Chapter 75

Chapter 18: The Unwooded Area

"Do you have anything else to say?"

Sitting at the dining table, if Zei were to continue his life as an apostle, that would be a pipe dream...

Even if the headquarters of the Demon Hunters didn't find an excuse to transfer him, other people involved would find ways to squeeze him out. However, the order from headquarters came much faster than he had anticipated. In his estimation, the headquarters should wait until the rumors about him reached their peak before "transferring" him to calm the panic caused by the chaos. After all, it would be a waste not to use such a useful "scapegoat," wouldn't it?

The limit of mercy? Or is it that I'm not important enough?

With a mocking smile on his lips, Ye Qi took the headquarters' order and tucked it into his windbreaker—a scroll of lamb's skin bound with a golden ribbon, which was his guarantee of safe departure from Shak. If it were lost, the people at headquarters who were involved would certainly not mind labeling him as someone who left training without permission, lacking discipline, or even worse, harboring sinister intentions.

"Upon the issuance of the order, Apostle Ye Qi must leave immediately!" The stern-faced man conveyed the final departure date and handed over the train ticket for the return to Taling that day. Then he turned and walked out of the room, muttering as he left, "Wishing you a smooth journey!"

"Thank you!"

...

Ye Qi didn't have much luggage, mostly personal items, so he quickly packed up after breakfast. With a black shoulder bag, he glanced at the room where he had lived for seven months, stepped out, and closed the door—this was the longest he had ever stayed in one place.

Before packing, Ye Qi had already said goodbye to his companions, promising to meet them in Taling in five months and declining their offer to see him off. He still needed to go to one place before leaving...

The Ranger Camp's damaged fences and tents had long been repaired, and the training sounds of active and reserve rangers could be heard amidst the fluttering banners, bringing more vitality to the camp compared to the dull central castle. Among the rangers, the energetic shouts of the female ranger captain added a beautiful landscape to the camp.

"Elise, in her knight's armor, wielding a long sword, is the most attractive!"

Watching the fully spirited female ranger captain, Ye Qi smiled and shook his head, deciding not to say goodbye in person. He tore a piece of paper from his notebook, wrote a farewell message, his contact information, and the address of the Taling Scoundrel Bar—parting didn't mean they wouldn't see each other again, and Ye Qi was grateful for the relatively advanced communication methods in his world.

"Please give this to Elise, thank you!"

...

Sitting in the VIP compartment, Ye Qi threw his shoulder bag onto the luggage rack and relaxed in the compartment. The thick wooden panels blocked out the surrounding noise, and the drinks and fruits on the coffee table, along with the soft carpet, made the VIP ticket feel very different from the regular one.

"Clack, clack, clack..."

The train slowly started with the sound of the whistle, and Ye Qi heard a rapid galloping of hooves.

Outside the window, on the platform, the female ranger captain, riding a white horse, drew her long sword and gently tapped it against the shield on her arm.

"Clang, clang, clang..."

"Clang, clang, clang..."

The sound of the bells on the red ribbon mixed with the clashing of the shield and sword, clearly reaching Ye Qi's ears amidst the train's whistle.

"Here!"

The platform was almost at its end, and the female ranger captain pulled off the bell tied to her hair and threw it to Ye Qi.

"Clang, clang..."

With a clear sound, the bell, carrying the female ranger captain's aura, was caught by Ye Qi.

"Remember to come back!"

At the end of the platform, the female ranger captain shouted out her thoughts, turned her horse, and galloped away, leaping over the onlookers...

...

Wearing a black windbreaker, Ye Qi walked through the streets of the Unwooded Area—although the ticket given by headquarters was for Taling, as long as he left Shak, headquarters wouldn't ask too many questions about where he got off.

The Unwooded Area was a small town between the Spring Forest Area and the Taling Area, famous for its mechanical craftsmanship. The entire area was tiny, less than one-thirtieth the size of other areas. The Unwooded Area was independently designated as a district because it housed the most famous watch workshops in the entire Loranthe continent, and its residents were all skilled and dexterous. Therefore, the Unwooded Area was also jokingly called the Mechanical Town.

Ye Qi came here for his M500—Jacob had given him an address in the Unwooded Area.

As he walked, the clear sound of the bell on the Yama blade's handle accompanied his steps. Ye Qi looked up at the sign of the shop in front of him.

Strive for Perfection?

Ye Qi was surprised by the name of the sign, pushed open the door, and seeing the empty counter, he lightly tapped on the glass and politely asked, "Excuse me, is Mr. Dikess Colt here?"

"Mr. Dikess Colt?" A high-pitched voice came from the back of the shop, "There is only Master Dikess Colt here!"

With the high-pitched voice, a thin, unkempt old man with hair and beard like weeds, wearing a single-lens glasses, and a white research coat stained with oil and gunpowder, walked out.

Behind the old man was a person in a cloak. Seeing this person, Ye Qi immediately placed his hand on the handle of the Yama blade—although the negative energy aura emitted by the person was faint, it couldn't escape his keen senses.

Upon seeing Ye Qi's action, the person instantly drew a unique, bright purple pistol and pointed it at Ye Qi.

The hidden hostility made the two ready to fight at any moment.