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## Chapter 332: Ormus's Little Scheme
"Regarding the trial for you to obtain Remote Teleportation in Kurast, I actually haven't thought of it yet..."
Hey, hey, Akara, can I just perform Humanitarian Destruction on this Indian A-San? You won't blame me, right? For the future of Sanctuary, you should support me, right?
Seeing my displeased expression, Ormus quickly added.
"But it just so happens that Kurast has had a small problem recently, so I don't need to bother thinking anymore. Let's just consider this the trial. How about it? Am I loyal? I'm just casually giving you such an easy trial. Perhaps you should stay out of gratitude and learn from me what true humor is..."
"What exactly is the problem?"
I took a deep breath, completely ignoring Ormus's subsequent words. Of his words, I only needed to listen to one-third, no, one-tenth.
"Oh, it's like this. This can't be explained in a moment. Just follow me first." Seeing that I had completely failed to meet his expectations, Ormus sighed, seemingly disappointed that Sanctuary had lost another comedian.
Led by Ormus, we moved across several Platforms and finally arrived at an extra-large Platform. There seemed to be a particularly large number of Guards here. The most eye-catching feature was a pyramid-shaped Tower rising high in the center of the Platform. Ormus told me that this was the Central Platform of the Central Area of Kurast, the hub of the entire Kurast.
Numerous white Magic Array Diagrams were drawn around the entire Tower. Black-robed Sorceresses were busy moving in and out. I don't know what outrageous things this Old Man had done, but when these Sorceresses saw Ormus, no matter how busy they were, they couldn't help but stop and roll their eyes at him. It was clear that in their Gaze, there was a certain impulse to rush up and beat this Old Man senseless. Indeed, great minds think alike! Comrades!
"Look at what's on top of the Tower?"
Ormus's thick skin was probably comparable to those two in the Camp. Facing the sharp Gaze of the many Sorceresses, he could actually ask me as if nothing was wrong, while smiling and waving at them, displaying the demeanor of an important figure, as if he were a beloved religious leader.
I looked up towards the top of the Tower. A transparent Crystal Ball, about a meter in diameter, was held on top of the Tower. Inside, some unknown transparent Liquid seemed to be churning.
"There's a Crystal Ball. What about it?"
"Do you know how our Defense System in Kurast Docks works?" Without a doubt, this was the most serious sentence he had spoken since I started interacting with this Old Man.
"No, but the Wall can be excluded, right?"
I shook my Head. However, I could at least be certain of one thing: the Terrain of Kurast Docks made it absolutely impossible to build high Walls like in the Rogue Encampment and Lut Gholein.
"Exactly. Therefore, our Defense in Kurast Docks relies entirely on the Strength of Magic, which is the Magic Defense System created by this Magic Tower to prevent Demon Invaders."
"I see. Does that have anything to do with my Quest this time?"
"It's like this, regarding this Magic Tower. To maintain the Magic System, we have to inject Strength into it once every three months. But now..."
"What's wrong now?" Seeing Ormus hesitate, I couldn't help but press him.
"Originally. The Power Infusion Ritual each time required an Item. Only by relying on this Item could we convert Mana into Energy that the Magic Tower could consume. But as you can see, the Item that was originally inside the Crystal Ball is now gone." Ormus pointed to the empty interior of the Crystal Ball on top of the Tower and said.
"My Quest is to find this Item?"
"Yes."
"Then can you tell me in detail what this Item is called, what its characteristics are, when and where it disappeared, who was present at the time, and who is the biggest suspect? If you already know who took it, that would be even better." I rubbed my hands together, adopting the intimidating Presence of a gangster collecting debts.
"This thing is called Skarasin's Blade. We also call it Gheed. It looks like a rhomboid Short Sword. As for how it disappeared... that's a long story."
Ormus sighed for who knows how many times, a look of sadness appearing in his Gaze. There seemed to be some truly significant Inside Story involved.
"One morning that month, the Weather was clear, with not a cloud in the sky. I got up early, just preparing to make breakfast..."
Hey, hey, what kind of diary entry is this? Which day of which month was 'one morning that month'? Tell me clearly, you damned Old Man! Please be serious for ten more seconds, you Bastard!
I already had a bad premonition.
"But suddenly! I found my Cleaver was gone!!" Ormus exaggeratedly displayed a shocked expression, clutching his chest as if he had suddenly discovered his Heart was missing.
The bad premonition seemed to be coming true.
