Walking through the Merchant's district I observed the places, the houses surrounding us were luxurious and rather on the fancy side.
It was as if they were competing with each other on who could look more wealthy compared to the other...
This district was not big but not very small in size either.
Of course, compared to Saffron City, which was more like a castle due to its geographical nature, Atlas was relatively less guarded.
But, this place has faced almost no destruction from monsters' waves...
That was weird...
Was the defense here that strong or... They also had a part in it.
"Hey, Move out of the way!!"
A shout grabbed my attention as I turned to see a carriage coming at full speed.
Quickly taking a step back I gave it the way it needed.
But I soon frowned.
Why do I need to step aside? I was walking on the pedestrian side.
Is the carriage driver retarded or what?
Squinting my eyes I read what was written over the carriage back.
'Renowned House of Merchants - Luna Trade'
"I will make sure to remember this," I muttered and carried myself towards my next destination.
I have not visited Atlas City Guild even once since I came here.
Well actually I never needed to, unlike Saffron, this city has no reason to face any monster's threat, being far away from dead zones had made the guild pretty useless in my eyes.
Walking toward the guild not far from the Temple, I finally reached my destination.
All the cities I had come to seem to have two designs in common.
The Temple was in the middle and important facilities such as hospitals and Guild not far away.
This was the same for Atlas as well. This city could not be called a free city anymore, right...?
Now that most gangs have fallen, law and order with time will become stricter and stronger. The noble houses will surely come back here as well.
Maybe some of them have already departed to come here...
Sigh...
"My work will increase once again." Talking to myself I finally saw the guild in the view.
A tall building with a delicate and classical design mix of wood and stones gave it a regal look along with the influx of scholars entering it making it more like a bureaucratic office rather than a place for awakeners to go.
Entering the building I looked around.
Many people were walking around with papers in their hands, some running between the floor while the other fastly jolting down some words at the stand to write...
It was not a place filled with awakeners but rather government officials who seemed to be working together with the Temple.
There was also a mission board but it was mostly empty.
"Let's check it out, now that I have come here."
Without any hurry I walked toward the bulletin board, my steps slow and steady to avoid anyone who may collide with me in their rushed schedule.
"Hmm, Taking care of someone's child."
What kind of quest is this?
"No, wait there is one more."
'Find the missing pet.'
'Looking for a helper to repair the shop.'
'Someone to take care of an old woman passed 70...'
I was left baffled as I read them one by one. These did not work for just regular awakeners but rather for anyone...
"No, wait, the last one is a complete scam..."
Taking care of an old woman may seem like a normal thing until one notices the way it was written. It avoided anything related to the woman's health and behavior.
If someone needed to take care of their old mother they should have given proper conditions and even specifics on what kind of case it was...
One may think it was made in a hurry but I was sure the real reason was something else.
"Maybe the mother is on her death bed or... he may want to get rid of her without taking any blame."
Previously this kind of thought would have never entered my mind, but now I know what kind of evil a human was capable of doing...
The real threat was never the monsters lurking outside the safe zones— But rather the humans hidden in the dark.
"Let's leave it for now..."
If it is still here tomorrow I will check it out.
"But for now let's send the letter."
Reminding myself of the work I looked for an empty reception...?
"Hello, can you tell me where the mails are sent?"
I asked a man wearing a black office suit, his gaze stern and heavy. He nodded and pointed his finger at another at the corner.
"You should check there, It may be crowded right now."
He said in a calm and composed manner, he was probably used to dealing with this.
"Thanks"
Giving my thanks I walked toward the said direction, as I crossed the door a wave of nausea washed over me.
The hall was crowded, overcrowded if I do say so myself.
Papers were flying in the room along with several boxes covered in tightly packed seals...
It was a mess.
A complete and utter chaotic mess.
"Excuse me!"
Getting me out of my daze I turned to let a lady pass.
"Ah, yes."
"Can't just stand here," I muttered and walked over the crowded mess of people.
Pushing several people out of the way, I finally reached the end of the room. But it was just the start of my suffering.
I faced the evil that has been existing since the start of Civilizations.
A line of people waiting for their turns.
Sigh...
In the end, all I could do was wait at the end.
After several minutes passed the line finally moved halfway through....
After half an hour passed in silence, I finally saw the reception in clear view.
Ting—!
