The Information House

Night had completely fallen, and the lights on the streets were sparse as a chilly evening breeze blew through.

Bai Xuan pushed open the door and stepped into The Fire God’s Forge. The rhythmic sound of hammering that usually filled the air had vanished without a trace, leaving the shop unnervingly quiet.

The furnace had long since gone cold. Only a single oil lamp on the counter emitted a dim, yellow glow, casting a thin, lonely shadow of Mora.

She sat behind the counter with her hands folded on the surface, her posture as stiff as a sculpture. Even her breathing seemed shallow and slow.

Bai Xuan closed the door softly and approached with light footsteps. The lamp light finally revealed her appearance clearly.

Her face, which was usually calm and indifferent, was now marked with heavy dark circles, and her lips were dry and peeling. It was obvious she hadn't rested well for several days.

Bai Xuan’s heart sank. Something had definitely happened.

Mora slowly raised her head, her gaze lingering on his face for two seconds before she spoke in a raspy voice, her tone carrying an unmistakable exhaustion. “Is the weapon comfortable to use?”

Bai Xuan nodded slightly, his tone certain. “It is very comfortable. Thank you, Master Mora.”

Mora gave a small nod, offering no further pleasantries.

After a few seconds of silence, as if she had finally made up her mind, she spoke. “I need you to do something for me.”

Bai Xuan asked directly, “What is it?”

Mora lowered her voice even further. “Find Barend.”

Bai Xuan was visibly stunned. He hadn't expected that Mora would ask for his help specifically for Barend.

“Ten days ago, after you left with that team, Barend sobered up.”

Mora spoke slowly, her tone tinged with regret. “He remembered that the team had a terrible reputation. Worried about your safety, he immediately ran to the Guild to find you.”

“Since then, I haven't seen him again.” Mora’s voice cracked slightly, her eyes filled with anxiety.

Bai Xuan’s heart grew heavy as he quickly asked, “Haven't you looked for him?”

“I did. I searched all of Blackcreek Town and used many connections to ask around.”

Mora’s voice dropped. “In the end, I only found one lead. He visited the town’s Information House to buy some information, and after that, all traces of him vanished.”

She looked up, her gaze pleading as she watched Bai Xuan, her tone full of supplication.

“I went to the Information House to ask, but the people there were evasive and wouldn't say anything. I was at my wit's end, which is why I thought of you.”

Bai Xuan remained silent for a moment, his fingers tightening slightly. Barend had gone to the Information House and subsequently disappeared all because he was trying to find him.

He looked up at Mora, his tone heavy. “He went to that Information House because of me.”

Mora didn't say anything, only nodding gently, the guilt in her eyes deepening.

Bai Xuan took a deep breath and gave a firm nod. “He is my friend too. I will definitely find out what happened to him.”

“Where exactly is this Information House?”

Mora immediately gave him an address, afraid of missing any detail.

Bai Xuan committed it to memory and said no more, turning to walk out the door with hurried steps.

As he stepped out of The Fire God’s Forge, the evening breeze hit him. After walking a few paces down the street, he suddenly paused as an odd sensation washed over him.

Someone was watching him.

It was a persistent gaze from the shadows, intentionally concealed.

Without showing any reaction, Bai Xuan secretly used his mental probe. Information quickly appeared on his status panel.

Two people were hidden in the shadows of the building across the street, and another was peeking out from the entrance of an alley diagonally behind him.

Their levels weren't high, all of them being a uniform Lv. 3. They posed little threat.

Bai Xuan slowly opened his eyes, his expression unchanged. He continued forward at a steady pace, but his mind was racing.

Before coming to Mora’s shop, his journey had been peaceful, and no one had paid him any attention.

Clearly, these scouts were originally watching Mora. He had simply been included in their surveillance because he had come to see her.

In all likelihood, Mora had been targeted the moment she went to the Information House to ask about Barend.

Now that he had come to see her, he had naturally become a subject of their monitoring as well.

Barend had also disappeared after visiting that Information House. All clues pointed directly to that establishment.

Since he was already being watched, it seemed he had no choice but to go to that Information House. He might be able to gain some intel and avoid being caught off guard.

He didn't stop, heading straight for the address Mora had given him with a composed expression.

With his current strength, although his level was Lv. 5, his attributes were already at the level of a Lv. 7. These few Lv. 3 minor characters couldn't stop him at all.

