

"Yes, my lord."

As Gil was about to pick up a letter from a small drawer, Count Glen started to ask in concern.

"Ah, Gil. Has Hoky left already?"

"Yes, my lord. He just left a few minutes ago."

Count Glen slowly nodded as he took one paper and stamped it.

"I worry about him a lot these days. The little kid is looking more mature as time passes by."

"Ah..., indeed, my lord. Especially since yesterday. The young master's way of talking has been more mature..., in a way."

Gil hesitated as the Count chuckled, overjoyed despite feeling drained.

"Ha ha, yes. It just feels like yesterday that I had to read Hoky's favorite tale for him to sleep. Ah..., those moments."

"Oh, I forgot to tell you, my lord. The young lord also said that he will be back before daybreak."

"Just let him be. Make sure you send Greze to tail him."

The Count smirked against his fatigue while Gil bowed, smiling as he exited the room.

"As you wish, my lord."

A towering, thick wall made of cobblestone met Horus' sight as he started to hear the faint, bustling noise of Franz City.

A pathway cuts that wall into two, leaving a space that seems to be the city's southern entrance.

Few guards on scruffy armor with spears bowed as the vehicle with a griffin crest approached.

'It's more of a shanty town than a city.'

Old, rustic establishments filled the southern part of Franz City.

As the carriage hastens northward, there are certain occasions when Horus could see alleys with slums between structures.

Market stands, men lifting crates, mercenaries on shabby attires, and commoners would inhabit the sides of the way.

The carriage soon approached the north of the city, where the buildings in the street were getting more decent as it seems.

Forget the shabby south; the city's north had splendid stone-marble architecture.

Lamps would populate the streets - spaced evenly - with passers-by wearing opulent attires topped with a fedora or a cartwheel hat.

Some had plain ol' gatsby, but some had pointed mage hats with lustrous floral ornamentals for bonus attention-seeking intent.

'Well, it's just Franz City living its name as the famed City of Hats.'

The carriage eventually arrived at the end of the pathway, where a circular cobblestone fountain was noticeable, surrounded by a cluttered crowd of people.

Horus hopped off while realigning his sunglasses.

People sitting on the edge of the fountain and passers-by would frequently glimpse the fancy carriage and the young man who came out of it.

'Do they know me?'

"Young master, could you tell me where you are off to?"

The brown-haired knight, Dale, mounted off his horse as he addressed Horus.

"Coffee shop. My usual spot."

Horus had already planned where he would sneak off: the Silver Canary Cafe.

In the book, Horus often meets with his followers in that coffee shop. It was not too fancy, but a recognized coffee shop in the northern part of the city.

"Should I guide you there, young master?"

Dale prompted as Horus nodded nonchalantly.

Horus knew he could not refuse since he needed to avoid suspicion.

While strolling on a cobblestone pavement with a knight following him on his back, he admitted that the northern part of the city was much more refined, more vibrant.

It was as if it were an entirely different city compared to the south.

He was relatively surprised since the book didn't mention anything about it.

'Even in this world, the social divide is as worse.'

Upon reaching the street where the two-floor Silver Canary Cafe stood, he took one hand off his pocket and flipped a gold coin to the knight behind him.

Dale nimbly slides to catch it, almost losing his balance.

Horus did it without turning as he was walking straight.

"Meet me here at daybreak. I'll stay there for a while."

Dale stops as he looks at the back of his aloof-looking young master, dazed, then turns on the coin worth a thousand colts in his palm.

Colt is the standard monetary unit used in this world; thirty colts is roughly equivalent to a dollar.

The interior of the coffee shop seemed minimal but neat.

Around were carved wooden chairs and tables brimming with authentic Gothic appearance.

Colors white and brown are observable on its walls, as well as a few tapestries and indoor plants.

There were only a few people inside - most wore opulent attires of all designs, having chitchat with their companions while sipping authentic teas hoarded from the east.

'Just a typical coffee shop, I wonder.'

Silver Canary Cafe is a two-story establishment being both floors similar in appearance.

However, there is a hidden difference in the 'baristas' appointed on each floor of this establishment. Only a few people, generally nobles, were aware of this fact.

The baristas of the first floor were your typical employee working to serve and prepare what's on the shop's menu.

On the other hand, the second-floor 'baristas' offer more than the former.

They would also provide all sorts of information about issues circulating in the kingdom and do particular services for a fee.

On the eastern side of the ground floor, a wooden staircase was there leading upstairs - and there lies the real intention of Horus choosing this shop as a place to sneak off.

Without hesitation, he strolled by the stairs and saw a wooden door at its end.

"Young master Hok!"

As he was about to knock, it opened almost instantly with a lively voice of a man coming next.

It was loud enough to make Horus think of covering his ears.

The man had pale green hair, uneven dark skin, and deep brown eyes, perhaps in his mid-twenties.

"Vincent."

Vincent. He was one of Horus' followers and a 'barista' on the second floor of this shop.

In the original plot, Horus often used Vincent to do various jobs: spying, poisoning, kidnapping, torture - he accepted all sorts of jobs for an extra stash of colts.

'As expected, he was here all this time.'

He had no idea about Vincent's past or how he and Horus got to know each other; the book never mentioned anything about it.

