Chapter 215: Inviting Enri. Wanted by the Empire?

Crackle, crackle~

A blackened brazier was placed beneath the chimney inside the room. Firewood burned within, emitting soft sounds, causing the room's temperature to gradually rise and keeping the cold air outside at bay.

The middle-aged village chief, wearing a round hat, with a sturdy build and dark skin, looked at Tang Zheng and his companion with a cautious, apologetic expression.

"The environment is crude; please do not take offense, my lords," the middle-aged village chief said softly, feeling embarrassed.

This was the village chief's house in Carne Village. Tang Zheng and his group had been invited here as soon as they appeared.

Aside from the village chief.

The village hunter, Lachimont, stood quietly to one side, his back against the wooden wall, his fearful gaze sweeping over Tang Zheng and the Miss Cuiye Witch.

Especially the golden nameplate hanging from Tang Zheng's waist, which made Lachimont unable to help but take a few extra glances.

That was proof of a "Gold-Rank" adventurer!

The value of this nameplate alone, if sold, would be enough to trade for a family's food for two or three months.

This was a big shot he couldn't even touch before.

Lachimont recalled the last time he saw Tang Zheng; the other party wasn't even an adventurer then. He hadn't expected that in just a few months, the other party would already be a "Gold-Rank" adventurer.

Truly remarkable—

Lachimont swept his gaze over Tang Zheng's young face and the beautiful girl with emerald green hair beside him, quickly retracting his gaze, not daring to stare too long.

They were completely people from a different world.

"It is we who have disturbed you," Tang Zheng shook his head and said peacefully:

"Chief, there is no need to be so formal. This is not my first time coming to Carne Village, and I thank you for your hospitality previously."

Hearing this.

The middle-aged village chief showed a flattered expression: "My lord, what are you saying? These are just small matters."

Although the black-haired youth before him was visiting their village for the third time, he was completely different from the previous two.

The middle-aged village chief still remembered that the other party wore cheap linen clothes and didn't look very conspicuous, a complete contrast to his current image in a pristine white priest's robe with exquisite black inner wear.

Especially the evil spirit dog monster crouching outside the door, over a meter tall, all of which indicated that the black-haired youth before him was already someone beyond the reach of their country folk.

Thinking of some women in the village who would occasionally tease Enri, that little girl, about Tang Zheng helping her lift straw, the middle-aged village chief's heart couldn't help but skip a beat.

Fortunately, Tang Zheng didn't know about this.

The middle-aged village chief didn't think a big shot like Tang Zheng would care about village women, but if the other party heard it, it might very well cause dissatisfaction, or even affect the village.

"I wonder if Enri is still in the village?" Tang Zheng's peaceful voice rang out.

"Ah, ah?"

The middle-aged village chief was stunned for a moment, then his eyes widened sharply, and a layer of cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

"What's wrong? Is Enri not here?"

Tang Zheng felt a bit strange, looking at the visibly nervous middle-aged village chief, and asked in surprise.

"She is, she is here."

"My lord, is there something you need?" the middle-aged village chief asked in a low, guilty, and nervous voice.

Lachimont's body also became somewhat tense.

"I came to Carne Village this time because I wanted to see Enri. I discovered last time that Enri possesses a special talent."

"So I wanted to ask if she is willing to leave the village," Tang Zheng explained patiently to the surprised village chief and the other man.

Hearing this.

The middle-aged village chief and Lachimont looked at each other, feeling relieved while also feeling pleasantly surprised.

They didn't know what talent Enri had that could be favored by Tang Zheng, but they knew that this was an opportunity for both Enri and Carne Village.

"Lachimont, go to Aimet's house, and while you're at it, bring Aimet along," the middle-aged village chief turned his head and said to Lachimont with a serious tone.

This matter was a good thing for the village, but it also required the consent of Enri herself and her father, Aimet.

Lachimont nodded, quickly left the room, and turned away.

Tang Zheng then chatted lightly with the Carne Village chief, trying to learn if any major events had occurred in the "Re-Estize Kingdom" during this period.

Unfortunately.

Carne Village was too remote, and the middle-aged village chief didn't know much.

To the side.

The Miss Cuiye Witch, watching Tang Zheng communicate with a weak human, remained expressionless, but her heart was full of surprise and confusion.

