“I really am not in the mood to go back and forth with three grown men at this time of the day so I'd advise you to walk out of the door.” She said with a calm yet determined tone.“Young lady, we are seeking a place to stay for the night, give us the rooms and attend to us properly.” Wang bellowed at her.“Do you think I am going to offer you free rooms because you want to stay in my inn?” She turned, confused.“But…” Wang tried to explain that they were not trying to freeload off her but Amaya Bretman was certainly not going to hear him out.“I spent three months away from this goddamn town and you all think you can mooch off my father just because of stupid ghost rumors.”“That is not what we are trying to…:”She didn't let Chi land, “So what do you plan to do?Force me to allow you to pass the night here so you can tell everyone that there are no ghosts here, right?I am fully aware of that nasty trick too, you people have finally left the free drink ploy for this one, you are not

Sawyer lay on the bed with his hands behind his head, staring at the ceiling.The room was quiet. Too quiet.Most travelers would have fallen asleep immediately after such a long journey, but Sawyer's mind remained active.The story of the haunted inn bothered him. Not because he believed it. Because he didn't. Everything about the tale felt wrong.The crying ghost supposedly appeared only at night. The sounds were said to be loudest in certain rooms. Nobody had ever gotten a clear look at the ghost.And most importantly, almost every sighting occurred during windy weather. That last detail refused to leave his mind.A ghost that appeared when the wind blew? It sounded ridiculous.Sawyer closed his eyes. A memory surfaced.Years ago, when he was still training under Master Zi, he had asked his teacher whether ghosts truly existed.The old man had smiled before replying. "The human mind fears what it cannot explain."At the time, Sawyer had not understood the meaning behind those words

After solving the problem with the inn. The money they had brought with them would not last forever, and if they wanted to accomplish their goals, they needed a steady source of income. The previous night, while everyone else slept, Sawyer had remained awake studying. Spread across the table before him were a detailed map of Baltimore Country and a thick book describing its major cities, industries, trade routes, and local customs. He carefully compared each city’s strengths and weaknesses, taking notes as he went. By dawn, Sawyer had already reached a tentative conclusion. The following morning, he gathered Wang and his younger brother Chi for a meeting. Once everyone was seated, Sawyer got straight to the point. He informed the brothers that his immediate objective was to earn as much money as possible within the next three months. Three months was not a long time to establish a business, build a reputation, and generate substantial profits, but Sawyer believed it could be done

The towering walls of Kanada City finally appeared on the horizon shortly after noon.After several days of travel, the sight should have brought relief.Instead, Wang frowned. "That's it?"Chi blinked. "That looks worse than I imagined."Sawyer remained silent as he guided his horse forward.The city walls were old and weathered. Large cracks ran across sections of stone that clearly hadn't been repaired in years. The wooden watchtowers leaned slightly to one side, as if they might collapse during a strong storm.Merchants passed them on the road, but there weren't many.Far fewer than there should have been for a city of this size."It really is dying," Wang muttered."Maybe not," Sawyer replied.The brothers exchanged glances.Maybe not?What else could it be?The closer they approached, the stranger things became.Despite the city's poor appearance, several luxurious carriages were parked near the gates.Their owners wore expensive clothing.Fine silks.Jewelry.Gold-thread embroi

The massive gates of Kanada City slowly closed behind them. For a few moments, none of the three spoke.Wang was still grumbling about the guards. "Those bastards should be thankful we didn't report them directly to Captain Bretman."Chi nodded vigorously. "I still can't believe they tried to charge five silver.""Five silver!" Wang scoffed. "At that price, they should've carried our luggage and given us a city tour."The brothers continued complaining as they followed the main road.Sawyer remained silent. His attention wasn't on the gate anymore; it was on the city itself.The deeper they walked into Kanada City, the more puzzled he became. The streets weren't crowded. They weren't even moderately busy. A city this size should have been bustling with activity, merchants shouting, vendors competing for customers, children running through the streets, and workers transporting goods.Instead, an uncomfortable silence lingered over much of the city.Many storefronts were closed. Some ha