After lunch.
Zorn changed into a set of plain clothes and went out alone.
On his head was a wide-brimmed gray felt hat to block the sun. He wore a black jacket made of coarse linen and a pair of light, durable gray canvas shoes on his feet.
It was said that the plantations in the Ocean Islands of the Abner Sea mass-produced this coarse linen.
Clothing made from it was sturdy and durable, making it very popular among the residents of Ogrande City.
If he could, Zorn would love to go to the Tropical Ocean Islands and live the comfortable life of an island and plantation owner.
The only thing to worry about was...
Steam Pirate Ships would plunder these wealthy island plantations.
While beheading the plantation owners, they would also capture the workers and sell them as slaves.
"To the Bay Area. 1464 Belaine Street."
To the CLIP-CLOP of hooves, Zorn gazed out the window, watching the scenery pass by, slightly lost in thought.
Before long, the sounds from outside grew louder and more clamorous.
The Bay Area was much livelier than the New City District.
"HONK HONK~~"
Occasionally, Zorn could see a few steam automobiles speeding down the streets.
Steam automobiles.
They were the grand culmination of many disciplines, including Alchemy Technology, Steam Science, Mechanical Design, and Magical Extraordinary Materials.
The only thing that could compare was the hegemon of the sky: the "Steam Airship."
The Ostanton Republic was much weaker than the great empires to the south on the Holy Land Continent, which possessed vast territories and more advanced Steam Science.
Only by shoveling more coal into boilers and having the Steam Factories churn out more industrial goods could they hope to keep up with the rising tide of steam.
Only then could they fend off attacks from the Saintisman Empire's "Steam Airships," which had performed so dazzlingly in the Battle of Konodun.
Only then could their Steam Merchant Ships break through the fog and secure an advantageous position in the great age of voyages.
However, only the wealthier nobles could currently afford such a luxury.
People like Zorn, who were on the bottom rung of the aristocracy and hovered between the middle class and true nobility, still couldn't afford such luxuries.
He paid the fare of 24 Copper Coins and got out of the carriage.
Zorn waved to a nearby newsboy.
"Good afternoon, sir!"
The newsboy, who was about eight or nine years old, ran over and greeted Zorn politely.
After paying two Copper Coins, Zorn received a copy of today's Ogrande Steam Daily.
He then lowered the brim of his hat, tucked the newspaper under his arm, and walked toward the nearby inn, "Dilion's House."
The front desk receptionist, a pretty young woman of about seventeen or eighteen, glanced up at Zorn. She then immediately lowered her head again, returning to the book in her hands and taking notes, looking busy and fulfilled.
'What a hardworking and studious girl,' Zorn mused to himself.
Ogrande City, the industrial heart of the Ostanton Republic's northern frontier.
It propped up half the nation.
And there was a magical force here, one that pushed and compelled everyone to work, produce, and study with high efficiency.
Following the information he'd gotten from interrogating the Soul Feeder Wilbur yesterday.
Zorn found Room 406.
After using the key to open the door.
He began to systematically loot the place.
The Soul Feeder, Wilbur, had committed many crimes, a good number of which were major, and his profits had been substantial.
Zorn, naturally, wasn't going to pass up this ill-gotten wealth.
Floorboards, walls, hidden compartments in drawers—Zorn checked each location the Soul Feeder had described, one by one.
After searching carefully for about half an hour.
Zorn carefully counted his haul. Between gold coins and paper notes, it came to a total of 845 gold pounds.
Without a doubt, this was a considerable fortune.
It was enough for the Soul Feeder, Wilbur, to have lived a wealthy and stable life for several years.
But for a Transcendent, walking among ordinary people is like a tiger entering a flock of sheep.
Once greed breaks its chains, it often drags the evildoer into the Abyss.
He had provoked someone he shouldn't have.
'Now, he no longer has to worry about not having enough money. May there be no poverty in Hell!'
The other one, the Thief, had been quite poor. His entire net worth was on his person—a mere thirty-two gold pounds.
After he was done, Zorn didn't clean up. Instead, he made the place even messier.
Even if the inn called the authorities, the Law Enforcers would simply close the case as a simple burglary.
When he left, the young receptionist was still studying diligently.
This couldn't help but remind Zorn of his time as a Player, when he used to sponsor poor female university students in Ogrande City.
