Who went to a tavern in broad daylight?
Drunks and people looking for information.
Only a handful of customers sat in the tavern, the cheapest rye beer in front of them, as if they meant to stay until the end of the world.
Moxi swept her gaze around the room, spotted the information broker, and sat across from him.
"I want information about Free City."
The broker, his felt hat tilted sideways, looked her over. "The Gold Depository, fifty silver. The alchemy show, thirty silver. The Airship, one gold. Annan... three gold."
"That expensive?"
"I guarantee it's worth every coin." The broker grinned, showing a gap between his front teeth.
Moxi flicked her fingers, and three Gold Narls landed on the table with a crisp clink, drawing greedy looks from nearby.
"Annan Reeves. Level-eight Sorcerer. Holy Son of the Wealth Church. Five feet two inches tall, twenty years old. Favorite color: red. Favorite food: Happy Water. Favorite race: Ratfolk. Gentle personality. Fond of women..."
What kind of information is this...?
Moxi frowned inwardly but kept listening to the information she had paid three Gold Narls for.
"...He likes moving around the city. He's most active in the early morning and afternoon. Usually, you can spot him by waiting outside the City Lord's Mansion."
After more than ten minutes, the broker finally said something useful.
"Tell me about Free City, too."
"You?"
"The free part."
"Fine. Call it a bonus." The broker's gaze flicked to the Purse at Moxi's waist. "Free City was founded less than three years ago, but it's already become a famous City-State. Its Commercial Streets bring in millions of Gold Narls a year. Taxes alone come to hundreds of thousands, and the Gold Depository has drawn in hundreds of millions..."
As his claims grew more extravagant, Moxi