The refugees set an encampment just at the outskirt of a forest. Within an hour of walking distance from there is a frontier town in Dioral Kingdom. As the rations acquired at previous village is diminishing, they have no choice but stop at here for possibly several days. The main reason is for ration replenishment. 

At first, Hiro and his girls has been resting and having conversations with refugees. 

Refugees won't go the town as they lack money for shopping. Their living during the journey has been supported Hiro's money. Hiro and other will go the town for the supply but for the time being, they will just leisurely strolling around to know more about the place.

Walking and talking are two very great pleasures, but it is a mistake to combine them. Their own noise blots out the sounds and silences of the outdoor world; and talking leads almost inevitably to smoking, and then farewell to nature as far as one of their senses is concerned. The only friend to walk with is one... who so exactly shares their taste for each mood of the countryside that a glance, a halt, or at most a nudge, is enough to assure them that the pleasure is shared.

Walking is the perfect way of moving if you want to see into the life of things. It is the one way of freedom. If you go to a place on anything but your own feet you are taken there too fast, and miss a thousand delicate joys that are waiting for you by the wayside.

Hiro has decided to go the town but he can't bring too many girls as that would attract suspicion. Hiro has left the encampment with Soraya and Amber, followed by Lucy and Pepe. 

Their food supply can stand for several more days but Hiro can't stand doing nothing as that would force him listening to gossips among the refugees. He finds more pleasure in wandering the fields than in musing among his silent neighbours who are insensible to everything but toiling and talking of it and that to no purpose.

After hundreds of steps, they come across a meadow once that looks as if it has stepped from the pages of a storybook. The grass is Eden-green and thigh-high to a thrush. The mountains in the distance had peaks that look as cruel as a hag’s teeth. It is the only part of the meadow that looks off in some way. The rest of it is paradise.

It isn’t just the sights that pleases the senses. The sounds, smells and tastes are out of this world also. The sky above the meadow is a feast for the eyes. It stretches as far as the eye could see in a dome of cocktail-blue, punches with fluffy clouds. Squeaking swallows chase whirring dragonflies in a dance of life and death.

A neon-blue ribbon of river run through the centre of the meadow. A party of yolk-yellow ducklings scatter from under their feet as they approach it, crashing into the water. The song of the river is very gentle as it goes plinking and tinkling over the gravel bed.

The music of the meadow comes to their ears above the sound of the water: the dawn chorus, buzzing midges and the whispering of the wind. They could smell the sweetness of cherry blossoms and the caramel soft scent of flowers in the air.

They finally arrive at the outskirt of the town. It seems the town is just protected by tall palisades. Besides these gates are customs inspection posts, manned by two soldiers who are relaxing. 

Although some people might have asked if it is all right for the soldiers of a city near the frontline to be so relaxed, the truth is that the troops at the inspection posts were there to vet travellers. Their job is to uncover contraband and spies from other countries, so they have nothing to do when nobody is entering the city.

As a result, the currently idle guards ― though they maintain discipline instead of passing their time by playing cards ― could not resist the urge to yawn.

"When they show up, they show up in force; we’re going to be busy soon", thought the guard who is idly contemplating the streets from his chair.

His eyes rests on a small group this about to enter the street by foot. The group of four women and a man is very eye-catching due its mishmash between three persons with above average clothing and two girls with very shabby clothings. Moreover, a man and a woman among them have swords at their waist. In this age and continent, people carry weapons everywhere as the practice is allowed but most people don't carry weapons of such quality. A young woman carrying a fine sword shows she is someone who has good military standing. The two girls wearing very shabby clothings must be their slaves.

Even as he thinks that, the soldier tilts his head as he promptly second-guesses himself.

People from the nearby villages are hardly a rare sight here but it is the first time he sees their faces. Although at first, he thought the two girls are slaves, but he does not sense any tension or nervousness from them at all. They look to be at ease, as though they know their life would be a safe one.

What kind of group is these five travellers?

