Chapter 189: The Just Dao

The first thing Xinzhi Xiangwang did after logging off was to find someone to systematically understand matters regarding the Underworld, preferably something that could be translated into the Gannaer language.

Ye Laoshi took on this task without hesitation, though he had absolutely no literature on the Gannaer language on hand.

Besides, it was impossible for this game to have created an entirely new language just for one region, right?

Xinzhi Xiangwang: In short, I managed to fool them for now using some of our legends about the Underworld. The Gannaer language and the Federal Language have many things in common; a few words even have the same pronunciation, though the meanings might differ slightly. I asked Ganseer, but he is not very willing to teach us the Gannaer language, fearing we might mess things up.

Feng Buxi: Tsk tsk tsk, does this NPC actually look at us through colored glasses?

Huihuahua de Ai Ai: These NPCs from the Royal Capital are all quite strange. That NPC named Mata always thinks she has special privileges and can buy prints before the noble ladies. I've told her to follow the rules and stick to the agreement, but she just won't listen.

Zhuguli: It's the same for us. It seems that guy named Sigma is on good terms with Old Gili, but the way he talks always makes one feel looked down upon.

Yaohuanghuang: This game is truly realistic; even the way people from the Royal Capital look down on country folk is portrayed so vividly.

Fuling: It's not so bad here in the Port City. Most people here are merchants who travel everywhere, and many have businesses in the Royal Capital, but no one looks down on the people of the Port City.

The players discussed the NPCs' personalities heatedly, as if everyone had forgotten that Xinzhi Xiangwang's post was meant to discuss translation issues.

Fortunately, while the thread went off-topic, Ye Laoshi privately contacted Xinzhi Xiangwang and told him he could ask that priestess if there were any corresponding translation books that could be brought back to Tana City to read.

Both of them felt regretful that Gannaer had not enabled a screenshot function.

Early the next morning, Priestess Alison was waiting at the inn entrance. She had spent the previous night looking up information about the Underworld and discovered that some of the content was very similar to what those Xiahui People had described yesterday.

As a priestess, she felt it necessary to research this thoroughly; perhaps clarifying the reasons behind this could reduce the internal strife within the Death Sect.

Seeing a priestess come to find those Xiahui People in person, Ganseer suddenly felt that these Xiahui People seemed to truly have some capability.

As the nominal Captain, he did not refuse the priestess's request and even used fluent local Gannaer dialect to build rapport with her.

"I can understand your feelings, but the entire city district is currently in a state of lockdown. However, I can help you pass a message to your grandmother if she can read letters." Alison also understood this young man, but since he lacked Gannaer identification documents, she could not act on her own authority.

It seems it really is possible.

Yesterday, Ganseer had assigned some tasks for those people to confirm as soon as possible.

For example, the current situation of cooperation with the witches, the specific circumstances of the Gannaer faction, and so on.

As long as the cooperation between the witches and the Gannaer Royal Family could be minimized, the problem with the barbarians would be easy to handle.

Those fifty thousand elite troops were not just for show.

If they were to charge directly into the barbarians' territory, it would be bad if the Gannaer people came to cause trouble.

Of course, if he could attack Gannaer directly, he wouldn't have any objections to that either.

It was just that the Royal Family had strong opinions on this matter.

No one wanted to provoke these Believers of the Death God. It was said that descendants of the Death God were still living within Gannaer City; if the other side used some kind of Death God magic, it might cause a great number of casualties.

And such casualties would very likely lead to the true liberation of the Red Moon Goddess.

It was said that those sects in the Royal Capital had also received revelations from deities, indicating that they must not oppose Gannaer.

Therefore, he could only take a roundabout approach to see if he could sow discord from within.

"You are truly a filial child; the Death God will bless you." Alison nodded. "Very well, let me see these legends of the Xiahui People."

