Among the stream of regular customers, several individuals stood out to Elias's discerning eye. They moved differently, observed more carefully, and their purchases seemed secondary to their blatant surveillance of the products and set-up of the shop. Although they attempted to blend in, Elias could easily identify their true nature.
—These were no ordinary patrons.
A middle-aged man in a merchant's clothes caught his attention first. Despite his costume, his military bearing was unmistakable. He sampled a Honey Spiral with deliberate slowness, his eyes methodically scanning the shop's interior as if memorizing every detail.
An elegant woman provided the second point of interest. Her simple dress couldn't disguise her refined manners, and she purchased several pastries while asking detailed questions about ingredients and preparation methods, inquiries that went far beyond casual curiosity.
