Ron walked to the edge of the platform, overlooking the entire 69 Town.
From this height, the whole town presented a unique gray-black tone, like a massive ink stone embedded in the earth.
The town walls stood about twenty meters high, built of some special stone that shimmered with a faint elegance.
The buildings inside were mostly square stone structures, neatly arranged on both sides of winding streets, chimneys standing tall, with wisps of gray smoke occasionally rising and blending with the clouds in the sky.
The first impression of the town was solidity and defensiveness, but if looked closely, one could spot the vitality it contained.
There was an endless stream of caravans at the gate, a bustling marketplace, and in the distance, some sizable workshops were operating, emitting various energy lights.
"Is this your first time in 69 Town, Wizard?" A heavily accented voice came from behind.
Ron turned around and saw a short, middle-aged man with unnaturally gray skin.
The man wore a simple gray-brown robe, with a string of small colorful bottles hanging at his waist.
His eyes displayed a peculiar silvery-gray shade, with a faint purple halo around the pupils, clearly the result of long-term Abyss influence.
"Yes, this is my first visit."
Ron’s voice held neither hostility nor friendliness, it was merely a factual statement.
"I am the local guide, Ethan."
The man slightly bowed, making an exaggerated salute:
"If the Wizard desires assistance, I can provide the most professional guiding services and ensure your stay in 69 Town is both safe and delightful."
Ron scrutinized the guide claiming to be Ethan, judging from his breath and temperature, he was indeed a living person rather than some disguised Abyss creature.
Although his eyes showed traces of Abyss influence, his mind seemed relatively clear, without obvious madness or hostility.
However, judging by the fluctuation of aura from the other party, his physical fitness had reached at least the level of a Knight’s Squire.
But considering the special environment of the Abyss Edge, such prowess was everywhere, perhaps not surprising at all.
"How well do you know 69 Town?" Ron asked, his gaze sharp as a blade.
"I’ve lived here for thirty-two years, born and raised."
Ethan replied proudly, patting his chest:
"I know every street, every shop, even every stone in 69 Town. Whether you are seeking materials, information, or want to experience some ’special’ services, I can take you to the best places."
He lowered his voice for the last sentence, a crafty glint flashed in his eyes.
Ron slightly raised his eyebrows but was not surprised.
Such border towns are often breeding grounds for various gray transactions.
"I need some extraordinary materials."
He said directly, taking a piece of parchment from his Spatial Bag, listing a series of items:
"Mainly Abyss minerals for Alchemy and device construction, and some special Crystal Stones to stabilize Soul Fragments."
Ethan took the list, quickly glanced at it, a hint of astonishment flashed in his eyes, but then he nodded:
"Most of these things can be found in the ’Abyssal Bazaar’, the rest require going to the ’Shadow Area’ to find specific merchants. Given the Wizard’s identity, acquiring these should not be difficult, although the price might be higher."
"Price is not an issue."
As an Official Wizard and Professional Alchemist, he had accumulated considerable wealth, enough to indulge a little in a place like 69 Town.
"Then, when do we set off?"
Ethan eagerly asked, his eyes sparkling with the reward soon to be received.
Ron looked to the sky, the sun not yet at its peak, time was still early:
"Let’s go now. My stay in 69 Town is limited, I need to finish the procurement soon."
Ethan was delighted, immediately making a "please" gesture towards the docking tower’s exit:
"This way, Wizard. We can take the suspension car down the tower, it will save a lot of time."
The suspension car is a special transportation tool connecting the docking tower to the ground, similar to a simple crane, capable of quickly moving up and down along fixed tracks, much more convenient than walking the spiral staircase inside the tower.
Ron followed Ethan to the suspension car station at the edge of the tower, boarding a small crane.
The vehicle was made of some dark metal, with simple seats inside, seeming to have been used for a long time but well-maintained and running smoothly.
Ethan skillfully operated the control lever, and the suspension car slowly started, gliding down along the fixed track.
Through the window, Ron could see the internal structure of the docking tower—layers of metal frames, intertwining pipelines, and occasionally flashing magic crystal lamps.
"This docking tower was built about two hundred years ago."
Ethan introduced proactively, with a tone of local pride:
"The Wizards at the time discovered the town’s unique geographical location suited as an outpost, so they invested in building this tower. Since then, our small town truly began to thrive."
Ron nodded, having read some related information on the airship before and was slightly aware of this history.
The suspension car slowly descended, passing through the foggy area in the middle layer of the tower body, eventually stopping at the ground platform.
Ron followed Ethan out of the station, arriving at the plaza at the bottom of the docking tower.
Here, many people were already active, some were passengers just off airships, others were locals coming to pick up people or do business.
"It’s about a twenty-minute walk from here to the city gate."
Ethan pointed to the distant gray-black town walls: "If the Wizard finds it inconvenient, I can call for a carriage."
"Walking is fine." Ron replied, interested in the surroundings of 69 Town and wanting to personally experience its unique atmosphere.
The two walked along a path paved with gray slabs toward the direction of the town.
Stalls were distributed along both sides of the road, selling various drinks and snacks, apparently catering to the travelers just alighting from airships.
Most stall owners were locals, their skin showing varying degrees of gray, eyes carrying that peculiar halo.
Seeing the Wizard Badge on Ron’s chest, they would immediately bow their heads, showing respect.
"Do all residents of 69 Town have this characteristic?" Ron asked, pointing to a stall owner’s gray skin.
"Yes, it’s a natural change from long-term living under Abyss influence."
Ethan explained, his tone containing both pride and helplessness:
"We living at the Abyss Edge are typically physically strong, seldom ill, and have excellent vision in the dark, but the price is changes in skin and eyes and... shorter lifespans."
He paused, then lowered his voice to add:
"Of course, Abyss influence is not just superficial. Some people gradually develop... special abilities, yet these abilities often come with changes in character and mind, which not everyone can master."