She really couldn't understand.

A master with powerful strength and a terrifying nature would actually communicate with a human who could be killed with a casual wave of a hand in such an equal manner.

Even if she didn't know much about the human world, she knew that a master with such powerful strength was likely rare among the human race.

"Could that person named Enri also be a human powerhouse?" the Miss Cuiye Witch thought silently to herself.

About two minutes later.

Lachimont brought in a nervous man with brown hair, and Enri, who was wringing her fingers, followed at the back.

The Miss Cuiye Witch looked at the three of them immediately and found that they were all very weak, and the confusion in her eyes deepened.

"Sister, these humans seem unaware of Master's strength," the White Mist Witch's voice sounded from within the Miss Cuiye Witch's heart.

The Miss Cuiye Witch nodded slightly, her pupils thoughtful. After this scene, she also faintly realized that the master was intentionally hiding his own strength.

"Long time no see, Enri."

Tang Zheng looked at Enri with a smile and greeted her with a chuckle.

"My lord." Enri hurriedly bowed and spoke in a panic.

The following matters were much simpler.

It did not exceed Tang Zheng's expectations; both Enri's father and the Carne Village chief were very supportive of Enri accepting his invitation.

For villagers living in poverty in a border village, Tang Zheng's invitation was seen as a huge opportunity.

In fact, it was indeed so.

The only difference was that the original Enri belonged to the Bone King's faction in the future, but now she had joined Tang Zheng, standing on the opposite side of the Bone King.

After specifically staying in Carne Village for a day to let Enri say a proper goodbye to her family.

The next day.

A carriage drove out from Carne Village.

It was pulled by the evil spirit dog, and the three of them sat in the back; the carriage was naturally sponsored by the village chief.

On the swaying carriage.

Enri was wrapped in thick clothes, her cheeks flushed by the cold wind, looking up cautiously at Tang Zheng and the expressionless Miss Cuiye Witch.

It was such cold weather.

Neither Tang Zheng nor the Miss Cuiye Witch wore much, as if the cold temperature didn't affect them at all.

"What's wrong? If you have anything to ask, feel free to speak," Tang Zheng noticed Enri's gaze and said with a chuckle.

"Do, do I really have the talent you mentioned, my lord?"

Enri shrank her neck, wrapped her old clothes tighter, and her fingers, frozen white, poked out from her sleeves.

Even now, Enri felt like she was dreaming, full of confusion and helplessness. She heard from her father and Uncle Lachimont that the lord before her was a "Gold-Rank" adventurer, a big shot who was both powerful and could earn a lot of money.

However.

Besides farm work, she couldn't do anything.

"Believe me, you possess a talent you are unaware of," Tang Zheng said with certainty, then changed the subject:

"However..."

Enri hurriedly looked up, her brown pupils looking at Tang Zheng uneasily.

"I mentioned it once before, but I want to say it again: following me will be somewhat dangerous," Tang Zheng said.

Enri lifted her fair neck, as if cheering herself up: "I'm not afraid!"

There weren't many ways to earn money in the village; besides planting wheat and other crops and going into the forest to pick herbs, there were no other ways.

Enri also wanted to earn more money, even to help the village. She wasn't stupid; she knew why the village chief hoped she would accept the invitation and follow Tang Zheng.

The carriage returned to silence.

Read every word carefully!

Enri actually wanted to communicate with the Miss Cuiye Witch beside her, but the cold attitude the other party displayed made Enri's heart beat fast, and she didn't dare to speak first.

"Little Black, go faster," Tang Zheng said to the evil spirit dog pulling the carriage.

"Awoo."

The evil spirit dog howled, its four limbs moving rapidly on the snow as it began to run.

The suddenly increased speed made the cold wind blowing in their faces even stronger, but Tang Zheng and the Miss Cuiye Witch were naturally unaffected.

But Enri, as an ordinary person, even wrapped in thick clothes, couldn't help but shiver.

"Miss Cuiye."

Tang Zheng glanced at the Miss Cuiye Witch beside him.

"Yes." The Miss Cuiye Witch hurriedly nodded respectfully, raised her slender arms, and emerald green light radiated from her palms:

"Plant Growth."

