The foot of the mountain has a small town that receive travellers from the other side of the landform. Multiple races resided the town, largely consists of humans and dwarves.
They offered places to rest, eat and entertainment for the tired travellers. Carriages lined up awaiting for the patrons to transport them to the Dwarfen Capital.
"…How long does it take to arrive at Zwergin?"
"Just a day by wheels." Norm answered Michael's question. "We will be stopping by at a mining town before arriving though."
"It's no problem at all."
Michael, the ladies, and Norm are currently in their rented carriage on their way to the Dwarfen Capital, Zwergin. Going eastwards following the mountain range. One more town and they will be at their appointment destination.
The convoy reached the mining town that night and stayed there until the sun raised again. Since it's a mining town, many people with cart and pickaxe poured in and out of the large hole that miners dug on the rocky mountain.
The ores and minerals that are mined there, or not all, the mines around the nation, will always be delivered to the capital to process. Metalworking is the main industry of the kingdom, which was likely much anticipated of a nation ruled by dwarves.
There isn't much dungeons around the country, a good source of materials used for crafting, so the dwarves greatly depends on the materials that nature grants.
Even though there were dungeons, nothing exceeds the deepness of forty floors, which uncommonly give mithrill and coppium ingots. Coppium is a teal colored metal with durability of a mithrill but with lower magic conductivity.
The only 40-floored dungeon is located at the Dwarfen Capital and the reason of dwarves becoming mountain dwellers.
"…Seems like it's time of our farewell."
"You're right. Although it was a short time, I have been protected by all of you."
Standing in front of a well-known shop in the capital, Michael and the party bid farewell to their client. They spent weeks on road so there's a slight development of their acquaintanceship.
"It's no problem. It's our job as adventurers to fulfill the quest our clients asked." Gabrielle is in high spirits living up the mood.
"But because of your strength, monsters easily beaten up, which made us went ahead of schedule."
The journey was set for a month. But was shortened significantly by the escorts. Making Norm saved some finances and time.
"If you want something related to crafting, I have your back. Just visit me at my stores here or the empire."
"…We'll take your word."
"What will you do after this?"
"…Since we are here, we want to explore the city a bit."
"Right. Good luck with that."
After a wave, Norm get in of his shop. Michael, Gabrielle, Uriel and Lucy waved back before disappearing into the crowd.
◆◇◆◇◆◇
The Dwarfen Capital, Zwergin, is an ancient city founded by the first dwarfen king, Zwergin Doria, roughly around two thousand years ago, more than a millennium earlier than the foundation of the Dixon Empire.
The nation was founded after the first king conquered the most difficult dungeon in the country. Used the functions of the dungeon and developed a city around it.
The capital city of Zwergin was named after the ancient king himself. As the capital, Zwergin is the largest city in the country. Although not the big as the Imperial Capital, pitch-black walls skirted the circumference of the two kilometer radius area.
Beyond the walls, fertile farmland laid out of the remaining area of the dungeon's Surface Floor. A good source of raw materials for the capital's every day food consumption.
Due to the geographical location and landforms around the country, the nation of dwarves never invaded by the demons. If any, only a handful of small armies reached out the dwarfen soil, but all of them tasted the technological artilleries of the dexterous dwarves.
The Dwarfen Capital largely consists of dwarves, it's their capital city after all. The city houses the population of more than a million, not including the mining slaves.
Metalworking is the city's main industry, making the city the main exporter of high quality weapons and equipment throughout the continent.
Although the city is situated a few kilometers away from a mineral-rich mountain, it wasn't enough to keep up with the demand of the craftsmen. Zwergin is also the main importer of ores, lumbers and magic crystals.
Every city and town has a hidden side of it, a dark side behind its shining light. Zwergin is no exception to resist the devil's temptation.
◆◇◆
ραпdα Йᴏνê|(сòm) Summer night, inside a lively tavern within the city. Michael sat on one of the stool with arms rested on the counter. He raised a finger to the dwarfen bartender indicating a second mug of the beer he has been drinking.
The bartender poured his glass mug with golden water to which Michael gradually sip. The taste was significantly better than the beers he drunk at the Imperial Capital. Dwarves has high standards in liquors and produced much better beverage to satisfy their livers.
As for what Michael is doing in that kind of place, he is not there because was is broken hearted and wanted his problems to be dissolved by alcohol. He is actually gathering information about the ones responsible for providing weapons to the bandits involved in the assassination of Eisherz Gracier.
It was not that they gain profit for scrutinizing the case, nor gaining fame. They are concerned about the noblewoman's well-being and the effects of this darkness in the continent, especially the Raevender Viscounty, if ignored.
Firstly, Michael visited this tavern to inspect the routine of any illegal actions in the city. A few days ago, while they were on the road with Norm, they showed him a sword the bandits wielded.
They got some swords because they requested the knights to have a few. They helped them dealing with the bandits so its reasonable they wanted the weapons as reward.
Norm seemed to recognized the sword and told them it was allegedly a work of a well-known blacksmith that manufactures equipment for the Dwarfen Knights Order.
Being in the hands of outlaws clearly implies the essence of unknown group lurking under the kingdom's shadows. That claim was not just a mere speculation but confirmed by the confession of the rogue that they caught.
Someone from the government probably dealing with the heinous organization. Articles of that quality cannot be embezzled without someone who can turn a blind eye to the crime.
Michael was not accompanied the his colleagues, he simply came alone the noisy tavern. The ladies were left behind the inn they have rented, they were too conspicuous if they nonchalantly stroll the street reeks of booze.
They are not lazying around, neither playing with themselves. The ladies remotely lending Michael a hand in investigation via Clairvoyance. Exploring out of reach areas reeks of suspicions, only Michael personally went out to investigate.
At first glance, Michael seems to be bibulously enjoying his drink, but he is secretly searching for something doubtful inside the bar using a remote eye. The patrons inside didn't they are being watched by him.
His eye observe the movements of every men and women, carefully seeking for any questionable actions. But he only saw common occurrence happening inside a pub.
Dwarves happily destroying their livers while burstingly laughing with each other, gold-diggers looking for someone to bite their hooks, dejected looking men sobbingly holding their beer on the counter, and so on.
Michael is in his fourth establishment and don't have high hopes of expecting new results. It's almost midnight but many establishments still have lights on their logos, as people still pouring in it.
(As expected of the booze-loving dwarves. Lonely nights are getting livelier.)
As Michael was about have the thought of leaving, a suspicious looking human in black robe cautiously entered the tavern. Glancing around the pub as if checking the surroundings. The man then approached a table which is occupied by a tall blonde man.
(SUS.)
Feeling a sense of what Michael's looking for, he decided to attentively keep a close watch on them.
"Here's your package." The robed man said in a very low volume. "A premium quality product." Then he pulled something from his pants pocket under the table.
The blonde carefully opened the small bag below the table to check the contents, making sure no one can see what's going on. Michael clearly see what he is trying to conceal and seized the moment to take a peek.
His Clairvoyance unfold crushed shards of cerulean blue crystals, shards shouldn't be right words to describe but powdered. Michael noticed a faint essence of magic from it and realized what's going on.
(…Blue quartz, huh. A drug transaction.)
"Hmm. Good." The blonde replied in the same manner as he is accepting the package.
A beat later, the blonde man toss a gold coin over the supposed pusher. "I'll be back in three days." The pusher stood up and walked out of the pub, leaving the blonde inside.
When the pusher walked far enough, Michael, as if done with his drinks, paid his tabs and leave the establishment.
"…Let's see what happens from now on."
He disappeared from an alley as his remarks were swallowed by the cloudless starry night.
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