Chapter 1298 Search <TOC> Chapter 1300 A New Breed of Worm Egg
Translator: SumTLMan
Richard’s initial motion to depart momentarily froze as a brilliant gleam danced in his eyes, sharp as the glint of a freshly honed blade.
Without an ounce of hesitation, Richard bowed slightly to Angel, declaring with utmost conviction, “Consider it done!”
He feared that if he hesitated even for a heartbeat, Angel might retract The Commission.
In his present circumstances, it wasn’t just about finding people. Even if Angel asked him to track down a stray cat or dog, he’d accept in a heartbeat. Times were tough; the coal stove at home had remained cold for quite some time. Without the benevolence of friends, he might not have survived the bitter chills of this particularly harsh winter.
“I’ve spent my entire life in Watford. From the highborn aristocrats to the lowly commoners, I’ve interacted with them all,” Richard stated confidently, thumping his chest with sincerity. “Who might the young lord be seeking? There’s a chance I might recognize them right this moment.”
“I can’t be certain of his appearance, but his name is Furlington, and he’s a sailor. He’s not from Watford but hails from Sea Moon City. He recently arrived in Watford, searching for relatives displaced due to the war.”
A flicker of uncertainty shadowed Richard’s eyes upon hearing that Furlington wasn’t a local. Watford had just emerged from the chaos of war, leaving many refugees stranded. Given the influx of foreigners and the modest manner of Angel’s request, finding such an individual amidst the sea of faces would be like searching for a needle in a haystack.
At this juncture, Angel procured a pouch filled with coins, “This, consider it as an advance. Once you locate him, I’ll reward you with double this amount.”
The tantalizing sound of the coins clinking inside the pouch was unmistakable to Richard’s ears; they were silver coins. Judging by the bulge of the pouch, it seemed there were at least ten of them!
At this point in his life, Richard was barely keeping his head above water. The promise of even half of those coins would be enough to carry him through the icy grip of winter.
In light of the other party’s promise to double the remuneration upon success, Richard found no reason to dally.
With a nod of resolve, he said, “Such minor tasks are right up my alley. Would the young noble like to accompany me to the detective agency to formalize a contract? Or perhaps you could leave an address, and I’ll visit once I have the papers in hand?”
Angel, displaying the laissez-faire demeanor typical of aristocrats, waved off the idea and casually tossed a bag of coins to Richard. “No need for the formality of a contract. Time’s essence is golden. Once you find the person, just come and see me.”
Catching the bag smoothly, Richard, observing Angel’s air of indifference, thought to himself, such is probably the way of the nobility… Given Angel’s aversion to contracts, Richard opted for prudence, seeking clarity on the subsequent steps after locating the individual.
“When you’ve located the individual,” Angel instructed, “you can find me at Pat Mansion in Grud Town.”
After providing some further directions concerning the post-discovery matters, Angel departed, his figure quickly obscured by the swirling snow.
Grasping the coin bag, Richard took a deep, internal sigh of relief.
As he watched the diminishing silhouette of Angel, Richard recalled the address mentioned and thought, “He’s from that aristocratic mansion in Grud Town?”
A glint of astonishment flashed in his eyes. He remembered that not so long ago, Princess Shannon had paid a visit to Pat Mansion. Rumor had it that she intended to bestow a title on Viscount Pat, only to be turned away. Although these were mere whispers in the wind, Richard was aware that ever since then, the nobility of Watford held Pat Mansion in a certain awe. Those hailing from Grud Town were granted generous privileges. This led to previous refugees, who had initially intended to stay in Grud Town, to be swamped with regret. Previously, Grud Town had welcomed refugees with plots of land, but now they were turned away.
It dawned on Richard why Angel felt no need for a contract. Crossing Pat Mansion could mean one would become persona non grata in Watford’s circles.
Richard, a man of integrity, wasn’t the type to shirk his responsibilities. He murmured under his breath, “Furlington, recently arrived in Watford in search of refugee relatives. Normally, one would start at the town hall for records, but given that the young noble emerged from there without satisfaction… perhaps the refugee camp is a good place to begin.”
Without another word, Richard snuffed out his dwindling tobacco with a handful of snow and ventured into the snowy mist.
…
On the other side, Angel’s decision to have Richard search was more of an inspired contingency plan rather than a direct order.
He soon pushed the thought to the back of his mind, placing trust in White Bear’s judgment that Furlington likely posed no threat. However, out of caution, a search was still warranted. But with Watford’s vast population and no clear image of the individual, it was best left to Richard.
As White Bear made his way back to Pat Mansion, he pondered aloud, “If all else fails, should we seek external assistance?”
His prophecy abilities were limited due to his inherent talents and power constraints. Entrusting the matter to Totoro or Mentor Maya might yield valuable insights.
Angel responded, “You might consult with Suis. If he’s willing to provide the materials for creating an Exile Space, it wouldn’t hurt to ask.”
