Wearing the golden armor given by Xuan Shen, Jasmine quickly left the Ocean Trench where the Whale-kin had lived for generations and wandered off into the boundless, wide ocean. This ti, she didn't head in the direction of Naris. She knew Fisher might be in that direction, so she resolutely swam toward another direction instead.
Before reuniting with Fisher, before that world-destroying war arrived, she needed to properly elevate her abilities. Only then could she protect herself and protect Teacher Fisher...
Under the moonlight, Jasmine's figure gradually drifted further away into the ocean, subrged within the ceaseless tides of day and night, no longer visible.
Going back in ti a bit to this morning, aboard the Narwhal where Fisher was travelling. Before arriving at Mya, Parfait the Sheep-kin hadn't left the deck the entire ti. Whenever Fisher had free ti, he would go onto the deck to research this exceptionally unique-looking Sheep-kin woman.
Consequently, the Sheep-kin research progress in Fisher's Demi-Human Completion Handbook rose rapidly. Benefitting from Valentina's help, this Sheep-kin Parfait was practically entirely obedient to Fisher, ensuring there were zero obstacles in his research. Fisher quickly recorded every detail of the various data of her body into his notebook. By simultaneously combining Eimhart and Parfait's words, his research progress of the Sheep-kin, both biologically and socially, t the criteria to claim the first stage reward.
[Sheep-kin Biological Research Progress: 21%]
[Sheep-kin Societal Research Progress: 24%]
[Congratulations, you have unlocked all first-stage rewards for the Sheep-kin]
[Constitution 4, Reproduction Ability 2, Cold Resistance 20]
Looking at the familiar text in the middle, Fisher's expression was once again completely covered in black lines. Previously, he had thoroughly vented his desires with Alagina. However, the continuous enhancent of Reproduction Ability after arriving in the Northern Border was causing him to struggle with restraining it again. Though Fisher wasn't soone prone to indulging in lust, the physical burden was unequivocally real.
"Then let's stop here. Thank you so much for your ti lately."
"You're welco, I should be the one..."
Parfait looked at Fisher before her with a blush. The slender goat-like horns on her head looked extrely powerful under the sunlight outside. Sure enough, no matter how one looked at it, the gap with the Sheep-kin of the Southern Continent was still imnse.
Speaking of which, his degree of [Northern Species Affinity] was indeed extrely useful. Although Fisher didn't intentionally want to test out the effects of this enhancent, rely by casually giving Parfait a few cups of hot tea over the past few days, he had wooed her silly. The mont she saw Fisher, she would smile awkwardly and beam happily, prompting Eimhart to fiercely criticize Fisher's behavior.
Turning his back to Parfait's passionate and regretful gaze, Fisher walked to the deck. A distant whistle sounded from the sea far away. He gazed far into the distance, only to faintly make out several warships from Mya erging on the surface of the sea. This also signified that their destination, Mya, was about to arrive.
"Eh, those human warships look a bit familiar, didn't we see them on the Patroshen Islands previously?"
Eimhart stood on Fisher's shoulder. After glancing at the distant warships together with Fisher, they entered the elevator to prepare to head back. The cold resistance granted by the Sheep-kin made his body feel warm all over, to the point walking around in the cold-weather coat from before actually felt rather hot. This surprised him; he had no idea how the Completion Handbook actually managed to achieve this.
He now possessed a few more Magic spells, all of them being high-Ring spells. They all used [Fire], [Ice], or [Thunder] as their Circle Head, specifically targeting Erwind's eerie abilities. The lethal power of these spells was high, and their coverage area was broad, which would be able to deal good damage to an Erwind who resembled a swarm of locusts.
Yet, after receiving Parfait's Constitution enhancent, he still felt it wasn't enough. He estimated he would still need to research one more demi-human species to reach the tenth Rank, and subsequently, an additional four Ranks to catch up to Erwind.
The elevator slowly ca to a halt. While formulating plans in his mind, Fisher arrived at the eting room on the second floor. Unsurprisingly, everyone was already gathered here. Even Sertil, the chanic, had shown up, not to ntion the others.
Fisher surveyed Valentina sitting at the head seat, positioned at the sa height as Balzac. He silently shot a glance at Heidelin standing behind her. The other party was simply maintaining a smiling expression. One glance was enough to tell that Valentina was sitting on a stack of books.
