Chapter 2507 Gold Ring Sandworm <TOC> Chapter 2509 Old Porter
Translator: SumTLMan
Princess Town lies nestled in a valley surrounded by three mountains, with a few hunter cabins built along the lake.
At first glance, these hunter cabins seem unremarkable, but from their arrangement, Angel perceives a sense of familiarity.
Aubrey says: “The way into Princess Town used to be simply entering these cabins in a certain sequence. Once you exited, the entrance would appear. Now, though, the method is the same, but you need to input a bit of energy at specific spots in each cabin.”
Angel frowns slightly: “Input my own energy?”
Aubrey nods: “Yes, but it’s quite risky. Every wizard’s energy has unique characteristics, which could easily alert the upper echelons of Princess Town. Therefore, the safest method is to use a magic crystal to substitute for your own energy at the entrance.”
“Generally, if you don’t use your own energy, just a magic crystal of mediocre quality is needed to open the gates to Princess Town.”
Daus also nods, his tone almost mocking: “I’ve heard about this too. They say it’s a new rule since it was renamed Princess Town. The reason for the energy input is that these cabins are connected to a defensive magic formation of Princess Town. They claim it’s a collective effort to protect the town, but in truth, they probably just don’t want to spend the energy to maintain the formation themselves.”
Hearing Aubrey and Daus’ explanation, Angel suddenly understands why the distribution of these hunter cabins felt familiar.
They appear to be situated on the energy nodes of a magic formation!
As for whether this is true or not, they’ll find out by going down there.
The airship lands, and Angel and Daus disembark, while Aubrey hesitates, wanting to say something.
Angel, understanding Aubrey’s concerns, is about to speak when the Crowned Parrot jumps out first, speaking rapidly at Aubrey.
“It’s just one chase, what’s the big deal? If you’re worried about being recognized, why not use a shape-shifting spell? Can’t even do that, what a waste! Why did I have to make a contract with a waste this time, are you even a wizard?”
Though the Crowned Parrot is scolding Aubrey, Daus feels implicated… because he can’t perform shape-shifting spells either. As a wandering wizard, he can’t get the morphing softworm skin needed, and though he’s trying to teach himself, he’s less than one percent proficient.
Daus stays silent; as long as he doesn’t speak up, no one will know he can’t use shape-shifting spells.
The Crowned Parrot, frustrated, continues: “If you can’t do shape-shifting spells, then you’ll have to make do with makeup, the cheapest way to change one’s appearance. Don’t tell me you don’t even know the most basic skill of a woman?”
Aubrey shivers and remains silent.
The Crowned Parrot, realizing the answer, almost loses its breath and considers returning to its original world.
However, at that moment, Angel speaks up: “Come on down.”
Angel’s voice seemed to carry a mysterious magic. At the moment his words fell, Aubrey only felt as if ripples were appearing in the air around her.
However, when she tried to sense it again, that energy had vanished in a flash.
By then, Aubrey’s appearance had already changed, from a freckled glasses-wearing girl to someone utterly plain and unremarkable.
“A second level trick, illusion magic?” Daus whispered to the side: “But it feels different, I can’t detect the nodes of the illusion.”
Angel did not respond but turned around and entered one of the nearby hunter’s cabins.
Aubrey, having changed her appearance, followed him inside.
“That’s where the energy is input.” Aubrey pointed at a notch in the wall of the wood cabin, which was clearly designed to accommodate a magic crystal.
Angel carefully observed the area around the notch, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary until he placed a magic crystal into the slot, and then changes began to appear in the realm of energy.
Angel sensed the flow of energy around them for a long while.
Afterward, Angel moved on to the next hunter’s cabin, and just like before, he followed the process and sensed the direction of the energy flow.
One cabin, then another.
Until they reached the last cabin, where everyone stood waiting for Angel to place the nearly depleted magic crystal.
However, Angel made no move but instead turned to look at Aubrey: “The last time you came here, did you input energy, or use a magic crystal?”
Aubrey replied: “Magic crystal.”
“A wise choice,” Angel rarely gave such praise.