"In Helplessness, I had no choice but to secretly take out Gheed to replace it."
How helpless were you? Borrow one from your Neighbor, you Bastard! Go buy one from the Blacksmith, you damned Old Man!! Are you the kind of idiot who replaces a missing fly swatter with a cannon?
"As a result, I forgot to put it back after using it. It wasn't until a few days ago, when we were about to prepare for the quarterly Power Infusion Ritual, that I suddenly remembered. I wanted to find it, but discovered it was already gone."
"That's it?"
"That's it!"
What long story? What sadness? This is clearly something you caused yourself! Take responsibility!
"Alright, I understand." I finally understood why those Sorceresses rolled their eyes at this Old Man.
"You finally understand?" Ormus was very happy. This Young Person's Epiphany is truly high.
"I'm going to suggest to Akara right now to replace the Representative of Kurast, and by the way, buy you a hundred or eighty Cleavers for backup. You can just retire in peace." I turned around and left.
"Wait, Little Elder!!"
Ormus suddenly grabbed my hand, crying and refusing to let go. Damn, he even wanted to wipe his snot and Tears on me. I stomped!
"You can't do this. When people get old, they tend to be forgetful. Can't you understand a little?"
"It's precisely because I understand that I'm letting you go home to retire."
"Oh, no, you can't do this. If Akara finds out, she'll stuff me into a Fallen's pot."
"..."
Based on my understanding of Akara, she is indeed the kind of person who would do something like that.
"Alright, I'll help you this one time. Quickly let go of my hand, you damned Old Man." I sighed in Helplessness. Anyway, I have to complete the Remote Teleportation trial. I'll just consider it an act of kindness and help this damned Indian A-San out.
"Do you have any Clues now?" After thinking for a moment, I tried to see if I could get any Clues from him, though I didn't have much hope.
"I think it must have been those Little People. I remember a Rumor a few days ago that several Little People broke in, and many people lost things."
Unexpectedly, Ormus provided this Clue. But it wasn't very useful. There are hundreds of millions of Little People in the entire Tropical Forest. Trying to find them would be like looking for a needle in a haystack.
Other than that, Ormus was completely clueless.
"Then when is the quarterly Power Infusion Ritual?"
"Twenty days from now."
"I have to find it within twenty days? Damn it!!"
I frowned. Even with the Authority of the Protagonist's Halo, this was practically asking for the impossible. But if I didn't find it, the entire Kurast would fall into Crisis. What has this damned Old Man done? After this is over, I definitely have to get him removed.
"Twenty days? Did I say that? It's okay, it's okay. As long as you like, finding it in a year is fine. Ohohohoho—"
"What? What about the Defense System?!" The unexpected answer left me dumbfounded.
Then, Ormus pulled out a rhomboid Short Sword about half a meter long from somewhere. The blade, like a work of art, emitted a faint Golden Light, mesmerizing to behold.
"Because there's a spare one! Ohohohoho—"
"..."
I understood. I finally understood. This damned Old Man did it on purpose. He deliberately said those things to make me unable to resist complaining. He originally planned for me to join his strange (comedian) Organization. He did this on purpose to awaken a certain part of my Inner Heart and achieve his goal of training me to be a comedian.
It was too terrifying. This level of scheming was truly terrifying. Those who can become Representatives are indeed not ordinary people. I underestimated him before, thinking he was just a purely funny crazy Old Man.
After seeing through Ormus's scheme, I immediately reacted and decided I would never fall into his trap again. After quickly accepting the Quest, I immediately ran away.
"Little Elder, I forgot to tell you, I also sell Potions here." Ormus's Voice came from far behind.
Potion? I don't need that stuff. I have so much I could use it as Bathwater. Besides, you want to sell me complaining Potions, right? That's right, isn't it, you damned Old Man? I won't fall for it again. I quickened my Pace, leaving Ormus's Figure behind at the Corner.
"Ah, what a pity. It's rare to find a Young Person with Potential." Looking at the figure rushing away, Ormus sighed.
"What does it matter if there's one more Adventurer or one less? Sanctuary won't be saved or collapse because of one person. Why doesn't everyone understand? This tragic World actually needs the support of smiles even more."
It wasn't until I left the Central Platform that I finally relaxed. These guys, every single one of them is as cunning as a fox. No, I won't go to Thorn's place for now. I'll find a place to stay first.
