Belvan Town , Drunken Bear Inn.

"That must be Belvan Town," Oasis thought as he saw the guards near the gate.

The sound of the town—voices, the clatter of hooves, and the hum of commerce—grew louder with each step.

Balto glanced at Oasis as they approached the gate. "Stay sharp, young one. This place can be as unforgiving as it is prosperous."

Oasis nodded, his eyes fixed on the gates as they walked closer.

The chubby boy, who was the son of the city lord, spoke to the guards, and the group entered the city without any fuss.

Being part of the escort for the city lord's son ensured their smooth passage into Belvan Town.

The town was bustling with activity—traders called out prices, people haggled over goods, and the air was thick with the scents of food and the sound of commerce.

Though not as large as a true city, Belvan Town was still impressive, slightly bigger than Mossy Hollow where Oasis had grown up.

Without wasting time, Balto and his group headed straight for the city lord's mansion to report their mission.

Oasis, however, decided to find an inn to secure a place to stay.

As he ventured through the town, his mind was filled with questions.

"So, the BlackBoar mercenaries were escorting that fat boy," he thought,

"but why use mercenaries instead of the city's own guards? Was that boy really responsible for the negotiations at the meeting? Something doesn't add up."

Oasis was curious why the boy was only accompanied by the mercenaries with no other guardians in sight.

Had his guardian died before Oasis encountered the group?

And what kind of betrothal meeting required the boy's personal attendance?

The attack by the serpent only deepened Oasis's suspicions.

On the surface, the Mistvalley lord would have had every reason to ensure the meeting went smoothly since forming an alliance with a flourishing town like Belvan was beneficial.

"There's more to this," Oasis thought. "But as long as it doesn't hinder my mission, it's none of my business."

Crrrrr!!!

Oasis opened the door of the inn he found in town. The place had a sign above the entrance that read 'Drunken Bear Inn.'

The inn's interior was lively, filled with a mix of people—merchants haggling over deals, travelers relaxing after long journeys, and locals enjoying their evening drinks.

The atmosphere was warm and somewhat rowdy, with conversations blending into a constant hum.

The inn had a rustic charm, with wooden beams overhead, a stone fireplace crackling in the corner, and tables scattered across the room, occupied by patrons from all walks of life.

"Welcome to Drunken Bear Inn, young one," a young woman in her twenties greeted Oasis with a warm smile as she stood behind the counter.

Oasis walked over to speak with her.

"How can I help you?" she asked politely.

To Oasis's right, a man stood at the bar, loudly demanding more ale.

Noticing Oasis, he jeered, "Perhaps offer him some milk!" He laughed raucously, and a few others joined in, clearly part of his group.

Oasis ignored the taunt and turned to the woman.

"Miss, I'm looking for a room to stay in for some time."

"I'd prefer a room with a bathing tub and warm water for the duration of my stay," he said calmly.

"How long are you planning to stay here, young brother?" she asked respectfully.

"I'm not sure. Let's say, how much for a month?" Oasis inquired.

"A night with what you're asking for is about 15 silver coins," she replied.

"And add two meals a day to that, please," Oasis added.

"That would be 25 silver coins per night," the lady informed him.

"Alright, miss, I'll stay for a month," Oasis said, handing her eight gold coins.

The man who had taunted him earlier now eyed Oasis with a different look, like a predator sizing up prey.

"Here's your change, young brother," the lady said, offering the coins back.

"No need for that, keep it," Oasis replied politely.

She handed over a token for his room, which was secured with an array lock system that only the token could unlock, ensuring the safety of the guests.

She then called over a man who stood near the hallway leading upstairs, seemingly one of the inn's guards.

The guard escorted Oasis to his room, which was located on the upper floor. After showing him the room, the man returned to his post.

Crrrr!

Oasis opened the door to his room. It was spacious, with a large bed, a small desk, and an open area leading to a wooden bathtub.

There was also a large window with a door that led to a balcony overlooking the town's streets.

The room was cozy and well-appointed, especially considering it was in a town much smaller than Lunalith.

"This place isn't bad, considering it's just a town, way smaller than Lunalith," Oasis thought, feeling satisfied with his choice.

Meanwhile, back in the inn, the man who had taunted Oasis earlier had returned to his table, where his men sat.

He leaned in, whispering to them,

"Did you see that kid? Make sure you follow him wherever he goes."

"As soon as he gets into an alley or outside the town, knock him out," he instructed, pausing to gesture a throat-slitting motion.

"That kid is our piggy bank."

He continued,

"Either we kidnap him and request ransom—since he might come from a wealthy background or..."

His words trailed off, leaving his sinister intentions clear.

The men around him smiled wickedly, realizing they had found easy prey.

As dusk approached, Oasis was still relaxing on the balcony, watching the town's routines.

People moved about their business, and oil lamps were lit in the streets.

The inn, however, used mana-powered lamps, which from Oasis's perspective, seemed to be fueled by mana stones.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

The sound of knocking came from the door.

Crrrr!

Oasis opened the door to find the young woman from earlier.

"Young brother, here's your hot water," she said as she entered and poured the water into the bathtub.

"Would you like something to eat before you sleep?" she asked.

"No, not today," he replied.

"Okay, good night, young brother," she said as she left the room.

"Thank you, miss," Oasis responded with a nod.

Not wasting any time, Oasis soaked himself in the bathtub, letting the warm water wash away the fatigue of the day.

Afterward, he went straight to bed, falling asleep quickly.