Reincarnated as a Son of the Sword Saint and the Sage
Chapter 78 - 78: The Dwarfen Capital

The foot of the mountain has a small town that receives travelers from the other side of the landform. Multiple races resided the town, largely consists of humans and dwarves.

They offered places to rest, eat, and find entertainment for the tired travelers. Carriages lined up, waiting for the patrons to transport them to the Dwarfen Capital.

"…How long does it take to arrive at Zwergin?"

"Just a day on wheels." Norm answered Michael's question. "We will be stopping by a mining town before arriving though."

"It's no problem at all."

Michael, the ladies, and Norm are currently in their rented carriage on their way to the Dwarfen Capital, Zwergin. Going eastwards, following the mountain range. One more town, and they will be at their appointment destination.

The convoy reached the mining town that night and stayed there until the sun rose again. Since it's a mining town, many people with carts and pickaxes poured in and out of the large hole that miners dug on the rocky mountain.

The ores and minerals that are mined there, if not all, in the mines around the nation, will always be delivered to the capital to be processed. Metalworking is the main industry of the kingdom, which was likely much anticipated for a nation ruled by dwarves.

There aren't many dungeons around the country, which is a good source of materials for crafting, so the dwarves greatly depend on the materials that nature provides.

Even though there were dungeons, nothing exceeds the depth of forty floors, which uncommonly give mithrill and coppium ingots. Coppium is a teal-colored metal with the durability of mithrill but with lower magic conductivity.

The only 40-floored dungeon is located at the Dwarfen Capital, which is why dwarves became mountain dwellers.

"…Seems like it's time for our farewell."

"You're right. Although it was a short time, I have been protected by all of you."

Standing in front of a well-known shop in the capital, Michael and the party bid farewell to their client. They spent weeks on the road, so there's been a slight development in their acquaintanceship.

"It's no problem. It's our job as adventurers to fulfill the quest our clients asked." Gabrielle is in high spirits and living up the mood.

"But because of your strength, monsters were easily beaten up, which made us go ahead of schedule."

The journey was set for a month. But was shortened significantly by the escorts. Making Norm saved some finances and time.

"If you want something related to crafting, I have your back. Just visit me at my stores here or in the empire."

"…We'll take your word."

"What will you do after this?"

"…Since we are here, we want to explore the city a bit."

"Right. Good luck with that."

After a wave, Norm got into his shop. Michael, Gabrielle, Uriel, and Lucy waved back before disappearing into the crowd.

◆◇◆◇◆◇

The Dwarfen Capital, Zwergin, is an ancient city founded by the first dwarfen king, Zwergin Doria, roughly two thousand years ago, more than a millennium earlier than the foundation of the Dixon Empire.

The nation was founded after the first king conquered the most difficult dungeon in the country. He used the functions of the dungeon and developed a city around it.

The capital city of Zwergin was named after the ancient king himself. As the capital, Zwergin is the largest city in the country. Although not as big as the Imperial Capital, pitch-black walls skirted the circumference of the two-kilometer radius area.

Beyond the walls, fertile farmland lay out of the remaining area of the dungeon's Surface Floor. A good source of raw materials for the capital's daily food consumption.

Due to its geographical location and the landforms around it, the nation of dwarves was never invaded by demons. If any, only a handful of small armies reached out to the dwarfen soil, but all of them tasted the technological artillery of the dexterous dwarves.

The Dwarfen Capital largely consists of dwarves; after all, it's their capital city. The city houses a population of more than a million, not including the mining slaves.

Metalworking is the city's main industry, making the city the main exporter of high quality weapons and equipment throughout the continent.

Although the city is situated a few kilometers away from a mineral-rich mountain, it wasn't enough to keep up with the demand of the craftsmen. Zwergin is also the main importer of ores, lumber, and magic crystals.

Every city and town has a hidden side of it, a dark side behind its shining light. Zwergin is no exception to resisting the devil's temptation.