With a click of another bell, my turn finally came.
"Next"
The lady sitting at the reception called out as I came in front of her desk.
She looked up and saw me, then her face from a frown turned into a small polite smile.
"Sir, You should have gone to the VIP section."
"What?"
I accidentally blurted out.
She furrowed her brow and pointed her finger at another corner of the room hidden behind the crowd.
I leaned forward toward her desk and took the support of my hand to look toward it.
On the right side of the door, some words were engraved in golden words.
'VIP'
"Anyone can go there if they pay extra."
She politely added, seeing her smile my lips twitched but I kept my calm and nodded.
"I was unaware."
I said with a wry smile but my frustration couldn't be hidden behind my smile.
She seems to have taken me as a rich merchant or noble due to my looks.
I sighed and asked.
"I wish to send a letter to Saffron City."
"Which method would you like to use? The regular method will take at least a few weeks while the airline method will take at most 5 days... Or you can take the special method only available to VIP members of the guild. Your letter will reach its destination in 2 days."
"Haa..." I sighed and looked at her with a small smile.
"Miss,has anyone ever told you that you are really good at your job."
Hearing my words her eyes lit up as her lips curled up into a full-blown smile.
She didn't get the sarcasm, did she?
"So, you will buy the VIP membership, sir?"
I shook my head pouring cold water over her dreams.
"No, but I will take the airline offer, I am not in that much hurry right now."
Her smile wavered slightly but she quickly regained her composure and nodded, pulling out a form.
Filling in the details I handed it back to her.
But her face remained down as she continued to sulk over our talk.
"Oh, can I also pay for the airline reply letter in advance?"
She sighed and looked up.
"Yes sir you can, please show me your ID."
Handing her my ID she quickly jolted down the number on a form beside her.
"Here."
Taking it back with one hand, I handed her the letter.
"Is it a love letter...?"
She asked and bit down on her lower lips, her eyes looking up in expectation.
'Why is she asking me this? Is she in the mood to gossip or something?'
"Sadly, no it's for friends." I shook my head.
"Ah, I see!"
Smack—!
A woman came behind her and smacked her head with the clipboard in her hand.
"Ouch—!"
I was left stupefied as I witnessed this.
The receptionist winced in pain and turned her head back with a flushed face.
"Which F–!"
Then she stopped as she looked at the woman with glasses who had just hit her.
"Madam...?!"
"Stop disturbing customers and do your work. After it's done, come meet me in the office." She lifted her glasses up and turned to face me.
"We are sorry for disturbing you, sir. " She bowed her head and gave the receptionists another glance.
"Ah, No— There is no need to!"
Caught up in this strange atmosphere I shook my head.
"That's good to hear... And you wait, I will tell your father when he gets home."
She turned to look at her and left after another respectful bow.
"Mother..."
Her face turned pale as looked back and lowered her hands.
She sighed and muttered. "I will also complain about abusing her daughter in her job."
'Are they mother and daughter?'
This situation was way too chaotic and I just wanted to leave.
"Um, is my work done?" I asked with a bit of hesitation.
"Ah, yes please just pay 2,400R... It's a bit costly but we guarantee proper safety of your package for this service."
'She regained her composure pretty quick.' I thought in amusement, it was hard to maintain a polite demeanor after all that chaos.
I hardly managed to control myself from laughing, with a small nod I handed her the money.
"Alright thank you... Mr. Asher."
She said with a small smile.
"Thank you as well for the entertainment."
I couldn't resist adding that as I handed over the money to the receptionist. She blinked a few times before a faint blush spread across her cheeks. I wondered if she had forgotten she was at work.
"Just kill me..."
Saying that she hid her face, it was too pitiful to watch so I took my leave without further notice.
The crowd had lessened by the time my business here was done.
***
She raised her head and looked up from her desk.
"Did that handsome man leave?"
She asked her colleague with a small frown.
"Yes, you were too busy crawling down the desk in shame."
"At least I know his address... Hehe~"
"You forgot to tell him your name though."
Hearing this she accidentally slammed her hand at the corner of her desk in shock and fell back from her chair.
Thud—!
"...My luck."
She looked down at the ground she had just fallen, the area around her seemed to have turned black and white in a comical sense as she slouched her shoulders down in sadness.
She looked truly pitiful even after all those flirting efforts, Asher didn't take a single hint.