Entering the Core of the Mission!

Asuma heard it and couldn't help but chuckle. "Oh? Even your stomach's joining the act now?"

Aoba shot him a blank look. "Cut the nonsense. There's a tavern up ahead. Lots of people inside—good place to gather information."

"Fine, your call."

Asuma shrugged, quickened his pace, and followed behind Aoba.

The tavern's storefront was not particularly large, but quite a few people were already seated inside.

The waiter was so busy that his forehead was covered in sweat. He carried trays between the tables, calling out nonstop as he served the customers.

Aoba and Asuma found a table in the corner and sat down. They ordered two bowls of the cheapest coarse-grain porridge, deliberately putting on the appearance of being down on their luck.

"What'll you two young men be having?"

The waiter wiped the sweat from his brow and approached them with a cheerful smile.

"Just these two bowls of porridge. Nothing else."

Asuma put on a weary tone, his voice slightly hoarse. "My brother and I have been traveling for days. We don't have much money on us."

The waiter's gaze swept over them, and a trace of sympathy appeared on his face. "Ah, judging by how you look, you must've suffered quite a bit, huh? Times have been rough lately. There are plenty of drifters around. Where did you two come from?"

Aoba kept his head lowered, scooped up a spoonful of porridge, and slowly brought it to his mouth, pretending not to hear.

Asuma took the opening and sighed. "We came from the north. Bandits burned down our village. We had no choice but to come out and scrape by."

"Tsk, tsk. What a tragedy."

The waiter shook his head, sounding somewhat emotional. "Things have been unsettled near the Land of Rivers lately. I heard there