The place to stay I was talking about was naturally not an Inn. No matter how high-level, it wouldn't do. Living in an Inn always gave me a sense of rootless loneliness. Moreover, I planned to stay here for over a year, so I had to set up my own Home. Taking a step back, this could also be considered an investment in Real Estate. Heh heh, how about that? Long-term Gaze, right?
Checking the Map, I took a Ship to the South District. The South District and North District of Kurast are Residential Areas, but the difference is that the South District is where the rich live, and the North District is where the poor live. The poor don't get along with the rich; this is the same everywhere. Even the Rogue Encampment has started showing signs of this.
Since I started from the Central Area, it only took me less than half an hour to reach my Target. As soon as I stepped onto the Platform in the South District, two eager Figures approached.
Guides again? I slightly narrowed my Eyes.
These things are like taxis outside the airport. They are everywhere and are indeed a great Help to newcomers. When I first arrived in Lut Gholein, I met Tok. I didn't expect to encounter two right away now.
"Lord, please allow me to serve you. Trust me, I am the most outstanding Guide in all of Kurast." A relatively tall and thin man, relying on his Physique Advantage, stepped forward first and said, but he was immediately pushed out by a shorter, fatter guy with a slight limp behind him.
"No, esteemed Lord, don't listen to him. I, Lame Skruk, am the most outstanding Guide in Kurast. Tell me your Request. Even if you want to find a Mouse here, I can serve you."
For Money, they don't even care about the Authority of an Adventurer? A faint Chill enveloped these two vulgar men who were arguing and even starting to wrestle. The two immediately shivered and stopped, finally realizing that the person in Front of them was an Adventurer who could take their Life at any moment.
"No need to argue. Both of you will lead the way."
Throwing a handful of Gold Coins on the Ground, I watched the two of them scramble on the Ground to grab them, and I couldn't help but feel a little disheartened. If I hadn't gained the Strength of a Class Changer after Transmigration, would I be even more down and out than them now?
Shaking my Head, I cast aside these impossible thoughts. At this moment, the two Local Guides had finished dividing the spoils. The thin man bowed humbly.
"May I ask, Lord, are you here to find someone or to find a House?" Adventurers who come here usually have only these two purposes.
"Find a House."
"Then you've found the right person. Speaking of Houses, I, Lame Skruk, am the most knowledgeable."
Fat Skruk spoke first, looking smug. The thin man did not Refute him, perhaps because it was true, or perhaps because they were now partners and there was no need to argue. They were lowly, but not foolish. Many times, their fighting was just a pretense, only to elicit a smile from the Target.
Led by the two, I casually wandered around the South District. There were hundreds of Platforms here. To truly walk through all of them, it would definitely take at least two or three days. Therefore, having Local Guides who were familiar with the area undoubtedly saved a lot of Effort.
The Residential Area of Kurast naturally cannot compare to Lut Gholein. Of course, this doesn't mean that the people of Kurast are poorer than the people of Lut Gholein, but rather that they are limited by the Terrain here. In a dark and humid place like a Swamp, even the most beautiful House is discounted. After hearing my Request for a House, Lame Skruk's Eyes lit up, and he showed a joyful expression.
"That's great! I happen to know of a House that will definitely satisfy you, Lord."
Led by Lame Skruk, we arrived In Front of a two-story stone Villa—built entirely from the unique hard Flower Rain Stone of this area, with a layer of moisture-proof Red Clay evenly applied to the outer layer, it indeed looked somewhat unique. There was a Courtyard in Front of the Villa, but due to the influence of the Swamp climate, no beautiful plants were grown inside, making it look quite lifeless.
Not bad. Although it couldn't compare to my Home in Lut Gholein, it was the most satisfactory House I had seen after searching for so long. However...
I looked at the Chimney on the red-tiled Roof of the Villa, pointing at the white smoke curling up from inside and asked.
"This... this is what you meant by uninhabited?"
"How... how could that be? I confirmed it this morning, there was clearly no one." Skruk looked at me hesitantly with a displeased expression, muttering. Suddenly, he went crazy and crashed open the Door, ran through the Courtyard, and was about to enter the House to see what was going on.
"Bang—"
Just as Skruk's hand reached for the doorknob, the Door suddenly opened, knocking Skruk flying out. He fell to the side, his condition unknown. A small white Figure walked out from inside the House, examining us Invaders with emotionless Gaze, then slowly, with the elegant Pace full of aristocratic style, came In Front of me.
