The Gilderhaven Guild

A gift?

From a merchant in the Weapons Hall?

That wasn't normal.

Nothing in this city was free.

Arthur had spent enough time in the slums to know that nothing was free. And, a simple kind gesture didn't exist in places like this.

Everything was a transaction. A calculated move.

His gaze sharpened slightly as he studied the saleswoman.

She remained poised, her professional smile never wavering, but there was a certain deliberate nature in the way she had spoken.

A test.

A probe.

She was watching him.

Measuring his reaction.

Arthur slowly let the coins slip back into his inventory.

Then, after a moment, he nodded. "Alright, then. I'll thank you for your gift."

His tone was even, unreadable.

He neither sounded overly grateful nor suspicious.

A neutral stance.

One that left room for interpretation.