Chapter 316: The Slums

Helag had previously reviewed Diglan’s file but hadn’t given it much thought while focusing on the capture mission.

Now, revisiting the file, Helag noticed some anomalies.

Diglan hailed from the Mozambi slums and had some wizard potential.

According to the records, he was a third-class wizard apprentice.

He owned the Root Bar, which had been in operation for over twenty years.

The file was straightforward, with no detailed information, portraying Diglan as an ordinary Silvermoon City resident.

But Helag’s attention was drawn to the words “Mozambi slums.”

Seeing those words reminded him that Doren and Max also came from the Mozambi slums.

All three were from the slums and were Abyssal cultists—a coincidence too significant to ignore.

While the slums had a large population, making the presence of Abyssal cultists plausible, encountering several from the same place seemed suspicious.

Helag shared his observation with Pruis via his communication stone.

Pruis replied, “Many Abyssal cultists come from the slums due to the high population and poor living conditions, making them susceptible to the dark gods’ influence.”

Pruis seemed aware of this, not finding it unusual.

The slums were breeding grounds for crime, naturally increasing the likelihood of Abyssal cultists.

Seranthiel was aware but had no effective solutions.

The Mozambi slums were the most densely populated area in Silvermoon City, chaotic and unmanageable.

Seranthiel knew little about the slums, intervening only if major disturbances occurred.

The slums were insular, with outsiders closely monitored.

Ordinary people avoided the area, knowing any misfortune there would be their own to bear.

Deaths went unnoticed and uninvestigated.

Even if an investigation were attempted, the slums could easily produce a scapegoat to quell any unrest.

“Could Diglan be hiding in the Mozambi slums?” Helag asked.

“It’s possible,” Pruis replied.

Helag continued, “Have we searched there?”

“The slums are complicated. If Diglan is hiding there, finding him would be difficult. Even if we went, he’d hear of it and flee.”

“The main issue is that we can’t storm in without risking a riot. A slum riot would destabilize Silvermoon City.”

“The Land of Dawn strictly prohibits mass civilian slaughter. A slum riot would lead to mass casualties.”

“Such an event would result in many deaths, and even Lord Parker would be held accountable.”

Pruis explained the slums’ complexity and sensitivity.

The Land of Dawn prohibited the slaughter of ordinary people.

A slum riot would become a scandal, giving other wizard organizations a reason to condemn Seranthiel.

The Land of Dawn’s wizard organizations were both allies and rivals.

Seranthiel wanted to avoid such incidents within its borders.

Thus, the slums were handled cautiously.

Even knowing Abyssal cultists like Diglan hid there, Seranthiel wouldn’t search.

The risks were too great, and no one wanted the responsibility or consequences.

Diglan was just one cultist, not worth the risk of a slum riot.

After hearing Pruis, Helag understood the slums’ situation.

Seranthiel seemed to leave the slums alone, like a hot potato no one wanted to handle.

As long as there were no major riots, they only provided basic necessities and stayed out of other matters.

“But is this management sustainable?” Helag wondered.

Ignoring the slums could turn them into a ticking time bomb for Silvermoon City.

The slums were a known threat, but intervening risked immediate disaster, so they were left alone.

Helag searched the tavern forums for information on the Mozambi slums, frowning at what he found.

He felt the need to investigate the slums, not for Silvermoon City’s safety, but for his own.

Many were unaware of the slums’ current state.

Poverty, backwardness, chaos, crime…

These were the common perceptions of the slums, but details were scarce.

It was as if no one there used communication stones, and no one spoke of the specifics.

Others could remain ignorant, but Helag couldn’t.

Living in Silvermoon City, he needed to be prepared for any sudden events.

Knowing the slums were a ticking bomb, he couldn’t ignore them.

He needed to assess the situation and prepare for any anomalies.

If something were to happen, he wanted to be ready.

He decided to visit the slums, starting with the outskirts.

The Mozambique slums were in the western part of Silvermoon City, larger than most wealthy and residential areas.

Their neglect made them seem like an insignificant corner.

After studying the slums’ map, Helag felt a growing sense of unease.

The area was vast, densely populated, but the exact population was unknown.

No one knew for sure.