Rich Beyond Humanity

Backlund, Iron Gate Street.

The glow of the gas lamps was shredded by the thick fog, turning into blurred, dim yellow halos that barely illuminated the wet cobblestone road. The air was filled with the choking smell of poor-quality coal burning, mixed with the scent of metal and machine oil drifting from nearby factories.

Edwin walked along the street, his figure blending into the passing crowd.

He was no longer the famous, eye-catching Baron Konston.

At this moment, he was an ordinary-looking middle-aged man, with a few faint wrinkles at the corners of his eyes. He looked just like a common worker.

This was the ability of a "Faceless," allowing him to easily alter his appearance, build, and even certain subtle habitual movements. His notoriety in Backlund was simply too great now. Changing his face would spare him quite a few troubles.

He turned into an even narrower alley and eventually stopped in front of a bar called "The Brave."

The paint on its sign had long since peeled and faded, making it look somewhat ridiculous in the dim light.

When he pushed open the heavy wooden door, a wave of heat mixed with alcohol, sweat, and cheap perfume washed over him.

The bar was packed and boisterous. The sailors' crude laughter and curses mingled with the workers' weary complaints, forming a chaotic clamor.

Without looking around, Edwin headed straight for the farthest corner of the bar.

A bartender polishing a glass looked up, his murky eyes lingering on Edwin's face for a moment.

"A glass of Southville beer."

Edwin spoke in a slightly hoarse voice, the voice he had chosen for this face.

The bartender nodded, took a black wooden coaster from beneath the bar, and placed it before him.

On the back of the coaster was an engraved