I stared dumbfounded at the Figure before me. A white fitted Robe, with Golden embroidery along the Edge of the Robe, looked simple yet luxurious. An excessively large bun-shaped Hat was placed on the small Head. It looked soft and fluffy, making one want to reach out and touch it. A white Veil covered the entire small face, only revealing those pair of bright Golden Eyes that were devoid of emotion.
"Welcome back, Master."
"..."
The thin man beside me was also Confused by the current situation. The House that should have been empty was now occupied, and the person who bought the House called the person who wanted to buy the House 'Master'. What in the world was going on?
"Alright. You... you can go back now." I waved my hand at him. Only now did I realize I didn't even know the thin man's Name. This is the Destiny of a Passerby.
"Oh, right, take him with you too." I threw a small bag of Gold Coins to the thin man, pointing at Lame Skruk who was lying unconscious on the Ground.
"You Little Squirt, how did you end up here?"
After the two left, only Marissa and I remained. I immediately messed with her soft Hat. I really wanted to turn the Hat upside down and cover her entire Head with it, I thought with a hint of Malice. The Three-No Princess, on the other hand, kept raising her small hands to tidy the Hat I had messed up, but before she could finish, I messed it up again. Therefore, her Actions now looked like a poor Guinea Pig running futilely in a cage.
I had clearly told her to stay in Lut Gholein, at least until I finished the Remote Teleportation trial in Kurast, but why wouldn't she listen? The Ocean is so dangerous, what if something unexpected happened? Couldn't this Little Guy be a little more considerate of my Mood?
After finally teasing the Three-No Princess, I entered the House under her guidance. I was surprised to find that except for the different structure of the House, the furnishings inside were almost the same as my Home in Lut Gholein. Of course, I didn't think this was just a coincidence. It was obvious that this Little Squirt was well-prepared.
"How did you know I would choose this place?" Following behind her, I asked curiously. What if Skruk had taken me to a different House? Wouldn't she have wasted her Effort?
"Information is very important."
The Three-No Princess answered briefly as she walked, her hands still tidying the Hat I had messed up on her Head.
"Small, quiet, exquisite. Based on the Information about the surrounding Houses, analyzing the Master's personality... a very simple deduction..."
At this moment, if the Three-No Princess had a pair of glasses on her Eyes, I would be certain she looked like a humanoid terminal interface created by an Integrated Sentient Entity.
Lying on the familiar Lounge Chair, I let out a comfortable groan, suddenly thinking of a Question.
"Oh, right, during that Storm, was it you who helped me from behind?"
Marissa, who was arranging her precious Teacup and Teapot on the Table, paused her Movement. She turned her Head and looked at me, who was staring intently at her, with her bright yellow Eyes.
"Yes, is Master Vitality?"
She had been warned several times not to follow, but she still couldn't help but sneak onto the Ship. As a Maid, she was severely unqualified. Even if I was Vitality, even if she was punished, it was understandable.
"You..."
I sighed in Helplessness, looking at the small girl before me, and gently held her soft Body in my arms.
"Although you didn't listen, you did really well this time."
If she hadn't helped me then, I wouldn't have been so confident in lasting until the Little Mermaid showed her power.
"Thank you, Little Guy. You helped me a lot." I gently kissed her forehead and rubbed her small Head for a while before letting go.
"It's nothing..."
Marissa's expression remained indifferent, seemingly unaffected by my recent affectionate Actions.
"It's Dinner time. Master, please wait." After a pause, she walked away with slightly mechanical Footsteps, at a Speed slightly faster than her usual leisurely Pace.
Heh, the Little Guy is shy. How interesting. Watching Marissa's departing Movement from behind, I couldn't help but chuckle. Having gotten Along with her for so long, I can now somewhat tell what kind of Feelings this Little Guy is expressing—don't look at her face, you'll never guess what she's thinking from there. Instead, it's in the subtle Differences in her daily Actions, like now...
Huh, Little Marissa, In Front! In Front!! That's a Wall! Before I could open my mouth to remind her, Marissa crashed into it with the Presence of the rabbit in the story of waiting by the stump, making a very crisp impact sound.
"It's nothing."
Rubbing her slightly sore small nose, the Little Guy seemingly indifferently readjusted her direction and quickened her Speed towards the Door. As a Result...
Just as she reached the Door, her foot tripped over something, and her upper body tumbled forward with great Presence, landing flat on the floor, perfectly illustrating prostrating herself completely.
