"May I ask who you are?"
Angel did not answer his question, instead casually asking one of her own.
The man was about thirty, with meticulously groomed short blond hair. His relatively flat facial features and deep blue eyes were characteristic of southern Intis. Combined with his question, they led Angel to suspect that he was another "outsider."
After all, according to the information she had gathered, this city was not completely cut off from the outside world. On the contrary, people stumbled into it every few years and became new residents. It was only the strict laws preventing anyone from leaving that had kept almost all clues about the Ghost Empire from reaching the outside world, where the legend had once been dismissed as hearsay.
"You can call me Nemo. Of course, that's something of an alias, but in this city, I am Nemo."
The blond man answered with a smile, effectively admitting outright that he was an "outsider" too.
"Angelica." Angel returned his friendly smile, then put down her history book, deciding to seek information from a living person instead. "They and I did just arrive in this city. That's why we came to the library to learn about its history and origins, and try to find a way out... Mr. Nemo, do you have any advice?"
"My only advice is not to waste your time."
Nemo chuckled, doing his best to maintain a gentlemanly demeanor, but Angel still caught a trace of mockery deep in his eyes.
It was not directed at her, but at himself.
"You've tried?" Angel asked thoughtfully.
"Of course. Every 'guest' who first arrives here has tried. They pore over ancient texts, explore every corner of the city, speak with people who arrived before them, and even risk their lives using all sorts