Chapter 184: Spy Operation

"You have also seen those witches?" Mata asked, pinching her chin. "I heard that Lady Luolita even faced those witches personally?"

"Actually, we have all dealt with those witches. A few witches were simply too bold, and I even had an encounter with one of them." Chen Ai recalled the time she was kidnapped. "Fortunately, lucky me, I escaped a disaster."

"That is truly fortunate." Mata looked around; there were many paintings Chen Ai had doodled, some in a two-dimensional style, others in a realistic style, with bold and vivid colors.

She had seen many painters before; those painters were either destitute or dressed in fine silks and satins, but more often than not, those painters were all stiff and formal.

Most Federal painters served religion, and very few painted for survival.

Those painters who painted portraits for ladies and misses could even be called bottom-tier.

But this lady called Ai Ai, in terms of painting style, was already completely different from the painting styles of other painters.

"Are you here to order a painting?" Chen Ai stood up and brought the other person a bottle of Sprite. This was the latest achievement of the players, though there was one great pity: Tana City had no ice cubes.

Taking this bottle of Sprite, Mata took a sip, and then her eyes lit up.

She said much the same as others, all exclamations of praise for this kind of drink.

"Why don't you sell this kind of drink? I think it's better than those wines." She skipped over the matter of awakening; no matter how good-looking the people of Tana City were, they might not necessarily gain the favor of the Beauty God.

Chen Ai smiled and said, "It is very good, but we cannot mass-produce it at the moment, mainly because there aren't that many plants to make this drink."

Of course, industrial synthesis would be best, but unfortunately, the players were currently unable to extract the carbonic acid needed for synthesis in large quantities.

"I came this time hoping to obtain your paintings. If I could invite you to the Royal Capital, that would be even better."

"I am very sorry, I still need to continue painting murals for the Sun God Cult. After finishing them, I think I will go to the Royal Capital to take a look." The vetting for going to the Royal Capital was very strict; besides restrictions on players doing business, there were even more restrictions on tourist-type players.

Although Chen Ai's income from painting was not low, her expenses were also high. Painting in Tana City was not a cheap thing, and it was very difficult to take on apprentices here. The great nobles had no interest in art; they preferred things like jewelry and ornaments.

Due to the development of cults like Wisdom, Wealth, War, and Sun, the Federation as a whole lacked a pursuit of beauty.

Even the Beauty God only allowed the Federation's art forms to preserve a variety of choices; on the whole, the public's concept of beauty remained very primitive.

Hearing about the Sun God Cult's murals, Mata frowned. "I don't think a beautiful woman like you would be a Believer of the Sun God Cult."

"I am a Believer of Wealth." Chen Ai piously gestured the currency symbol in front of her chest, rubbing her thumb and index finger together to express the symbol of wealth.

"So that's how it is. What if I invite you to be a guest in the Royal Capital and pay a higher fee than the Sun God Cult?" Mata said somewhat maliciously. "I have some advertisers who hope to obtain your paintings. They also hope to possess such beautiful prints to become headlines in the newspapers."

Although this was not entirely the truth.

But Mata had confidence that she could rely on her connections to let Chen Ai develop better in the Royal Capital.

The best case scenario was to make the Sun God Cult church in Tana City completely lack things full of religious meaning like murals.

Chen Ai thought for a moment. "I am a person who keeps their word, and I think if they really hope for me to help paint advertisements, they should come find me in person."

"I can say that they will offer a higher price," Mata emphasized.

"Of course, I can also lower the price a bit to have them come to Tana City. You should be able to see that I am truly too busy." Chen Ai said with a smile. "My painting commissions here have already been delayed until two months from now."

Seeing that persuasion was not working, Mata had no choice but to say, "What if I commission you to paint a portrait for me?"

"That would require waiting until after two months to begin painting. I need to be responsible for my previous clients." Chen Ai politely refused the other party.

After knowing that the other party was a transcendent and also a Believer of the Beauty God, Chen Ai was quite cautious about the other party's commission.

She was unwilling to give this transcendent special treatment because she had finally managed to grind up the reputation of the Sun God Cult. Bishop Aikemengde was already willing to teach her some blending of Spiritual Pigment, so much so that Chen Ai's painting had improved to a new level recently.

After those hallucinogenic potions were added to the pigments, the impact of the painted images was stronger, especially for paintings with some special expressions—for example, wedding paintings—the joyful colors on them would greatly affect a person's soul.

Some single misses who had purchased Chen Ai's paintings were also quickly able to find suitable partners during the social season, so much so that they all believed this was the power brought to them by Chen Ai's paintings.

This was very Mysticism; Chen Ai liked this feeling very much.

In reality, although everyone would praise her paintings, the influence on people could never be compared to the influence on these NPCs.

For example, right now, inside Chen Ai's room, she had used some colors with spirituality, which could better stimulate her inspiration and at the same time make her more clear-headed and rational.

Seeing that she could not influence Chen Ai's choice, Mata continued, "Then can I commission you to paint advertisements? How long is the queue?"

"If I have inspiration, I can deliver within one or two weeks, but if I don't have inspiration, it will take at least a month."

"That is truly great; you really are a diligent painter." After Mata finished speaking, she took out 100 Xide. "This is my deposit. If there are no problems with the advertisement painting, I will give you another 200 Xide in two weeks."

This was not a small amount.

If Chen Ai were to take this money to settle down in the Royal Capital, it would definitely be more than enough.

Chen Ai nodded happily. "Then what aspect is the advertisement for?"

"Cosmetics, this is what I am using now..."

Just in the alley not far from the studio, in the small courtyard behind the bookstore, Evans was looking through the players' application documents here.

