Walking along the bustling street, vendors were shouting and advertising their goods everywhere.
Cao Ye greatly enjoyed this moment.
There was no survival pressure, no need to run around every day just to make money.
This feeling made him extremely relaxed.
Before transmigrating, Cao Ye had always lived under heavy pressure.
When he was a student, he worked hard for his studies.
The high school entrance exam and college entrance exam were built upon countless days and nights of homework and textbooks.
After entering university, things became slightly easier, but he still had to struggle for various certificates, since they were related to his future career.
After graduation, he went through several twists and turns before joining a medium-sized company.
For money, he worked day and night.
Although he didn't seem to earn much throughout the year, it always felt like the 365 days passed in a blur.
After all, as a man, the pressure and responsibilities on his shoulders were heavy.
Especially the requirements for marriage—
a car, a house, money.
Each one was like a mountain pressing firmly on his shoulders.
After coming to this world, all those pressures disappeared.
Instead, they were replaced with a more primitive kind of pressure.
To survive.
To avoid being thrown out of an inn.
To earn food for the day.
He had to fight monsters in the Dungeon with his life on the line.
But now—
All that pressure was gone.
The sudden release of burdens made Cao Ye feel much more relaxed.
Especially this feeling of freedom, which fascinated him deeply.
"Hm?"
Suddenly, Cao Ye sensed something was wrong.
It felt like someone nearby had been watching him.
At first he didn't care.
After all, Orario was huge and crowded. People looking at you occasionally was normal.
But after a while, that gaze still hadn't disappeared.
Instead, it remained fixed on him.
That made Cao Ye become cautious.
After all, earlier in the Dungeon he had been blocked by other adventurers several times, nearly suffering losses.
Reality had already taught him a harsh lesson.
This world wasn't an anime.
Behind the prosperity, there was darkness everywhere.
Scene Change
Step.
"Lady Freya, the little rats hiding in the shadows seem to have set their sights on Cao Ye."
On a high platform overlooking Orario, Freya sat elegantly, gazing down at the streets below.
Beside her stood Ottar, guarding silently.
"Why? Are you worried about him?"
Freya looked at Ottar with slight amusement and surprise.
The reason she kept Ottar by her side was not only because of his strength.
His absolute obedience and reliability were equally important.
Compared to others, Ottar was the easiest to deal with.
He didn't compete or scheme.
If it were someone else, Cao Ye might have already been threatened or taught a lesson.
After all, conflicts inside the Freya Familia were not forbidden.
In fact, they were often encouraged.
"No. It's just that he is someone you are paying attention to. If something were to happen…"
"There's no need to worry, Ottar."
Freya smiled faintly while watching the street below.
"He has quite the potential."
Hearing this, Ottar nodded and said nothing further.
To him, Cao Ye didn't matter.
Only the goddess's thoughts and mood were important.
Meanwhile, Freya's divine eyes remained fixed on Cao Ye.
To her, watching Cao Ye's growth was like witnessing the rise of a hero.
And for gods, nothing was more interesting than that.
Besides, those sewer rats down there were just useless trash.
There was no way they could harm Cao Ye.
As the only goddess in Orario who knew Cao Ye's potential, Freya was very eager to see him shine brightly in Orario.
At the same time, after noticing the suspicious gaze, Cao Ye deliberately left the main street.
He began walking toward quiet back alleys.
His goal was simple.
To draw the hidden people out.
After all—
It's easy to dodge an open spear, but hard to guard against a hidden arrow.
Since he had already noticed something wrong, it was better to deal with it early.
Dragging it out might only make things worse.
"Where is this kid going? Up ahead is the residential area."
One of the men secretly following Cao Ye frowned.
"Hmph. Isn't that even better? There are plenty of dark corners over there."
"I feel like something's off. Could he have discovered us?"
"Impossible. We've been careful the whole time. Besides, he's been eating and wandering around happily. How could he notice us?"
"I think he just got lost."
"Lost?"
"Yeah. Look at him. He clearly isn't familiar with Orario. And the way he spends money so freely—his family must be rich."
"A newcomer to Orario, huh?"
"To be honest, this city isn't as glamorous as it looks."
"Let's give this young master from out of town a 'welcome gift' and teach him the rules of Orario."
"Leave it to me."
The two exchanged glances and smiled.
Their eyes filled with greed and excitement as they looked at Cao Ye.
Thinking about the fortune they were about to obtain made them extremely happy.
Their Familia still had some Soma wine left unsold this month.
If things went smoothly tonight, they could enjoy that divine drink again.
Just thinking about it made them swallow.
The thought of Soma wine made their mouths water.
"Hey, the kid stopped. Looks like he's checking the surroundings."
"Seems this young master realized he's lost. Get ready—it's time for us to move."
"Alright."
Meanwhile, Cao Ye calmly looked around and nodded slightly.
This place was a corner of the residential district, similar to a backstreet.
Compared to the clean and lively streets earlier, this area looked far more messy and chaotic.
Though still better than the slums, it wasn't much better.
And this was exactly the place Cao Ye had chosen.
He planned to deal with the people following him.
He didn't like the feeling of being watched.
"Hey there, friend."
"Looks like you're lost. Need some help?"
At that moment, a large man walked out from the other side of the street.
He had a rough face, thick muscles, and a beard.
Dressed in coarse clothing, he clearly didn't look like someone well-off.