The interior was dim, lit only by a few oil lamps. There were no windows, giving the space a closed-in feeling.

  Shelves and racks lined every inch of the shop, some nearly overflowing with parchment, books, and scrolls stacked in chaos.

  Behind a wooden counter, an older man with thin spectacles sat at the back of the room, flipping through a small ledger. His posture seemed pretty relaxed as if he didn't expect any business.

  A large bounty board stood near the entrance, its surface covered in aged parchment notices pinned in overlapping layers.

  Most were hunting requests for slaying wolves or bears, and some even for monsters like goblins.

  A few stood out among them: contracts not for creatures but for people. Mercenary work, high-risk assignments, offering many silver or even one or two gold coins for loyalty, discretion, or brute force. Some bore the seals of noble houses, others the marks of private guilds.

  But his gaze landed on a freshly posted wanted notice, the ink barely dried. The parchment was crisp, and the writing was precise and formal.

  [Wanted Notice]

  Name: Unknown

  Age: Estimated to be at least 50 years

  Appearance: Elegant Swordsman attire decorated with Valorian insignias. Silvery-gray hair and a well-groomed beard.

  Committed Crimes: Multiple Counts of Murder, Unlicensed Swordsmanship, Treason

  Bounty: 30 gold (Dead or Alive)

  Issued by: Central Continents Special Affairs Division

  Notice: This individual is highly dangerous. Any person found harboring, aiding, or withholding information regarding his whereabouts will be subject to immediate arrest, interrogation, or execution for conspiracy against the Central Continent.

  Those who provide reliable information leading to his capture will be rewarded accordingly and may be granted clemency for any prior offenses.

  [Wanted Notice]

  Albrecht adjusted his stance, rolling his shoulders slightly, easing into a casual posture before heading toward the counter. If there was one thing he knew how to do, it was pretend everything was fine.

  He stopped before the shopkeeper, keeping his voice steady. "I'm just passing through and lost my map. How much for a new one?"

  The shopkeeper glanced up, his gaze lingering for a second before gesturing lazily toward a nearby wooden stand.

  "Most maps go for three silver coins," he said.

  "But if you're planning to travel, I'd recommend the Roads of Valoria instead. It details the roads and settlements of Valoria, including Vaelmont, and much else of use to a traveler."

  Albrecht gave a thoughtful nod, pretending to weigh his options.

  "Mind if I take a look?"

  The shopkeeper barely glanced up, already sounding bored.

  "Very well, but don't crease the pages." He sighed and waved a hand toward a nearby shelf stacked with travel guides.

  Albrecht nodded, stepping toward the shelf while subtly glancing back. The old man had already returned his attention to his ledger, flipping through its pages with a slow, deliberate rhythm.

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  'Good, he's Distracted.'

  The travel guides weren't particularly thick, their leather-bound covers stacked neatly in rows.

  Instead of simply grabbing one, Albrecht slid out two, tucking one smoothly into the pouch clipped to his belt before pulling the other into plain view.

  Turning back toward the counter, he casually flipped through the pages, letting his eyes scan the text while keeping his expression neutral.

  Even from the first few lines, he could already tell this was worth having.

  The pages laid out territorial divisions, giving Albrecht a clearer understanding of where he was.

  The town of Vaelmont, his current location, belonged to the Kingdom of Valoria, a land of multiple towns and cities ruled from its capital, Valenheim.

  But Valoria itself was only a small part of a much greater domain. It was one of many territories under the Central Continent, an empire that spanned an entire landmass.

  Unlike Valoria, which governed itself internally, several cities were marked as directly controlled by imperial rule, suggesting that the empire held tighter authority over certain regions while allowing others a degree of autonomy.

  Turning the page, Albrecht came across a large, two-page spread, a detailed map that extended across the book's spine. It depicted not only the Central Continent but also distant empires and independent regions, each separated by vast oceans.

  His eyes traveled north first to an imposing mountain range stretching across the upper section of another continent. Two notable locations were marked.

  One was a settlement named Frostveil, positioned in the western reaches of the mountains. It appeared to be one of the few places habitable in the frozen north.

  Further east, and deeper within the mountains, was a place called the Stronghold of the Swordsmen of the North. The book didn't say whether it was a fortress, an independent order, or a remnant of some warrior tradition, leaving its purpose vague.

  Another site stood out beyond the mountains, far to the east: the Northern Magic Tower. It was marked alone, far removed from any surrounding cities or towns. Its placement suggested it was either meant to be isolated or protected by inhospitable terrain.

  Albrecht's gaze shifted further south but still east across the map, where something caught his attention.

  The name Morgrek was written in bold letters, yet unlike the other regions, there was no further information. No towns, roads, or borders. Instead, a crude skull symbol sat beside its name, an ominous warning that spoke for itself.

  Closer to the Central Continent but still to the east was Sylvalis, a land labeled as an empire. However, unlike Valoria or other nations on the map, there were no markings for individual kingdoms or cities.

  The only thing present was a single enormous tree symbol at its center, labeled the World Tree. Whether Sylvalis truly lacked major settlements or if the map was incomplete remained unclear.

  Moving south, Albrecht noted the presence of several small, unnamed islands scattered in the southeast. There were no details about them, just empty ocean land patches.

  But to the southwest, something more significant stood out. A kingdom occupied a large island shaped like a crescent moon. It was labeled the Kingdom of Lunaris, and its unique geography resembled the celestial body it was named after.

  Albrecht studied the map carefully, taking in the names and territories, letting his mind piece together the world around him.

  He wasn't just in a small kingdom. He was standing within an empire that was only a fragment of a much larger, more intricate world.

  Beyond the Central Continent were unknown empires, distant strongholds, and places where even the map offered no guidance, only symbols of caution.

  There was still too much he didn't know, but one thing was certain. This world was far bigger than he had first imagined.

  Now, he just needed to leave without raising suspicion.

  With a quiet sigh, he closed the book with an air of indifference, tapping the cover against his palm as if contemplating whether or not it was worth the money.

  "Hmm…" he muttered under his breath, tilting his head slightly as though unimpressed.

  Then, he turned back toward the shelf, returning the book to its spot.

  He turned back to the shopkeeper, casual, uninterested.

  "Guess I'll pass," he said with an easy shrug. "Not really what I was looking for."

  The old man barely glanced up from his ledger, adjusting his thin spectacles. He gave a lazy grunt of acknowledgment, more interested in his reading than in some random traveler's decision not to buy a book.

  "As you will," the shopkeeper muttered, flipping a page.

  That was Albrecht's cue.

  Without rushing, he walked toward the exit, keeping his posture relaxed, his hands empty, and his steps measured. A thief didn't need to be fast—just convincing.

  He reached for the door.

  The moment he pushed it open—

  A sharp, piercing noise split the air.

  It was a horrible shrieking sound, like metal scraping against the glass, ringing through the small shop with an unnatural, almost vibrating resonance.

  The shopkeeper's head snapped up. His spectacles slid down his nose as his eyes went wide with realization.

  "Thief!" the old man roared, slamming his ledger shut as he jolted to his feet.