Passersby gave them a wide berth, fear in their eyes. They did not recognize Annan, but they recognized his uniform.
Annan glanced around. Following the clues in order, they still had to find the marks of the lion, snake, and badger before they could locate the object.
He asked the worried woman at the Bakery, who was getting no customers because he stood there, "Have you seen a lion?"
"I don't know..."
"It might be a painting or a bit of graffiti," Annan added.
"I don't know..."
"Maybe someone whose nickname is Lion..." Annan suggested.
The Bakery woman, who was about Aunt Susan's size, looked aggrieved. "I don't know what a lion is."
"Uh. It's..."
Annan took out paper and a pen and drew one for her.
The bakery woman shook her head. Just then, Terry ran in. "Young Miss Olmedo, I saw a snake!"
"Are you sure?"
"Yes! At this time of year, it can't be a coincidence, can it?"
Annan was about to follow Terry when the bakery woman suddenly cried out, "You're Young Miss Olmedo?"
"What is it?" Annan turned back.
"We've all heard how you destroyed the Blade of Freedom and brought peace to the New Royal Capital... Here, take this. It's still warm!" Excited, the Bakery woman wrapped up a large piece of white bread for Annan.
"This..."
Annan did not know what to say.
The New Royal Capital was the Kingdom's stronghold. Its authorities would certainly do everything they could to slander the Blade of Freedom, so it was no surprise civilians believed that story.
Barr really did a good job...
Annan could only accept the Bakery woman's gift. Carrying a bag of bread, he went outside with Terry.
"Over there..."
Terry pointed at a Freight Wagons cart that had been stopped. It carried