Aubrey continued: “Before I left the Savage Grottoes, Guina gave me a lot of things to keep in mind, especially not to expose my personal magic characteristics. That’s why I thought of using a magic crystal.”
At this, Aubrey’s expression became somber, and her eyes hesitated: Was Guina truly that despicable?
Before Aubrey could ponder deeper, the Crowned Parrot flapped its wings and slapped her across the face.
“I know exactly what you’re thinking. You’re foolish to trust Guina so readily. Do you believe that the skin doll she gave you doesn’t have some trickery involved? That evil aura, I can smell it just by sniffing.”
Under the Crowned Parrot’s slap, Aubrey was stunned, and her thoughts were scattered.
Seeing this, Angel suddenly remembered Daus’ words: If it were me, I’d slap them when I’m in a good mood; if one slap doesn’t work, then another will follow.
Though the Crowned Parrot hadn’t heard Daus’ advice, it was, at this moment, perfectly executed. It was undeniable that, despite their usual disagreements, the Crowned Parrot and Daus shared a common thought and action at this instance.
In the shadows, Angel chuckled silently and, ignoring the commotion behind him, placed a magic crystal into the last slot.
Daus leaned in closer: “Have you discovered something?”
Angel replied: “Hmm?”
“Why else would you ask Aubrey if it’s about inputting energy or using a magic crystal?”
Aubrey and the Crowned Parrot were also curious about Daus’s question.
Angel didn’t hide anything, casually saying: “These wood cabins indeed contain a magic formation, but it’s not just a protective magic formation. It includes a surveillance type as well, which, once personal energy is inputted, makes anyone within its range in Princess Town completely untraceable.”
“Actually, surveillance-type magic formations are quite common in every wizard market, but they only monitor intense energy fluctuations to prevent disputes. The surveillance magic formation here used to serve that purpose too, but now it’s been slightly modified to monitor those who input their energy.”
Hearing this, Aubrey broke out in a cold sweat, thankful that she had used a magic crystal, or else she would have had no way to enter Princess Town.
After hearing this, Daus didn’t react much: “I guessed it was for that reason. King Guman’s need for control seems to be growing stronger. I always feel like this country will head towards an unknown extreme under King Guman’s control.”
Daus felt a slight poignancy, reflecting on the paranoia and control evident from the magic formations set up by King Guman.
No wonder the major wizard organizations dislike entering the wizard markets under King Guman’s rule, surrounded by spies everywhere, walking on the street feels like walking naked. Everything is tightly monitored by those above.
“King Guman’s methods have nothing to do with our mission; let’s go, the gates of Princess Town should already be open.”
Angel glanced at the shattered magic crystal in the slot, then turned and walked out of the cabin.
As the door of the cabin opened, instead of facing the serene waters of the canyon, there was a bustling long street.
From the density of the people, it seemed somewhat similar to the surface of the Sandworm Market, clusters of people here and there, but mostly scattered.
The threshold to enter Princess Town was higher than other wizard markets, so it was normal for there to be fewer people.
Once inside Princess Town, Daus yawned lazily: “The second cabin on the right, the second-floor window; the clerk in the shop on the left; and the dog next to the flower stand over there, are all watching us.”
Indeed, more than these few were watching them, it was normal to arouse curiosity as newcomers.
However, the ones Daus pointed out were different from mere onlookers; they had a purpose.
Presumably, they were the upper echelons of Princess Town, meant to maintain maximal control over the market. Every person who entered was subjected to this kind of tailing.
But, by conventional reasoning, as long as they weren’t on Princess Town’s wanted list, this sort of surveillance shouldn’t last too long.
To avoid alarming anyone unnecessarily, Angel and his companions casually strolled through the streets, occasionally purchasing some low-grade materials, before finally settling into a luxurious inn close to the teleportation formation.
Indeed, once it became apparent that their likely target was tomorrow’s teleportation formation, the shadowy figure who had been tailing them disappeared without a trace.
Such transient visitors weren’t worth too much attention.
After ensuring they were no longer being followed, Angel and his group left the inn and headed to the tavern owned by Old Porter.
