Backlund, East Borough, Dharavi Street, inside a cramped yet bustling tavern.
Xio walked up to the bar, rapped her knuckles against the wooden counter, and asked the bartender directly, "Any valuable intelligence today?"
If it had been anyone else, the bartender would certainly have made them order a beer first... but after recognizing Miss Xio, he decided against it. The losses would probably be even greater that way.
Besides, rumor had it that she had begun cooperating with MI9.
"Same rules as always, 2 soli per piece of information... There are ten pieces in total today." The bartender took a breath and quoted his price.
Xio did not haggle. She directly took out a 1-pound coin and placed it on the counter.
Only after collecting the money did the bartender take out a parchment filled with writing and hand it to Xio.
Xio took the parchment and skimmed through it rapidly, quickly finding her target in the final entry:
"Bayam Governor's Mansion's underground prison has been occupied by the Naturism Sect. Many guards and officers have become followers of the evil cult."
Pointing at that entry, Xio pretended ignorance and asked, "Who provided this information?"
The bartender glanced at it without speaking. Only after Xio produced another 1-pound coin did he answer, "A man around 1.6 meters tall... He looked refined, but his gaze was sharp. One look was enough to tell he was not someone to mess with.
"So, even though this information couldn't be verified, I still gave him 2 soli."
Liar. You clearly only gave me 10 pence! Xio muttered inwardly.
Yes, that supposedly refined man with the sharp eyes had actually been her transformation using the Many-Faced Silk Garment.
After receiving Mr. World's request to "report" the matter, she had considered how to obtain and submit