Tumo felt that something had been off lately.
Business at "Brother, Boar and Booze" had inexplicably taken off.
His less-than-spacious tavern was packed from noon until late at night.
Customers holding mugs of ale crowded around the wooden tables, stood at the bar, and even filled the corners.
The air was always thick with the aroma of roast meat, the sweet tang of ale, and the clamor of conversation. The warmth kept the winter chill completely at bay.
That should have been a good thing.
Yet there was something rather odd about the people coming in.
"Boss, another plate of grilled sausages!" called a clerk from the Lord's Manor, with several colleagues seated beside him.
Tumo recognized them. They had occasionally come in for a drink before, but never almost every day like this. They hardly drank at all, ordering meals instead and eating with relish.
The strangest thing was the way they looked at him.
Every so often, they would look at him with an expression that... Tumo couldn't quite describe.
There was satisfaction in their eyes, approval, and even a touch of heartfelt emotion.
Their looks made his skin crawl. Several times, he couldn't help touching his face to make sure there was no sauce on it.
"What are you staring at? Have I got a Gold Sun on my face?" he finally snapped at a young man who was gazing blankly at him.
The young man flushed and hastily lowered his head, muttering, "Nothing, nothing..."
Tumo's business partner, the old friend who had once reclaimed the Saline-Alkali Land alongside him, was busy refilling wooden mugs. He leaned over and nudged Tumo with his elbow. "Never mind them. As long as we're earning merit points. We've made nearly half of last month's earnings in just these past few