Briarwick had risen through the ranks to become one of Elarion's premier cities—boasting steady economic growth without reaching the saturation point of metropolises like Yanbei or Nanhai. It was the last refuge from breakneck urban life, where pleasant weather and excellent infrastructure attracted corporate headquarters and recent graduates alike.
The tech district boomed with rapid development, gradually shifting the city's commercial center. Young professionals flocked there to settle down, leaving the old quarter as a reluctant alternative. Locals called it the city's forgotten fringe—home to elderly residents on fixed incomes and overworked youths surviving on cheap rent.
The contrast between districts sharpened at dusk: while downtown buzzed with electric energy, the old quarter s