"..."
"Regarding the trial for you to obtain Remote Teleportation in Kurast, I actually haven't thought of it yet..."
Hey, hey, Akara, can I just perform Humanitarian Destruction on this Indian A-San? You won't blame me, right? For the future of Sanctuary, you should support me, right?
Seeing my displeased expression, Ormus quickly added.
"But it just so happens that Kurast has had a small problem recently, so I don't need to bother thinking anymore. Let's just consider this the trial. How about it? Am I loyal? I'm just casually giving you such an easy trial. Perhaps you should stay out of gratitude and learn from me what true humor is..."
"What exactly is the problem?"
I took a deep breath, completely ignoring Ormus's subsequent words. Of his words, I only needed to listen to one-third, no, one-tenth.
"Oh, it's like this. This can't be explained in a moment. Just follow me first." Seeing that I had completely failed to meet his expectations, Ormus sighed, seemingly disappointed that Sanctuary had lost another comedian.
Led by Ormus, we moved across several Platforms and finally arrived at an extra-large Platform. There seemed to be a particularly large number of Guards here. The most eye-catching feature was a pyramid-shaped Tower rising high in the center of the Platform. Ormus told me that this was the Central Platform of the Central Area of Kurast, the hub of the entire Kurast.
Numerous white Magic Array Diagrams were drawn around the entire Tower. Black-robed Sorceresses were busy moving in and out. I don't know what outrageous things this Old Man had done, but when these Sorceresses saw Ormus, no matter how busy they were, they couldn't help but stop and roll their eyes at him. It was clear that in their Gaze, there was a certain impulse to rush up and beat this Old Man senseless. Indeed, great minds think alike! Comrades!
"Look at what's on top of the Tower?"
Ormus's thick skin was probably comparable to those two in the Camp. Facing the sharp Gaze of the many Sorceresses, he could actually ask me as if nothing was wrong, while smiling and waving at them, displaying the demeanor of an important figure, as if he were a beloved religious leader.
I looked up towards the top of the Tower. A transparent Crystal Ball, about a meter in diameter, was held on top of the Tower. Inside, some unknown transparent Liquid seemed to be churning.
"There's a Crystal Ball. What about it?"
"Do you know how our Defense System in Kurast Docks works?" Without a doubt, this was the most serious sentence he had spoken since I started interacting with this Old Man.
"No, but the Wall can be excluded, right?"
I shook my Head. However, I could at least be certain of one thing: the Terrain of Kurast Docks made it absolutely impossible to build high Walls like in the Rogue Encampment and Lut Gholein.
"Exactly. Therefore, our Defense in Kurast Docks relies entirely on the Strength of Magic, which is the Magic Defense System created by this Magic Tower to prevent Demon Invaders."
"I see. Does that have anything to do with my Quest this time?"
"It's like this, regarding this Magic Tower. To maintain the Magic System, we have to inject Strength into it once every three months. But now..."
"What's wrong now?" Seeing Ormus hesitate, I couldn't help but press him.
"Originally. The Power Infusion Ritual each time required an Item. Only by relying on this Item could we convert Mana into Energy that the Magic Tower could consume. But as you can see, the Item that was originally inside the Crystal Ball is now gone." Ormus pointed to the empty interior of the Crystal Ball on top of the Tower and said.
"My Quest is to find this Item?"
"Yes."
"Then can you tell me in detail what this Item is called, what its characteristics are, when and where it disappeared, who was present at the time, and who is the biggest suspect? If you already know who took it, that would be even better." I rubbed my hands together, adopting the intimidating Presence of a gangster collecting debts.
"This thing is called Skarasin's Blade. We also call it Gheed. It looks like a rhomboid Short Sword. As for how it disappeared... that's a long story."
Ormus sighed for who knows how many times, a look of sadness appearing in his Gaze. There seemed to be some truly significant Inside Story involved.
"One morning that month, the Weather was clear, with not a cloud in the sky. I got up early, just preparing to make breakfast..."
Hey, hey, what kind of diary entry is this? Which day of which month was 'one morning that month'? Tell me clearly, you damned Old Man! Please be serious for ten more seconds, you Bastard!
I already had a bad premonition.
"But suddenly! I found my Cleaver was gone!!" Ormus exaggeratedly displayed a shocked expression, clutching his chest as if he had suddenly discovered his Heart was missing.
The bad premonition seemed to be coming true.