As a Player, you could do whatever you wanted. At worst, you could just start a new game.
But he wasn't a Player now, so he had to be more cautious.
He hailed another carriage.
"To the Adolf Monastery."
After getting into the carriage, Zorn said in a low voice.
But the carriage didn't move.
"Sir, the Adolf Monastery is in the Fog Zone. It's a long trip, and I most likely won't find a passenger for the ride back."
"Besides... the Church recently announced that the Confused have been spotted out there."
The coachman's hoarse voice held a hint of fear; he clearly didn't want the fare.
"I'll cover the round-trip fare. It's about 60 Copper Coins, right?"
Zorn had just been calculating the current going rate for a carriage.
"But..."
The coachman hesitated.
"Two Silver Dragons. I'll give you one upfront."
Zorn said bluntly.
The coachman paused, then took the gleaming Silver Dragon Coin that Zorn passed through the front window.
"Thank you for your generosity, sir!"
he praised sincerely.
'Compared to the dangerous Confused, poverty was clearly more terrifying!'
One Silver Dragon was worth 50 Copper Coins.
Two Silver Dragons were 100 Copper Coins.
Most days, he couldn't earn this much in a single day.
...
Adolf Monastery.
It was founded by a benevolent nun from the High Mountains, "Belinda Adolf."
It took in many children who were homeless, abandoned by their parents, or afflicted by terrible diseases.
It also functioned as an orphanage, fulfilling a social responsibility.
Of course, this was its public-facing side.
In reality, however, it was a secret stronghold for the "High Mountain Witches."
Originally, after the Krug Plateau Empire was destroyed in a terrible disaster, the "High Mountain Witches" had wandered the snowy mountains and tundra, serving as "Sacrificial Witches" for many ancient tribes and nomadic peoples.
They had always been very mysterious.
Minstrels further spread the image of the High Mountain Witches as mysterious, strange, and powerful, wielding unimaginable and mysterious powers of Witchcraft.
And now, a group of Witches had come down from the High Mountains.
The Witches, led by Belinda Adolf, had put down roots in the Steam City-States, which now surged with the tide of steam.
They used their power to build monasteries and help children and the elderly in need.
Moreover, they had also provided aid to the Holy See and several of the great nobles currently in power within the Republic.
This allowed them, after the war between the Holy See and the Esoteric Sect, to avoid being eliminated by the Holy See as heretics.
They were permitted to operate within the Ostanton Republic.
Of course, this was limited to work within the monasteries and some simple proselytizing.
At the same time, the Witches also made some concessions... some concessions regarding their Faith.
...
Four o'clock in the afternoon.
The bells of the distant Holy Fierce Sun Church rang out.
Inside the Adolf Monastery, vespers began!
A large number of children, all orphans, gathered in the monastery's chapel. They clasped their hands to their chests, bowed their heads, and prayed piously.
To the south of the chapel were images of the great "Holy Fierce Sun" and "Amara, the Holy Mother."
Besides their original Mother Goddess, they also had to have Faith in the Holy Fierce Sun.
They worshiped two deities.
This was the reason why the High Mountain Witches, who had their own Faith, were allowed to spread their beliefs within the monastery.
Previously, this would have been absolutely forbidden.
But when survival itself was a struggle, the High Mountain Witches had no choice but to compromise.
At the very back of the crowd.
Zorn completed the roughly half-hour vespers prayer here.
As the prayers ended, the children cheerfully received their afternoon snacks.
Zorn walked over to the donation box. After dropping in a contribution of paper money, he bowed to an elderly nun standing nearby.
"Revered Mother, I would like to make a donation to the Adolf Monastery."
The elderly nun, dressed in a black habit, raised her sparse eyebrows, her expression both sincere and kind.
"Lord Bishop Teresa told me an important gentleman would be visiting during vespers today."
"Honored sir, please follow me!"
Zorn's eyebrows raised slightly.
Bishop Teresa was the "Spirit Witch Lady," a powerful and mysterious Witch.
For this powerful Witch to have predicted his visit... Zorn was not surprised.
The "Spiritual Sense" of the strong could detect many things.
What pleased Zorn was that she was prepared and willing to receive him. This meant his plan for the day had a high chance of success.