F/VoH Ch 90: The Differences of Bertord City

Ryan nodded, listening intently to every detail provided. "Thank you, Uncle," Ryan said sincerely as he finished the last piece of his meat skewer. Then Ryan turned his gaze to his companions. "Come on, let's go."

After bidding farewell to the merchant, Ryan and his group stepped back onto the city streets, moving north as directed. Although they appeared calm, hidden behind their gazes was a sense of vigilance and alertness. The Rose Moon Inn awaited, but who knew what they would encounter in this city.

As Ryan and his group walked toward the inn, they observed the sights of Bertord city more closely. This city was very different compared to Powncrow, the border town they had previously visited. In Powncrow, despite the many people coming and going, the city was still far from the stark poverty. The streets were clean and orderly, reflecting a decent level of prosperity for its residents.

However, Bertord presented a much gloomier face. While it couldn't be said to be a completely impoverished city, signs of economic decline were clearly visible along the streets. The roads they passed were littered with small pieces of trash scattered in the corners; although the smell was not overwhelming, this sight was in stark contrast to the more organized Powncrow.

Ryan sharpened his gaze, noticing the homeless and beggars huddled in the narrow, quiet alleys. In Bertord, they seemed to be in almost every corner of the city, not just limited to slum areas as was often seen in Powncrow. Their faces were filled with despair, their bodies thin and ragged, showing how the state of this city had deteriorated.

"This city seems to be more burdened by high taxes," Ryan murmured softly, his voice nearly drowned out by the hustle and bustle of people passing by.

Charlotte nodded slowly. "We've heard before that the Polons Kingdom imposes very heavy taxes. This has caused many people to lose their jobs and be forced to live on the streets."

Ellina added, "And that's why the Rebel Forces were formed. People can no longer tolerate this injustice."

Ryan recalled their mission. The Rebel Forces had indeed grown as a reaction to the economic pressure and the arbitrary governance of the Polons Kingdom.

However, their problems did not only come from outside. It was known that royal soldiers had infiltrated the ranks of the rebels, trying to sow chaos from within and weaken the movement.

"Now we need to find them, the rebels in this city," Ryan said firmly. "Before the infiltrators from the royal soldiers manage to kill the leader of the Rebel Forces."

Still, one problem lingered in his mind. The location of the Rebel Forces' hideout in Bertord remained a mystery. This city was so dense and chaotic, with many narrow alleys filled with residents who showed no clear signs of involvement in any movement. Tracking them down one by one would be a challenge, and time was not on their side.

Ryan felt the tension within his group, but they all knew what was at stake. The safety of the Rebel Forces now hung by a thread. If the infiltrators succeeded, the resistance would be crippled, and the impact would be felt far beyond the mere loss of a leader.

"Let's go," Ryan said, breaking the silence. "We need to start moving before it's too late."

With steady yet cautious steps, they continued to navigate the streets of Bertord, now not just searching for an inn, but also for clues about the whereabouts of the rebels hidden beneath the surface of this city.

After walking for several minutes, Ryan and his group finally arrived in front of the building that had been mentioned by the grilled meat merchant earlier.

The walls of the building appeared sturdy, painted a faded reddish-blue by time, yet still standing out among the other buildings around it.