"Are they foreign spies?"

His partner beside him had gone through the same thought process.

“Maybe not.” the soldier furrows his brow and answers. He adds,

"Spies would never appear in a way attract attention."

"Yes,.they are too eye catching to be spies.

They don't carry any bag, the chance of them being smugglers is low. 

Honestly speaking, the two guards hate interrogating people as low skilled people like them prefer easy life.

"May they are bunch of noble children travelling around as hobby and found refugees and are treating some poor girls as playthings."

The two soldiers get up as one, laughing to each other. This is to welcome  the travellers.

 Under the watchful eyes of the soldiers, Hiro use his other world skill, that is customer service skill.

"Actually we are from Hyuutia family from North western territory. We stop by here to buy something." 

"Oohh!"

The two soldiers exchange looks , then step back with respect and their face shows that their thoughts were correct. 

Hiro and others proceed to enter the town as he didn't even need to show them Myla's family emblem, borrowed from her.

Actually Hyuutia is one one the top family in Dioral Kingdom in term of military achievements.

 The heroic exploits of Hyuutia family are a common conversation topic when the soldiers gather, not only here but elsewhere. 

The saga of how several of Hyuutia's past leaders hacked their way through a horde of hundreds of enemies set the hearts of all who heard it ablaze. 

Just as women are attracted to strong men, many warriors admire Hyuutia and even foreign swordsman like David Lassic, and it could be said that most of the armed forces of Dioral  are their fans.

Lucy and Luca were daughters of merchants but Pepe and Nina were peasants. Nina is not with them now. Pepe was was a bit tensed when they walked past the staring guards.

In refugees settlement, for the first time in her life, she lived among a lot of people. But this town is different from refugees settlement.

The place is filled with a heat and activity that makes Pepe unsteady on her feet, a world of unrelenting scrutiny and tension. 

Pepe’s mouth drops open as she beholds a sight she would never see in her village back in Olga or refugees camp, then hurriedly shut it back up when Lucy gives stern cue towards her.

It is true that she hailed from the boondocks, and it is hardly shameful for her to be startled by the mood of the by such town. Still, a girl of her age staring dumbly with her mouth open was just embarrassing.

Pepe timidly walks beside Lucy and behind Hiro, her back ramrod straight, consciously checking her movements so that she did not move the arms and legs on the same side of her or do anything which would invite laughter. However, Pepe starts to have her doubts about whether it is all right for an obviously out-of-place village girl to be strolling so boldly among these townspeople. 

"Don't worry. Act normal. I am here with you." Hiro's words immediately put her heart at ease.

This is a town bordering northwest Dioral and other regions in Dioral but it is a trade town. Myla mentioned that merchant families throughout the continent each set up a branch in this town. As a former trader himself in this universe, Hiro wishes to get a trustworthy merchant helping his newly established country. That's why they look left and right at the signboards of shops.

His sleeve is suddenly pulled by Amber. She points to a signboard far away, actually located in the area with no one.

They walk deep into the hidden street and reach a wooden building. 

"Glitch company. Compared to all the merchant families up till now, it has inferior size and history, and is a medium-sized at best. But I feel weird as they are deep in here. Here we are, the signboard looks removable. Temporary office?"

Indeed, Hiro agrees. Instead of permanently attaching signboard above the door like others, Flitch company put a very big signboard on the ground leaning to the wall. 

A man exits the door. He is a large middle aged man with muscles, probably experienced in fighting.

When he finds us, he awkwardly smiles but politely leads us into the shop,

We understand his cue and enter the shop.

A woman seems to be reading a book at the counter and there is barely anything in here to be sold. 

Her look and figure cannot be viewed from there, but she is so focused in her reading that she is not aware of the visitors.

"Miss Claire. You have customers." The big man voices up and the female shopkeeper becomes startled. She glances at them and quickly put her book on the table.

She steadily stands up and turns to us.

Hiro is pleasantly surprised to see the woman, Claire's face.