Several leaves flew out from the Miss Cuiye Witch's body, rapidly growing and expanding in mid-air, forming a plant barrier that wrapped around the open carriage, blocking the cold wind coming from the front.

"So amazing." Enri opened her mouth slightly, a look of surprise on her face.

With the evil spirit dog running at high speed.

The original half-day journey was shortened to two hours.

The towering city walls and towers appeared on the horizon ahead; the border city "E-Rantel" had arrived.

The soldiers guarding the city gate were stunned and nervous when faced with the evil spirit dog pulling the carriage with its intimidating aura, subconsciously picking up their weapons and guarding against the rapidly approaching carriage.

"Stop!!"

A soldier shouted with a trembling voice.

The evil spirit dog's current massive size was full of danger, something these ordinary soldiers couldn't handle at all.

The evil spirit dog slowed down, walking with a calm pace, lowering its head to reveal a fierce face, its beastly pupils looking with contempt at the soldiers blocking the city gate with weapons.

Just one look.

Made these soldiers tremble all over.

"Alright, Little Black." A helpless voice came from the carriage.

The evil spirit dog paused, the bone chains on its body tightened slightly, causing the carriage it was pulling to stop easily.

Clatter!

The plant barrier covering the top of the carriage turned into a large amount of leaves and drifted down.

Tang Zheng stood up and jumped off the carriage, picked up the adventurer's nameplate at his waist, and walked toward the city guards.

"I am an adventurer."

Tang Zheng said while signaling with the adventurer's proof in his hand.

Looking at the golden nameplate.

None of the city guards showed a look of surprise; ordinary adventurers couldn't make a monster like an evil spirit dog pull a carriage.

After a slight inspection.

These soldiers quickly cleared the way; compared to the last time returning to "E-Rantel" from the Great Forest of Tob, the inspection was significantly more relaxed.

Tang Zheng guessed it was because the war between the "Re-Estize Kingdom" and the "Baharuth Empire" had ended.

Although he didn't know the result, the probability of the Kingdom losing was clearly greater.

Just as Tang Zheng was about to turn back to the carriage, suddenly, an excited voice rang out.

"My lord, are you the 'Free Will' adventurer?"

A soldier closer to Tang Zheng looked at the text on the golden nameplate, his spirit shaken.

Huh?

Tang Zheng's turning motion paused, and he looked at this soldier with some surprise, feeling a bit puzzled inside.

When he registered as the adventurer "Free Will," he should have been unknown, not to mention that he spent most of his time outside the Kingdom's borders and didn't do adventurer missions.

He shouldn't have had any fame.

"'Free Will'?"

"Is it that 'Free Will'!"

"It really is black hair!"

"The black-haired genius alchemist, it really is our Kingdom's adventurer."

"............"

Several city guards around, hearing the excited voice of the soldier just now, all looked over.

When they saw Tang Zheng's conspicuous black hair, their faces also showed excitement and fervor, looking at Tang Zheng with worship.

Facing such a gaze, Tang Zheng frowned slightly.

He realized that the plan he had originally prepared to implement should... have already deviated.

The reason Tang Zheng acted in an ordinary way this time was to implement the "increase fame" plan, laying the groundwork for his next goal.

However!

Seeing the appearance of these soldiers, Tang Zheng realized that his plan had clearly gone wrong.

But now was not the time to adjust the plan, but to figure out what had happened.

He didn't remember any major actions within the "Re-Estize Kingdom," or was it that someone was acting under his name?

"Everyone, I wonder if you can tell me what happened?" Tang Zheng had several thoughts flash through his mind and asked the soldier who spoke first.

"You don't know?" The soldier, seeing that Tang Zheng seemed completely unaware, spoke with an excited tone:

"You are now the most famous 'Gold-Rank' adventurer among adventurers."

The other soldiers around also gathered one by one, scrambling to speak. Although it was a bit chaotic, Tang Zheng finally figured out what was going on.

"Martial King" Go-Gin had indeed left the Empire as expected, heading to the Abelion Hills.

And it was precisely because of this that the Empire experienced a significant shock, even affecting the front-line army, giving the Kingdom side a breather.

The final impact of this event was the Bloody Emperor's rage.

"So, I am now wanted by the Empire, right?" Tang Zheng raised an eyebrow.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 216 =====