"Is this your first ti in Noah?"
Just then, an old man wearing a top hat chuckled softly behind Delicious Breeze Goose and gently asked.
Delicious Breeze Goose arched an eyebrow, set down the wooden box in his hand, and politely bowed to the old man, "Yes, sir. Have I offended in so way?"
After all, this was the Royal Capital.
Who knew whether this elderly gentleman was so big shot out for a stroll...
"You must be curious about this donation box," the old man said casually as he deftly tossed a silver coin into it.
He then picked up a newspaper beside it and, while carefully flipping through it, offhandedly replied, "This is a custom in Noah. After all, the Silver Baron is the god of trade, and He usually stays in Noah. This is right under His watchful eye.
rchants coming and going, no matter how arrogant they are elsewhere, must show humility and politeness here in Noah. No one dares to lose their temper, and everyone abides by the rules... After all, when the Silver Baron has so free ti, He likes to wander around and make purchases. A shop blessed with a purchase from the Silver Baron is believed to have good fortune for the following year.
"Old Noahites have typically seen the Silver Baron once or twice. They can recognize Him when they see Him, but foreign rchants seeing Him for the first ti can hardly recognize Him right away. So it’s better to be respectful to everyone... After all, the Silver Baron stays here, and occasionally His divine companions would also make a trip back."
...That’s understandable, understandable.
Delicious Breeze Goose nodded in agreent, finding the explanation quite reasonable.
As soone in business, it is precisely because of the rice bowl they eat from that they understand how their livelihood depends on fate.
The owners he knew weren’t all that devout, but they were all sowhat superstitious. If they weren’t in a rush, they would worship at the sight of gods or buddhas; when at bars or nightclubs, they would still go and offer incense to the statue of Guan Gong.
As far as Delicious Breeze Goose knew, Longjing Tea still kept a large Buddha statue and shrine at ho, and his grandfather would change the offerings when he had nothing else to do.
—Not to ntion a real, and effective, god of wealth.
And the Silver Baron was a living god of wealth.
Such a deity resided in the city, popping up anywhere at any ti. Even if the rchants knew there was no reason for Him to target them, they dared not step out of line here.
The old man pointed to the newspaper stand and explained, "Thirty or forty years ago, newspapers were sold at one silver coin each. The final profits were used to sustain the operations of the church schools... But the current Pope His Holiness is very smart.
"To cater to those rchants who want to flatter but without accepting their money outright, he simply set up many donation boxes throughout the city.
"The ones placed in front of the newspapers are donations to the church schools; the donation boxes near the subway are for families who have lost their breadwinner; the ones at the entrance of the concert hall and theater are for fostering orphans."
"This Pope His Holiness is a good man," Delicious Breeze Goose couldn’t help but say softly.
"Indeed," the old man remarked with a sigh, handing the newspaper to Delicious Breeze Goose: "I’m done reading... It’s yours now.
"Whether you want to finish reading and put it back, or take it with you, it’s fine. I’ve already paid for you... The standard price is one silver coin per copy."
The old man smiled kindly and adjusted his top hat: "Welco to Noah, young man."
Delicious Breeze Goose was still stunned for a mont, and by then, the old man had already walked away.
He quickly called out loudly after him, "Thank you!"
Watching the old man wave his hand and quickly depart.
His expression beca a bit strange.
This old man’s legs were surprisingly spry... Could he be so important figure?
He shook his head and, while flipping through the newspaper, picked up the box and continued on his way.
"Hmm, the second increase in the grain tax in ten years? The last ti was half a year ago? Are they gearing up for war?
"The price of wool has risen for the third ti... The latest fashion designs from the master... Oh snap, not ugly at all. But feels quite ordinary. Tsk, should I consider bringing in a player who studies fashion design...
"Famous painter Nigel Elliott claims the ’Paper Princess’ has recently arrived in Noah? Eh, the Paper Princess is a deity? Unbelievable, even deities are written about directly in the newspapers?
"—Damn, the Paper Princess is gorgeous! I’m in love!"
Delicious Breeze Goose swore again under his breath.
Because the newspaper actually featured a portrait of the Paper Princess—though it was in black and white. Underneath the picture, there was a note that this drawing was provided by "Nigel Elliott."
The perspective of the painter was from the side.
