After the meeting, Ang was assigned by Marquis Yaglu to visit the magic shops in the city, accompanied by one of the marquis's guards. The two rode through the streets of Bahoya City, and the city looked completely different from the bustling scene Ang remembered. The streets were deserted, most shops had their doors and windows tightly shut, and some storefronts had even been nailed shut with wooden boards. The atmosphere in the city had clearly become extremely oppressive. The guard did not say a word the entire way, merely riding with his head lowered, his movements steady as though everything were under his control. Ang felt a slight tightening in his chest. The silence made him more alert, but he soon relaxed and decided to follow the guard's lead.
They reached a wide street where many magic shops were still gathered. Ang swept his gaze across both sides of the street and saw only closed doors and empty stores. He had assumed the guard would take him into a particular shop so they could select the necessary supplies together, as before. Instead, the guard merely waved a hand and said, "You may enter any magic shop on this street. I don't know what's inside. Pick whatever you need yourself."
The words startled Ang so much that he stopped and turned to look at the guard. Pick whatever he wanted? Without paying magic crystals? The items in these shops could not possibly be ownerless. Questions filled Ang's mind, but when he considered the current situation, he decided he had no time to dwell on such details. Looking around, he could not help sighing inwardly. There were at least twenty magic shops on this street. This had clearly once been the busiest magic trade district in Bahoya City.
Seeing that Ang