Chapter 19

Afternoon.

Inside the carriage, Luosen ate the goat cheese Ailiya had just bought: 'Tell me the details.'

Ailiya was also eating cheese; though she was tall and sturdy, she ate delicately, taking small bites.

At that moment, a thick cloud of worry hung over her cute, doll-like face.

She didn't answer but asked back.

'Master, these past few days I've heard many strange rumors about you—some say the Allen people killed you, others say you abducted the Dawn Princess. Is that true?'

Luosen grinned: 'The princess is indeed with me, but I didn't abduct her; she chose to follow me of her own accord.'

Ailiya was shocked, even forgetting to eat her favorite fizzy cheese.

'Master, this is no joke. In the past couple days, the Allen Night Guard in the Harbor District are as numerous as flies on cow dung!'

Luosen naturally knew the movements of the Allen Night Guard inside out.

But seeing that Ailiya seemed to know quite a bit, he thought it wouldn't hurt to listen more, after all, Detect Guards also have blind spots.

'What do you know? Tell me.'

Ailiya immediately said: 'I heard that Allen Ambassador Sir Yalak had a loud argument with the Duke this morning, his voice so loud it almost shattered the window glass.'

'It's said that Sir Yalak threatened that the baron who humiliated the king would surely die miserably in the street, and the princess would certainly marry King Dange.'

'The Duke also flew into a rage, though no specific words were leaked.'

'But Shitou told me that this morning, the Allen Night Guard's search intensity increased severalfold—not only more personnel, but they're also throwing money around wildly, mobilizing all the gangs in every district to help them find you like madmen.'

'By the way, they've also designated the Harbor District as a key search area.'

Luosen clicked his tongue: 'Tsk tsk~ mobilizing local gangs to find me, these night guards are quite enthusiastic.'

The Allen Night Guard are mighty dragons, the local gangs are earth snakes; if they cooperate to hunt someone down, even if that person were reborn and hidden in a woman's womb, they'd still be dragged out.

So, his and Selena's exposure is merely a matter of time.

As for the Shitou Ailiya mentioned, he is another trusted attendant of Luosen.

His real name is Stonard; he grew up with Luosen, is 21 years old, and is a low-level mage.

His magic was naturally taught by Luosen, and he hasn't learned it well.

His greatest talent is gathering information; he is one of Luosen's most relied-upon eyes in Dawn City.

Ailiya pouted and complained: 'Master, be serious—this is all aimed at you!'

Luosen shrugged: 'Alright, alright, I really do need to be serious.'

'Then, any other news?'

'Of course there is.'

Ailiya's expression grew grave: 'Shitou said Sir Yalak's attitude turned so harsh because Allen urgently dispatched a special operations team.'

'The leader of that team is likely Shadow Master Lysent.'

'In other words, the Allen Night Guard in Dawn City currently has two arcane masters leading the teams.'

Luosen raised his eyebrows: 'Shadow Master—this old thing couldn't have flown across the sea overnight, could he?'

'He definitely flew over; otherwise he couldn't have arrived so quickly.'

Luosen finished the cheese, his belly full, took the handkerchief Ailiya handed him, wiped the crumbs from his mouth corners, and gave a humming laugh.

'This old geezer is over sixty, yet he's not afraid of running out of strength and falling into the sea.'

Flight Spell consumes enormous energy; flying unaided, a high-tier mage can only sustain flight for 5 to 10 kilometers, while a four-ring master can manage about 15 to 25 kilometers.

Meanwhile, the White Continent south of Weilan Giant Island, where the Allen Kingdom lies, has a strait at its narrowest point of over 200 kilometers.

As a four-ring early-stage arcane master, for Lysent to fly across the sea overnight he would certainly rely on various crystal devices and potions, and likely have other mages carry him to cross the strait swiftly.

Of course, a master is a master, and cannot be taken lightly.

The common understanding in this world is that up to three-ring, effort alone can get most people there, but beyond three-ring one must rely on talent.

Such talent is quite rare.

Out of five hundred three-ring advanced mages, only one might break through to four-ring, and the strength of four-ring power exceeds three-ring by thirty percent, far greater than the previous increase of at most fifteen percent across the first three rings.

The immense difficulty of advancement and the modest leap in power cause those who possess four-ring strength to be honored as masters.

Precisely for this reason, although Ailiya greatly respects Luosen, she still feels he is overconfident.

'Master, though your knowledge is profound, you are after all merely a low-level mage.'

Seeing his attendant so worried, Luosen felt the need to reassure him, and nodded: 'What you say is also correct.'

'But I'm not unprepared.'

As he spoke, he reached into his pocket, fumbled a bit, and actually pulled out a crystal bead the size of a fingertip.

In the dark, the crystal looks unremarkable, no different from an ordinary glass bead.

But when the crystal is brought into the light, it becomes dazzling, its light refraction rate astonishingly high.

A slight turn in the air easily scatters sunlight into fine, multicolored halos, more splendid than diamond.

'Do you still remember this?'

Ailiya's eyes lit up: 'Of course I remember—it's the transmission orb Master Levin left for you.'

'Master, did you seek help from a master?'

'That's certain. So before long, our old friend will come to help.'

The worry on Ailiya's face instantly faded by half.

