Chapter 1381: Sturgeon Tavern

Xia De looked down at the coin:

"Then what are the negative characteristics? Triggering a thunder storm in a region?"

"Of course not. Throwing this coin into the ocean will trigger an ocean storm in an entire area for at least a week. And ships trapped in the area cannot leave this area by any means. Don't look at me describing it lightly; in fact, this is a very terrible thing."

Saying this, the purple-eyed girl asked:

"How about spending a coin to divine where the last gem symbolizing spring is?"

"Today is already Tuesday, and I also have an 【Emperor's Banquet Copper Coin】 in my hand... alright, can't wait any longer."

"I told you long ago, even if fate gave you the gravity to meet that cemetery, sometimes we have to find a way to accelerate the process of fate ourselves."

Saying this, one of the 【Thor's Wrath】 was thrown high, and rust marks appeared at the highest point. And after the coin turned into flying ash and dissipated, Luvia opened her eyes and looked at Xia De hesitantly:

"Maybe you were right this time; not using the coin is the correct choice."

"Hmm? You wouldn't say that I have already obtained that green gem, but haven't discovered it yet?" Xia De asked hesitantly:

"In the silver cube that can only be opened after the last story? Oh, I knew it, that silver cube caused a big earthquake in Randall Valley; the things inside are definitely not ordinary."

Luvia shook her head slightly:

"Of course not. I mean, that gem is now in the warehouse of the local Cassandra Auction House."

Xia De didn't need to go to the warehouse to get the gem himself. His favorability with Mother Cassandra and Miss Swift was high enough; Miss Swift could handle this small matter, and it was highly likely she wouldn't even let Xia De pay for that gem.

But the most important thing this evening was not to get that gem, but to see Stone Ossenfort. Luvia originally intended to accompany Xia De, but was rejected by Xia De. He still strongly resisted Luvia having any relationship with the devil.

Around 4:30 PM, Xia De left by carriage from the witch's manor, took more than an hour to cross the city, reached the northeastern border of the city, and entered the small village outside the city.

It was now dinner time, and smoke was rising from the chimneys of those low earthen houses and straw houses. Children led their pet dogs across the muddy, melting-snow path and ran toward their homes, while country women wearing aprons shouted loudly for children who hadn't returned yet. Men were returning from the tavern, or from the fields and rivers, carrying hoes and fishing rods. Only the blacksmith and his apprentice in the blacksmith shop were still hammering something beside the high-temperature furnace.

It seemed that the turmoil in Randall Valley couldn't affect this small village, or perhaps the hardship of life made them unable to worry about other things.

Although this village, known as "Sturgeon Village," was quite backward compared to the city, it was located on the only way to enter the city, so there were not only blacksmiths and merchants in the village, but also a tavern with only one floor.

The name of the tavern was "Sturgeon Tavern," located on the side of the village near the city. In front of the tavern was a road sign indicating the direction of the city, and a wind-dried salted fish was nailed under the road sign, probably the tavern's way of promoting itself.

Xia De had just walked to the road sign when he heard the lively sounds coming from inside. And not only inside the tavern, but on the long bench outside the tavern, there were three country farmers smoking rolled cigarettes and wearing hats, while on the other side near the stable, two drunken villagers were drunkenly discussing in slang which mare looked better.

The shape of the tavern was very strange; the main body was rectangular, with two short sides tilting outward on both sides, and then together with the fence, granary, and stable, it formed a small courtyard.

Xia De stepped on the mud after the snow melted and entered. While squinting his eyes to adapt to the bright light, he was choked by the smell of stale beer and almost coughed.

The small village near the city had gas pipelines. Not only was there a gas lamp behind the counter, but other areas also hung the oldest type of gas lamp. But clearly, the owner didn't want to waste gas costs, so even though the tavern was full of people and lively, the gas lamps were not turned to maximum power, which made certain corners outside the light look very dark.

The owner of the tavern was a woman in her fifties with half-white hair, wearing a string of garlic around her neck for some unknown reason. She greeted Xia De, this clearly passing stranger, enthusiastically, and Xia De asked curiously:

"Is this... to prevent vampires?"

There were rumors in this world that garlic could resist vampires, but Xia De's friend Mr. Bernhard said it was just superstition. Although he didn't like eating garlic, he wasn't afraid of it either.

"A while ago, the nearby village was having a malaria outbreak, and the village doctor said garlic could prevent it. Do you want one too?" She asked quite enthusiastically in slang, and Xia De shook his head hurriedly:

"I have an appointment with a friend; he probably has already arrived. He is a sturdy guy who looks like a bandit... even in winter, he likes to roll up his sleeves."

