Fated Enemies

"Miss White Gull, let's head straight to the meeting place."

In the bar's back alley, the bald man spoke.

The short-haired woman looked up at the sky. The sun was nearly below the horizon, sinking against the city skyline as the surroundings grew increasingly dim.

She nodded and said:

"Moran Bookstore is over ten kilometers from here. Let's take a hired carriage. It would be best to get the item for sir as soon as possible."

"Alright." Wena agreed.

The two left the alley together, hailed a hired carriage on the bustling street, and headed straight for their destination.

The streets they passed along the way were entirely different from those of the Bremen Empire.

The architectural styles, shop signs, and pedestrians here differed greatly from Bremen's conservative solemnity.

The most prominent features were:

Gorgeous and elegant, vividly colored.

Unconventional and free-spirited.

The buildings lining both sides of the road—whether towering residences or single-story shops—were not painted in the gray and white so common in the Empire. Instead, they came in every imaginable color, with golden yellow, sapphire blue, and deep red being especially prevalent.

There was even graffiti everywhere on the streets.

The signs of various shops came in all manner of styles. Whether in shape or lettering, it was nearly impossible to find two alike.

And as soon as night fell, all those signs lit up, flashing continuously in a dazzling array of colors that drew the eye.

The place was full of everyday life, yet possessed a certain folk-art charm as well.

The pedestrians, regardless of gender, dressed flamboyantly.

Women in particular often wore sexy, revealing outfits. Black and white stockings were everywhere, while their hairstyles, accessories, and makeup were exaggerated and avant-garde.

In the Bremen Empire, that would undoubtedly have drawn public "denunciation and criticism."

The