"In Helplessness, I had no choice but to secretly take out Gheed to replace it."
How helpless were you? Borrow one from your Neighbor, you Bastard! Go buy one from the Blacksmith, you damned Old Man!! Are you the kind of idiot who replaces a missing fly swatter with a cannon?
"As a result, I forgot to put it back after using it. It wasn't until a few days ago, when we were about to prepare for the quarterly Power Infusion Ritual, that I suddenly remembered. I wanted to find it, but discovered it was already gone."
"That's it?"
"That's it!"
What long story? What sadness? This is clearly something you caused yourself! Take responsibility!
"Alright, I understand." I finally understood why those Sorceresses rolled their eyes at this Old Man.
"You finally understand?" Ormus was very happy. This Young Person's Epiphany is truly high.
"I'm going to suggest to Akara right now to replace the Representative of Kurast, and by the way, buy you a hundred or eighty Cleavers for backup. You can just retire in peace." I turned around and left.
"Wait, Little Elder!!"
Ormus suddenly grabbed my hand, crying and refusing to let go. Damn, he even wanted to wipe his snot and Tears on me. I stomped!
"You can't do this. When people get old, they tend to be forgetful. Can't you understand a little?"
"It's precisely because I understand that I'm letting you go home to retire."
"Oh, no, you can't do this. If Akara finds out, she'll stuff me into a Fallen's pot."
"..."
Based on my understanding of Akara, she is indeed the kind of person who would do something like that.
"Alright, I'll help you this one time. Quickly let go of my hand, you damned Old Man." I sighed in Helplessness. Anyway, I have to complete the Remote Teleportation trial. I'll just consider it an act of kindness and help this damned Indian A-San out.
"Do you have any Clues now?" After thinking for a moment, I tried to see if I could get any Clues from him, though I didn't have much hope.
"I think it must have been those Little People. I remember a Rumor a few days ago that several Little People broke in, and many people lost things."
Unexpectedly, Ormus provided this Clue. But it wasn't very useful. There are hundreds of millions of Little People in the entire Tropical Forest. Trying to find them would be like looking for a needle in a haystack.
Other than that, Ormus was completely clueless.
"Then when is the quarterly Power Infusion Ritual?"
"Twenty days from now."
"I have to find it within twenty days? Damn it!!"
I frowned. Even with the Authority of the Protagonist's Halo, this was practically asking for the impossible. But if I didn't find it, the entire Kurast would fall into Crisis. What has this damned Old Man done? After this is over, I definitely have to get him removed.
"Twenty days? Did I say that? It's okay, it's okay. As long as you like, finding it in a year is fine. Ohohohoho—"
"What? What about the Defense System?!" The unexpected answer left me dumbfounded.
Then, Ormus pulled out a rhomboid Short Sword about half a meter long from somewhere. The blade, like a work of art, emitted a faint Golden Light, mesmerizing to behold.
"Because there's a spare one! Ohohohoho—"
"..."
I understood. I finally understood. This damned Old Man did it on purpose. He deliberately said those things to make me unable to resist complaining. He originally planned for me to join his strange (comedian) Organization. He did this on purpose to awaken a certain part of my Inner Heart and achieve his goal of training me to be a comedian.
It was too terrifying. This level of scheming was truly terrifying. Those who can become Representatives are indeed not ordinary people. I underestimated him before, thinking he was just a purely funny crazy Old Man.
After seeing through Ormus's scheme, I immediately reacted and decided I would never fall into his trap again. After quickly accepting the Quest, I immediately ran away.
"Little Elder, I forgot to tell you, I also sell Potions here." Ormus's Voice came from far behind.
Potion? I don't need that stuff. I have so much I could use it as Bathwater. Besides, you want to sell me complaining Potions, right? That's right, isn't it, you damned Old Man? I won't fall for it again. I quickened my Pace, leaving Ormus's Figure behind at the Corner.
"Ah, what a pity. It's rare to find a Young Person with Potential." Looking at the figure rushing away, Ormus sighed.
"What does it matter if there's one more Adventurer or one less? Sanctuary won't be saved or collapse because of one person. Why doesn't everyone understand? This tragic World actually needs the support of smiles even more."
It wasn't until I left the Central Platform that I finally relaxed. These guys, every single one of them is as cunning as a fox. No, I won't go to Thorn's place for now. I'll find a place to stay first.