"Mr. Fisher, you arrived just in ti, otherwise I would have had Heidelin go up to fetch you... We are about to arrive at Mya soon. The Myan warships have been escorting us the entire way, and we'll reach their naval port by early afternoon. Mya's attitude is sowhat ambiguous; they can't handle that piece of True Ice, so they are seeking the Turan Family's assistance... Are either of you two scholars interested in True Ice? If so, you could take a closer look at it then."
"Next, regarding everyone's tasks. Filis, my wheelchair's energy source is nearly depleted, but the person collaborating with my family has vanished without a trace, and I can't contact him. My mobility will be very slow then, so I need you to stick close to protect , is that alright?"
Having just received her wages, Filis's enthusiasm for work was at a historical high. The mont Valentina spoke, she patted her chest and agreed in a carefree and casual manner,
"Leave it to !"
Fisher glanced at the wheelchair beneath her. Previously, he had speculated that her wheelchair was related to the Lord Cardinal's Cardinals. Her wheelchair didn't use steam or other energy sources, leaving Cardinals as the only speculative answer. And now that the Lord Cardinal had been defeated by Erwind, naturally, the Turan Family couldn't reach him...
"Balzac, you will cooperate with Mr. Fisher. Don't worry about the Snow Fox-kin; primarily focus on news regarding the Sli-kin and Giant Troll-kin. I've already instructed family mbers to have the relevant ancient texts sent to Mya. Once we leave the naval port, this will be your task... By the way, Mr. Fisher, I'll have to trouble you to engrave so defensive Magic over so rings for us, I have ran out of them."
Towards the end of her speech, she seed slightly embarrassed to pile so many tasks onto Fisher, so she added,
"In return, if there are any demi-human species you wish to research, just tell , and I will do my utmost to help..."
Before she finished speaking, Fisher interjected with a speed akin to deceiving oneself,
"Owl-kin, please, the sooner the better."
"...No problem, I'll have family mbers look into it."
Although Valentina was continuously monitoring Fisher's actions on the deck and knew he hadn't done anything strange to Parfait, she could vividly tell the way Parfait looked at Fisher was not quite right. Thus, she grew even more suspicious of Fisher. The tiny bit of guilt she felt for continuously interrupting his research ultimately never translated into words, staying deeply buried in her heart...
Fischer Benavides was decidedly a strange individual who fancied demi-humans. Could it be that his little fetish was discovered by Queen Elizabeth of Naris in the West Continent, who flew into a rage out of sha and tried to punish him, forcing him to flee overseas?
Ah, wouldn't that be a little too absurd?
Herdor was right; I really should read less of those romance novels from Naris... even my thinking is turning similar to this gentleman who enjoys seducing demi-humans.
Sitting in her wheelchair, Valentina's face was calm. For those few seconds, she appeared to be pondering an important matter. Besides herself, absolutely no one knew the lively little thoughts running through her mind.
"Heidelin, you'll need to accompany us down as well during this period. I heard the family's scheduled negotiation with the Snow Fox-kin is ten days from now. Until then, we'll be staying in Sessiteya City in Mya. I'll need your help."
"No problem."
Heidelin bowed her head with a smile and agreed. This relaxed deanor stood in stark contrast to the Heidelin who had spoken those words to Fisher previously.
"Finally, Sertil, have the machines you were building been completed?"
"Completed, guaranteed to successfully send us up the mountain... Ah, but Boss, could I just stay in a Myan hotel instead of going to the negotiations with you all? I have practically zero combat ability, and I won't be of any help in negotiations, so please just let tinker with my machines in my room, I beg of you Boss."
Sertil 'devoutly' perford the prayer gesture of Kadu, even crookeder than the gesture Renee often made; one glance was enough to tell she wasn't a devout believer of the Mother Goddess. However, after their ti together, despite encountering Sertil infrequently, Fisher had attained a basic impression of this chanic from Naris.
Afraid of death, or better described as extrely afraid of death.
Previously, Fisher thought she stayed aboard the Narwhal because Valentina assigned her tasks. Who would have known it was actually because she stubbornly refused to disembark? When he first t her, she only reluctantly disembarked after Valentina called her three or four tis, terrified that the dreadful Curse would drag her down as collateral damage.
