Yan Xing, having experienced a once-in-a-century transformation in the real world, deeply understood how cultural prejudice could turn people into paranoiacs.
Bringing the matters of the real world into the Magic World, one could analyze why the Eternal Comrce Guild suffered so many attacks in Nuta City. Besides Yan Xing having disrupted many people’s livelihoods, it was mostly because he had a background from the Swamp.
If the Golden Oak Chamber of Comrce had done these things, those who lost money would likely just accept their misfortune.
After all, business cos with profits and losses, and those who speculate must bear the risks of speculation.
Yan Xing believed... that in Nuta City, those coveting Count Theodore’s power were few.
Those who sought to disrupt Nuta City naturally saw him as a thorn in their side and sought to quickly remove him.
Most of the others simply couldn’t stomach the sight of barbarians profiting while they faced losses.
"When I’m eating dirt, you dare to feast on at. Naturally, I’ll slaughter you and eat the at myself."
Therefore, there was no use in explaining or negotiating with those who wished to ’eat’ you.
There are only two thods to resolve such discrimination.
One is by force, to beat them one by one until they call you daddy.
That would naturally solve the problem.
But Yan Xing needed to maintain stability in Nuta City and couldn’t slaughter his way through the city.
Count Theodore wouldn’t allow it either.
Thus, Yan Xing chose the second thod.
To let everyone in Nuta City see the light.
See the Thunderous Swamp’s embassy, shining bright enough to compete with the starry sky.
See what other places in the city look like under such illumination.
Let the nobles and rich rchants see how the magic lights they once took pride in at their hos look so dim under this brilliance.
Humans are creatures that lean towards the light.
Light also guides the developnt of human civilization.
When the Thunderous Swamp’s embassy becos the brightest light in Nuta City, will its people still dare to regard the Swamp as uncivilized as they did before?
Yan Xing planned to host an opening banquet to entertain the nobles and wealthy rchants of Nuta City.
Without Count Theodore’s endorsent, his first step was to achieve ideological equivalence before dialogue.
To have the right to speak.
To ensure his words were truly heard and pondered upon.
Otherwise, if they still regarded the Swamp dwellers as inferior beings, like unruly cattle, their only thought would be of savoring well-cooked steaks.
If the majority of speculative nobles and wealthy rchants accepted their business failures, the number of people Yan Xing needed to deal with would be greatly reduced.
The Thunderous Swamp’s embassy had beco a unique sight in Nuta City. anwhile, the bounty for Yan Xing’s assassination within the Assassin’s Guild had accumulated to three hundred thousand Gold Coins.
Such a hefty bounty prompted Count Theodore to assign heavy troops to protect Yan Xing’s embassy. He also advised Yan Xing not to leave the premises casually.
But as the saying goes, a thief may try for a thousand days, but one cannot guard against them for a thousand days.
Especially when the embassy’s opening banquet was to be held, all sorts of people would be inside.
At that ti, Yan Xing had to et diverse characters, which would also be the most opportune mont for an assassin.
Although Chui Chui had set up a tight security system for the embassy, it was not guaranteed to be foolproof on the day.
Therefore, Yan Xing still decided to take a proactive approach.
He wanted to see who was so flush with cash to offer such a high price for his head. It made him contemplate assassinating himself just to collect the three hundred thousand Gold Coins.
During this period, Yan Xing knew the na ’Terence’ had gained so fa in Nuta City. He had casually ntioned it when eting Donald, the leader of the Farsight rcenary Corps.
Because Donald praised the thief ’Terence’ highly and issued a bounty, the whole city was searching for this thief.
Then, through a process of distortion and exaggeration, the rumors spread further.
Versions of the thief ’Terence’s’ legendary escapades started circulating among the rcenaries.
So said thief ’Terence’ possessed a Giant Dragon’s treasure map. They claid he had stolen it from the Dragon Clan queen’s bedroom through very dishonorable ans. Donald was after ’Terence’ to seek the dragon’s treasure.
So said thief ’Terence’ had defiled a noble’s daughter and was now evading a manhunt.
So said thief ’Terence’ had snuck into the Underground City and successfully seduced the Minotaur princess. He was then supposedly cursed by a Dark Wizard to never see sunlight again.
...
In short, in the entertainnt-starved Nuta City, the thief ’Terence’ unexpectedly beca a hot topic.
The more elusive the thief ’Terence’ was, the more people were willing to speculate and discuss among themselves.
And everyone liked to make up stories that everybody enjoyed hearing.
Only Yan Xing knew that he had supposedly committed dozens of cris, victimizing almost every known intelligent species.
He was truly indiscriminate.
His lewd notoriety was widespread!
But no matter what... the sheer number of those cris proved the strength of the thief ’Terence.’
So Yan Xing put on the sa outfit he had worn when first sneaking into Nuta City. He then fastened the alchemical short sword, which held so symbolic aning, to his belt.
He headed to Li Jiya’s tavern to et with Grey Mouse.
When he saw Grey Mouse again, his condition had improved a lot.
He was still thin but had beco much stronger. He looked spirited, and his clothes were new.
He had fitted a prosthetic where his finger had been.
It could awkwardly stretch and clench, clearly fitted with alchemical muscle fibers—a little alchemical gadget.
Yan Xing placed five Gold Coins on the table and said to Grey Mouse, "I looked into those nas you told about.
Although I didn’t acquire any useful intelligence, at least it proves you didn’t trick .
The money is yours now."
Grey Mouse quickly gathered the Gold Coins, then checked the Soundproof Magic barrier Yan Xing had set up, and whispered, "Did you really sleep with the Underground City’s Minotaur princess, steal the Black Dragon’s treasure map, and go after the dusa Lord?"
Yan Xing’s hand involuntarily trembled upon hearing this.
Fortunately, his hood was drawn so low that no one could see his face darken.
"So rumors are true..." After all, he would discard the na ’Terence’ once it served its purpose.
He could take the bla for sleeping with the Minotaur princess, but he absolutely could not admit to stealing the Black Dragon’s treasure map.
"But I did not steal the Black Dragon’s treasure map. Dragons pile all their wealth in their lairs; they wouldn’t bury it and then draw a treasure map. Only fools would believe such rumors."
Grey Mouse nodded in agreent and looked at Yan Xing with admiration.
Aside from the Black Dragon treasure map theft, what other major case wasn’t fraught with peril and filled with legendary color?
Most rcenaries lacked the ability to discern truth from falsehood; anyway, whatever everyone said must be true.
Especially since the party concerned had also admitted it.
The various legends of the thief ’Terence’ were absolutely captivating within the rcenary line of work.
Reviews
All reviews (0)