By the time the sun climbed fully over the eastern ridge, Black Tortoise City was already awake.

The massive gates of the Heaven Gate Tower creaked open with a heavy groan, and a long line of travelers began to climb the stone steps leading into the city. Each person carried a slip of parchment—the so-called clearance papers—proof that they had passed the three preliminary inspections before entering the city proper.

The line moved steadily. Beyond the gates, the streets soon filled with newcomers, their eyes bright with curiosity and wonder.

Some headed straight for the trading district, rushing to buy seeds, animal feed, and small mechanical tools. Others—mostly from neighboring towns—followed the smell of roasted red potatoes that wafted down the main avenue.

The potato vendors were already swarmed by crowds.

"Finally got one!" a young man cheered, clutching a hot roasted sweet potato in both hands. "Didn't even eat breakfast, just for this bite!"

Another sighed beside him. "I was supposed to bring some for my friend—but the stove's already empty! Gotta wait for the next batch."

The street hummed with noise and life. Merchants shouted, children laughed, and travelers marveled at the clean stone roads and glowing street lamps.

Most of them were first-timers in Black Tortoise City. Without the City Introduction Manual, they wandered like lost ducks, turning in circles, overwhelmed by how vast and organized everything was.

Unfortunately for them, that little manual had become a treasure of its own.

In Amestris City, copies of The Black Tortoise Introduction Manual were selling for outrageous prices. Every merchant who managed to get one at The Wall had already resold it by the time these newcomers arrived.

It was in this lively chaos that a small voice broke out near the corner bookstore.

"Aahh—!"

A little girl with twin ponytails tugged at her mother's sleeve, pointing excitedly toward a nearby shop. She was about ten years old, her face bright and innocent, though her mouth opened wordlessly as she made soft, breathy cries.

Her mother, Sadona, looked down at her daughter, gently brushing away a loose strand of hair. "What is it, Aki?"

Sadona's voice carried the soft cadence of someone used to silence. Her daughter, born mute, could not speak—only make those small cries and gestures. But Sadona understood her perfectly; they shared a language that didn't need words.

Aki pointed again, her eyes wide. The signboard hanging above the wooden doorway caught her mother's attention.

Carved into the polished wood were a few clean words: "Black Tortoise Bookstore."

Sadona blinked in surprise. "A bookstore?" she murmured.

That word—bookstore—was rare enough to make her pause. In this world, books were precious, almost sacred. The average person might live their entire life without touching one. Scholars, nobles, and the wealthy hoarded them like jewels. For a modest shop in a border city to hang that name—it was almost unbelievable.

"Ahhh—" Aki pointed again, hopping slightly, her ponytails bouncing.

Sadona smiled faintly. "Alright, alright. Let's go have a look."

Adjusting the heavy animal-skin pack slung over her shoulder, she took her daughter's small hand and approached the door.

Cling—dang~~

The bell above the entrance chimed as the door swung open.

"Welcome!" called Liyi Yi instinctively, her voice cheerful. She was seated behind the counter, flipping through a copy of Chaos, the latest printed book by Lord Luciel himself. Her tone was polite, though a little distracted—she was still absorbed in the story.

Sadona's sharp eyes swept over the interior.

The shop was modest but warm. Wooden shelves lined the walls, each stacked neatly with books—real books, bound and printed in uniform copies. Her breath caught. There had to be at least twenty or thirty of them.

For a moment, she simply stared.

"Please," Liyi Yi said, noticing her amazement. "If you see something you like, feel free to take it down and read."

Sadona blinked, startled. "Can I? Won't they... get damaged?"

Liyi Yi smiled, standing up. "Don't worry. Books are meant to be read." She reached for a volume on the shelf and handed it to her.

"Thank you." Sadona took the book carefully, both hands supporting the spine as though holding something sacred. The cover was smooth beneath her fingers—simple yet elegant. Two bold characters were printed on the front: "Chaos."

She brushed her fingertips across the embossed letters, then turned the first page.

Chaos, Book One.

By Luciel.

Her brows furrowed slightly. Luciel? The name tugged at her memory, but she couldn't place it.

She flipped to the next page—and froze.

The words on the paper were crisp, uniform, perfectly straight. Not handwritten. Not carved. Printed. How... how did they do this? she wondered, running a finger over the smooth ink lines.

Then she began to read.