Valentina comprehensively understood her disposition. Unlike Fisher who wasn't very familiar with the people here, the rest had spent over half a year together. Therefore, breaking into a helpless smile, she approved her request, considering Sertil indeed wouldn't be able to help in such matters.
Just like that, the assignnt of individual tasks was more or less concluded. Shortly after they finished speaking, a lodious whistle resounded yet again from outside the cabin, signifying their arrival in Mya, the northernmost country of the Northern Border.
Mya was a small country and ho to the most devout adherents of the Frost Phoenix faith. This was precisely why they deeply feared the Sardin Woman's Country utilizing the True Ice to legitimize their claims of orthodoxy. Functioning as a region governed by the Moon Princess during ancient tis, Mya still retained the Liberty and Liassez-Faire Governance of the Moon Princess's era to a certain extent.
Beyond the newly built city, sprawling vast snowfields were spread out like stars, dotted with varying demi-human species: Sheep-kin, Owl-kin, Snow Fox-kin, Cloud Cat-kin...
"We have arrived at Mya, everyone."
Hearing Valentina's voice, Filis practically glued herself to the window, gazing at the city emitting curling wisps of smoke under the sunlight. This scale seed akin to human cities in the West Continent, causing Filis to squint her eyes and envision what the West Continent was like.
Fisher also turned towards the window. Amidst heavy, swirling snow in Mya, a train travelled along its tracks into the city. For so unknown reason, he cast a lingering look at the earthworm-sized train, seemingly sensing an indescribable connection.
The Narwhal steadily neared the coast, eventually arriving in Mya, the northern edge of the Northern Border.
"Respected Miss Valentina Turan, we have been waiting for you here for quite so ti. Welco to Mya... Starting this afternoon, Mya will enter a locked-down state. For fear that so blind subordinates might disturb Your Excellency, we specially dispatched a fleet to escort you, hoping we haven't disturbed your rest."
"Not at all. Escorted by the renowned Snow Cloud Special Attack Team, we felt very safe."
Beneath the elevator, a sowhat high-ranking officer of the Miya Military Forces stepped forward to welco Valentina, who had traveled from afar. That respectful deanor imdiately reminded Fisher of his university days when he went on private dates with Elizabeth. When she was by his side back then, everywhere they went, they received this kind of treatnt...
This also indirectly demonstrated the Turan Family's status as the local emperors of the Northern Border; whether it was the Sardin Woman's Country or other nations, they all had to give face to the Turan Family.
"That's good. It is far too cold outside, please head this way. We have already prepared food and accommodations for your reception. Rest assured, we won't take up too much of Miss Valentina's ti."
The "reception" the officer ntioned invariably ant discussing matters concerning the disposal of that piece of True Ice with Valentina. Both parties were acutely aware of this. However, precisely upon ntioning "too cold," he subconsciously glanced at Fisher standing sparsely clad not too far behind Valentina. His steady stance didn't betray a hint of chilliness, surprising the officer greatly.
Filis pushed Valentina's wheelchair forward, trailing the Myans in front deep into the naval port. Past layers of protective facilities, they soon arrived before a low, broad building. Pushing open the door and entering, nurous maids already stood inside the luxuriously and warmly decorated room, among which were not a few demi-humans. Fisher's gaze uncontrollably drifted toward a pair of upright wolf ears on a maid's head, causing the maid to feel slightly bashful and shifting her gaze shiftily.
"Miss Valentina, please wait a mont. As agreed upon with the Turan Family beforehand, our General will discuss the disposal of the True Ice with you. This piece of True Ice was brought abroad by a group of local thieves. We finally managed to recover it after much difficulty, but now we're sowhat incapable of disposing of it... as you know, the Sardin Woman's Country people have always been eyeing us."
Inwardly under the officer's sowhat bitter expression, a large wooden box was promptly brought into the room by several soldiers. The very mont they opened the wooden box, that massive block of True Ice was instantly revealed before everyone.
Everyone's attention was fully captivated by the peculiar mineral within the box, which appeared to have a lively wisp of mist vaguely shifting within. No one noticed that right at the front, Valentina's pale silver eyes gradually brightened, as if the mist within the True Ice were intangibly seeping into her pupils.
[Author Note]
So bad news, the author got covid, may take a break if not better tomorrow
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