"It's a pity I don't know how to translate their language. These are all newcomers I recruited in Rierna. Because they are steady and hardworking, they were allowed on my Ship," Ganseer said helplessly. "If they can play a positive role, that would be for the best."

"The Death God will see your kindness." Alison nodded.

Ganseer put on a helpless expression. He looked at Annie outside the door and then asked, "When exactly will I be able to see the merchant I'm supposed to meet?"

"Aren't you still trying to ask about your grandmother? Why are you in such a hurry?" Annie said with a straight face. "Priestess Alison, is it really appropriate to be in contact with these outsiders?"

"I reported to you before I came up. They said they wanted to show me some legends about the Xiahui Underworld." Alison did not like people like Annie; the entirety of Gannaer had become abnormally chaotic precisely because there were too many people like her.

Annie did not like Alison's attitude either. She said with a dark face, "I will report your behavior to the Holy See."

"By all means, the Holy See will see my loyalty." Alison was unfazed.

Her teacher would protect her, and what she was doing was truly not wrong.

Hearing these words, Annie left the room with a dark face and bumped into Baroness Clara again.

This Baroness was well-maintained; although she was nearing fifty, she looked like a woman of about thirty, still possessing charm.

Thanks to her good health, she also had many scandals.

However, this did not matter; the Death Faction would not dwell on the private lives of nobles, and Baroness Clara had made significant contributions to the support of the Royal Family.

The current Queen was a child raised by Baroness Clara; although the two were not mother and daughter, Baroness Clara held a different status in the eyes of the Queen.

"I heard a priestess has arrived." Compared to Annie, Baroness Clara's reaction was somewhat greater.

"I just went to ask. This priestess hopes to see the legends about the Underworld from the Xiahui region, so she came to discuss it with these people," Annie explained. "It's not a spy operation. Are you going to report it to the Holy See?"

"Then it doesn't matter. After all, that incident happened yesterday, and things haven't calmed down yet." Baroness Clara nodded. "I will go see the Queen today; I think she will handle the problems here well."

"Thank you for your hard work. If it weren't for you protecting us, we would probably..."

"Don't say anything more. Don't go into the city if you don't have to. Remember, talk less to those witches as well," Baroness Clara cautioned.

Hiding in the shadows, Ganseer heard their entire conversation, but his ability just happened to allow him to hide without being discovered.

I didn't expect this Annie to have secrets as well.

Could it be that Baroness Clara is not entirely loyal to the Queen?

Like the players in Gannaer City, Chimu in Rierna felt extremely exhausted. Communicating with the people here every day required body language. Fortunately, he had an NPC as a friend who could translate for him.

If only he weren't a prophet.

Sawasi pointed to the trade market in the distance and said while walking, "My god, I haven't been here for a long time. It looks even more chaotic than before. I just asked around; the people in charge of this trade market used to be members of the Axe Gang, but now it has become the world of the Lag Gang. The gangs here are always fighting and changing territories every day. If you ask me, why don't they just fix their territories?"

"Maybe there are only so many places to make money." Chimu did not understand the language here. The language of Rierna was completely different from that of Tana City; even people from the Federal Royal Capital had to learn a new language here to communicate with the locals.

Therefore, the status of translators was quite high here, though only for those commoners.

"You are absolutely right. This is the place we are looking for. I hope to find what we want." Sawasi was extremely excited, but Chimu's face turned dark immediately.

With this guy's jinx, it meant he definitely wouldn't find what he wanted.

"What are you looking to buy?" a Sailor who looked relatively neat said. "Judging by your appearance, you're not just here to stock up on goods, are you?"

"You can speak Federal?" Chimu felt as if he had been rescued.

"Among the merchants here, how many don't speak multiple languages? Looking at you two, you shouldn't be the type looking for fun, right?" This Sailor continued, "You didn't even glance at the women on the side of the road. Are you here to find Extraordinary materials?"

"Just looking for some Spiritual Material, and some... things that are considered contraband in the Federal," Chimu said candidly.

