Chapter 95

When Ji'er and Salando were discussing their next adventure plan, in a luxurious building adorned with domes and columns to the southeast of Ash Town, Ship Griplis was standing by the window, gazing at the town's north.

In that direction, a faint pillar of light had just shot up into the sky. This phenomenon was identical to the resonance produced by the Sun Elf stone tablet in his hand with the light pillar from the Danze Ruins.

Even on the small hill outside the town, a similar light pillar appeared. This indicated that, besides Ship himself, there were two other people who possessed Sun Elf stone tablets.

However, Ship was not at all worried about the additional competitors. He believed that the final victory would certainly be his. The Sun Elf stone tablets in others' hands would eventually fall into his possession.

The door suddenly opened, and Koyan entered.

"How is it, brother, have you made the arrangements?" Ship asked.

"I have given the orders. Three guards will specifically monitor the town's entrance, recording all spellcasters who enter Ash Town tonight. After all, among these people, there is a high possibility that the one holding the Sun Elf stone tablet has sneaked in, so we have to be cautious. Also, I have found out clearly who the guests staying in the northern inns of the town are. Guess who, brother?" Koyan teased.

"Speak quickly, I don't have that much patience."

Koyan shrugged and said, "Brother, you are really boring... The young lady of the Phoenix family has also come to Ash Town. She is staying at the Oak Leaf Inn. It is one of the two most luxurious inns in Ash Town, the other being the Northern Wind Inn where we are staying. I believe it is highly likely that this young lady of the Phoenix family is the holder of another Sun Elf stone tablet."

As Koyan spoke, he took off his gloves. His originally severed arm was now revealed. The Pale Lord Zantaba had actually created a bone arm for Koyan!

Koyan's bone arm was not as exaggerated as Zantaba's own white bone claw, but it was the size of a normal human arm. However, it had been treated with multiple bone solidification spells, and the bones were reinforced with mithril as the internal frame. Zantaba even inscribed a magic array on the arm to conceal its magical aura, to avoid being detected.

Whether in strength or defensive capability, Koyan's new arm far exceeded that of an ordinary human limb. Apart from its conspicuous appearance, which required constant concealment, it had almost no flaws.

Ship looked at Koyan's bone arm, which gleamed with a metallic luster, and said, "Indeed, among all the people in Ash Town, only that big-breasted, brainless blonde woman has the financial means to obtain a Sun Elf stone tablet. But it doesn't matter. You were originally a 7th-level knight, and now with your new arm, your combat ability has surpassed that of an 8th-level knight. I have already touched the 5th layer of the magic network, and although I am not yet proficient, I can勉强 use 5th-level spells. Plus, the subordinates I brought and the mercenaries I hired. Such strength, how can the stupid girl of the Phoenix family compare?"

Koyan nodded, "Brother, your analysis is correct. Ji'er is just a 5th-level Arcane Knight, and she is the kind who has grown up in a greenhouse, never having experienced the cruelty of the world, so she is not a concern. And the warlock by her side is just a pretty face. What we should worry about is the other holder of the Sun Elf stone tablet outside the town. The enemy in the dark is the most terrifying."

Ship smiled with a look of contempt, revealing a confident smile, "My brother, you don't need to worry. In the face of absolute strength, any trick is useless. Even if that guy is hiding in the dark watching me, what can he do? A rat will never have the strength or courage to challenge a lion."

...

"Respected sir, I have found out. The most noble guest staying at the Oak Leaf Inn in the north of the city is a blonde beauty. She seems to be a noble, and her subordinates' clothing all bear a phoenix..."

A small, thin, and dark-skinned halfling stood before Gao Dun, with a fawning smile, incessantly reporting the information he had just gathered.

After staying outside the town for a night, Gao Dun did not set out immediately the next morning. Instead, he spent the morning in the forest before slowly walking into Ash Town.

As soon as he stepped onto the chaotic and dirty streets of Ash Town, Gao Dun had not yet had time to take a look at the ancient Sun Elf buildings that had been transformed beyond recognition when he encountered a halfling thief.

This small, slippery fellow tried to use a 1st-level illusion spell, "Silent Phantom," and his agility to get some benefit from Gao Dun.

However, with the True and Warning Eye, which could almost see through all illusions, Gao Dun effortlessly caught him. After forcing the halfling thief to drink a bottle of poison—actually pure water used for potion-making—the halfling thief had no choice but to agree to help Gao Dun gather information.

Naturally, a local like the halfling thief knew more than an outsider like Gao Dun. After waiting for over an hour in a tavern, the halfling thief, risking his life for the "antidote," brought back very useful information for Gao Dun.

