"KNOCK KNOCK!" Zete Mage knocked on the cabin door. "Princess, we’re about to arrive at Twin Tower City."

"Teacher, didn’t we agree that for now, we’re a Merchant Group?" The cabin door opened to reveal a young woman dressed as an ordinary working woman.

She had an athletic build and a head of short, choppy hair, which was uncommon for women of this era. Though she held a book, the rough calluses on her hands suggested it wasn’t what she held most often. She was probably more familiar with a hoe, or maybe a weapon.

"If I may be blunt, Miss Figxin, a Mercenary Corps would suit our disposition a little better."

In the corridor, a group of hulking Warriors—men with deltoids bigger than their heads, stuffed into shirts that strained at the seams—all nodded in agreement.

"But we’re here for the Twin Tower City Expo. A Merchant Group makes more sense," Figxin retorted. ’What’s the point of a Mercenary Corps? I’ve been in enough of them and cut down enough of them already.’

"But I think having an image that makes sense is also pretty important," someone in the group replied meekly.

"Don’t you know to announce yourself before speaking?" Figxin’s brows shot up, her domineering aura flaring.

"You... you told us that... that after we reached Twin Tower City, we... we didn’t have to announce ourselves," the Warrior who had spoken just now lowered his head, so frightened he began to stutter.

"I... I..." Figxin was a little embarrassed. ’It seems I really am not suited to this Merchant Group disguise.’ But as the team leader, she had to have her rhetoric down. "Our ship hasn’t docked yet, has it? That means we haven’t arrived at Twin Tower City. Get down and give me push-ups until we dock!"

"Yes!" The Warrior dropped to the floor and began doing push-ups like a machine.

"Did you skip breakfast?! Get your feet off the floor! Don’t you know the standard for push-ups in the Northern Domain?" Every move Figxin made exuded a swift and decisive authority.

The Warrior’s feet lifted off the floor, and he began doing push-ups supporting his entire body weight on the strength of his shoulders and arms alone. His core didn’t waver in the slightest.

"Alright, that’s good work. Fall in!" Figxin hadn’t actually planned on making him do push-ups all the way to shore; after all, she knew she’d been a bit out of line. "It’s a rare chance for a break. Once we dock, you’re all free to do as you please. I’ll cover all expenses, but be reasonable. I may have a fancy title, but I’m not that wealthy."

"Yes!" The powerful shout echoed through the cabin. It was inspiring, but there was absolutely nothing about them that resembled a Merchant Group.

Zete Mage accompanied Figxin onto the deck. The dense silhouette of Twin Tower City was already visible. The Lighting Techniques and gaslights at the tops of Pelen Tower and Soron Tower pierced the early morning fog, guiding the countless ships heading for the expo.

The air here was different from the Northern Domain—so humid it felt like inhaling water. Even without any exertion, one’s skin always felt sticky. The clean feeling after a bath never lasted more than a few hours.

Still, it was a vast improvement over the Northern Domain, where the knife-like winds would chap one’s skin raw, and it was so cold that passing out drunk on the street for a night meant never waking up again.

"Miss Figxin, are you sure you don’t need an escort? The situation being what it is," Zete Mage asked with some concern.

"It’s not necessary. This is a rare chance for us to relax. Anyone strong enough to beat me couldn’t do so without causing a commotion. And even if Master Soron is unwilling to interfere, Lady Furin’s sense of justice would never allow her to stand by and watch the city be damaged."

"But a group of nobles disappeared in the city recently. The whole affair was hushed up, and I fear the worst for them."

"Perhaps it was Master Soron or Lady Furin who suppressed the news. You know what those nobles are like better than I do. I think it’s far more likely they deserved to disappear, don’t you?"

"Choose your words carefully, Miss. Our cause cannot succeed without the support of people like them," Zete Mage cautioned. She was brilliant but impulsive; her drive was an asset at times, but it could also get her hurt.

Figxin didn’t respond, merely tightening her grip on the railing until the wood creaked.

"We’ve reached Twin Tower City!" a sailor’s shout roused the exhausted, travel-worn passengers.

To maintain their cover, "Figxin’s Merchant Group" symbolically shouldered a few crates of Northern Domain specialties and disembarked in formation.

Their synchronized steps thudded against the wooden planks like a war drum. None of the other passengers dared venture within several meters of them. Even a passing dog tucked its tail and scurried away, as if afraid of getting slapped.

"Sigh." Zete Mage sighed in resignation. ’Now we don’t even look like a Mercenary Corps.’

The old Mage could only explain to the onlookers, "It’s a local custom! A ceremony to celebrate reaching our destination. It’s fine, they don’t hit people."

The formation dispersed, and Figxin and Zete Mage paired up to curiously explore all the expo had to offer.

Besides the main venue in the city center, there were numerous smaller venues scattered everywhere except for the Mixed Zone and the Refugee Gathering Area.

The entrances and peripheries of the Mixed Zone and the Refugee Gathering Area had been blocked off with temporary, decorative walls, with the Guard Corps standing watch around the clock. The noble lords were so kind-hearted, you see—they couldn’t bear the sight of the poor.

All the businesses in the city, whether they were part of the expo or not, were running promotions to welcome the massive influx of tourists.

Figxin noticed that at every intersection, there were two signboards enchanted with an Illusion Technique. Both were printed with a strange, red symbol shaped like a rectangle pierced by a vertical line. The first sign displayed the real-time queue status for various exhibition events.

What was even more novel was that the other sign had a scrolling display of reviews for the different events. Anyone could post one, as long as they could activate that particular Rune.

It didn’t matter if you couldn’t use Magic, either. Next to each sign were students from the Repin Spellcaster Academy earning some extra cash. For just one Copper Coin, you could enjoy their rune-activation service.

"I’ve seen this symbol before," said Zete Mage. "Quite a few of my apprentices have activated it. I believe it’s for playing games or something of the sort, and it leaves them too drained to focus in class. I have no idea who made it, but I often hear them muttering the name Master Toto. He must be some new, up-and-coming Mage."

"Is that so? Then I’ll have to make sure to meet this master if I get the chance."

Figxin looked at the list of queued events.

First Place: Zog Games Release Conference

Second Place: Zog Film Studio, Premiere of the Shadow of Evil: ’Hunting’

Third Place: Zog Film Studio, Rescreening of the Shadow of Evil: ’Holy Mountain Journey’ 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

Fourth Place: Zog’s Toy Store New Product Trial

Fifth Place: Zog Potion Factory, New Flavor Tasting for the "Light Potion" Series

Sixth Place: Zog Comics Author Meet-and-Greet

...

It was hard not to notice the repeating name "Zog" in the top spots on the list.

"This Zog... is it the Zog I’m thinking of?" Figxin asked, a little uncertain.

"Probably not," Zete Mage replied, though he sounded very unsure. "It hasn’t been seen in decades. Rumor is, it’s dead. This is likely just a Merchant Group trying to attract attention with a strange name."

The Northern Domain was indeed a harsh, cold land with poor transportation. New things were always slow to spread there; even the Yo-Yo hadn’t caught on yet.

It was bone-chillingly cold, and with no heating, playing with a Yo-Yo was a surefire way to freeze your hands, as anyone who tried would know.

But people are like that; the longer the line, the more you want to see what it’s for.

"Which one should we check out first?" Figxin had never imagined having so many entertainment options she wouldn’t know which to choose. In the Northern Domain, just getting food on the table was a challenge; entertainment was an unthinkable luxury.

"Hello," two girls dressed as students from Repin Academy suddenly approached them. "Are you also interested in Zog’s new Shadow of Evil? We happen to have two extra tickets."