He was not afraid of being swindled by the other party, because he did not carry much money on him.

In any case, the Ship was not far away, so he could perfectly well make an agreement with the other party to trade at the port.

There were port Patrol members there, as well as police, which could prevent most illegal robberies.

"Guns, ammunition? Or perhaps you want those Charms? Take my word for it, there are many people here selling those things, but not a single one can offer prices as fair as mine."

"You are Fair Doug?" Sawasi gasped. "How did you end up like this?"

"You know me?" The man called Doug shook his head. "It's all my own carelessness. If I hadn't provoked a woman I shouldn't have, I wouldn't be out here soliciting business myself."

"I meant that you look much younger than before," Sawasi said, in a rare moment of being able to speak two sentences. "I think you must have married a good woman."

No sooner had he finished speaking than a lady threw luggage at Doug's side and said angrily, "Take your things and get lost! I don't want to see you in front of me again."

"Indeed a good one; she divorced me and took most of the property," Doug said, with no dejected expression on his face. "Anyway, if I can close a deal, I'll have a place to sleep tonight."

"I'm sorry, I mean, I didn't expect it to be like this. I thought if a lady chose you, she would have to endure those affairs of yours," Sawasi could not help but say.

If he could, Chimu felt that Sawasi would be better off not comforting him at all.

"You scoundrel, useless trash, why are you still lingering here? Do you think the things you've done are anything glorious? Look at this, a guy who picked up a call girl at a bar but didn't have the money to pay the fee," the woman cursed and swore, looking ready for a fight, while the people around pointed and whispered curiously.

There were many onlookers, but Doug did not mind. "Let's go, I'll take you to the underground trading market. You won't find what you want here."

Doug's judgment of things was quite accurate. Chimu followed helplessly behind him; in any case, this Doug seemed like someone who was easy to get along with and should have his own principles.

At least he did not hit women.

He had thought the underground trading market would be a very dark and gloomy place, but Doug led them into a forest. It was not without other pedestrians; those passing by looked hurried, and some were even acting furtive.

"Be careful, there are quite a few fearless pickpockets here. Those fools who missed their Ship are very likely to change professions," Doug reminded the two. "I'm a bit curious, where did you hear my name?"

"On the Ship, of course." Sawasi's state was very relaxed; he was not afraid at all that problems would arise after going deep into the dense forest.

This might also be the mindset of most Sailors—if you die, you die. Every day at sea could be the last day, and no one knew if they would be thrown into the sea by pirates to feed the sharks.

And they knew even less when they might encounter mutated marine life.

"Just here?" Inside the woods, bypassing the intersection and walking past a few palm trees, there was a small bay.

It did not look very large, but it was packed with people.

The people here spread a blanket on the beach and placed the items they wanted to sell on it; most had no price tags, and there was no way to identify their authenticity.

Only those who knew the ropes could return home fully loaded from here.

"We've arrived. Come on, five Xide, this is what I'm owed," Doug said quite shamelessly, and four or five burly men appeared behind him.

A wise man does not fight when the odds are against him. Sawasi wanted to argue, but Chimu stopped him. He took five Xide directly from his wallet and handed them to Doug. "What if I want to sell things?"

"The stall fee is 10 Xide," Doug said.

"Forget it then, I don't have anything to sell anyway." This price was not something Chimu could accept. A single Xide could allow an ordinary person in Tana City to eat for a month.

Although the price of Grain was still rising and the purchasing power in Tana was getting lower and lower, the purchasing power of one Xide was still very high.

Besides, Chimu felt that this old guy was not honest. Sawasi was right; this guy was indeed Fair Doug, at least he was completely unfair.

"Hey, if you need a translator, I can also double as one," Doug said with a grin.

"No need, you said it yourself, everyone here speaks several languages," Chimu waved his hand. Doing business also required following the rules; one couldn't keep shearing the same sheep.

(End of this chapter)