The food once again did not fail to satisfy Michael.
"It tastes great," he murmured, savoring the flavors, "but not better than what I had at the Town Mayor's place."
He didn't find this surprising.
The chef at the Mayor's residence was undoubtedly skilled, but this establishment was designed specifically for serving food.
While both prepared meals, their purposes were fundamentally different.
One crafted dishes tailored to an employer's tastes, while the other focused on efficiency and service for a wider audience.
The distinction might seem subtle, but it made all the difference.
Of course, that wasn't to say a restaurant couldn't serve exceptional food.
However, the Mayor's chef likely had more time and freedom to perfect each dish, unlike the cooks here, who probably worked in a structured, step-by-step process divided among multiple hands.
However, whether this dish was truly worth the silver coins it had cost was something Michael was unsure of.
That said, it did seem like something the average man wouldn't be able to afford frequently. This realization made him reassess a few things.
After finishing his meal, Michael didn't linger in the restaurant for long before leaving. There was no need to sit back and wait for his food to digest—his body's powerful system had already begun processing it the moment he ate.
Once outside, he took in his surroundings as he wandered through the streets. The floors were immaculately clean, paved with stone tiles arranged in an orderly fashion. The people walking around looked refined, their demeanor exuding a certain air of sophistication.
Occasionally, Michael spotted individuals accompanied by knights in polished armor or expensive-looking horse-drawn carriages passing by. Fortunately, he didn't seem too out of place, though he did earn a few glances due to his appearance.
The Mayor of Blackstone Town had indeed gone all out with the little time he had to craft Michael's attire. As Michael had expected, the material was of excellent quality. His outfit, primarily an azure-green color with black accents, paired well with his striking green eyes, ensuring that he drew his fair share of attention wherever he went.
It had been the same in the restaurant he had just left, though the attention there had been more subtle, given that he had chosen a secluded corner and kept his presence low.
Michael paid no mind to the glances he received. After strolling through the inner city for a bit, he turned and started making his way toward the location of the inner city's exit.
It wasn't hard to spot. The capital was structured in layers, with territories divided by massive walls. From the outer city to the core area, each section had its own barrier.
The first and outermost wall encompassed the entirety of the capital's territory. Within that, two more concentric walls marked the divisions between the outer city, the inner city, and the core area.
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All three walls were enormous, visible from any point within their respective territories. Michael only had to locate a section of the wall where the height was slightly lower—that was where the gates were located.It didn't take long for Michael to reach the gate.
The structure was massive, built from thick iron, and currently stood wide open. Around it, a group of knights in armor were stationed at different points, keeping watch.
Even without using Detect, Michael's sharp senses picked up on the auras of the knights around him. If he were to gauge their strength, they all seemed to be at the level of early Rank 1. This was impressive—it revealed a glimpse of the kingdom's power.
Even the gatekeepers were Rank 1 humans, though they seemed slightly weaker compared to the knights Michael had traveled with. This realization made him understand just how elite that group must have been, even within the kingdom's forces.
The gate's passageway was wide, with separate lanes for those entering and exiting. A few knights were questioning and searching the people coming in, but those leaving were allowed to pass freely.
Michael figured this was because there was no real need to stop those heading out. The very fact that someone was in the inner city to begin with meant they had entered through proper channels—whether by passing this checkpoint or through some other means.
After a quick glance at the process, Michael made his way toward the outer city.
Fortunately, he wasn't stopped, though he did earn a few curious looks.
The moment he stepped out of the inner city, he felt a distinct change.
"The mana density in the air is lower."
In fact, this was something he had noticed upon first entering the capital—the difference in mana between regions.
The inner city had a noticeably higher concentration of mana compared to the outer city, and even the outer city's mana was slightly denser than the lands beyond the capital.
"I wonder how it is in the core area."
For a brief moment, Michael imagined cultivating in an environment with such rich mana, especially with a high-rank meditation technique.
It had to be far better than what he was using now—where gaining even a single point in his Intelligence stat could take an entire year.
Perhaps, for those at the absolute peak, where a single stat point was worth more than all of Michael's combined, such a long period of time was acceptable.
But he wasn't at that stage yet.
He was interested in cultivating—but only if it provided real benefits.For now, it felt like a great way to pass the time—and for some reason, it was oddly addictive.
The difference between the inner and outer city became immediately clear the moment Michael stepped outside.
The roads, for example, were inconsistent—some were paved with stone tiles, while others were simple dirt paths. The noise level was noticeably higher, and the overall cleanliness was lacking in comparison.
The people, too, were different. There were far fewer "refined" individuals, and in their place were more commoners going about their daily lives.
Compared to the inner city, Michael drew even more attention here. His attire and presence stood out amidst the crowd.
However, like before, he didn't mind. Instead, he focused on gathering information, asking for directions to both the Hunter Guild and the Adventurers Guild.
After getting a lead, Michael immediately set off toward his first destination—