At the inn, a knock sounded at the door.
An old man seated at the counter paused, his fingers resting between the pages of the book he had been reading. His eyes lifted slowly.
A smile curved his lips, as though he already knew who stood beyond the door.
Taking long, almost childlike strides, he crossed the room and flung the door open.
"Welcome back, friend."
Rosacer nodded in return. "I need some help."
Gesturing him inside, Marvin stepped aside from the doorway while keeping a firm grip on the handle. Rosacer entered. Marvin glanced outside once more before closing the door.
They moved into a private room. Without delay, Rosacer asked, "What do you know about the Knowledge Seekers?"
"Too little, I am afraid," Marvin replied as he began brewing tea in the small kitchen adjoining the room. The space consisted of a single bed, a table, and a chair, much like the room Rosacer had rented before, except this one had a kitchen installed within it.
Without waiting for another question, Marvin continued.
"They are a small group of enthusiasts, much like myself, trying to understand the phenomenon behind the Mist City. At times, they venture into dangerous territories, but never have they interfered with a ruler."
"I believe they are led by a man named Mitra Sargon. It is only a rumor, but it is said that he might be a prince from some foreign land. I do not know which, though."
"That is all I know."
After a brief pause, Marvin added, "There is something I wanted to ask you as well. Are you perhaps leaving the Eastern Sector?"
Rosacer frowned slightly. "Why?"
"A serial killer has been roaming the area," Marvin said gravely. "They call him Black Flames. Wherever he goes, he leaves behind flames that tear through the very mist itself. The soldiers and guards call it the Wisp of Fear."
"Recently, a head hunter was killed near the eastern side, close to Christopher's shop. What was its name again? Ah… Mysterious in Mist. Terrible name," he muttered. "Anyway, the soldiers are active, and the sector is under lockdown. I was thinking of moving. One cannot run a business during a lockdown, after all."
'It's Chemistry of Mist,' Rosacer corrected him silently.
He replied, "I will be moving to the Southern Sector. I am currently taking a bounty, and the target might be there."
"Argh, that is too bad then," Marvin said with a sigh. "I wanted to join you, but the Southern Sector would be too much for someone like me."
Marvin finished brewing the tea, poured it into two cups, and offered one to Rosacer.
Rosacer accepted it. The warmth seeped into his palm. It was the first time he had consumed food or drink since his transmigration, if one did not count the wolf-man he had been forced to eat before his corpse memory evolved.
"Well, if you ever need me," Marvin continued, "you can look for me in the Western Sector."
"Why not the Northern Sector?" Rosacer asked as he took a sip of tea.
"The ruler there is fanatical about Ackerman," Marvin replied. "I spread the news that the Ackerman Empire has been reduced to dust, and he did not take it well. If I went there now, I might as well be dead."
After a brief pause, Marvin added, "One more thing. Before you go to the Southern Sector, I heard a rumor that Ms. Sleep is there as well."
"Ms. Sleep?" Rosacer asked, masking his thoughts.
"I do not know much about her," Marvin said. "She used to sell drugs far more potent than the vials distributed by the merchants. Later, she joined the Rosa Church." He hesitated before adding, "It is different from the Rose Temple."
"For now, she has either been hired by them or has joined of her own will."
His voice turned grim. "Do not involve yourself with them. They are dangerous, friend."
After that, his voice returned to its usual cheerfulness, and the two of them spoke at length about trivial matters.
From time to time, Rosacer turned inward, addressing the System to verify certain pieces of information. Most of the time, it remained silent. The information he sought lay beyond its knowledge.
He sighed quietly, wishing the System were as talkative as the man sitting before him.
When the tea was finished, Rosacer rose, thanked Marvin for his help, and stepped outside.
His destination was the Southern Sector.
He had no desire to use Ananta again. The last time, he had barely escaped death, even after becoming an immortal. If not for the black flames of Arcis, the Prison would never have allowed him to leave.
"I should depart for the Southern Sector now," he murmured. There was little left for him here.
For the moment, he was not keen on meeting the Knowledge Keepers. He intended to observe them from a distance first. Only if they met his criteria would he approach them. At present, doing otherwise would be far too dangerous.
The Rose Temple was no place he wished to remain either. The ominous aura it exuded unsettled him. Moreover, the Rogue Knight was planning something there. He could feel it. It was better to stay away for now. Who knew what trouble he might otherwise invite upon himself.
Suddenly, the System chimed, opening a new window.
It was gray in color.
He had seen this window before, when the Mistress of Head had fixed her gaze upon him.
His blood froze.
The very next second, shimmering text appeared.
[Doll Maker's Tool is reacting with the Doll of Macabre. Inventory space is collapsing.]
Before he could react, items began spilling from his inventory. They slipped from beneath his coat and scattered across the street, clattering against the stone at his feet.
Using the grafted sigil, he quickly formed a bag of flesh and stuffed the scattered items inside. Without drawing attention, he moved toward a quiet corner of the street to check what was happening to the System.
"I hope it does not stop working like it did in the Mist Village," he muttered, cursing his situation under his breath.