Matthew withdrew his gaze.
In his heart, he had already quietly placed the Theater District in a relatively important position.
But that was all.
He had no intention of going there now.
In fact, he wouldn't even actively approach it anytime soon.
The reason was simple.
Knowing there was danger and actively throwing oneself into danger were two entirely different things.
He had been able to survive to this day not by relying on luck, but on being sufficiently restrained.
Unknown dangers could be encountered.
But walking headfirst into a danger one already knew about was just seeking death.
Matthew was very clear on this point.
...
After leaving this block, the two of them slowly wandered around for nearly another hour.
During this time, Matthew bought almost nothing.
Most of the time, he just observed.
He looked at the buildings, the shops, the streets, and the people.
He would even stop occasionally to look at the street signs erected at intersections.
Little by little, he committed the general layout of the royal capital to memory.
At first, Aidan didn't quite understand.
Only later did he realize that Matthew wasn't wandering aimlessly.
Every time they passed a street, Matthew would subconsciously check what buildings were nearby, what shops were there, and whether there were patrol knights in the vicinity.
He would note which direction they could retreat to if a conflict broke out, where the crowds were thickest, where the alleys were narrow, and where it was easy to hide.
All along the way, Matthew silently memorized the locations of almost all the important buildings they passed.
Aidan couldn't help but ask, “Brother Matthew, why are you memorizing all of this?”
Matthew didn't look back. He simply smiled and said, “It will come in handy later.”
“In an unfamiliar place, the most dangerous thing isn't the enemy. It's not knowing where you are.”
“When you actually run into danger one day, you'll find that memorizing these things in advance is more useful than practicing your swordsmanship for another day.”
Aidan nodded, only half-understanding.
However, he still made an effort to memorize along with him, even though he was already starting to mix up many of the places.
...
By noon, the sun had gradually risen high.
Yet the number of pedestrians on the streets hadn't decreased in the slightest.
Instead, it was even busier than in the morning.
The savory scent of roast meat began to waft from the taverns, and people constantly drifted in and out of the bakeries.
Carriages passed one after another.
The entire royal capital was like a giant machine.
Everyone was busy in their respective positions.
No one would stop their steps just because someone else had paused.
Matthew stood on a stone bridge, watching the river water flow slowly beneath it.
On the river, cargo ships slowly sailed past.
On the banks, workers were constantly loading and unloading goods.
Wooden crates, food, fabrics, ores, and even iron cages containing magical beast cubs converged here, and then flowed from here to the entire kingdom.
At this moment, Matthew finally truly realized.
The reason the royal capital was so prosperous was not because of how many nobles it had, nor was it because of how many Class holders lived here.
Rather, it was because the wealth of the entire kingdom was constantly converging here.
Gold coins, resources, talents, information, and power—they would all eventually flow here.
And this place, in turn, determined the operation of the entire kingdom. This was the real royal capital.
...
At this thought, Matthew suddenly felt a long-absent sense of urgency in his heart.
When he had obtained the Blood-Veined Rapier yesterday, he had felt a bit of satisfaction.
But after walking around today, that small bit of satisfaction had vanished completely.
The royal capital was too massive, and too powerful.
The Purple-quality weapon he had been so proud of yesterday might have been shocking enough back in the county seat.
But in the royal capital... it was highly unlikely to be unique.
Here, there were massive auction houses, countless nobles, knight orders with long histories, and innumerable large chambers of commerce.
The foundation and heritage they possessed were definitely not something he could compare to right now.
At this thought, Matthew actually smiled.
There was no disappointment, only a growing sense of intense anticipation.
There were more resources here, which meant there were also more opportunities.
As long as he could grow step by step, sooner or later, he would be able to stand at the same height as those people, or perhaps even surpass them.
...
The sun gradually began to sink westward.
Matthew glanced at the sky, then at the still-bustling streets, and let out a soft breath.
This trip out today had yielded far more than he had imagined.
Although he hadn't bought anything, he had gotten a general grasp of the royal capital's main districts.
He had also heard plenty of scattered bits of news from all kinds of people.
While these pieces of information seemed disorganized, Matthew believed that as long as he accumulated enough of them, he would eventually be able to piece together the things hidden beneath the surface.
