Escape from an Ancient Civilization Ch 135

Chapter 135

If all these assumptions were true, the man’s disposition was easy to infer. To march head‑on into a place teeming with Guti… charitably, that meant deep, unwavering loyalty; less charitably, it went beyond inflexibility into a bulldozer of a temperament.

As Nataek and Medeus organized their thoughts—

“Lamb stew is ready!”

The proprietress set down a steaming bowl. Enticed by the fragrant aroma, Nataek reached for the utensils first. Medeus looked at him and smiled gently.

“Let’s eat first.”

The savory smell made his mouth water, and Nataek nodded, beginning to eat.

No sooner had they finished than they rented a room upstairs, dropped their packs, and immediately led the kunqas out to make a round of Ur’s market.

“Other cities typically designate the port as a commercial special zone,” the princess had said. “But Ur lacks a large harbor, so that’s not possible. Instead, Ur created a commercial district called ‘Mari’ in the city center.”

“Mari… Mari…”

Nataek recalled the information she’d given him. She had said Mari’s prestige had faded greatly since the Guti occupation.

“Even if its glory’s faded, it’s still the only place where merchants would converge, right?”

Medeus agreed and continued, “Setting aside a specific area for merchants benefits both sides. If merchants trickle chaotically throughout the city, the native damgars suffer. Conversely, native damgars’ turf wars can drive itinerant traders away. If friction builds and merchants stop coming, the flow of goods dwindles. To prevent that, they’ll have to keep Mari functioning.”

So their destination, as traders, was obvious.

“Then we should stay here tonight and head to Mari first thing tomorrow.”

Medeus agreed—except for one key problem.

“So which way is Mari?”

“Hmm…”

Neither of them knew the route.

“Fresh‑baked bread! Bread, come buy your bread!”

A loud call sounded beside the two wandering men. Medeus began scanning the surroundings as though to fix a direction.

Should I just rely on Medeus again?

Using Medeus like a compass or a guide wasn’t new for Nataek. But if they wandered Ur relying on his intuition and ended up lost, they’d be in real trouble—especially with two kunqas in tow, and the city under Guti occupation. They needed to minimize surprises.

We need the exact route. Better ask.

Resolved, Nataek turned to the nearest vendor.

“Excuse me.”

“Yes, yes—what can I do for you?”

“How do we get to the district called Mari?”

“Mari?”

The kindly face hardened at once.

“What are you going there to sell?”

What’s with him? Nataek answered, flustered.

“Is that important?”

“It is! You lot march there, find no customers, and come back to hawk here—who do you think pays the price?”

“What… do you mean?”

Seeing Nataek’s confusion, the vendor explained angrily. No matter how much the Guti claimed not to exploit merchants, people’s fear had not abated. Since Mari drew the most gold and silver, the Guti flocked there—and non‑Guti customers stayed away.

As a result, traders of fruit, cloth, and the like had moved to Ur’s market to find buyers.

“Thanks to them, the income of Ur’s damgars is halved! If you’re not selling gold and silver, don’t bother with Mari or the market—turn back!”

Apparently Ur’s goods were less competitive in both price and quality than imported wares. Nataek smiled reassuringly at the wary vendor and jerked his chin toward their kunqas.

“Worry not. We brought gold and silver. The sort of wares that can only be sold in Mari, not the market.”

The vendor eyed the kunqas, then looked back suspiciously.

“Truly?”

“Yes. Why would we lie about that?”

At last, the misunderstanding eased.

“In that case… I can tell you. But must you really go?”

Feigning a fuss over his bread trays, the vendor asked. A moment ago he had been bristling, but once convinced they weren’t competitors, he suddenly sounded almost concerned.

Nataek tilted his head cautiously. “Is there some problem?”

“Problem?”

The instant he echoed the word, the people of the market slowed as if caught in slow motion. Then Ur’s time stopped altogether. The vendor. The passersby. Medeus and the kunqas beside them. All frozen like statues. A glowing choice appeared before Nataek’s eyes.

What would you like to ask?

[1. Ask about Mari.]

[2. Ask about Ur.]

Another choice? Ha…

Nataek sighed and rubbed his brow. There was no way to defy the system; he had to comply.

Let’s see. “Mari” means I’ll hear about Mari—that’s clear. But “Ur”? Ask about Ur and get what? The current situation? The lives of those who remain? Or… could it be about that soldier from earlier?

He pondered the options a long while. They needed information on Ur, but they were headed to Mari next; they couldn’t go blind. Both were necessary—making the choice harder, especially with Ur’s difficulty looming.

Which… will give more benefit?

He needed to choose the option with the lesser loss. After brooding, he recalled the current quest title.

Hidden Ally… If the aim is to find an ally, then getting information about that man comes first, doesn’t it?

To hell with it. Number 2: Ur.

As soon as he decided, the panel flickered. The light dissolved, and like a broken spell, everyone resumed normal speed.

“Ur?” The vendor waved his hand, lamenting. “Don’t even get me started. In Ur—”

He suddenly cut himself off and thrust his face toward Nataek. Medeus’s expression tightened.

“Do you know how many problems Ur has?”

“What problems?”

The vendor clicked his tongue and shook his head.

“Farmers are dragged to public works. Whatever the miners produce is seized by the Guti. And the barley borrowed from the temple must be repaid at fortyfold interest—how is that just one or two problems?”

If true, then the remaining people of Ur were being bled dry to feed the Guti. In that case—

“What of those who left Ur? If merchants, farmers, and miners remain, what of the soldiers? What happened to Ur’s soldiers?”

At the word “soldiers,” the vendor’s face grew more severe.

“Ur’s soldiers? Can you call such men Ur’s people? Every soldier in Ur now serves Sibiera. Those not on his side were executed or enslaved.”

“Sibiera?”

“Yes. The traitor of Ur who betrayed the ensi and joined with the Guti!”

No sooner had he hissed the name than the system flashed a notice.

Keyword ‘Sibiera’ acquired!

Sibiera… So Ur’s “traitor” was Nammu‑wa’s subordinate who joined Luhaljageshi and the Guti—his name was Sibiera.

The more he heard, the more questions grew. Nataek exchanged a glance with Medeus.

Could we learn about the man from the tavern? If he really was Ur’s commander, this vendor might know of him.

Reading Nataek’s thought, Medeus leaned in toward the vendor.

“Then what of Ur’s commander? Was he executed as well?”

“Commander? You mean Lord Shuran?”

Keyword ‘Shuran’ acquired!

Seeing the prompts piling up, Nataek frowned.

Why are all the names like this… easy to mix up.

He sorted the jumble in his head. The traitor of Ur: Sibiera. Ur’s commander: Shuran. At least the vendor didn’t seem suspicious of their pointed questions—very NPC‑like.

If they confirmed whether the soldier from the tavern was this “Shuran,” their first round of intel would be complete. Nataek began to ask—

“About this Shuran—”

Suddenly Medeus grabbed his arm.

“Teresi.”

Nataek looked at him questioningly. Medeus’s lips brushed his ear.

Someone is tailing us.

Nataek’s eyes widened.

A tail? We’ve barely arrived. Who would—? Don’t tell me… word of the spy mission from Kish already leaked?

Given Ur’s heightened difficulty, not impossible. Cold sweat trickled down his spine.

“Act natural. If it comes to it, I’ll signal—mount the kunga then.”

“Understood.”

Feigning calm, Nataek took one kunga by the reins.

“Then we’ll be going. May your sales be good.”

He and Medeus began to walk away slowly—

“You there. Stop.”