The morning mist had yet to clear from the woods, but South Los was already bustling. Those heading to work said goodbye to their wives and children and left their homes.
But they were not the earliest risers.
The newsboys were the first people up in South Los. Their clear voices had begun ringing through its streets and alleys more than an hour earlier.
And unlike before, this time the newsboys sold out the newspapers in their bags almost effortlessly.
That was because yesterday had seen the championship match of the South Los Swordsmanship Tournament, an event that countless people cared about.
Even knowing the result, many still wanted to read the newspaper accounts.
Of course, plenty of people also chose to collect them.
For example, Tate, the owner of Tate's Cane Shop.
The cane shop owner, whose face was clean, whose hair was sparse enough to reveal his scalp, and who wore thick black-framed glasses, bought two newspapers from a newsboy. He read one and framed the other, hanging it on the wall beside the entrance-he had missed yesterday's match. Because of his shop's opening and closing schedule, the champion had already been decided by the time he arrived.
But the cane shop owner had watched everything that followed.
In particular, when Arthur was announced as the champion and awarded a Knight Title, the cane shop owner had cheered louder than anyone.
"You truly deserved that championship!"
Tate said with a smile.
Then the bell beside him rang, and an elderly lady pushed open the door.
"Good morning, Ms. Amanda."
Tate greeted the elderly lady, not forgetting to wave at the kitten in her arms.
"Hi, Kur."
Meow~
A black-and-white cow-patterned cat answered Tate.
Tate immediately broke into a smile.
The shop owner turned and fetched some little biscuits