Chapter 96: The Return Journey and Stormwind City

Gema glanced at Lily, then at the unconscious Chris.

She winked at Rod and gave a thumbs-up.

As for the half-dragon Xia Li, Gema never found her.

Perhaps she had her own business; anyway, the payment had been made, and there was no longer any need to cross the maze, so they stopped waiting for her.

Rod stuffed Chris into the carriage.

He said to Lily:

"Let's go. Come find me in Windwall Forest when you have time."

Lily flashed her habitual cocky grin.

In truth, her heart was reluctant to part.

Although they had said goodbye a few days ago, this moment felt especially urgent.

"Don't forget to write to me. I mean, you must tell me about Chris's condition. As a member of the Hero Alliance, I cannot allow a fraudster to return to the world."

Gema cracked the whip and set the carriage in motion.

"Alright, I will."

Rod poked his head out, waved goodbye with a smile.

The faint glow of night illuminated his handsome face, making Lily lose herself in a daze.

She waved from afar until the carriage vanished from sight.

Then she stood at the cliff's edge, gazing at the carriage moving forward along the road.

A faint sense of loneliness crept over her.

Three weeks later.

A carriage moved slowly over the uneven dirt road.

Starting from the Open Maze, winding around Blazing City, passing by Chaohu City in the north, crossing the Wanderer Plains, and finally taking a boat across the ocean to pass through the Naga territory, Rod and his party finally arrived outside Stormwind City.

After hesitating for a moment,

Rod decided to enter the city to visit Daphne.

He had learned from her previous letter that her condition had not improved; although he had replied and expressed some concern,

as a friend, a personal visit was still necessary.

As for the "Heart of the Divine" that her sister Isabella had once commissioned him to inquire about, whether it was the Tree Spirit Vivian or during their journey to Emerald City, Rod had intentionally made inquiries.

Unfortunately, there was absolutely no news of such an item.

Inside Stormwind City, the Mage Academy.

"She left a week ago?"

"Yes. Young Lady Daphne's treatment results have been poor, so she was transferred to White Wax Harbor, which has greater expertise in mental constructs and the physical body."

A healing mage said with a look of guilt.

Her name was Sophia, one of the healing mages who grew up within the Mage Academy.

As a student who had long received the educational fund granted by the Argyle family, failing to successfully treat the daughter of Count Argyle was undoubtedly bringing shame to the Mage Academy.

"Is that so."

"Young Lady Daphne mentioned you, Mr. Rod."

Sophia took something out of her spell satchel and handed it to Rod.

"I originally planned to wait until my leave started and personally go to Windwall Forest to give it to you."

Rod spread his palm; there was an utterly ordinary glass bottle.

Inside was a small handful of green grass with fresh soil.

"Young Lady Daphne has always been worried about your physical state, constantly muttering about when you will be drained and collapse. Sorry, I don't quite understand what she means. Actually, I see that you, Mr. Rod, are very strong; could it be that you have some hidden illness? You could come to our Mage Academy for a comprehensive examination!"

"Thank you... No need."

After bidding farewell to Sophia,

Stormwind City was slightly smaller than Emerald City.

It had no Mage Tower.

After all, as a city on the far western edge, a Mage Tower would have a significant impact on Domain Mages.

Most people, when advancing to Domain Mages, would not choose such a place; caution and hiding in the back row are the nature of most mages.

Therefore, most Mage Towers are built in the prosperous inland regions of the country.

For example, Emerald City has three, while Blazing City, which also belongs to the border cities of the territory, has none.

This is related to national policy; some countries deliberately build Mage Towers on the borders of their territory.

Rod spent twenty minutes and walked out of Stormwind City again.

On the way, he also bought the latest issue of the Snow Hill Evening News.

"So fast? Did you wilt?"

Tally teased discontentedly.

Since it was just a simple visit, the others did not bother to enter the city, after all, the inspections in Stormwind City were very strict.

And to avoid upsetting Daphne, Rod specifically did not bring the succubus.

This made her furious.

Now she even deliberately transformed into Daphne's appearance.

Rod squeezed her face hard.

"I believe Master wilted voluntarily; there must be Master's reasons!"

Chris floated to the side, her small fists clenched, looking as if she would believe him no matter what.

Perhaps it was due to a lack of experience.

This Banshee never realized the Nu Yi Zhou on her body was high-grade; she actually attempted to break it through threats of escape, bribing Gema, and deception.

But after half a month of education, she seemed to accept her fate, transforming from a warrior who believed "my life is up to me, not heaven" into a ghost desperately flattering others.

Of course, Rod did not act against her.

On one hand, the psychological shadow cast by the Dry Tree made him now crave a normal body even more, so he had no interest in her for the time being.

On the other hand, if this fellow relaxed her mental guard, she would reveal her true form of death.

Good heavens.

Although I, Rod, am indiscriminate, I still have to look at the face!

"White Wax Harbor. I recall Bahadur Magic Academy has a vice-president's office located there."

After hearing Rod state the reason for leaving, Gema said.

"Bahadur."

To be honest, Rod's impression of this academy was very poor.

He did not extend the topic further.

He lay down comfortably, his head resting on Tally's snow-white thighs, crossed his legs, and opened the Snow Hill Evening News.

"Hey, I didn't say you could rest on me."

Tally spoke with Daphne's face, sounding furious.

"Not Daphne, she's too thin and uncomfortable; change into someone else."

"Hmph, do you think I'll change just because you ask?"

"Your true form then; I like those thighs."

"Hmph."

Tally transformed back into her dark blue-skinned demon true form, wearing a small white skirt and a loose short top.

From Rod's angle, he could clearly see the two full mounds underneath.

Chris immediately floated to Rod's feet and started pounding his legs, one beat after another.

Gema, driving the carriage ahead, glanced at such a decadent scene and expressed great disgust.

"Comfortable."

Rod smiled and opened the newspaper.

Yet the content on the first page made him unable to smile.

【Major News!!!】

【Jade City Shocked by Terror Event: The Lord of Blazing City's ambition swells; he sacrificed five thousand Jade City commoners in an attempt to advance to the Eighth Tier!!!】

"What's going on..."

He continued reading.

It turned out the Blazing Army entered the interior of Jade City under the pretext of transporting corrupted emerald trees; during this period, they dispatched mages who spent time and vast sums of money to establish a sacrifice array, and two days ago sacrificed five thousand commoners, successfully ascending to become an Eighth-Tier Legendary Mage.

Furthermore, they declared their secession from the Aethelorn Kingdom, reached an agreement with the Koei Tribe, and jointly established a new nation named 'Holy Fire'.

The report mentioned that numerous bards frequently entered, beginning to dig into the reasons for Blazing City's treason.

"Damn it."

Rod couldn't help but feel relieved.

Fortunately, he had run away quickly.

At the same time, he couldn't help but worry about Lily; when leaving, she had said she would investigate around the edge of Jade City.

Who knows if she got dragged into it.

(End of Chapter)