◆◇◆

Summer night, inside a lively tavern within the city. Michael sat on one of the stools with his arms resting on the counter. He raised a finger to the dwarfen bartender, indicating a second mug of the beer he had been drinking.

The bartender filled his glass mug with golden water, which Michael slowly sipped. The taste was significantly better than the beers he drunk at the Imperial Capital. Dwarves have high standards for liquor and produce much better beverages to satisfy their livers.

As for what Michael is doing in that kind of place, he is not there because he is brokenhearted and wants his problems to be dissolved by alcohol. He is actually gathering information about the ones responsible for providing weapons to the bandits involved in the assassination of Eisherz Gracier.

It was not that they gain profit for scrutinizing the case, nor gaining fame. They are concerned about the noblewoman's well-being and the effects of this darkness on the continent, especially on the Raevender Viscounty, if ignored.

Firstly, Michael visited this tavern to inspect the routine of any illegal actions in the city. A few days ago, while they were on the road with Norm, they showed him a sword the bandits wielded.

They got some swords because they requested that the knights have a few. They helped them deal with the bandits, so it's reasonable that they wanted the weapons as a reward.

Norm seemed to recognize the sword and told them it was allegedly the work of a well-known blacksmith that manufactures equipment for the Dwarfen Knights Order.

Being in the hands of outlaws clearly implies the essence of an unknown group lurking under the kingdom's shadows. That claim was not just a mere speculation but confirmed by the confession of the rogue that they caught.

Someone from the government is probably dealing with the heinous organization. Articles of that quality cannot be embezzled without someone who can turn a blind eye to the crime.

Michael was not accompanied by his colleagues; he simply came alone to the noisy tavern. The ladies were left behind at the inn they had rented; they were too conspicuous if they nonchalantly strolled the street, which reeked of alcohol.

They are not lazing around or playing with themselves. The ladies are remotely lending Michael a hand in the investigation via Clairvoyance. Exploring out of reach areas reeks of suspicion; only Michael personally went out to investigate.

At first glance, Michael seems to be bibulously enjoying his drink, but he is secretly searching for something doubtful inside the bar using a remote eye. The patrons inside didn't know they were being watched by him.

His eye observed the movements of every man and woman, carefully seeking any questionable actions. But he only saw this common occurrence happening inside a pub.

Dwarves happily destroying their livers while bursting with laughter with each other, gold-diggers looking for someone to bite their hooks, dejected-looking men sobbingly holding their beer on the counter, and so on.

Michael has been approached by women every now and then with the intention of ripping him off. Michael just showed how poor he is by equipping poor weapons and gear, which are seemingly effective.

Michael is in his fourth establishment and doesn't have high hopes for new results. It's almost midnight, but many establishments still have lights on their logos as people are still pouring in.

(As expected of the booze-loving dwarves. Lonely nights are getting livelier.)

As Michael was about to have the thought of leaving, a suspicious-looking human in a black robe cautiously entered the tavern. Glancing around the pub as if checking the surroundings. The man then approached a table that was occupied by a tall, blonde man.

(SUS.)

Feeling a sense of what Michael's looking for, he decided to keep a close watch on them.

"Here's your package." The robed man said in a very low voice. "A premium quality product." Then he pulled something from his pants pocket under the table.

The blonde carefully opened the small bag below the table to check the contents, making sure no one could see what was going on. Michael could clearly see what he was trying to conceal and seized the moment to take a peek.

His clairvoyance unfolded crushed shards of cerulean blue crystals; shards wouldn't be the right word to use to describe them but powdered. Michael noticed a faint essence of magic from it and realized what was going on.

(…Blue quartz, huh. A drug transaction.)

"Hmm. Good." The blonde replied in the same manner as he was accepting the package.

A beat later, the blonde man tossed a gold coin over the supposed pusher. "I'll be back in three days." The pusher stood up and walked out of the pub, leaving the blonde inside.

When the pusher walked far enough, Michael, as if done with his drinks, paid his tabs and left the establishment.

"…Let's see what happens from now on."

He disappeared from an alley as his remarks were swallowed by the cloudless, starry night.

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