Even if there were experts hidden in the Information House, no one could keep him there if he wanted to leave.

This confidence was enough for him to handle any sudden situation calmly.

Before long, Bai Xuan found the Information House. It was disguised as a pawnshop, with a sign that read “Copper Plate Pawnshop” in large letters.

Standing across the street, Bai Xuan couldn't help but take an extra look at the sign.

Wasn't this the pawnshop Jiwa had recommended to him before?

He had hesitated back then and ultimately chose to go to Lorrain’s alchemy shop. He hadn't expected to end up here in this manner.

Suppressing his thoughts, he pushed open the door and entered the pawnshop.

The shop wasn't large and the lighting was dim. Old items were scattered sparsely on the shelves, covered in a thin layer of dust.

A middle-aged man sat behind the counter. When he saw Bai Xuan enter, he glanced up briefly.

“Pawning or redeeming?” the man asked in a flat tone, devoid of any emotion.

“I’m here for information,” Bai Xuan said bluntly, skipping the pleasantries.

The man’s gaze lingered on his face for two seconds, seemingly evaluating him. Then, he stood up and pointed toward a door behind the counter, saying calmly, “Go inside.”

Bai Xuan nodded and walked through the door. Behind it was a narrow corridor filled with a faint smell of mildew.

At the end of the corridor was a small room where a young man in his early twenties sat. He had his legs crossed and was nonchalantly flipping through a ledger.

Hearing footsteps, the young man looked up, his gaze sweeping over Bai Xuan with a hint of scrutiny.

Bai Xuan didn't waste words and sat directly across from him. He quietly observed the other man, secretly activating his probe.

Information immediately appeared on the status panel.

【Peter Warren Lv. 4】

【Status: Vigilant, Assessing】

Lv. 4. Bai Xuan instantly knew that the man’s strength posed no threat to him.

The young man closed the ledger and leaned forward slightly, getting straight to the point. “What are you asking about?”

“I’m looking for someone.” Bai Xuan’s tone was calm. “A dwarf who came here ten days ago.”

The young man looked at him with a expressionless face, not responding.

“He is my friend,” Bai Xuan continued, his tone becoming more solemn. “He never returned after coming here. I want to know what information he bought and where he went afterward.”

The young man remained silent for a few seconds, his fingertips tapping lightly on the table as if weighing the pros and cons.

“Many people come here for information, including many dwarves,” he spoke slowly, his tone dismissive. “I might not necessarily remember the one you’re talking about.”

“His name is Barend, and he’s an adventurer,” Bai Xuan said emphatically, his eyes fixed on the young man’s face, refusing to miss even the slightest micro-expression.

The young man lowered his eyes, seemingly trying to recall. However, Bai Xuan clearly noticed his fingers tap the table twice—a subtle but deliberate movement.

At the same time, the status on the panel changed: Vigilant, Suspicious, Calculating.

Bai Xuan understood immediately. The man was lying; there was definitely something wrong here.

“I think I remember someone like that,” the young man spoke sluggishly, his tone still dismissive. “He bought some info and left after paying. As for where he went, we don't care, and it’s none of our business.”

“What information did he buy?” Bai Xuan pressed, his tone not yielding in the slightest.

“He asked about someone.” The young man looked up, his gaze locked onto Bai Xuan as a cold smile touched the corners of his mouth. “A young human caster who had just arrived in Blackcreek Town around that time.”

Bai Xuan’s expression didn't change. He didn't respond, only staring quietly at the man, having already found his answer.

Seeing this, the smile on the young man’s face grew wider but remained devoid of warmth. He said word by word, “That person was you, wasn't it?”

Bai Xuan still didn't answer, his dark gaze fixed on the young man’s face, capturing the calculation and vigilance flashing in his eyes.

The status on the panel changed again: Vigilant, Confirmed, Calculating.

Bai Xuan knew that he wouldn't get anything more by asking.

This Information House was definitely problematic. It wasn't a place to stay long. If he wanted to get information, he would have to use another method.

He intentionally softened his tone and asked, “What is the fee for this information?”

“Since no information was provided to you, there is no charge,” the young man said flatly, though a trace of pride was hidden in his eyes.

Bai Xuan said no more and slowly stood up, turning to walk out without a second glance.