And before she knew it, she was lost in the story. The language was clear yet deep, the ideas flowing with strange logic that both unsettled and fascinated her. The kind of book that whispered of things beyond the world's veil.

Liyi Yi coughed gently to bring her back. "So? What do you think?"

Sadona looked up, reluctant to close the book. "It's... incredible," she admitted softly. "A great book. Is it... true? The things written here?"

Liyi Yi smiled mysteriously. "Who knows? Only Lord Luciel himself could answer that."

Sadona blinked. "Lord Luciel? You mean—you know him?"

"Of course," Liyi Yi said proudly. "He's the City Lord of Black Tortoise City—and the author of Chaos."

Sadona's jaw nearly dropped. "The City Lord... writes books?"

She had imagined Luciel as some grizzled, battle-worn man—half a century old, with scars across his face. The image of a lord who wrote for pleasure was unthinkable.

"Ahhh—" Aki tugged her sleeve again, her small fingers moving rapidly in sign.

Sadona frowned softly, reading her gestures. Her daughter wanted the book. Her little hands reached toward it with innocent eagerness.

Sadona hesitated. Aki's fingers were rough, stained from travel. Books were delicate things—she didn't want to ruin it before they could even begin reading.

"If you like it," Liyi Yi said kindly, "you can buy it."

Sadona straightened slightly. "How much?"

Liyi Yi studied the large animal-skin pack on the woman's back. Judging by its size and shape, it was filled with supplies—and possibly, fierce beast spars. Her tone was casual but polite. "Not expensive. One hundred high-grade junior beast spars."

Sadona blinked, stunned. That was cheap. Too cheap. In any major city, a single book would cost five, even ten times that amount.

"Quantity's limited," Liyi Yi added smoothly. "First come, first served."

The words were ones Luciel himself had taught her—the perfect push to close a deal.

Sadona thought for a moment, then nodded. "I'll take it."

She swung the pack off her shoulder, untied the thick strap, and rummaged through it. A smaller pouch came out, filled with glittering spars. She counted a hundred carefully and placed them on the counter. "Here. Please check."

"One moment," Liyi Yi said, her tone serious. It was her first real transaction at the shop, and she intended to do it right. She counted each spar meticulously—no more, no less. Satisfied, she nodded. "All correct."

She pushed the book forward with both hands. "Then it's yours."

"Thank you." Sadona smiled—a small, rare smile—and handed the book to Aki. The little girl hugged it tightly, eyes shining with joy.

Sadona turned back toward the shelves. "Those other books," she asked curiously, "can we read them too?"

"They're the same as Chaos," Liyi Yi explained. "Same author, same contents—just more copies."

"I see." Sadona nodded. That explained the low price. If these books were mass-produced somehow, their value would drop—but the thought of that technology intrigued her deeply.

She adjusted her bag, took Aki's hand, and started for the door. As she turned, her gaze lingered briefly on the counter, where Liyi Yi stood. Something about the girl—her composure, her quiet smile—felt... watchful.

Cling—dang~~

The bell rang again as the door closed behind them, leaving the shop quiet.

Liyi Yi waited a moment before speaking. "Did she notice you?" she asked softly, glancing to the corner of the shop.

From behind the counter, Mirean Moon rose to her feet. The gentle light from the window traced the lines of her elegant profile, her blue eyes calm yet sharp.

"She did," Mirean said quietly. "She's strong—Tier Six, at least."

Liyi Yi's expression hardened. "I thought so. The moment she walked in, I felt... uneasy. Her presence wasn't normal."

"Should we tell Lord Luciel?" Liyi Yi asked.

Mirean smiled faintly, a touch of mystery glinting in her eyes. "There's no need. Someone's already keeping an eye on her."

"Elara and the others?" Liyi Yi guessed.

Mirean didn't answer. She simply sat back down, flipped open Chaos again, and immersed herself in its pages, her lips curving slightly as she read.

Liyi Yi sighed. She really does love that book, she thought helplessly.

The shop fell silent once more.

Cling—dang~~

The bell rang again, this time louder. Seven or eight people crowded through the door, chattering noisily. Liyi Yi's brief peace vanished.

She straightened her back, closing her own book with a soft sigh, and forced a professional smile. "Welcome," she said warmly.

Inside, she was already calculating. Seven customers... seven sales. Each one looked, to her eyes, like walking beast spars.

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