We continue our escape route down into uninhabited territory. Rowan is checking over and over again our escape route from an outdated docket in his palm. It's pretty dark, and we're a bit exhausted as we've walked for about 2 hours in the circle without any rest.

"Ilios, we will pass a tavern over there. Why don't we rest for a bit?"

"Is it safe?"

"There could be a bunch of smugglers, and ... low-quality beer I believe. Concisely, it's moderately safe." joked Rowan.

" Who could refuse any kind of beer in this situation?" said myself.

"Great, we could even gather some information regarding our smuggler route."

We enter that small tavern, it reeks of alcohol and is quite noisy with laughter and chatter. There are couples of tables, mostly full with several punks, who are already drunk. At least, it isn't that creepy like what I've thought before. It's a bit wobbly and cramped, so we nudge with several people when walking into the counter. One guy even spilled his beer on my clothes. There are exactly two empty chairs at the counter.

"Unfamiliar face! Is there anything you need from me?" said one of the stall keeper.

"Yes, two bottles of beer, that isn't expensive," said Rowan.

" Here is your drink! Hmm... are you, newcomers, to this business?" asked that slim guy.

We don't know what kind of business that he is talking about, but we need to gather some information about the route that many smugglers use to bring several illegal merchandises inside and outside Houzz.

"Yes, and I think I'm a bit lost here. I haven't been able to memorize it. You know, it's pretty dark and every building here kinda looks the same." said Rowan.

"You guys are not the only one. Many green guys came to this tavern, looking dumb and getting scammed as a result." said the stall keeper.

" Whoaa... wait, bro, it won't be us. We are here for a business with someone," said Rowan.

"Who?" asked the guy

Rowan is pointing to a group of 4 people. One of them wears a very neat suit, his hair is long and tied up neatly forming a knot. His bread is trimmed around his square chin and he wears several gem rings on his fingers. His pale clean skin looks in contrast to the other punks, it makes 3 guys around him look like his subordinates or just his bodyguard. It seems Rowan has monitored every single person since he entered this small tavern and guessed which one could know about the route.

"Oooh... Mr. Sylvester. So it seems you bring something valuable?" asked the guy.

"Can't tell you. Mr. Sylvester isn't some small fry like other smugglers here, you know?" Rowan tried to get some info.

"Of course not, he is one of the best out there. Rumor said he even connected to one of Steins family members." said the guy.

"I have some business with him, and I need to win his heart tonight. I will give you some tips if you could give me some useful information that I could use to bargain with him." persuade Rowan.

"100 gilds, no less." replied the guy.

"It depends on the quality, so what is it?" asked Rowan.

.... after a long pause, the stall keeper finally opens his mouth.

"I heard he is looking for one girl who is in the run from Madeline. It will be a bonus point if you could give any information about it, moreover if you can bring back that girl." said the guy.

"What? A female? In here...?." Said me.

"How absurd it is, and you think I would believe that? Do you think I could fall with such a lie?" said Rowan furious.

"Really! It's real. Have you noticed that there is too much guard patrol on the street tonight?"

"Huh? Isn't it because of something else?" cut Ilios?

"What do you mean something else? Are there other fugitives in the run tonight? Tell me, I'm interested to hear it." wonder the guy.

Many bad people are after fugitives for the prize rewards. The information about any kind of existence could be traded, just like this.

"Nah, explain me more about this so I could believe you!" Rowan tried to change the topic back to the main point.

"Have you heard one rumor about the sighting of a female individual? It's real. I heard that it's one of Mr. Sylvester's valuable collections, which is on the run. He bought it 2 months ago from one slave trader with a high price that you couldn't even imagine." Continue the stall keeper.

"A slave female in Houzz? Not even a male slave.... for what?" said Rowan in disbelief.

"Rumor said that Mr. Sylvester is a bit twisted in his mind.... you know..... his preference is kinda ... what should I say... hmm... unique? Just try to seduce him, he won't even budge." tell that guy cautiously.

"So, where is my 100 gild?! argue him.

"Okay, here is yours. I will be looking for you if this nonsense is a lie," warn Rowan while giving his coins to the guy, which makes his lips wide open. Rowan comes forward to Ilios closely and speaks in low volumes.

"It seems we have a misunderstanding about our situation. We might be able to escape from other smaller gates tonight," whisper Rowan to me.

"Do you think so? There is no guarantee that the guard isn't looking for us too."

"Positive, currently the guard is busy looking for another person. Also, I think we should talk with that Sylvester guy, maybe offer him our service to find the girl, which is a lie, but we will figure our situation more after getting more information." persuades Rowan.

"Okay, let us go."

Rowan and I then moved from our chairs and went to Sylvester's table.