Aside from Sanders, the rest were unaware of Angel’s intent to transport the servants affected by the Scarlet Sovereignty to the Wilderness of Dreams. In their eyes, the main objective was the rescue of Eureka, and it was only fair that Suis bear some costs, especially given that the troubles at Pat Mansion were, in large part, their making.
White Bear, acknowledging his shortcomings, replied, “Once we’re back, I’ll consult with Lord Redhead.”
As White Bear grew silent, Angel’s mind raced. Casting a glance at Sanders, perhaps a moment of silent communication passed between them, for in an instant, a mental link connected the two.
“Mentor, if we truly can’t locate Rolando, could we rely on the known information and have Totoro make a prediction?”
“It’s uncertain, but the odds are indeed better than a wild goose chase,” conveyed Sanders through a pulse of consciousness.
“In that case, if all avenues are exhausted, this path might be an option. But even if money is no object to me, I’d still expect Suis to demonstrate commitment. It’s imperative to have the upper hand; otherwise, I’d truly be at a disadvantage.”
By the time they returned to Grud Town, the sun was high overhead.
The moment they arrived, a refreshing aura distinct from other places enveloped them. Though Grud Town had light snowfall, it was so fine that it barely interfered with daily chores. The moment they stepped back into the estate, the inner unrest significantly subsided. Even the ambient primal magic seemed denser than outside.
All these blessings were attributed to the “Goddess of Spring”, the Demeter.
Angel steered the Gondola, coming to a halt right where the Demeter resided.
Suis was near the Demeter at that time, and on the table in front of him stood a vial containing the blood of the Scarlet Sovereignty’s master.
They weren’t present the previous night, but, fortunately, as per Suis, Eureka, though still in a maddened state, hadn’t broken out from the Exile Space. It was presumed that the return of White Bear had roused Eureka.
“However, this clarity won’t last long. We need to swiftly identify the hidden mastermind,” Suis voiced, hoping for good news from Angel and his group.
Briefly summarizing their journey, White Bear stated that while they didn’t garner much, with the help of Gold, they had pinpointed Rolando. Yet, Rolando’s exact location remained elusive.
After listening, Suis fell into deep contemplation, seeking solutions. Yet, there were no clear strategies. Even a comprehensive search would not easily locate someone determined to remain hidden.
In the end, no viable plan materialized, and they reluctantly went their separate ways.
As everyone departed, only White Bear and Suis remained near the Demeter.
“Could we possibly leverage this essence blood?” White Bear inquired, pointing to a glass vial.
Suis replied, “It’s challenging. I studied it all night. Though the liquid inside is indeed essence blood, its primary purpose has already been used for ‘Bloodline Tracing.’ What remains are merely fragmented snippets of information.”
“With an acute sense of smell, I still couldn’t discern its origin. Blood curse spells also couldn’t pinpoint this stale blood.”
The only conceivable way to harness this blood at present is to seek a prophecy wizard or a wizard with profound expertise in blood magic.
A prophecy wizard… Suis wasn’t banking on that. Revealing the vial would inevitably expose Eureka, making it an unviable option.
However, when thinking of wizards with profound expertise in blood, Suis immediately recalled Sanders’ disciple——Flora.
But Flora hadn’t accompanied them, and furthermore, Suis lacked a valid reason to invite her here through Sanders.
After a moment of contemplation, White Bear conveyed the idea he had previously shared with Angel to Suis.
“You’re considering seeking assistance from your senior fellow apprentice?” Suis questioned, “Are you certain he can aid you without divulging information about Eureka? Furthermore, can he genuinely predict Rolando’s location?”
“Totoro’s prophecy power is considerable. While I’m not certain he can discern Rolando’s whereabouts, I believe the odds are favorable. However, he might not necessarily be inclined to assist me,” White Bear said with a hint of unease on his face. “Yet, he shares a close bond with Angel. As long as this matter concerns Angel or if Angel solicits his aid, he’d certainly not decline. Moreover, considering his relationship with Angel, he wouldn’t disclose this to outsiders.”
The eloquence of White Bear indeed stirred the heartstrings of Suis.
Yet, Totoro, being an outsider, harbored doubts deep within Suis. To seek Totoro’s aid, the involvement of Angel was paramount. Suis remained uncertain of Angel’s willingness. Even if Angel agreed, there would inevitably be a debt of gratitude to settle.
Furthermore, harnessing the power of the Exile Space came at an exorbitant price.
Most of the magic crystals he possessed had been spent on procuring mental healing elixirs. Scrounging up the materials for activating the Exile Space wasn’t a walk in the park.
Suis pondered for a moment, “Let’s bide our time. Since Rolando intends to wield the Scarlet Sovereignty, he must be nearby. Let’s scout the vicinity first. If all else fails, we’ll embark on this path.”
Chapter 1298 Search <TOC> Chapter 1300 A New Breed of Worm Egg