"Over there."

And so, the female owner pointed out the direction for Xia De. After ordering a glass of rye beer, Xia De walked over. The tavern was also an earthen house, with wooden beams and straw and tiles forming the roof. As for the walls that weren't even smoothed, they were hung with miscellaneous items such as garlic, bones, herbs, and chili as decorations.

Stone Ossenfort was sitting in the deepest part of the tavern, which was the corner table against the short wall on the east side of the tavern building.

He was bending over slightly, sitting on the east side of the obviously low table. From this angle, he could see half of the tavern. His right hand was holding a beer, and his left hand was pressing on the newspaper on the table. The oil lamp for supplementary lighting was placed on the wooden table that looked soaked in wine stains. Beside the oil lamp were peanuts and a stack of small dishes Xia De couldn't recognize:

"If I were you, I absolutely wouldn't eat anything here."

Xia De said, sitting down opposite him, and then felt the bench and table were a bit low. He looked at Ossenfort's raised head. Under the light of the oil lamp, that face still carried a hint of ferocity:

"The owner said the nearby village is having a malaria outbreak; this is not good news."

The young tavern waiter, probably the female owner's nephew or something, brought Xia De his rye beer, but Xia De didn't touch it.

"For me, this kind of disease doesn't count for anything."

Ossenfort drank a large gulp of wine, and then wiped his mouth with the sleeve rolled to his elbow. It was rare to see a big businessman do this. Although he had already made money, his living habits still maintained their original appearance.

"For you, malaria doesn't count for anything either, right?"

Ossenfort asked Xia De again, and Xia De shook his head slightly:

"Last week I had a high fever for a whole night. Even for me, it's impossible to be immune to all diseases... let's not talk about this."

Xia De took out two small paper bags from his pocket, which contained the "Karsinric Third-Class War Hero Medal" and the sapphire earring with a drop of Ossenfort's blood.

"Take a look, is this the thing you're looking for?"

Xia De asked, and Ossenfort put down his wine glass and checked it under the light of the oil lamp on the table: "No problem, it is indeed the thing I'm looking for."

He nodded and asked Xia De again:

"I thought you would put it in a box and send it back. Sending it in a paper bag is indeed a rare behavior." "Is a jewelry box not money?"

Ossenfort smiled:

"Although when I gave you the commission, I thought you could succeed, I didn't expect you to really do it." Saying this, he wanted to put the two items into his pocket, but Xia De reached out and pressed his hand.

"Wait, I fulfilled my promise, now it's your turn. You said you had a clue to 【Genesis: Earth】, and you know who has that card."

Behind Xia De was the lively tavern. The villagers who had been busy all day sat together, bragging about their fresh news. The village sheriff and the village head sat together, complaining about whose family lost firewood again. No one knew what the two in the corner were talking about.

"Don't tell me."

Xia De said slowly, his eyes examining the man opposite him: "That card is in the hands of the guy behind you."

"Of course not. It's a pity, that thing doesn't have the mind to appreciate Rod cards." Ossenfort said, pulling his hand out from Xia De's hand:

"I really know the whereabouts of that card; this didn't lie to you. I rarely lie—【Genesis: Earth】 is in my hands."

"Are you playing me?" Xia De frowned slightly.

"Playing you? You helped me get what I wanted, and I told you the whereabouts of 【Genesis: Earth】. Isn't this the agreement we made at the beginning?"

"But when we met in front of the burning warehouse, you said 【Genesis: Earth】 was not in your hands (Chapter 1253)." "Yes, it wasn't in my hands at the time; it was in my drawer. And now, it's in my pocket."

Ossenfort smiled, picked up his wine glass again, and toasted Xia De:

"I also said at the time that I had the confidence to persuade the holder of 【Genesis: Earth】 to give that card to you. This wasn't a lie; I'm very good at persuading myself. You really want that card? Yes, no one doesn't want it. For all Rod card players, this is a treasure worth giving up all their family property to exchange for. And now you have a chance. Promise me one thing, and that card will belong to you."

"Again?"

Xia De looked over the oil lamp in the middle of the table, holding the handle of his wine glass with one hand, squinting at him:

"I won't help you find anything else. I don't know if you are good at judging moods through people's expressions. But I can tell you, I am quite annoyed now." ===== CHAPTER 1382 =====

Xia De reached across the oil lamp in the middle of the table, gripped the handle of his wine glass with one hand, and squinted at him:

"I will not help you look for anything else. I don't know if you are good at judging moods through people's expressions. But I can tell you, I am quite annoyed right now."