**Chapter: Rumors Across Berm**
Three days after the Falmouth operation, the city of Berm no longer felt the same.
The change was subtle at first.
Small conversations inside taverns.
Merchants whispering near market stalls.
Travelers stopping beside caravans to exchange stories before continuing down the roads.
But every story eventually led toward the same name.
Atlas.
And the more the stories spread, the more unbelievable they became.
---
Inside one of Berm's busiest taverns near the eastern district, the atmosphere had become louder than usual despite the early evening hour.
Merchants drank beside adventurers while workers from nearby warehouses filled the remaining tables. The smell of roasted meat, beer, sweat, and smoke hung heavily in the air while rain tapped softly against the tavern windows outside.
At one corner table, a merchant leaned closer toward several adventurers while lowering his voice dramatically.