Because, as she knows, Master Levin is a combat arcane master with four-ring peak power, extraordinarily skilled in battle, and also Luosen's lifelong friend despite the age gap.

But there remains one last worry.

'Master, will that old friend make it in time?'

'Don't worry, he'll make it. In fact, I've already received his reply.'

Since that's the case, Ailiya felt completely relieved. Luosen continued the original topic.

"Now let's get to the main topic; introduce the three targets you've taken a liking to."

"All right, sir."

Ailiya began to focus on the introduction.

"The first is a mercenary named Klub, with high-tier mid-level skill, thirty-five years old, formerly the vice regiment commander of the Blaze Mercenary Corps."

"During his ten years as vice regiment commander, the Blaze Mercenary Corps expanded its size tenfold."

Luosen was quite satisfied: "His skills are good, his mind is sharp, he's a rare management talent. What are his weaknesses?"

Ailiya spread her hands, looking speechless.

"He fell in love with a man, and that man is the regiment commander of the Blaze Mercenary Corps."

"He went crazy for his love, took advantage of a drunken opportunity, did that to the regiment commander, and was then kicked out of the mercenary corps by the commander."

"Even so, his love has not diminished."

Luosen didn't find it strange, because his previous life was in a bizarre and fantastical world.

In some places, there are even dozens of genders.

After a moment of thought, he asked: "The Natural Church strictly forbids such aberrant love; if discovered, they enforce magical castration. How did he avoid punishment?"

"The regiment commander owed him a life, so he didn't expose him; the matter didn't blow up, and the temple couldn't be bothered to meddle."

"Understood."

Luosen then asked: "I'm satisfied with his ability; what conditions would make him work for me?"

Ailiya said with a strange expression: "He says, unless you can make the regiment commander accept his love."

Luosen felt a toothache: "No joke?"

"I initially thought it was a joke, but after asking carefully, I confirmed he's serious."

Luosen felt a slight headache: "What about the second target?"

"The second is a high-tier mage expelled from the Mage Guild and strictly forbidden from further contact with the magical arts, named Alonso."

"He's only 33 this year, proficient in artificery, formerly an outstanding artificer with great innovative spirit."

"Mm, not bad!"

He will later develop White Sturgeon Island, relying mainly on artificery, so this is the talent he needs most.

"Then why was he expelled from the Mage Guild?"

"A failed magical experiment caused a huge explosion, killing ten innocents, including a noble, resulting in extremely bad repercussions."

"For this, he lost all his property, and spent three years in the Jialai Mine Prison; after release, his left leg became lame, and his wife and daughter married a wealthy merchant from Kao."

"He suffered a heavy blow, became silent and withdrawn, had no interest in making money, lived in utter destitution, like a beggar."

"Mm~ a once high-spirited high-tier mage, now having his will worn down—what a tumultuous fate."

"Would he be willing to serve me?"

Ailiya hesitated a bit, but still said it.

"He's willing to serve important figures, but his price is high: not only does he demand a yearly salary of 500 ogres, he also requires a fully functional artificer's workshop and a magic method laboratory."

"Furthermore, he works only half the time, spending the other half in the laboratory."

"Finally, the employer must bear the cost of materials consumed by the laboratory."

Luosen understood: "That's quite expensive."

"Hmm, indeed it's expensive, even somewhat arrogant."

Luosen, however, smiled slightly: "Good, I appreciate such arrogance; I agree."

"Sir, your approval alone isn't enough. Alonso also said that not only must the pay be sufficient, but he must also find it pleasing to the eye, otherwise it's useless."

"Ha~~ interesting, erm~ like this: you first arrange for him to stay at the Wild Cat Inn in the northern suburbs; I'll go see him tomorrow."

"Yes, sir."

"What about the third?"

"The third is a wanted criminal of the Levinde Royal Family, named Weige, 27 years old, with mid-level peak magical strength—not strong, but she is the chief apprentice of the former Levinde Royal Court Magical Potion Master Audenlo; in some aspects, her achievements even surpass her mentor."

"Master Audenlo was implicated in a palace coup, imprisoned by King Sheila, and Weige fortunately escaped."

"Currently, she hides like a rat in the Old City District, making a living by selling ordinary potions."

Luosen understood: "If I hire her, I'll have to bear political pressure from Levinde, right?"

"That's right, and there's even a chance of facing the Crimson Assassins sent by the Levinde Royal Family."

"She also stated plainly that as long as you, sir, are willing to protect her and let her live in peace, she will be willing to serve you."

"But she also said she doesn't trust me; she must see you in person and have a good talk with you before making the final decision."

"Likewise, have her wait for me at the Wild Cat Inn."

All three heard about are quite rare talents, very useful to Luosen, but none are easy to handle.

"By the way, Ailiya, you didn't let them know my identity, did you?"

"No, I only said I'm a noble sir."

"Good."

"If that were said, then given Luosen's current situation, not only would he be in danger, but his two close attendants would also fall into great peril."

"Now it's fine."

He thought it over again and realized the easiest to handle is the mercenary Klub.

Furthermore, his plan for tonight also happens to need Klub's abilities.

He looked up at the sky; it was only 1:30 p. m., and he said: "First take me to see Klub—no, first take me to see the regiment commander of the Blaze Mercenary Corps."

(End of chapter)