Increased favorability?
Why?
Durin was a bit bewildered, feeling that this increase in favorability was somewhat baffling.
Kaleti gave a kind smile, leaned down to rummage through a drawer, and pulled out a relatively thick book to hand to Durin.
The book was mostly complete, though the pages were a bit worn and had obvious creases. On its cover was a line of text—the Noxian version of "Shurima: Past and Present (Volume 1)".
"This book is 35 copper circle coins," Kaleti said proactively. "You can read it carefully when you get back. This first volume basically covers the most fundamental Ancient Shurima script."
Durin didn't show much reaction on the surface, but internally, he couldn't help but complain: he hadn't expected that a book which looked like it had been through several owners could sell for so much even in Zaun.
Durin took it and flipped through it. After confirming that the script inside the book was extremely similar to the Ancient Shurima script he had seen in his dreams, he finally felt a little more at ease.
In any case, he couldn't understand a single word of the script on the pages; it was densely packed, and there were no illustrations or runes in the book. It was full of large and small characters along with additional lines that looked like annotations, making his head ache just looking at it.
Regardless, he would know more once he took it back to study.
Durin pulled 35 copper circle coins from his inner pocket and stuffed the handful into Kaleti's hand.
Just as he was about to leave, Kaleti suddenly asked of her own accord, "Wait, what's your name?"
"Durin," he replied.
"Very well, I've noted your name. When you finish reading this book, you can come back here to ask me for the second volume." Kaleti nodded slightly, then lay straight back onto her recliner and resumed reading her previous book.
After buying the book he wanted, Durin retraced his steps to the public lift, paid the fee, and returned to the lower levels of Zaun.
The Slums of Ninth Avenue, Alley 56, was still the same familiar little alley. Not far away was a cluster of dilapidated, grayish-white concrete residential buildings. Durin lived in Room 2 on the second floor of House 4.
The place was full of potholes, and the two small buildings on either side, which looked almost identical, were huddled tightly together. The mottled, moss-covered walls and doors and windows patched with wooden boards all spoke of the Slums' decay.
What stood out most were the tiger claw symbols painted in red on the walls of the nearby buildings, signifying that this area belonged to the Tiger Claw Gang.
As soon as he stepped into the alley, Durin noticed that the surroundings were slightly different from his memory.
It seemed... the road had become cleaner. Although there was still some mess, the ubiquitous trash was no longer everywhere like in his memory, and the air was no longer as murky and foul-smelling as before.
This was only part of the change. Besides this, Durin also noticed many unfamiliar faces on both sides of the street. To be precise, whereas the Tiger Claw Gang's lackeys used to look like common thugs, the people standing on the street now had become disciplined "underworld associates."
Although they didn't dress in gaudy colors like the previous Tiger Claw Gang members, they did their best to fully display their burly physiques.
They either had a thick steel water pipe tucked into their belts, or a cleaver or an axe; in short, it was meant to be intimidating.
As Durin walked further in, he realized that for some reason, the door to his home was open. His neighbors had all been driven out and were gathered outside in a crowd, whispering and discussing among themselves.
Oh no!
Could a thief have broken into his home!
Durin's expression changed instantly. He had previously hidden 5 silver lun coins at home and then got back 10 silver lun coins from the blacksmith. After some spending, he only had 6 silver lun coins and 48 copper circle coins on him.
His total assets currently amounted to 13 silver lun coins and 48 copper circle coins.
It wasn't that Durin hadn't encountered theft since transmigrating, but he had been very poor then and had nothing worth stealing; at most, he'd lost a few copper circle coins.
But it was different now!
This was 5 silver lun coins, equivalent to half of his assets!
"Where did Durin go?"
"Who knows? From the looks of it, it's like he packed his things and ran away last night... probably left Zaun?"
"True, nothing good comes from offending the Silco Family. Even the Tiger Claw Gang has to treat them with respect."
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