Chapter 148: Rumors

"As for basic troops, I don't recommend borrowing more."

The witch Dimia said.

"If Coral Bay truly needs manpower, I can lend the combat power of a sixth-rank witch—that should demonstrate sufficient sincerity."

The elderly gentleman Humbert also said:

"I have twenty retired militiamen, strong and fit, who can accompany Lady Dimia."

"I can go too."

Luo De said.

Not for Coral Bay's sake—mainly to see the sirens and the ghost pirates.

I heard most females of these two races are of supreme beauty.

"No."

Dimia shook her head, "Mr. Luo De, the current situation is chaotic; Shiying Town needs you to hold the line. Unless absolutely necessary—of course, we have no intention of kidnapping you here."

"Yes, Mr. Luo De."

"Mr. Luo De has already become Shiying Town's guardian deity."

"Quite right, quite right."

All the committee members agreed.

Their gazes toward Luo De were filled with hope and warmth.

"Puzi—puzi—"

"Mm!"

Amid all the encouraging and hopeful words, no one noticed the strange sound emerging again beneath him.

Tally's cheeks were puffed out, barely holding the food.

A slick trail leaked from the corner of her mouth.

She gulped it down with a swallow.

Then she opened her mouth wide, "Ah!"—signaling Luo De to inspect.

"."

Aside from this issue, the committee had other matters.

For instance, the volcanic eruption in Twilight Mountains.

Some cities could sustain a super-large magical barrier, but that privilege belonged only to the central regions.

The vast majority of farmland could not be covered.

Shiying Town rose from mining; its farmland was underdeveloped, even relying partly on imports from neighboring towns.

If volcanic ash spreads down, next year everyone won't have enough to eat, let alone export.

Speaking of this, everyone grew gloomy again.

No solution came to mind.

Another topic was the land naga's settlement in the Desert of Death.

The committee members mainly sought Luo De's opinion, since he was the forest warden of Windwall Forest.

Whether to build a barrier wall, establish new magical pacts, determine strategy toward the land naga, define future trade attitudes—basically, they gave him every courtesy, fearing his displeasure.

It made sense.

In the current state of Aitheron's borders, nearly all individuals above seventh rank, except those in the royal capital, have been dispatched to the front lines.

Luo De, invincible below seventh rank, is unquestionably qualified to be Shiying Town's guardian.

Yet the kingdom, without a word, sent over an unruly new neighbor.

They were unhappy, but they couldn't defy the kingdom's orders—so they could only soothe Luo De personally.

The committee meeting lasted until afternoon.

Not because all issues were resolved.

But because Coral Bay's high-ranking officials would arrive at dusk today.

The committee members hurried off to prepare for their reception.

Luo De, curious, decided to wander the town to pass the time.

Tally had eaten her fill beneath the committee table and now slept soundly, hidden in her master's shadow.

The stone pavement of the central avenue glowed faintly under the sun.

From the carved wooden windows of shops on either side drifted the scent of baked bread and the unique metallic odor of smelted ore.

Luo De paused at a stall selling hand-carved mineral sculptures.

As he browsed, he happened to see girls walking out of the bakery, laughing.

They carried bread baskets covered with checkered cloth.

It must be afternoon tea time at the mine—they were bringing food to their families.

They spotted Luo De.

First they froze, then murmured shyly, giggling.

Luo De was used to it.

He bought a white crystal carved with a unicorn from the stall.

It was the kind Kali would like.

He'd asked her for too many favors lately—just a small gift, then.

Soon.

Luo De grew tired of shopping.

After dragging out the banshee Krist from the gambling den, he went straight to the Violet Inn and drank giant's ale to pass the time.

"Luo De!"

To his surprise, the goblin merchant Pete was there too.

He controlled his magic puppet to arrive at Luo De's table.

"Long time no see—I haven't thanked you for supporting my cousin's business last time."

Pete raised his giant's ale.

He smiled on his face, secretly envious.

His cousin had told him this man never stopped drilling since leaving for Jade City, and along the way tangled with all sorts of women—succubi, half-dragons, halflings, banshees, and land nagas.

Damn.

Why don't people on this continent appreciate goblin looks?

I'm one of the most handsome in my clan, for heaven's sake!

"Miss Gaima was the best guide I've ever met."

Luo De raised his cup in return.

This goblin was a traveling merchant whose intelligence network moved faster than most newspapers.

So he asked: "Any new news from Coral Bay?"

Pete glanced at the banshee hovering beside Luo De, her face full of resentment, and couldn't help but envy again.

He manipulated his puppet to pick up a peanut and toss it into his mouth.

"The Ruin Brotherhood set up a blockade there—no merchants allowed near. I don't get what they're up to—maybe they fear bards sneaking in."

"I see."

Luo De felt disappointed.

"But they underestimated the bards—they're a fanatical bunch chasing big events, more annoying than flies. Funny thing—I just did business this morning with a bard who just came out of Coral Bay."

But then he changed tone.

"No wonder it's you, Pete!"

"Of course!"

The two clinked cups lightly.

"It's the Abyss, Luo De. That rebel mage is a tiefling—a servant of a demon duke from the Abyss. He exploited the ghost pirates' innate desire to conquer all seas, promising them entry into the Abyssal Blood Sea."

Pete didn't drag it out—he cut straight to the point.

"I heard that tiefling mage is searching for a descendant of the Argyle family."

"Humans once fought demons. The Argyle family was the main force—they nearly wiped out all demons in the west, and as a result, were cursed with a short lifespan by Abyssal magic."

"A short lifespan curse?"

"Yes. But the Argyles were geniuses—they didn't remove the curse; they actively harnessed its power. Now, the curse is hollow—no longer shortening life, even stronger than some blessings… Perhaps that's why they want to sacrifice them? I don't understand magic."

Luo De drank another sip of the bitter, astringent giant's ale.

A demon duke…

Not long ago, while clearing the demon nest, he'd heard from Falsard about a demon duke worshipped by dark elves.

Now another one shows up here.

If even the Abyss's denizens are showing up, this isn't just instability in human society—it's instability across the entire continent.

Pete glanced around, saw no one paying attention.

He leaned in and whispered:

"Pay attention, Luo De—pay close attention!

You've probably noticed the continent's anomalies—frequent cosmic creature disasters, massive volcanic eruptions, all kinds of cults rising, and now the Abyss intruding into the world…"

Three months ago, I drank with an elder of the half-deer people in Silver Hoof Deer Valley; after getting drunk, he told me a strange spark had been born in a certain dimension, perhaps allowing someone to ascend to godhood.

(End of Chapter)