To reach the sewer where he grew his herbs as quickly as possible, the fat apothecary hired a carriage. The two rode to the riverside where Backlund Bridge Borough bordered the East Borough.
During the ride, the apothecary, who called himself Darkwill, introduced himself. His teacher had driven him out to travel the continent and experience life. He had stayed in Tingen City for a time and was currently settled in Backlund. He had just planted a batch of herbs, only for most of them to be carried off by beasts in the sewers.
Angel also gave her alias: Irene Watson.
Bridge District was not large. The two quickly traveled from Iron Gate Street to the riverbank. Less than two minutes after getting out of the carriage, Darkwill pointed toward a spot near the shore, where a semi-open sewer entrance stood.
After the great plague that had swept through half the Loen Kingdom more than a decade ago, the capital, Backlund, had established an advanced sewer system. It had originated from the "legacy of Emperor Roselle" of the Intis Kingdom, but had undergone numerous improvements, surpassing the model it had imitated in one stroke.
Of course, in Angel's eyes, the system was still crude. Domestic wastewater was discharged directly into the Tussock River without further treatment or filtration, flowing into the sea in all sorts of strange colors and smells. The outlets near factories and docks were even worse, with oil stains everywhere and garbage strewn across the ground.
It was said that someone had been calling in the newspapers for Parliament to pass laws prohibiting residents near the Tussock River from dumping sewage directly into it. Unfortunately, too many interests were involved, and nothing had come of it.
Thus, this state of sewage being discharged straight into the river