’How is that nonsense?’ Rorschach thought the two requests were quite clever. To those who didn’t know or didn’t believe in the existence of the Shadow City, the requests would just be baffling, but those who understood the true meaning could immediately grasp Rorschach and Singrev’s intentions.

A missing person notice without a name naturally referred to those who had vanished into the Shadow City. The requirements of being "familiar with urban legends" and having a "good memory" hinted at people who could cross between reality and shadow—they wouldn’t forget the names of the missing and had a certain resistance to curses.

"Since I’ve guessed your real request, let’s talk about payment. Is the commission for both requests combined?" The offered commission was a total of two Gold Coins, a very substantial amount.

"Getting us inside is one Gold Coin. We do need to find someone, and if you can help us during the search, we’re willing to pay the second one." As he spoke, Rorschach held out his closed fist, opening his fingers just enough for the poet to see the Gold Coin in his palm.

"Alright. But before I take you in, I need to confirm one thing." Freddy stared at Rorschach. "You don’t seem to know much about entering the Land of Shadows. Are you sure you can make it back?"

Rorschach was silent for a moment. "You don’t need to worry about that."

"Great!" The poet gave a thumbs-up. "Then it’s settled!"

First, Freddy led the two to buy a few jugs of wine and several pounds of white sugar. The price of sugar in Istani was significantly lower than on the mainland. The island didn’t produce these beautiful, delicious crystals itself; they were brought in continuously by large ships from the sea. The sugar, wrapped in several layers of brown paper, was carried by the Dwarf. Singrev and Rorschach followed the poet through streets and alleys until they reached an old, abandoned well, hemmed in on all sides by residential buildings.

"We have to jump in?" The Dwarf’s face paled. It looked like the residents used it for dumping refuse. Not only was it piled high with garbage, but it also reeked horribly. There was no water at all.

"A child drowned in this well once, so the residents considered it unlucky and sealed it up." Freddy shook his head. "An unfortunate incident. We used to have a better spot."

"Can’t we take another path?" Singrev leaned over the edge of the well to peer inside. When he pulled back, he realized his hands were covered in filth.

"Of course. If you’re willing to find a suitable bed in a cemetery, sleep with the original owner until a certain time, and then wake up, you’ll also arrive in the Shadow City." The poet shrugged. "I’ve never tried it, that’s just what I’ve heard. There are many other strange methods like that, all slowly discovered by people living in the cracks. If you ask the owner of any dive bar, he might be able to offer a method or two, but none of them will have personally tried them like I have."

The poet took out a jug of wine and began to pour it into the well, all while singing a murmuring song in praise of some unknown entity.

The Dwarf’s large nose twitched. He suddenly roared, "Hey! That’s Elven wine!" He quickly wiped his hands on his clothes, wanting to cup them to catch the fine liquor.

However, the poet poured the entire jug into the well. Though it was only a single jug, the liquid miraculously filled the well to the brim. The piled-up filth was gone, replaced by clear wine. Looking down, deep within the transparent liquid, was an Abyss leading to who-knows-where.

"This is the entrance?"

"Go on, jump. You’ll be there in the blink of an eye."

Rorschach cast a [Filtering Air Bubble] that enveloped his entire body. He used [Communication Skill] to ask Singrev if he wanted the same protection, but the Dwarf firmly shook his head in refusal.

The poet picked up his lute and strummed a little ditty. "Farewell, everyone, I’m off to lands unknown... Easy come, easy go, so why not let me go..."

As Rorschach dove headfirst into the wine, the filtering bubble prevented him from smelling any "special aromatic fragrance." He saw the waves and vortex he created envelop him, followed by an icy sensation that whisked away both his body heat and his consciousness...

Just as everything went dark, Rorschach suddenly felt a force pulling at him. It was Freddy. He had still been playing his lute and singing when Rorschach jumped, yet somehow he had arrived first.

"Is this real life? Or is it just a nightmare? Open your eyes, look up to the heavens!" The song continued relentlessly. Rorschach instinctively looked up at the sky... and saw no sky at all.

They were standing on a Garbage Mountain, surrounded by small, thin Scavengers clad in patched-together furs. The Scavengers watched them with a mixture of curiosity and fear, wanting to approach but not daring to. As for the sky, or more accurately, the space above Rorschach’s head, it was nothing but a low, dense fog. The entire area was dim and sallow, making it just possible to discern the silhouettes of people and things.

They had emerged from the well behind them, but there was still no sign of Singrev. While Rorschach was still looking up, a loud yell shattered the darkness. The well had turned into a mortar, and the Dwarf was violently launched out like a cannonball, streaking through the low-hanging fog.

By the time Rorschach reacted, the Dwarf had already flown beyond the range of [Mage’s Hand]. Rorschach quickly began Casting; his [Feather Fall Skill] caught the Dwarf, allowing him to descend slowly to the ground. The small Scavengers immediately burst into cheers, shouting "OOH! OOH! OOH!" and jumping with excitement.

’Are they cheering for my superb Casting?’ Rorschach hadn’t expected the little ones to be such "experts."

"So you’re a Caster. No wonder you dared to venture into the Shadow Land," Freddy said, shaking his head. "But you must always be reverent. Here in the Shadowlands, what awaits the brave isn’t flowers and fine wine, only coffins and mockery..."

"Take that disobedient Dwarf, for example. He must have snuck a drink of the wine while crossing between realms, so the dead well gave him a little punishment. What a merciful well!"

’So the poet was praising this well from the start,’ Rorschach realized. ’The Garbage Mountain must be made of trash thrown down by the residents of the Upper Realm, which in turn supports a whole bunch of...’ He activated [Dark Vision] and got a clear look at the inhabitants of the Shadow City. They were incredibly small and thin, their bodies so hunched over they were practically crawling on the trash heaps. The furs they wore were gray and patched together, likely made from the hides of rodents.

The Dwarf, who had snuck a drink of the well’s "tribute wine," stumbled over to join Rorschach and Freddy. However, he was mobbed by the diminutive Scavengers, who surrounded him completely.

"What’s going on?" Singrev was confused. He wasn’t nervous, as he could sense no malice from the crowd around him. Instead, they were whimpering, as if trying to communicate with him.

"Sorry, I can’t understand what you’re saying..."

After the Dwarf spoke, the Scavengers all fell silent. One who looked older uttered an understandable word: "King... King..."

At first, Rorschach thought they were no different from common animals, but now he saw they possessed intelligence and even organization. The poet clapped his hands. "I get it, Singrev! These rat-folk are choosing you to be their King!" 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

Then, Freddy quietly explained to Rorschach, "They’re Mouse Speakers. They must think Mister Singrev can fly, and since his height is similar to theirs, well..."

’And for that they’re pledging their loyalty? Is their allegiance really that cheap?!’ Rorschach was left speechless by the Mouse Speakers’ rash decision. ’So the cheers weren’t for my Casting after all. They were for the ’heaven-sent’ Singrev, the new King of Garbage Mountain!’

The Dwarf scrambled over to his two companions, trying to shake off the Shadow City natives. But they were far more nimble than a Dwarf on the Garbage Mountain. Now all three of them were surrounded as the creatures, led by one who seemed to be an Elder, kowtowed and bowed before their newly-appointed King.

Seeing the bewildered Singrev, Freddy burst out laughing. Once he had his fill, he said, "Weren’t you trying to find someone in the Shadowlands? In the Shadow City, and even up in Storm City in the Upper Realm, rats are everywhere. And Mouse Speakers, who can communicate with them, are incredibly useful!"