Old Porter, a wizard apprentice with no hope of advancement, had voluntarily taken on an external assignment. He had been lying low in Princess Town for many years, primarily to observe the changes in the Guman Kingdom.
When they met Old Porter, he was cheerfully greeting a group of people clad in knightly armor, offering them drinks and snacks, creating a welcoming atmosphere for all guests.
Angel noticed that the knights’ armor bore an emblem featuring a garland encircling a rapier.
Angel did not recognize this emblem, but Aubrey seemed familiar with it; she hesitated for a moment before speaking through the mental bond Angel had established earlier: “I’ve seen that emblem on the guards at Princess Castle.”
This meant that, even if these armored knights weren’t directly from the Princess Castle’s guard, they were undoubtedly connected to it.
They sat aside, casually ordered some drinks, and quietly waited.
After the group of drunken knights had left the tavern, Old Porter came over and whispered: “Please follow me to the back room.”
Old Porter didn’t recognize them, nor did he recognize Aubrey, who had used a disguise spell. However, he recognized them immediately due to a few subtle gestures Aubrey made upon entering, these were secret signals known only to members of the Savage Grottoes, which Old Porter was privy to.
The trio followed Old Porter without speaking to a well-guarded secret chamber.
Once inside, Old Porter finally took a deep breath and explained: “Please forgive my earlier neglect. The group I was attending to, dressed in knightly armor, were actually the guards of Mordiya. I’ve been trying to gather information through these guards due to some issues that have arisen here.”
Although Old Porter had already sent out this intelligence, it would take at least a week to reach their organization, and only then would someone be dispatched to handle the situation. Thus, he thought these three were just passersby through Princess Town and hadn’t revealed much.
After Old Porter finished speaking, he inquired about their purpose.
Angel and Daus remained silent, while Aubrey hesitated for a moment before saying: “Old Porter, it’s me. I’m Aubrey.”
Aubrey? Old Porter looked incredulously at the unremarkable woman before him; she looked very different from the Aubrey he remembered.
Seeing Old Porter’s confusion, Angel casually dispelled Aubrey’s illusion.
Relieved to confirm that it was indeed Aubrey, Old Porter exhaled deeply: “It’s really good to see that you’re safe.”
Aubrey was being hunted, and Old Porter was aware of it; he even secretly sent a few subordinates to assist. However, the sheer number of the Royal Knights was overwhelming, and given the junior apprentice level of his subordinates, sending them was akin to sending them to their deaths. They were also accompanied by hounds and falcons, making it difficult to divert the knights’ attention.
Therefore, Old Porter had no choice but to recall his subordinates.
In Old Porter’s mind, Aubrey was probably beyond help, or had been captured by the Royal Knights.
Hence, in the intelligence report that Old Porter sent out, he specifically mentioned Aubrey’s situation.
Unexpectedly, not only was Aubrey unharmed, but she also boldly returned to Princess Town.
Old Porter actually held Aubrey in high regard, primarily because, having encountered many complex personalities, he found her purity refreshing and was willing to associate with her.
Thus, when he saw Aubrey return, his first reaction was happiness and relief, and his second was to seize Aubrey and urge her to leave this place of conflict promptly.
As Old Porter was about to instruct his subordinates to remove her, Aubrey quickly said: “This time, I am not alone; I am here with two esteemed individuals.”
Esteemed individuals?
Old Porter paused, realizing that the only people Aubrey would address as “esteemed” were formal wizards.
Old Porter had been focused on Aubrey and had not noticed the two quiet individuals beside her until then.
Angel had used a shape-shifting spell, so Old Porter did not recognize him.
But Daus appeared in his true form, and as Old Porter looked carefully at Daus, a name suddenly came to mind.
“Red Sword?!”
Daus lazily acknowledged “hum” with a grunt.
Old Porter was still in shock, wondering why Red Sword Daus would appear here, when Aubrey’s introduction caught his attention.
“This is Lord Pat.”
Chapter 2507 Gold Ring Sandworm <TOC> Chapter 2509 Old Porter