Chapter 276: The Jibu Family

If not for Old Owen's repeated assurances that there would be no problem, Xia Duo would have preferred to transport it in two trips.

To return to Savile Town as quickly as possible, he arranged for the territory residents to take turns rowing during the day, and had the original crew operate the boat at night.

At the same time, Xia Duo provided a large-scale 【Light】 spell to support them, illuminating the waterway for the return journey.

Just like that, despite traveling against the current, the "Lucky Owen" successfully arrived at Savile Town after one day and docked at the harbor.

Yarman, the manager of the Liyadun Chamber of Commerce who had long since received Xia Duo's 【Sending】 spell, was already waiting at the harbor. As soon as Xia Duo stepped off the boat, he went up to greet him: "Lord Xia Duo, food and lodging have all been arranged. Your lordship's territory residents can stay there for the time being."

"Good, thank you for your hard work."

Yarman did not dare take the credit and hurriedly said: "It is the same warehouse as before; this time, I just had it cleared out again."

Although he said that, Xia Duo knew that even an ordinary harbor warehouse was not something that could be cleared out just by asking, even if they had made arrangements in advance when he returned last time.

"I still have some matters to handle at the Mage Tower. You can discuss the subsequent arrangements with Priest Laidun."

"Yes."

Afterward, Xia Duo gave Laidun a few more instructions and left the harbor, but he did not return to the Tower of Time immediately; instead, he stopped at the Central Plaza.

The Midsummer Festival was approaching, and the buildings around the plaza were already draped with red, yellow, and orange ribbons; there were even Bards performing in the plaza at this time.

However, Xia Duo was not there to watch the performance, but to wait for someone. He stood not far from the Town Hall, away from the crowd, making him very conspicuous, yet no one dared to come up and strike up a conversation with the Mage.

Before long, a soldier wearing the standard leather armor of the Savile Territory trotted over; it was the person Xia Duo was waiting for—Jibu.

"My Lord, I apologize, I am late."

Xia Duo carefully sized up Jibu. The thirty-something-year-old man's current demeanor looked exactly like how he appeared when facing Lord Aipusi. Xia Duo did not want him to remain nervous, so he said straightforwardly:

"Can you contact Aiwa? I want to hire him to serve as an instructor for the Territory Guard."

Xia Duo did not say he was inviting Aiwa to join the territory; he knew that the current Daxia Territory was not yet enough to attract a Rogue who had received professional training and could also use Magic Items.

It was only a hiring for now, but in the future, when the time was right, it might not be impossible for it to turn into joining.

"My Lord—" Jibu very much wanted to agree on behalf of his friend, but he knew his friend would not agree. Aiwa had things he wanted to do; if not for that matter, he would have left the Savile Territory long ago.

But Xia Duo's request could not be easily refused either. After hesitating for a moment, Jibu said: "My Lord, I can contact Aiwa, but I don't think he is likely to agree."

"Won't agree?" Xia Duo frowned. He recalled the bits and pieces of the mission he carried out with Aiwa last year. Aiwa was indeed a man of few words who almost never interacted with others, but that shouldn't mean he would turn his back on Gold Coins.

He remembered Jibu mentioning before that Aiwa was an Adventurer. Would an Adventurer not want to earn Gold Coins?

"Help me contact him. I will talk to him personally."

"This—" Jibu gritted his teeth. "I cannot promise the Lord that Aiwa will meet with you, but I will tell him of your request. If he agrees, I will bring him to see you."

"Hah!"

For a mere Rogue to put on such airs, Xia Duo suddenly regretted bringing this up. He just wanted to find someone to teach ordinary people how to use Magic Scrolls. Without Aiwa, there would surely be other Biwas or Sewas! But since he had already brought it up, Xia Duo would not just drop it. He was a pragmatist, so he said: "If you find him, go to the Liyadun Chamber of Commerce and have Manager Yarman notify me!"

After saying this, he left directly, leaving Jibu, whose expression was shifting, stunned on the spot.

……

Returning to the Mage Tower, Xia Duo first went to see Niya, relayed Lord Aipusi's words, and then dove headfirst into the Spell Laboratory.

For some time now, he had accumulated many imaginative experiments regarding 【Levitation】. Without a Spell Laboratory, he dared not conduct overly radical experiments.

As for the matter between Aipusi and Niya, Xia Duo did not want to manage it, nor could he. Only the sorrowful look in Niya's mentor's eyes left a deep impression on him, but it was immediately cast to the back of his mind.

Xia Duo devoted himself entirely to his spell experiments, completely forgetting the passage of time.

……

On the other side, after Jibu saw Xia Duo in the plaza, he went to the Adventurers Guild to post a quest for finding a lost puppy, and only then did he head home.

Having been away from home for so many days, he was desperate to see his family!

Savile Town, West District.

This was what the Adventurers called the Commoner District, but that was merely a teasing remark. In reality, those who lived here were either the families of the territory's junior officers and clerks, or local merchants and craftsmen.

It lacked the noisy, bustling trade of the East District, and the danger of Adventurers drawing swords at every turn in the South District. It was quiet, peaceful, and most suitable for living.

Jibu's home was in the West District, close to the Temple, which could be considered the safest area.

Pushing open the courtyard gate, Jibu's wife, whom he had been longing for, was sitting in the courtyard mending clothes—work a neighbor had introduced to her to help supplement the household income.

Beside her, their son, who had just learned to walk, was wobbling in circles around the tree in the yard. When he last returned, his son couldn't even walk yet.

This scene brought Jibu immense peace of mind. He suppressed a certain emotion and squeezed a sound from his throat: "Lina, I'm home!"

"Jibu!"

Hearing the voice, Lina hurriedly put down her work and went to greet him.

Jibu hugged his wife and was about to lead her into the house, but for some reason, Lina struggled desperately, her face flushed, and she lowered her voice: "There is—there is someone in the house!"

"Someone?!" Jibu was startled. His hand, which had been holding his wife, subconsciously moved to the hilt of the sword at his waist, but he then realized he was being too nervous.

"Who is here?" Jibu asked.

Lina pushed Jibu away, straightened her clothes, and then said: "It's Aiwa. He just arrived a little while ago, saying he had something to find you about."

At this point, Lina's expression suddenly changed. She pulled Jibu to the side and whispered: "Don't lend him money again this time. Our son will definitely have to learn Magic in the future; we must save money now."

"Yes, yes." Jibu did not dare to explain, could only nod repeatedly, sent his wife off to take care of the child, and walked into the house alone.

……

Closing the door, Jibu saw the man standing in the corner by the window. The dim, hazy light made the man's silhouette look somewhat unfamiliar, but Jibu knew it was Aiwa.

"Why did you come so soon?"

"Don't forget, the Midsummer Festival is in two days. I'm free these two days." Aiwa turned around and looked at Jibu. "Speak, what do you want with me?"

"It's not me looking for you, it's Mage Xia Duo. Do you remember Mage Xia Duo? He is the one looking for you!"

(End of Chapter)