Chapter 1447 Change

The world might have changed, but Igor and the others couldn't quite pin it down. A lot of strange things were happening, and they found themselves involved.

Though these occurrences were bizarre, they had no choice but to face them. The once concealed window paper had been pierced, revealing the hidden matters before them. The unknown gradually manifested, bringing with it shock and fear.

Perhaps, they were merely pawns in these changes...

Igor and the group followed Douglas into Romanvis. The city didn't have many flourishing buildings, yet it exuded grandeur and solemnity, mainly due to the sheer number of people present.

Each of them carried their own doubts, given that Douglas's descriptions had piqued their curiosity greatly.

Their arrival in the city went unnoticed; no one's gaze lingered on their attire. There were plenty of people within the city—some busy, some daydreaming, and others, idly lingering...

This scene was completely at odds with what they had initially discussed; Igor couldn't see any virtue of diligence among these people—they all appeared slothful, like a crowd of idle wanderers.

"This change is really immense!" Amoon couldn't help but exclaim.

Anyone would be amazed by such changes, and now Amoon and Igor understood why Douglas had sat pondering for so long.

Romanvis seemed to have lost its former charm, appearing entirely foreign to Igor and the others.

"When I came here before, there were no beggars visible because as long as one had a pair of hands, there was no worry of food and clothing. But why are there beggars now?" Amoon was puzzled; he felt this was not the Romanvis he had known.

"This is just a small change amongst many." Douglas said; his exploration of the city had left him speechless at the extent of his shock.

"I don't understand why these people are begging!" Igor was utterly baffled by the scene before him. He had earlier thought of the city as wonderful, with everyone diligent and peace-loving. Yet now, it seemed things were not as he had originally thought.

"No matter what, we must patiently understand the changes occurring in this city; these matters cannot be rushed." Amoon had more experience in such matters, and Igor and the others agreed with his proposal.

"I believe we should start with the people; to understand the changes here, we must first understand their circumstances." Igor suggested.

"That's right, I think a tavern is a good place, bustling with people and conversations—even if we don't speak, we can learn a lot!" Douglas said.

Thankfully, Igor and Amoon were also feeling faint with hunger; had it not been for the striking changes stimulating their nerves, they might have collapsed from hunger.

Because Douglas had previously scouted the city, they felt less of a stranger's discomfort upon entering.

This way, they avoided many curious gazes, managing to blend in well with the crowd.

Douglas led them to a tavern, one of the larger establishments in Romanvis. Just as Douglas said, the tavern was a mixed bag, bustling with all sorts.

The patrons mostly came to drown their sorrows, with some simply there for leisure, given that any sizable tavern had wandering bards whose songs were naturally the most welcomed sounds in the place.

These wandering bards didn't just bring songs; they brought news from beyond, acting as mobile news broadcasters constantly delivering fresh updates to people.

Igor originally thought wandering bards were unique to the Kayne Realm, but to his surprise, he saw them in the Vero Realm too.

However, in this tavern, the bard's song was lifeless; he sang of floral and moonlit affairs, which few were interested in hearing.

Amoon and the others found a spot to sit and ordered three pints of dark beer with roasted meat. Thanks to their connection with the Alchemist, they were generous in their expenditure.

At the opposite table, a lone uncle drank without lifting his gaze, dressed like a fallen noble from the Vero Realm.

Upon entering, Igor didn't sense the lively atmosphere of the tavern; he felt instead pervading it was a stillness and despair.

What was causing people here in the tavern to hold back so much? Igor was curious.

Yet Igor and the others remained silent, mirroring the patrons by quietly sipping their drinks without a word.

The bard continued singing those romantic tales undisturbed; no one found him bothersome. The only normal aspect was the tavern's attendant, who, unlike the boss with a troubled face, seized every opportunity to nap, as if perpetually sleepless while working in the tavern.

The tavern indeed had a motley crowd; who would've thought that the traditionally insular Vero people would present such a scene, with many Mantai people mingling about. These Mantai drank without expression, but demonstrated a strict discipline, which contrasted sharply with typical Mantai impressions.

Through Amoon and Douglas's eyes, Mantai drinking never seemed settled; for them to sit quietly drinking like this—were they impostors?

Not just the Mantai, but Igor also spotted a couple of dwarves huddled in a corner, their greedy green eyes observing the surroundings like something had caught their attention.

It felt reminiscent of Burstan! Amoon had an unshakable feeling, wondering if he was mistaken.

Romanvis suddenly seemed to transform into the free-spirited Burstan!

No, it was still unlike that; there was no sense of freedom here—the odd crowd appeared somehow bound.

"Things are very strange!" Amoon muttered quietly, careful not to be overheard.

"That's what perplexes me; see, within this tavern, we gain little insight." Douglas agreed quietly, sipping beer and eating meat, muting their voices.

"It's quite difficult, not knowing how to uncover what's truly happening here; these people are unusual, unlike what we imagined." Amoon analyzed.

"Perhaps we should find someone to ask!" Igor suddenly suggested, thinking about things differently.