"Paper Princess" seed to be beckoned by him, her eyebrows slightly furrowed and her head turning in puzzlent. The painter had even perfectly captured the tension of her upper clothing due to her turning.
Her right hand rested in her pocket, while her left hand held a pen in a reverse grip, as if wielding a dagger.
The gentle yet aloof deanor on her cool, indifferent face, the light-colored long straight hair that fell to her waist, and the upward-tilting dragon horns on her forehead all accentuated her beauty. Even the faintly visible dragon scales not entirely covered at her delicate collarbone hinted at her uniqueness... She looked as youthful as a sixteen or seventeen-year-old girl.
But her mature and indifferent temperant, along with her prominent chest, made her appear to be a composed adult woman. The drawing board on her back and the variety of pens of different sizes and models at her waist, while adding an artistic touch, also conveyed a strong sense of the extraordinary.
This was different from the encounter with the Silver Baron.
If you were to say that the Silver Baron looked like an exceptionally cheerful young man. Although considered handso and dashing, he was hard to spot in a crowd... the Paper Princess, on the other hand, was the kind that, no matter how crowded, could imdiately catch your eye, making it hard to look away.
Her beauty was breathtaking—rely gazing at her could lead to obsession.
As Delicious Goose carefully admired the portrait of the Paper Princess, he had already walked down a street and arrived at a heavily guarded intersection. There were eight guards on duty alone.
He could see it now... the manor visible half a street away.
This must be the ho of the Third Prince.
Upon seeing Delicious Goose approach, two guards imdiately ca forward, while the other six slightly lowered the muzzles of their rifles.
"Do you have an appointnt?"
One of them asked politely.
Each of the two of them was holding a jade plaque. The one who spoke also held a small booklet.
"Delicious Goose."
Delicious Goose paused, then answered, "My na is Delicious Goose, from Frostwater Harbor. I should have an appointnt."
But after the jade plaques flashed, the two guards looked at each other.
This sudden exchange made Delicious Goose feel sowhat uneasy—
Four of the six guards approached him with their guns pointed.
"Please do not make any sudden movents, sir."
The one who had asked the question was still polite.
But being the only security guard without a gun, he cautiously stepped back and continued, "Our records indicate you have entered the country illegally and did not register properly upon entering the city.
"Please follow them to a designated safe room, where you will stay for three days. Any personal items you brought with you will also need to be temporarily confiscated for professional inspection. During this period, we will provide you with food and hot water for free.
"If we verify your identity with ’Cyclops Crow’ and confirm you are clear of any wrongdoing, your items will be returned in full.
The guard smiled warmly, "Please trust Prince Philip’s reputation. We won’t steal or look through your personal items unnecessarily..."
...So that’s how it is.
Delicious Goose silently glanced at the other person, quietly set down his case, and under close watch by the four guards, turned right at the intersection.
—He detected sothing from the other person’s tone.
Is this... considered a delivery?
No wonder they dropped off two streets away.
Couldn’t they let enter Prince Philip’s estate, to avoid tarnishing his na? So they needed to hand over the goods in this manner...
Such caution indeed.
However...
Delicious Goose narrowed his eyes slightly.
They didn’t tell about this crucial matter, but handed the "demon blood," which would cause trouble if discovered.
...In the end, I couldn’t escape it.
After that, Delicious Goose was brought into a villa as big as the mayor’s residence.
But they didn’t let him stay in the villa... Instead, they continued to push him silently downwards. Once inside the villa, the others beca less courteous—confiscating his weapons, and stripping off his coat, shoes, and the item bearing his curse, they shoved him rudely into the dungeon.
Shortly after the doors closed.
A sowhat familiar person, whom he had t briefly before, walked in.
It was the middle-aged captain of the town guard he had seen at the gate.
He had a silver-hilted longsword hanging from his waist.
"We et again, Delicious Goose."
The middle-aged man brought a stool over and slowly began to speak from outside the prison bars.
This man with a goatee calmly inquired in a deep voice, "You say you’re from Frostwater Harbor?
"And your Mayor... is Tan Juan Geraint?"
Just as Dexter Roy had said.
This man’s na was... Claus Kass.
The silver-ranked Transcendent planted in the town guard by the Third Prince Philip.
The true Tan Juan Geraint’s forr captain of the guard.
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