As he stepped out of the pawnshop and the night wind blew, all the clues began to connect.

Barend had disappeared after buying information about him here. Mora had been targeted for asking about Barend’s whereabouts. And now that he had come, he had also become a target of surveillance.

To be able to spread such a dense information network in Blackcreek Town and dare to follow someone so brazenly, the person behind this wasn't hard to guess.

The Cross family.

Even if they weren't the same people, there was bound to be some connection.

Bai Xuan looked up at the deep night sky, a cold light flashing in his eyes.

It seemed he had to prepare in advance. He would draw the snake out of its hole... and perhaps the White family could be put to use.

Bai Xuan walked down the street at a moderate pace, his expression calm as if he were just a regular traveler.

He didn't look back, but he could clearly feel two gazes stuck to his back like spiderwebs.

Those eyes had been following him ever since he left the pawnshop and hadn't left him for a second.

His mental probe had already figured out their details—just two Lv. 3 minor characters who couldn't cause any real trouble.

Bai Xuan didn't stop or speed up, maintaining a steady pace as if he were completely unaware of being followed.

He knew that since these two were still pursuing him after he left the Information House, they didn't plan on letting him go easily and definitely wanted to find out where he was staying.

While thinking, Bai Xuan continued forward and turned into a darker, less crowded alley, intentionally giving them an opportunity to follow.

The two people behind him indeed followed, their footsteps extremely light as they tried to hide their presence. But to Bai Xuan’s sharp ears, every step was clearly audible.

Bai Xuan subtly quickened his pace. When he reached the middle of the alley, he suddenly made a sharp turn into a narrow gap that could only fit one person.

Hurried footsteps immediately came from behind. Clearly, the two were eager to catch up and had lost their composure.

But when the two rushed into the narrow gap, it was already empty. There was no sign of Bai Xuan.

Taking advantage of the moment they turned, Bai Xuan had already leaped over a nearby low wall and circled onto another street.

He stood quietly in the shadows of the wall, watching the two emerge from the other end of the gap. They looked around and searched everywhere, eventually turning back while cursing under their breath.

Only after their footsteps completely vanished at the end of the alley did Bai Xuan step out of the shadows. After orienting himself, he walked steadily toward the White Lion Inn.

Meanwhile, back in the Information House, the broker Peter Warren remained in his seat, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the table, his brow furrowed in thought.

His mind was filled with the young man who had just come looking for the dwarf. His subordinates had reported that a person dressed as a caster had been in contact with the artisan Mora.

Recalling it now, his memory became clear. He had seen this caster before.

Ten days ago, when the dwarf named Barend had come to the Information House, he was clutching a portrait of this very young man.

At the time, the dwarf had said this was his friend and urgently asked if anyone had seen him in town.

Sensing something fishy, Peter had intentionally brushed him off and hadn't revealed any information.

But he never expected that this young man would now show up at his door and take the initiative to ask about Barend’s whereabouts.

Peter’s fingers tapped even faster as he began to instinctively connect several recent events, trying to find the link between them.

He remembered that before the dwarf came to ask for information, Harvey had mentioned something to him during a casual chat.

A demi-human named Kami had come looking for them, wanting to use a tavern conflict to pressure a newly arrived foreign Healer in Blackcreek Town.

Harvey hadn't paid any attention to Kami at the time, but he later happened to run into that Healer near the Inner Wall and had casually given him a few warning words.

Later, the town guards had seen with their own eyes that the Healer had left town with the Nightshade team.

Peter knew the details of the Nightshade team—they were a group of ruthless, profit-driven thugs. That demi-human Kami had specifically taken people to follow them out, so it definitely wasn't for anything good.

At the time, he thought the matter would end there once the Healer left town.

But not long after, the dwarf named Barend had come looking.

The dwarf was desperate to find the Healer and had specifically mentioned the Nightshade team.

This had immediately raised Peter’s suspicions. How could a dwarf know about such secrets?

He had felt something was wrong back then, so while he had someone brush the dwarf off, he had secretly sent people to follow him after he left.

But he hadn't expected the dwarf’s information-gathering abilities to exceed his expectations. Through his relentless questioning and investigating, he had actually managed to touch upon some things he shouldn't have.

Those secrets regarding the Cross family were things that absolutely could not be leaked.