He needed to hand the suitable documents to the people sent by Andrew every day, and after he confirmed them, he would organize these documents and tell those who came to register whether they could travel.

The passenger seats on the Train were limited, and the same went for the Ships. Although he did not know why, the Lord of Calamity had clear restrictions on these Believers.

If they went to places outside Tana City without permission, this deity would bring down divine punishment, making them faint completely and unable to wake up.

During this time, Evans had encountered six such accidents, but he had not encountered any more recently.

Yawning, he pushed back the spirit form of the player in front of him.

"Gannaer is very dangerous right now, this application cannot pass. I hope you can cherish your own body." Evans kindly reminded, "The attitude of the Death God's kingdom toward the living is not as good as you imagine."

"But I hope to explore new maps, and I have already prepared the goods." That player was still somewhat unwilling to give up; although the Port City was also very suitable for him to explore, it was ultimately not as interesting as Gannaer.

He usually liked to go to the bookstore to read books; those two maids in the bookstore came from Gannaer and would occasionally mention the scenery of Gannaer.

If what the game NPCs said was all true, then the Gannaer map should be even more shocking than the Royal Capital.

After all, this was the kingdom of nature and spirits.

"Goods can also be sold outward through the port of the Port City. Alright, next!" Evans did not want to entangle with the players; fortunately, there were many fewer players coming to entangle him recently.

Players who had permission could not come to apply repeatedly, because one application could last for two weeks.

Those players who had not been granted permission would not be so persistent as to come and submit one every day, hoping to go to Gannaer, which was almost impossible to open.

After that player went out, there was no movement outside the door.

Just as Evans was lamenting that today's work was done, a black shadow drifted over.

Seeing this scene, Evans was immediately alert; because he had been living too comfortably lately, he had actually overlooked the dangers that might appear around him.

Evans immediately took a step back and then said, "You should have already seen that I am keeping to myself in Tana City now."

"Your keeping to yourself is telling a group of people where they can go and where they cannot?" Gansier Brown appeared from the darkness and said with a frown, "If you are willing to give up the identity of a thief..."

"I will not give up this identity, and I have already brought shame to the family," Evans said coldly. "What are you doing here?"

"Heh, do you think I won't pose a threat to you, so that's why you're talking to me like this?" Ganseer sneered at his disappointing younger brother. "I came here, of course, because of the War that Tana City is about to face. Never mind that, what are you doing?"

"I..." Evans was at a loss for words.

He couldn't exactly say that he was working for an Evil God...

So he said righteously, "Those Xiahui People need me to manage them now."

"Let me think, when did Tana City have such a position?" Ganseer was full of scrutiny; as a loyal servant of the Royal Family, he was very dissatisfied with his brother's answer.

No one would restrict the freedom of those Xiahui People!

Unless they themselves had problems.

"Of course such a position is needed, because most of these Xiahui People are employed by Master Andrew, and this master does not wish to see the guys under him who don't speak the language go out and ruin his company's reputation," Evans made up a barely passable excuse. "Although Master Andrew is very rich, he cannot just throw money away; for example, the one who just went out wants to apply for a Ship to go to Gannaer to do business."

"Oh?" Ganseer raised his eyebrows. "I now believe that person must be a Believer of wealth."

"Why?" Evans thought to himself that those guys were all Believers of the Lord of Calamity.

"Of course it's because they would risk their lives for money," Ganseer said. "I need you to approve that Xiahui person's request."

"Are you crazy? You have no say in my affairs," Evans refused coldly.

"Heh, don't forget, I am working for the Royal Family." Ganseer walked over and picked up the document on the table. "If you don't agree, I might forcibly requisition the other party's Ship and cargo."

"You are going to Gannaer?" Evans only then realized what his older brother had actually come for.

Those witches and mediums from Gannaer were willing to come to Tana City to act as spies.

Then the Federal must also send spies to Gannaer to take a look.

"Why not? We need enough intelligence, at least to be clear why the previous scouts in Gannaer haven't sent a single message in half a year. You must understand, with the Wealth Church there, we should have at least a dozen scouts in Gannaer, but not one has sent back information."

"Those Gannaer people will directly use Channeling; ordinary people who haven't awakened will have their abnormalities discovered by them in that situation," Evans spoke as if he knew these things very well.

He sighed and then rewrote some content on the paper.

Above it was the commission regarding his older brother.

"I will explain the situation to Master Andrew, but regarding those Ships and cargo, I think you need to pay Master Andrew some deposit; if you don't come back..."

"Can you say something I like to hear?" Ganseer rolled his eyes. "I will go directly to the pier to wait for people at ten o'clock tomorrow morning; don't let me down."

After speaking, Ganseer walked out of the room without using any transcendent abilities.

Damn it, he disgusted me again.

Evans touched his cheek; just now he had heard the voice of the Lord of Calamity, and that voice was as if it were inside his own brain.

That deity wanted those players to take his older brother out on a mission.

"I hope Calamity does not bless him," Evans thought helplessly.

After leaving the alley, Ganseer walked to Store Street.

His two servants were currently pretending to buy things.

However, looking at the package in one person's hand, this no longer looked like pretending.

He coughed lightly, and those two subordinates finally reacted.

"I hope you won't behave like this next time; you must know we still don't know if there are any spies from Gannaer left in Tana City," Ganseer cautioned.

The subordinate who didn't have much in his hands said hurriedly, "We were also trying to cover our identities; the two people in that bookstore just now were speaking in the Gannaer language, so I thought..."

"Bookstore?" Ganseer muttered; he was just seeing that Translator named Ye handing luggage to the people in the bookstore.

(End of chapter)