Chapter 115: Surprise and Joy

The day after the Star Festival, the envoy arrived.

Luge was enjoying breakfast at the table, sensing the unusually deserted streets outside.

This tranquility was not only because people needed rest after a day of revelry, but also because the envoy from Twin Moon City, which had come from afar, was about to enter the city; many people had roused their spirits and surged toward Starry Sky City's main road, that widest thoroughfare passing through the Outer City District straight to the Inner City — both sides must be packed with people by now.

"If you want to go watch, you can go too," Luge said.

Daisy smiled and shook her head; Luge said nothing more, knowing Daisy had her own measure in her heart, her own sense of propriety in conducting affairs.

Aijin and Dasha had already finished breakfast and returned to the Abyssal Bedroom Space; they had also picked their own rooms earlier, but unfortunately only stayed one night before running back to the Bedroom Space for the following days — they still preferred staying there. However, Aijin had Luge help move her large bed into the Abyssal Bedroom Space.

Luge still held his post-meal fruit tea, and as usual paced over to the recliner that confined him for most of the day every day, took out that Spellbook of the Writing Technique, and began reading.

From these past days, since Young Master Lorigo had not come to pay a visit, Luge sensed that the Fanxing Family's interior was undergoing some changes. Because going by Young Master Lorigo's style of doing things, he should have appeared on the second day after Luge moved here.

Now it seemed that perhaps that time period was precisely when the Fanxing Family received news of the Twin Moon City envoy's arrival. But how did the Twin Moon City envoy's arrival cause Lorigo to be unable to get away days in advance? Luge was very curious.

He had a premonition that Starry Sky City might give birth to some astonishing news.

One day later.

A piece of news spread throughout the whole city on this final day of the Star Festival: Starry Sky City would hold ten duels against the Twin Moon City envoy in the Grand Gladiatorial Arena to display martial prowess.

At sunrise would be the day of the arena duels.

Luge was still on that recliner; hearing this news he only curled his lip — in his view this hardly counted as major news, let alone astonishing.

Ever since this news came out, the maid Daisy would occasionally sneak glances at Luge.

He naturally knew what was going on in Daisy's little head, but he reckoned Lorigo would not come looking for him; the Fanxing Family should still be able to scrape together ten Transcendent Strong Ones — the squad of Knights that escorted Young Master Lorigo back to the city at the time were all Extraordinary, numbering several dozen at least — and even if Lorigo really came to request his help, he would not agree to participate in the arena duels for the Fanxing Family.

The Fanxing Family should also have some Spellcasters they cultivated themselves; after all, even the Fendis Family has them, and Transcendent Knights certainly aren't limited to just those. This arena duel to display martial prowess is nominally Starry Sky City versus Twin Moon City, but in the end it should still be the Fanxing Family bearing the burden alone — those nobles in the city would not easily exert themselves.

Sure enough, as Luge anticipated, until light once again enveloped Starry Sky City, Young Master Lorigo's figure did not appear.

Looking at Daisy's disappointed expression, he couldn't help letting out a light laugh.

In her heart, she probably simply considered this a supremely glorious matter, and the powerful Spellcaster Luge in her mind could become the great hero who saves this city.

But the actual Luge couldn't even be bothered to go to the arena to spectate; no need to think — that place was certainly a sea of people by now.

He still read his book and drank his fruit tea; the Writing Technique's progress wasn't fast, the main reason being he wasn't in a rush to master it either, treating it merely as a diversion during meditation and rest — the Writing Technique's learning improved every day, unlike the Stingy Technique which gave a feeling of being hopelessly stuck at a bottleneck, so taking it out daily to read and study actually put one at ease.

At the moment of strongest daylight in the day, the small game of Starry Sky City and Twin Moon City displaying martial prowess began.

Both sides selected ten people each to engage in Victory-or-Defeat Duels.

According to Cui Fanke next door, there was a rumor: the Twin Moon City envoy originally demanded the most thrilling Death Duels, not Victory-or-Defeat Duels, calling the latter a boring game only children play.

Cui Fanke and that Knight across the way both wore faces of indignation when speaking of these rumors.

Luge merely smiled.

The scale and financial resources of the Ground Cave Domain controlled by Twin Moon City were not something Starry Sky City could compare to; most importantly, it was about to Extinguish the Sun — this was information Cui Fanke and the others still didn't know — and they, about to lose the light, were like a mad dog.

And Starry Sky City obviously did not want to waste effort on a dying mad dog, accompanying it in its madness.

While Luge was looking forward to his afternoon snack, the little guy next door came running over again, standing at the door watching him.

"Mister Sharp Tooth, do you think they'll win?" the little guy said.

"You eat this piece of snack, and I'll tell you," Luge said — he couldn't bear to deceive him, but also feared telling the truth would sadden the little guy.

Faced with the temptation of the snack, the little guy readily agreed, and the two immediately began sharing the snacks on the plate.

Just as the two were eating with great relish, a commotion rose from the street.

Luge didn't need to go out to look to know what had occurred.

"I entrust you with a mission, brave warrior Lord Lucien," Luge said.

The little guy's eyes shone bright, and he straightened his posture.

"Go, take a look at what the people on the street are clamoring about, come back and tell me," Luge pointed at a piece of cake Daisy had newly brought, "complete the mission, and this will be your Lordship's reward."

"Yes, I will certainly complete your commission."

The little guy happily threw himself into it and ran off; before long he came running back with pattering steps.

But the smile on his little face was gone; at his tender age, seemingly infected by the surrounding people, a trace of terror could actually be seen on his face.

"They, they say Starry Sky City lost," the little guy said, "we only won one match..."

Luge hurriedly comforted him, pushing the cake before him — perhaps sending the little guy out to gather intelligence was a mistaken choice. The little guy's appearance was obviously frightened by the atmosphere on the street; from his usual behavior one could tell Little Lucien was the type of clever, sensitive child.

This also indicated from a side angle that the emotions of the people on the street — most people indeed didn't know about the Extinguishing Sun, but had heard of Twin Moon City's belligerent momentum in recent years, and their on-and-off meat-grinder-like war with Red Moon City.

At this moment one could only hope hot tea and cake could calm the little guy's unease.

Perhaps the vast Underground City also needs a piece of cake, Luge thought.

At evening, a piece of news came out.

Twin Moon City would form a marriage alliance with Starry Sky City; the most excellent daughter of the Shuangyue Marquis, Miss Curtis Shuangyue who possessed Spellcaster talent, would hold a wedding with the Fanxing Family's Young Master Lorigo Fanxing next month.

Such a joyous occasion should have been filled with celebration, but the people of Starry Sky City did not display the joy that should have been there.

(Chapter End)