The place to stay I was talking about was naturally not an Inn. No matter how high-level, it wouldn't do. Living in an Inn always gave me a sense of rootless loneliness. Moreover, I planned to stay here for over a year, so I had to set up my own Home. Taking a step back, this could also be considered an investment in Real Estate. Heh heh, how about that? Long-term Gaze, right?
Checking the Map, I took a Ship to the South District. The South District and North District of Kurast are Residential Areas, but the difference is that the South District is where the rich live, and the North District is where the poor live. The poor don't get along with the rich; this is the same everywhere. Even the Rogue Encampment has started showing signs of this.
Since I started from the Central Area, it only took me less than half an hour to reach my Target. As soon as I stepped onto the Platform in the South District, two eager Figures approached.
Guides again? I slightly narrowed my Eyes.
These things are like taxis outside the airport. They are everywhere and are indeed a great Help to newcomers. When I first arrived in Lut Gholein, I met Tok. I didn't expect to encounter two right away now.
"Lord, please allow me to serve you. Trust me, I am the most outstanding Guide in all of Kurast." A relatively tall and thin man, relying on his Physique Advantage, stepped forward first and said, but he was immediately pushed out by a shorter, fatter guy with a slight limp behind him.
"No, esteemed Lord, don't listen to him. I, Lame Skruk, am the most outstanding Guide in Kurast. Tell me your Request. Even if you want to find a Mouse here, I can serve you."
For Money, they don't even care about the Authority of an Adventurer? A faint Chill enveloped these two vulgar men who were arguing and even starting to wrestle. The two immediately shivered and stopped, finally realizing that the person in Front of them was an Adventurer who could take their Life at any moment.
"No need to argue. Both of you will lead the way."
Throwing a handful of Gold Coins on the Ground, I watched the two of them scramble on the Ground to grab them, and I couldn't help but feel a little disheartened. If I hadn't gained the Strength of a Class Changer after Transmigration, would I be even more down and out than them now?
Shaking my Head, I cast aside these impossible thoughts. At this moment, the two Local Guides had finished dividing the spoils. The thin man bowed humbly.
"May I ask, Lord, are you here to find someone or to find a House?" Adventurers who come here usually have only these two purposes.
"Find a House."
"Then you've found the right person. Speaking of Houses, I, Lame Skruk, am the most knowledgeable."
Fat Skruk spoke first, looking smug. The thin man did not Refute him, perhaps because it was true, or perhaps because they were now partners and there was no need to argue. They were lowly, but not foolish. Many times, their fighting was just a pretense, only to elicit a smile from the Target.
Led by the two, I casually wandered around the South District. There were hundreds of Platforms here. To truly walk through all of them, it would definitely take at least two or three days. Therefore, having Local Guides who were familiar with the area undoubtedly saved a lot of Effort.
The Residential Area of Kurast naturally cannot compare to Lut Gholein. Of course, this doesn't mean that the people of Kurast are poorer than the people of Lut Gholein, but rather that they are limited by the Terrain here. In a dark and humid place like a Swamp, even the most beautiful House is discounted. After hearing my Request for a House, Lame Skruk's Eyes lit up, and he showed a joyful expression.
"That's great! I happen to know of a House that will definitely satisfy you, Lord."
Led by Lame Skruk, we arrived In Front of a two-story stone Villa—built entirely from the unique hard Flower Rain Stone of this area, with a layer of moisture-proof Red Clay evenly applied to the outer layer, it indeed looked somewhat unique. There was a Courtyard in Front of the Villa, but due to the influence of the Swamp climate, no beautiful plants were grown inside, making it look quite lifeless.
Not bad. Although it couldn't compare to my Home in Lut Gholein, it was the most satisfactory House I had seen after searching for so long. However...
I looked at the Chimney on the red-tiled Roof of the Villa, pointing at the white smoke curling up from inside and asked.
"This... this is what you meant by uninhabited?"
"How... how could that be? I confirmed it this morning, there was clearly no one." Skruk looked at me hesitantly with a displeased expression, muttering. Suddenly, he went crazy and crashed open the Door, ran through the Courtyard, and was about to enter the House to see what was going on.
"Bang—"
Just as Skruk's hand reached for the doorknob, the Door suddenly opened, knocking Skruk flying out. He fell to the side, his condition unknown. A small white Figure walked out from inside the House, examining us Invaders with emotionless Gaze, then slowly, with the elegant Pace full of aristocratic style, came In Front of me.