With this in mind, he turned to look at Aidan.
“Let's head back.”
Aidan was taken aback for a moment. “Now?”
“Yes,” Matthew nodded. “We've achieved our purpose for today. Next, there is another matter I need you to handle.”
Aidan immediately straightened his posture, his expression turning serious. “Brother Matthew, just give the word.”
Matthew didn't answer immediately.
He merely gazed at the prosperous royal capital in the distance, his eyes gradually growing deep.
Before today, he still hadn't known how to look for wizards.
But after walking around all day today, and listening to the chatter of those mercenaries, merchants, and old men, a plan had gradually formed in his mind.
Perhaps looking for wizards was never about directly seeking out the wizards themselves.
Rather, it was about... searching for the traces they left behind.
Matthew withdrew his gaze and didn't linger any longer.
The two of them slowly made their way back toward the inn along the street.
The setting sun had already begun to sink lower, casting golden light over the greenish-gray flagstone road and painting the buildings on both sides in warm hues.
The Commercial District, which had been noisy all day, didn't quiet down just because evening had arrived. Instead, it became even livelier.
Quite a few shops lit the magic crystal lamps in front of their doors.
Pale blue lights flickered on one after another, intertwining with the sunset and giving the entire street a completely different look from the daytime.
Pedestrians still flowed in an endless stream.
Artisans finishing their work, nobles preparing to enjoy the night, mercenaries heading out in groups for a drink, and merchant caravans pulling cargo back to their warehouses.
Laughter, bargaining, and the rough clinking of cups from taverns echoed continuously from both sides of the street.
It was as if the entire royal capital only truly belonged to the night at this very moment.
Matthew didn't walk very fast, observing his surroundings as he went.
The greatest harvest from today's outing wasn't learning which street sold weapons or which sold potions. It was understanding the people of the royal capital.
The people here were far more complex than those in the county seat.
Everyone harbored some small piece of information.
Some were true, some were false, and some were just idle gossip over tea.
But as long as one listened to enough of it, they would eventually be able to piece together something of real value.
He suddenly recalled a saying from his past life.
What one person knew was limited. But what a hundred people knew was enough to form a completely different picture.
The royal capital had a population of hundreds of thousands.
There was no telling how many things happened here every single day.
And true secrets would never simply surface on their own.
Yet the traces they left behind would be scattered throughout the casual chatter of countless people.
At this thought, Matthew's eyes grew brighter and brighter.
He finally knew how he should look for wizards.
It wasn't about looking for wizards directly. It was about looking for anomalies.
Looking for things that others found strange but couldn't explain.
As long as there were wizards active, they would definitely leave traces behind. It was impossible for them to be completely airtight.
...
By the time they returned to the inn, the sky had turned completely dark.
Two magic crystal lamps at the entrance emitted a soft white light.
The inn manager was still standing behind the counter, flipping through his ledger.
Seeing Matthew return, he immediately smiled and nodded. “Lord Matthew, did you have a pleasant time today?”
Matthew smiled back. “It was quite a fruitful harvest.”
The inn manager didn't press further, only bowing slightly. “Dinner is already prepared. If you need it, it can be delivered to your room at any time.”
“Alright,” Matthew nodded, then led Aidan up the stairs.
They went all the way back to their room on the third floor.
The door shut, instantly cutting off most of the noise from outside. Quiet was restored to the room.
Matthew took off his cloak and sat down in a chair.
Having walked all day, although his body wasn't particularly tired, his mind had been constantly memorizing things, leaving his Spirit somewhat exhausted.
Aidan stood to the side, not disturbing him.
Only after Matthew had taken a sip of water did he ask in a low voice, “Brother Matthew, are we going out again today?”
“No,” Matthew shook his head. “We've done enough for today.”
Saying that, he raised his head and looked at Aidan. “However, there is something I need you to do.”
Aidan's expression instantly turned serious. “Please give your instructions.”
Matthew remained silent for a moment, organizing his thoughts. Then, he spoke slowly.
“Starting tomorrow, you don't need to help me ask where to buy things anymore, nor do you need to pay attention to which chamber of commerce has high or low prices.”