The blonde beauty at the Oak Leaf Inn in the north of the city... the phoenix pattern... Gao Dun immediately thought of Ji'er Phoenix, the young lady accompanied by a handsome warlock.

With this, the other holder of the Sun Elf stone tablet, besides himself, was identified.

And Gao Dun obtained information about the other stone tablet holder even faster. At the entrance of the Northern Wind Inn in the southeast of the town, a large notice was hung: "Recruitment of brave warriors by the heir of the Griplis family, Baron Greenfield, for an adventure into the Danze Ruins. Generous treatment, details to be discussed, limited slots."

"This world is indeed small. I didn't expect the holders of the Sun Elf stone tablets to be them..." Gao Dun mused, pinching his chin.

"Sir... Sir, I have completed the task you assigned. Can you give me the antidote now?" The halfling thief rubbed his hands, looking at Gao Dun with anticipation.

"Antidote?" Gao Dun casually pointed to a cup of cheap ale on the table, "Drink it."

"Is this okay?" The halfling thief looked at the cup of ale with doubt, hesitated for a moment, and then tilted his head to drink it all. Perhaps the mage had already mixed the antidote into the ale, he thought.

Of course, there was no antidote. Gao Dun was just bluffing. He threw another gold coin to the halfling thief and waved him away, sending the short man, who was now thanking the generous mage, on his way.

Since he had already identified the other two holders of the Sun Elf stone tablets, Gao Dun's next plan was to join an adventure team, enter the Danze Ruins, and reach the Tree of Life before Ji'er and Ship. Then he could plan whether to act opportunistically or wait for the right moment.

The other two parties were accompanied by a large group of noble guards, and it seemed they would continue to recruit more in the town. Although more people meant more strength, it would also reduce flexibility and slow down their progress.

Of course, if Gao Dun entered the Danze Ruins alone, he could certainly move quickly, but this would involve taking great risks.

The most practical issue was, if he needed to rest, who would keep watch? How would they rotate? For a mage who needed to focus their mental energy to cast spells, fatigue was the greatest enemy.

Being a lone wolf sounded cool, but not everyone could act alone in any situation.

Soloing dungeons was a privilege of high-level players.

While drinking a berry drink from the Cold Fog Mountains, Gao Dun considered how to find a strong and trustworthy adventure team to join.

Bang!

He was deep in thought when a large hand wearing an iron glove suddenly slapped the stone table, interrupting his thoughts.

Gao Dun followed the hairy, muscular arm and found that two burly men had appeared at his table.

"Hey, stick-thin, move over and give me the table!" The man with a bull-horn helmet said, "I've been walking for three days, I'm tired and hungry, and I need to rest... Oh, and leave your money pouch too, I'm short on drink money."

Stick-thin... Gao Dun didn't expect anyone to call him that. Although he was smaller compared to the muscle-bound idiots in front of him, with a Constitution score of 15, he certainly wasn't a stick-thin man... At least after passionate moments with Shelya, the half-elf girl would always lie in his arms, praising him for being "strong."

Gao Dun looked around and saw that all the seats in the tavern were full. The other tables were either occupied by groups of mercenaries or by intimidating characters. From the outside, he indeed looked like the easiest target.

Picking on the softest target was a universal truth across the multiverse.

Ash Town was not under the jurisdiction of the Fereton Empire, so the usual laws and order did not apply here. Faced with this scene of seat-snatching and robbery, the surrounding patrons were indifferent. The one-eyed owner behind the counter was leisurely polishing a chipped clay bowl as if it were a fine porcelain from Antoria.

Gao Dun did not speak. He knew that in such a situation, any attempt to reason would be seen as a sign of weakness.

Using the table as cover, he quietly took out his spell components and prepared a spell.

Just as he was about to act, a deep male voice echoed in the tavern, "You two, get lost, don't do this in front of me."

The one who stepped forward was a middle-aged man in a breastplate. He had a square face, a few strands of beard on his chin, a rugged and weathered complexion, and a deep brown skin tone. He carried a long spear, with some dried, dark blood on the blade—indicating that he was not someone to be trifled with.

The two burly men who were about to take Gao Dun's seat laughed and said to the middle-aged man, "Just you alone want to meddle?"

"I'm not alone," the middle-aged man said with a look of pity. Behind him, five more people stood up.

"Hmm, there's a heavy armor warrior, a priest, a ranger, a bard, and a rogue... A standard adventure team, just missing a mage," Gao Dun observed the middle-aged man's team, his eyes narrowing slightly.