I stared dumbfounded at the Figure before me. A white fitted Robe, with Golden embroidery along the Edge of the Robe, looked simple yet luxurious. An excessively large bun-shaped Hat was placed on the small Head. It looked soft and fluffy, making one want to reach out and touch it. A white Veil covered the entire small face, only revealing those pair of bright Golden Eyes that were devoid of emotion.
"Welcome back, Master."
"..."
The thin man beside me was also Confused by the current situation. The House that should have been empty was now occupied, and the person who bought the House called the person who wanted to buy the House 'Master'. What in the world was going on?
"Alright. You... you can go back now." I waved my hand at him. Only now did I realize I didn't even know the thin man's Name. This is the Destiny of a Passerby.
"Oh, right, take him with you too." I threw a small bag of Gold Coins to the thin man, pointing at Lame Skruk who was lying unconscious on the Ground.
"You Little Squirt, how did you end up here?"
After the two left, only Marissa and I remained. I immediately messed with her soft Hat. I really wanted to turn the Hat upside down and cover her entire Head with it, I thought with a hint of Malice. The Three-No Princess, on the other hand, kept raising her small hands to tidy the Hat I had messed up, but before she could finish, I messed it up again. Therefore, her Actions now looked like a poor Guinea Pig running futilely in a cage.
I had clearly told her to stay in Lut Gholein, at least until I finished the Remote Teleportation trial in Kurast, but why wouldn't she listen? The Ocean is so dangerous, what if something unexpected happened? Couldn't this Little Guy be a little more considerate of my Mood?
After finally teasing the Three-No Princess, I entered the House under her guidance. I was surprised to find that except for the different structure of the House, the furnishings inside were almost the same as my Home in Lut Gholein. Of course, I didn't think this was just a coincidence. It was obvious that this Little Squirt was well-prepared.
"How did you know I would choose this place?" Following behind her, I asked curiously. What if Skruk had taken me to a different House? Wouldn't she have wasted her Effort?
"Information is very important."
The Three-No Princess answered briefly as she walked, her hands still tidying the Hat I had messed up on her Head.
"Small, quiet, exquisite. Based on the Information about the surrounding Houses, analyzing the Master's personality... a very simple deduction..."
At this moment, if the Three-No Princess had a pair of glasses on her Eyes, I would be certain she looked like a humanoid terminal interface created by an Integrated Sentient Entity.
Lying on the familiar Lounge Chair, I let out a comfortable groan, suddenly thinking of a Question.
"Oh, right, during that Storm, was it you who helped me from behind?"
Marissa, who was arranging her precious Teacup and Teapot on the Table, paused her Movement. She turned her Head and looked at me, who was staring intently at her, with her bright yellow Eyes.
"Yes, is Master Vitality?"
She had been warned several times not to follow, but she still couldn't help but sneak onto the Ship. As a Maid, she was severely unqualified. Even if I was Vitality, even if she was punished, it was understandable.
"You..."
I sighed in Helplessness, looking at the small girl before me, and gently held her soft Body in my arms.
"Although you didn't listen, you did really well this time."
If she hadn't helped me then, I wouldn't have been so confident in lasting until the Little Mermaid showed her power.
"Thank you, Little Guy. You helped me a lot." I gently kissed her forehead and rubbed her small Head for a while before letting go.
"It's nothing..."
Marissa's expression remained indifferent, seemingly unaffected by my recent affectionate Actions.
"It's Dinner time. Master, please wait." After a pause, she walked away with slightly mechanical Footsteps, at a Speed slightly faster than her usual leisurely Pace.
Heh, the Little Guy is shy. How interesting. Watching Marissa's departing Movement from behind, I couldn't help but chuckle. Having gotten Along with her for so long, I can now somewhat tell what kind of Feelings this Little Guy is expressing—don't look at her face, you'll never guess what she's thinking from there. Instead, it's in the subtle Differences in her daily Actions, like now...
Huh, Little Marissa, In Front! In Front!! That's a Wall! Before I could open my mouth to remind her, Marissa crashed into it with the Presence of the rabbit in the story of waiting by the stump, making a very crisp impact sound.
"It's nothing."
Rubbing her slightly sore small nose, the Little Guy seemingly indifferently readjusted her direction and quickened her Speed towards the Door. As a Result...
Just as she reached the Door, her foot tripped over something, and her upper body tumbled forward with great Presence, landing flat on the floor, perfectly illustrating prostrating herself completely.
"..."