“I want you to help me find a certain kind of person.”
Aidan was taken aback. “What kind of person?”
Matthew didn't answer directly. Instead, he asked a question back. “When those mercenaries were chatting today, did you notice that many of the things they talked about were just rumors?”
Aidan nodded. “Yes.”
“Like not going to the Theater District at night, people going missing, noble estates being haunted, and vampires... They all sound like stories.”
Matthew smiled. “Stories aren't necessarily fake. Many stories are adapted from real events.”
“It's just that ordinary people don't know the truth, so the rumors get more and more ridiculous as they spread.”
Aidan blinked, only half-understanding.
Matthew continued, “So, I don't want you to directly search for the people I'm looking for. Because you won't be able to find them.”
“What I want you to look for is... anomalies.”
Aidan was stunned. “Anomalies?”
“Yes,” Matthew nodded. “Note down everything that differs from normal life.”
“For example, streets that are suddenly sealed off, or people going missing consecutively.”
“Or cases deliberately concealed by the patrol squad, or perhaps some mansion where people always see strange lights at night.”
“Or certain nobles acting abnormally, living in seclusion, and never showing their faces during the day.”
“Even urban legends that repeatedly circulate in taverns but can never be explained by anyone.”
He spoke very slowly. With every sentence he uttered, Aidan memorized it diligently.
The room was so quiet that only the voices of the two could be heard.
Matthew gazed out at the night sky, which had completely darkened, and spoke slowly.
“Don't underestimate these things. Truly powerful figures won't hang their names out on the street.”
“But if they have been active, they will definitely leave traces behind.”
“One person might be able to hide, and two people might also be able to hide.”
“But for a group of people, as long as they remain active, someone will eventually see something. Even if it's just a tiny bit, that's enough.”
Aidan's eyes gradually lit up.
Only at this moment did he truly understand what Matthew wanted him to do. It wasn't about finding people. It was about tracking people through their traces.
At this thought, he nodded heavily. “Brother Matthew, I understand. In the future, I won't ask if there are any wizards around anymore. I will look for those strange occurrences instead.”
Matthew nodded in satisfaction. “Good. One more thing.”
“Don't deliberately pry, and definitely don't act too curious.”
“You are just an ordinary Knight, occasionally drinking with mercenaries and listening to others chat.”
“If others are willing to talk, you listen. If they aren't, then change to another tavern.”
“Remember, the thing we lack least is time.”
Aidan's expression turned solemn. “I will remember.”
Matthew leaned back against the chair, gazing at the dazzling night view of the royal capital outside the window, the corners of his mouth curving slightly.
Before today, he had lacked a direction. But now, he already knew what to do.
The royal capital was very large, and secrets were many. But the more secrets there were, the more traces would be left behind.
He believed that sooner or later, the wizards and vampires hiding in the shadows of the royal capital, as well as the secret behind the Blood-Veined Rapier, would gradually surface, bit by bit, along these tiny clues.
Matthew didn't say any more. For some things, saying them once was enough.
Aidan although young, he wasn't stupid.
On the contrary, after getting along all this way, Matthew had realized that Aidan's greatest strength wasn't his power, but his ability to execute orders.
As long as he was told what to do, he wouldn't ask extra questions, nor would he try to be clever.
For the current Matthew, such a person was more important than someone with great strength.
The room fell quiet once more.
The magic crystal lamp on the table emitted a soft glow, illuminating the entire room brightly.
Outside the window, the occasional sound of a passing carriage could be heard, along with the faint, distant laughter from the taverns.
The royal capital at night was even livelier than during the day.
Yet by the time these sounds reached the room, they had already become very faint, as if separated by another world entirely.
Matthew picked up his teacup and took a gentle sip.
The warm tea slid down his throat, slowly relaxing his somewhat fatigued mind.
Throughout this single day, his harvest had actually been quite substantial.
He had reconfirmed the value of the Blood-Veined Rapier, understood the general layout of the royal capital, and learned the general status of Class holders in the royal capital.
He had heard rumors about the Theater District and vampires, and now, he had established the direction for Aidan's future intelligence gathering.
Every single step was progressing according to his plan.
With this in mind...
...
...
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