Desolate North Imperial City.
The air in the Outer City District was anything but pleasant.
It was a mingled stench of rust, hot oil, rotting garbage, and cheap spices.
Every breath felt like an invisible fist smashing brutally into his nose.
The air here was simply incredible.
"Bleurgh..."
Zong Shen covered his nose and deliberately retched for a while.
This imperial city had its merits—its martial spirit was exceptionally strong.
But it also had its flaws—namely, aside from its merits, nearly everything else was a flaw.
The two of them were currently walking through a back alley.
Beneath their feet lay stone slabs soaked in who knew what kind of greasy filth, slick enough to make people stumble.
"This damned place really is just as you said. Forget having fun here—living here long-term would be torture."
He looked down at the "new clothes" he was wearing.
They were actually linen garments that still gave off a heavy greasy odor.
Egouptos, on the other hand, acted as though nothing was wrong.
He even sniffed with a hint of pride, like a drunkard appraising a bottle of aged wine.
"Ah, you just don't get it."
"This is the scent of the Desolate North Imperial City!"
"Cities are like women—they each have their own unique charm."
"From now on, whenever you smell this scent, you'll know you've come to the right place."
There was a faint stench of excrement clinging to them.
The two Outer City District residents whose identities they had taken over worked as drain cleaners.
The job was not particularly busy, and its hours were irregular.
It depended entirely on when the street drains under their charge became clogged.
The smell on them was no less foul than that of a sewer scavenger.
Because the Desolate North Imperial City was