The first World Culture Expo had already drawn to a close. By the time Joshua returned from the Crystal Palace to the Hearthstone tavern, night had blanketed all of Nolan.
The first thing Joshua did upon returning to the Hearthstone tavern was open the program for "Orange Cat Simulator," or rather, "Orange Cat Invasion," in his study and begin playing.
Joshua controlled the orange cat as it leaped straight from the dusty floor onto a stone table.
A large number of Glass bottles were piled on the table. Judging by their shape, they were meant to hold some kind of potion.
Joshua controlled the orange cat and used its paw to turn one of the Glass bottles. A label was stuck to its surface.
"Joy Potion ingredients."
Joshua read the words on the label aloud. Fortunately, the Gray Mist Continent also used the common language of the continent.
"Joy Potion? That doesn't sound like anything good."
Ciri dragged over a chair, sat beside Joshua, and rubbed her eyes.
A cat's perspective was completely different from a human's, so staring at the image on Joshua's Magic Web Interface for too long made one's eyes very uncomfortable.
"There's no other explanation on it?"
Joshua controlled the orange cat as it jumped from this stone table to another on the opposite side, one that happened to be beside the window.
The curtains covered the window. The orange cat stretched out its paw and pulled back one corner, revealing the scene outside.
"Is this inside a city?"
Ciri looked through the cat's vision and made out the view beyond the window. Outside was a city shrouded beneath dark clouds.
The city's architectural style was somewhat similar to Steel Country's, but unlike Steel Country's steam-filled, vibrant metropolis, this city exuded desolation and deathly stillness everywhere.