It only indicated that he came from the slums and became a 'barista' with Horus' help.

"I have a job for you."

Vincent's eagerly closed the door as his expression quickly changed.

He was now smirking, clasping his hands in rejoice at having a job after a long while.

"You familiar with the Enn Village?"

Horus asked as another barista put a steaming cup of tea in front of him.

The barista had a face full of scars but still gave off a calm, obedient expression.

'They look more like a mercenary than a barista.'

"Certainly. I was born from there, after all."

Gently holding the porcelain tea cup, warm steam came through Horus' nose as he took a sip, then frowned at the bitter aftertaste.

"You're from the Enn Village?"

"Yes..."

It took Vincent a moment to give that short reply.

Vincent was leaning on the counter with a slightly raised eyebrow as if he was uncertain of something.

"Great. I am looking for a guide. I have to get in touch with someone living there."

Ting. The tap of his porcelain cup echoed into the room as Horus noticed Vincent started to move in haste, picking up a rucksack under the counter.

"Then, let's go, young master."

"You know we are moving right now?"

Horus quickly queried, raising a brow above his sunglasses while turning to the smirking Vincent.

"There's a commotion there right now."

"A commotion?"

"Hmm..."

Vincent nods and closes his eyes as he narrates.

"Hunters. The inns in the village are full of them. The hunting season is supposed to happen every winter, but this year's quite early. You're going to meet a hunter?"

'A hunter? Aren't they supposed to appear around the third volume?'

Hunters. As far as Horus knows, there are two types of hunters: hunters who hunt deers, bears, or wildlife as a way to live and hunters who hunt tribespeople and loot their belongings.

'There is a clan of tribespeople living by the Glimp Forest.'

Tribespeople, in the novel, was described as humans who can transform into a beast.

They typically lived isolated from civilization and had their language, culture, and tradition.

"No, I just have to meet a folk."

Horus then stood, thinking of how he had casually referred to a young man that would change the world as a mere folk.

Vincent started opening a trap door behind the counter with stairs below leading to an alley.

Horus expected that an exit like this would exist in the building.

As the two reached the ledge of the narrow alleyway, Vincent started to lead the way.

The alley was short, joining two streets on its ends.

Heading west, they reached the narrow, crowded street bustling with loud mutterings of people and galloping horses.

"I know a shortcut here!"

Horus nodded and continued to trail Vincent casually.

The street reeks of a heavy, dry odor caused by the dirt and likely by the people there.

Glancing around as he trod, his eyes locked on a group of young vagrants in shabby attire, rushing with sacks in their hands.

"Get 'em!"

A curvy vendor holding a whip yells as he breaks his way through the clump of folks, hustling to catch the young vagrants on the run.

"The wee bastards just swiped my goods again!"

Thump. One of the vagrants - the youngest among, perhaps - bumped into Horus and landed with a heavy thud on the sun-bathed floor.

"Ah, s-sorry, sir-"

Horus half knelt and reached a hand to the kid while giving him the small sack full of bread that tumbled to the cobblestone floor.

"Be careful next time."

"T-thanks, mister..."

The young vagrant hesitatingly took it and rustled to the alley, where the other greased-draped youth waited for him.

"Huff... young master, I thought I had lost you..."

Vincent appeared behind Horus and pulled him out of the stands, panting and unaware of what just happened.

Soon, the noises started to fade as they got closer to the tall cobblestone wall dividing the city and Glimp Forest in the west.

The two could see the western city entrance with only a few guards stationed.

"This entrance is the easiest way to enter or exit the city. There are only two to three guards stationed here."

Vincent whispered, walking towards the guards with Horus tailing him on his back.

Soon, the two guards noticed Vincent and started whispering to each other.

They held their spears tightly, looking like they knew already what was happening.

"You... again? I can't let you out this time. Lord Flint was getting fussy about hunters coming in and out this morning."

One of the guards sneered, showing an annoyed look.

"Oh, man. Come on, just this once-"

"Don't start us, ye fool getting us in trouble again."

In Vincent's attempt, the other guard grunted - in a rough Chirean accent - while raising his spear to Vincent.

'Hu... this is taking too much time.'

Sighing as he stepped in, Horus placed a hand on Vincent's stiff, tensed shoulder, giving him an I've got this look.

The guards stared at the noble-looking guy wearing sunglasses, flipping gold coins with finesse - only one hand - and casually catching them mid-air before falling.

Their sour, scoffing expressions quickly transitioned to something else while they started glancing at each other.

"O-of course, t-there are exceptions, right Brant?"

"Ah, o-of course, Zeke. Kekeke."

Horus flung the coins in the direction where the guards were standing stiff.

They quickly took each, almost losing their balance as Horus started walking past them with a faint, confident smirk.

"What are you waiting for?"

He turned his attention to Vincent, standing stiff as he watched the guards smiling wide, delighted.

Horus hurled another gold coin and turned to his back, facing a dirt path leading to a forest.

One of the guards, Zeke, asks:

"W-what is this for, s-sir?"

"That's for bailing this guy out."

Instead, he walked away from the post, facing the lush alpine Glimp Forest, hands in his pockets.

Vincent - flabbergasted, perhaps embarrassed, too - naturally followed him soon.