In the north of Fiore Kingdom, the weather is even colder than in Magnolia.
The snow in the wild has yet to melt, leaving footprints from small animals like wild rabbits and mice.
Occasionally, some taller dead grass can be seen protruding from the snow surface, around which a small circle of snow always melts a bit faster.
There are no maintenance workers to scatter de-icing agents on this main road, nor anyone to specifically clean it. The snow on the road surface has been compacted by people, livestock, and wheels, making it hard.
People with a childlike heart can perfectly slide on it, just be careful not to trip over the protruding parts on the snow surface.
On such a road, two large green crabs are walking in front and behind, their pincers crushing the hard snow, leaving small pits that look quite slip-resistant.
The crab in front is carrying two people, while the one behind is pulling a flatbed cart.
It's the cart Erza uses exclusively to store luggage, tied upside down on top of the carriage on the way here.
Since there might be danger ahead, Erza and Rhode had the drivers head back early.
The remaining stretch naturally requires the crabs' hard work.
Near noon, the sunlight is quite strong. After traveling outside for a long time, the eyes always feel somewhat uncomfortable.
Erza casually took out two pairs of sunglasses — ones she wore when matching different swimsuits and beachwear — just right to lend one to Rhode.
Having something to use at such a time is good enough. Rhode can't worry about picking a style, but quietly notes that he will prepare a pair of sunglasses in the future to prevent snow blindness.
To avoid being too conspicuous, Rhode didn't let the two crabs send them all the way to the town, instead walking the last small stretch.
— Although Erza's calm dragging of the luggage cart is already quite conspicuous.
"Hello, could you tell me which lodging in town is the best?" Rhode casually stopped a passerby to inquire.
The passerby couldn't help but look at them a few more times, and responded, "In our Morning Glory Town, there's only one inn. Just follow this road straight ahead to find it."
"Thank you."
Next, the two split up, with Erza heading to the inn to book a room and store luggage, while Rhode visited the local tavern.
The tavern's environment is messier than in the Guild; the tables look greasy, but it's not as noisy as the Guild.
Rhode surveyed the environment and took a seat at the counter, "One beer, please."
The bartender swiftly poured the beer, "500J."
How overpriced! As someone half-professional, Rhode is quite familiar with drink prices; 500J could get three glasses at the Guild.
This isn't even comparing marked price; the profit margin makes this place seem even more mercenary.
Rhode took out some banknotes and placed them on the counter, sampling the beer, finding the taste no better than at the Guild.
"Are you from out of town?" The bartender seemed chatty, striking up a conversation with Rhode.
"How could you tell?"
"A feeling?" The bartender chuckled, "Actually, there aren't many people in town, so if you were a local, I'd recognize you better."
"Well, you have keen eyes — I am from the south. Are there any scenic spots nearby?"
"At this time of year, everywhere is snow-covered. Frankly speaking, I think they're all the same." The bartender's indifferent manner resembled a Xi'an person introducing an unimpressive Great Wild Goose Pagoda,
"If you insist, then in summer it would be worth heading further north; the beaches there are nice, and the places where mountain meets sea are somewhat interesting."
A customer from the tavern shouted, "Hey, Bob, stop misleading people; is the north a place to visit now?"
The bartender called Bob retorted, "I never said he should go now!"
Rhode asked, "What do you mean the north is inaccessible?"
"Because in the northern towns of Manjushaka and Pepi, there have been many cases of missing children, with a few involving murder due to obstruction."
"Murder?" Rhode became tense. This wasn't mentioned in the reports.
"It's said to have happened yesterday, presumably the child's father died." The bartender shook his head, appearing somewhat regretful.
Rhode frowned and continued questioning, "What have the security team and military said?"
"What else can they say? Those doing these things are surely traffickers. After catching the victim, they either hide them in the mountains or directly set out to sea.
Once they've sold them to the Sai Wen Kingdom or Bosco Kingdom, what can the security team do?"
The bartender showed much resentment regarding this matter: "It's all those people's fault. Now we're afraid to let children alone on the streets."
"It's indeed unforgivable." Rhode nodded, noticing ordinary people were unaware of the true situation, merely assuming them to be more brutal traffickers.
Rhode sat a while longer in the tavern, listening for more snippets of intelligence, before finally leaving.
As some customers saw him leave, they asked, "Hey, Bob, you told him so much, aren't you worried he might be a trafficker?"
"Do you think he looks like one?"
"Traffickers don't put 'bad' on their faces."
"Who knows, perhaps he's an investigator mage, and once he arrives, the bad guys are caught."
"Hahaha, who would come to a dingy little country tavern like this if they're such formidable mages!"
...
Rhode met up with Erza, who also got similar information from the innkeeper.
"We can't delay anymore; those guys will stop at nothing." Erza did not want others being harmed.
Rhode nodded, "Yes, let's leave now to investigate Manjushaka and Pepi towns."
"Let's split up for higher efficiency, but…" Erza hesitated a bit; the President told her before departure to take more care of Rhode.
Rhode thought about it; delaying further risks others encountering danger. He nodded, "Okay, I'll be careful.
Let Warm accompany you. If I find enemies, I'll summon Warm away; if you find enemies, let him return by himself."
"Alright, be careful." Erza was efficient, taking Warm and immediately leaving.
Rhode reminded her quickly, "Don't act reckless; stick to Plan A when facing enemies. Switch to Plan B if things don't go smoothly."
Perhaps it's a misconception, he felt Erza wasn't as composed here as she was on the road.
Setting aside this doubt for now, Rhode found a clothing store, bought a few cheap pieces—clothes, scarves, hats—and slightly altered his appearance, then set off for Pepi Town.
Traveling alone necessitates protecting oneself, making oneself look inconspicuous.
After setting out, he let the crabs patrol ahead and behind for security; upon arriving at Pepi Town, utmost caution was needed.
Pepi Town is the town where someone was killed yesterday. Erza felt that since such a major incident happened there, the Black Magic Sect likely won't return.
Thus, today's more dangerous location should be Manjushaka Town, which is why she chose it.
However, Rhode was still somewhat concerned regarding Morning Glory Town's situation, so he left a small Beaked Bird with low consumption nearby, feeling at ease to leave.