Moken Kingdom, Hillock City
This was a small city, with probably fewer than ten thousand residents. The road leading through the city gates was paved with granite flagstones, now covered in countless fine cracks.
There were no grand buildings in the little city, nor had it ever been planned out. Houses stood crammed together and streets were narrow, yet this added a trace of weathered age to the place.
Scorching—only this word could describe the weather at the moment.
A gigantic Fireball, brilliant enough to dazzle the eyes, hung high in the sky. Beneath its blazing radiance, even the air seemed ready to burn.
It was only just past morning, with some time still before noon. When the sun climbed overhead at midday, it would grow several degrees hotter still.
This cloudless weather brought people not only a blue, blue sky, but also sweat pouring all over their bodies.
Though a heavy rain had fallen just a few days ago, under this blistering sun, even the tender grass sprouting along the roadside was nearly wilted dry.
"This weather really is hot!"
In truth, it was only the beginning of summer, yet people were already sighing.
If early summer had brought such scorching heat, what would high summer be like?
There was no need to experience it. Merely imagining it was enough to make one shudder in fear.
"Fruit! Fruit just brought from Clear Water Town! One copper coin each! Cool and delicious!" A crisp young voice hawking wares rang out from the other end of the road.
Before them stretched a broad road leading directly to Hillock City's gates. It was not far away, but the yellow dirt road looked unbearably parched beneath the sun.
Quite a few townspeople traveled along the road, most of them hauling goods in and