Then he freezes.
His eyes widen as soon as he recognizes the item.
He picks it up, turning it over slowly, then compares it with the bounty notice pinned to the board behind him. His throat tightens.
"T-This…" the clerk mutters. "This belongs to one of our high-tier targets."
He looks back at Aiden, clearly startled.
"That man carried an eighty–gold-coin bounty."
The surrounding noise seems to dim for a moment.
Aiden simply stands there, calm and unreadable beneath his hood.
The clerk swallows, suddenly much more respectful.
"Please wait a moment, sir. I need to verify this."
He hurriedly gathers the documents and disappears through a side door, leaving Aiden alone at the counter, while a few nearby patrons sneak curious glances his way, already sensing that something big has just been turned in.
The side door opens again a short while later.
This time, the clerk doesn't come back alone.
