Strange Shangbala Town

It was morning when Richard arrived in Shangbala Town. It could not compare to the bustling evening hours, but logically speaking, the streets should still have been filled with people.

Yet when Richard arrived in Shangbala Town, he found the streets utterly deserted. There was not even a single person in sight, and the place stood empty like a ghost town.

What was going on?

With some confusion, Richard headed toward a tavern on the street, intending to ask around for information.

But when he reached the tavern entrance, he found its doors and windows tightly shut. He shoved the door hard, but it would not budge. Using Gaze of the Eye for a quick look, he discovered that a thick, long stick had been braced against it from inside.

Strange!

It was one thing for a tavern not to actively solicit customers, but why would it forcibly keep potential customers out?

Richard raised an eyebrow, unwilling to waste time investigating slowly. He pushed his hand forward and cast a spell, making the entire tavern door shudder. The stick bracing it from within was forcibly knocked away, and with a bang, the door flew open as he stepped inside.

That truly startled the people in the tavern.

The moment Richard entered, he saw everyone in the packed tavern rise in unison, looking toward him at the doorway with equal parts vigilance and panic.

Several people were particularly agitated. They grabbed the wooden stools they had been sitting on, ready to throw them at him.

Others snatched up bottles from the tables, raised them over their heads, and began gathering strength to use them as throwing weapons. But they misjudged how much beer remained in the bottles. The foamy Barley Beer poured over their heads with a splash, ran down their