Even though he released Fisher's hand, Keken's expression was still hard to conceal his excitent. Only at this mont looking around this ship still staying on the sea surface, he couldn't help but be curious how Fisher got on the ship.
One must know because of the massive battle that happened here previously, the Dragon Court's port had already been completely destroyed. When he sent people to notify the Prayer and Blessing Tower they could only rely on crew mbers rowing a small boat over, yet Fisher unexpectedly got on the ship without anybody noticing like this.
He always felt the current Mr. Fisher Benavides was sowhat different from the past.
He didn't directly press for an answer, instead reaching out to lead the way, preparing to take Fisher to a place more suitable for conversation to talk,
"Mr. Fisher, it's inconvenient to talk here, please co this way. I'll have my wife prepare so delicious food, ah, of course also fine wine. You should have rarely tasted the most authentic Naris fine wine these passing years, right?"
"Indeed it is so."
Keken very happily led Fisher walking into the cabin. Along the way he also ordered the crew mbers to have those who went out hurry back. And Eimhart staying in Fisher's embrace secretly sizing up the outside took in all the various items inside the cabin into his eyes.
Everything entering his eyes was luxurious local specialties from various countries, such as jewelry from Schwari, ancient relics from Kadu, armor from the Sardin Woman's Country, etc. It looked like it should be related to his gains these years. And in the corner of his eye, Eimhart even saw a Wutong Tree statue presented in the corridor of the cabin.
He nudged Fisher's chest as a reminder, and very quickly, they arrived inside a room at the end of the cabin. Looking at the layout inside, it should be used as a reception lounge.
"Lana, help prepare so food, incidentally help fetch that bottle of wine I kept in the bedroom, alright?"
Keken raised his head to call out. Fisher also looked over at the sa ti, then abruptly saw a lady wearing Northern Territory attire currently leaning on the railing without expression sizing up below.
She had a head of wine-red short hair without much expression. Even after hearing Keken's words she only slightly nodded her head, then turned around to return to the room to make preparations.
"Please sit down quickly, Mr. Fisher. We haven't seen each other for five years already right, especially after that matter with Empress Elizabeth..."
"Ah, yes. These years I've never known the news in Naris, and also don't know how it compares to the past."
After Fisher sat down, Keken turned his head to fetch goblets for enjoying fine wine. While picking suitable wine glasses, he spoke smilingly,
"Honestly speaking, it's much better than before. Empress Elizabeth is a good Empress. Although the political and business circles have quite a few criticisms of her, that's only aid at her and the Golden Palace's coercive intervention in the market. Anyone with a discerning eye can tell, Naris's strength and the people's lives have risen to a higher level than the past..."
He took two suitable wine glasses, and also brought back two high-quality cigars, placing them before Fisher and himself before taking a seat,
"Corruption was governed. The Gryphon Party and New Party that originally excelled at infighting settled down. The Nazarene Developnt Company was nationalized, education was reford, worker's rights protection bills were introduced... Iron-fist governance isn't good for Naris, but Her Majesty Elizabeth's iron fist is fine. Even our Bécquer family pioneered a new field, providing loans for enterprises producing Cardinals."
"... She is even more outstanding than Dexter."
"Otherwise how could she beco the first Empress?"
Keken lit a match, wanting to light a cigar for Fisher, but was politely declined by him. Keken had no choice but to light one for himself, then extinguishing the match again,
"Let's still talk about you. Was your departure these years related to the Empress? The wanted poster for Mr. Fisher Benavides went from being issued to disappearing in rely half a year's ti, just like a little girl throwing a tantrum with her lover, so unpredictable."
"No, it's unrelated to her. But I have to go back sooner or later, and the problem between her and was also never a problem of whether to issue a wanted poster or not."
"Yes, anyone with a discerning eye can tell this matter..." Keken exhaled a puff of smoke, saying smilingly, "The ministers urging the Empress to quickly choose a Prince Consort, those remonstrances flew towards the Golden Palace like snowflakes, capable of doing nothing besides making Empress Elizabeth in a bad mood. If it weren't that Schwari's Prince Lausanne was already married, and there were no other suitable princes, otherwise those marriage certificates would definitely pile up and fill the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' mailbox."
"She is..."
"In her early thirties this year, of course considered pri age. Actually really speaking, at worst Empress Elizabeth also has younger siblings, Princess Isabel wandering outside, several young princes and princesses outside the Golden Palace... But you know, the people's trust in Her Majesty Elizabeth is absolutely unprecedented. This kind of reverence rooted in visible changes gave Her Majesty unparalleled adoration, to the extent that only her own bloodline can inherit this trust."
Elizabeth had passed four and a half years of ti, but to Fisher, the four and a half years of reality only quietly slipped away in the past few months.
"Clatter clatter clatter..."
Also right at this ti, the young lady Keken ordered previously was holding a bottle of red wine with both hands, leading two maids carrying dishes and walking forward. She expressionlessly nodded at Fisher as a greeting, then independently opened the bottle and decanted the wine.
Keken smiled helplessly, having no choice but to reach out and introduce himself,
"Mr. Fisher, please allow to introduce to you, this is Adina, she is my wife. She cos from the Northern Territory, sowhat uncommunicative, please forgive her."
"Oh, wife?"
"Ah, yes. But don't misunderstand, I didn't divorce my forr two wives, they are still resting upstairs. We ca from the Northern Territory, travel-worn, they are sowhat seasick, so..."
"..."
That is to say, this guy married a third wife again?
Fisher cast a glance at that beautiful lady currently pouring red wine. Not knowing if it was an illusion, he always felt there seed to be a faint wisp of golden light flashing past the body of this female before his eyes. Just as he narrowed his eyes wanting to size up that golden light clearly, he abruptly discovered that the hand of Keken's wife holding the wine bottle was little by little becoming "soft".
Becoming that kind of, green softness?
No, this was a...
"Sli?"
"!!"
The mont Fisher opened his mouth in doubt, he felt Adina's figure trembling slightly. Although her face was still expressionless, her fingers and arms had already begun transforming towards dark green.
Keken also raised his eyebrows looking at Adina, then standing up smilingly to catch the wine bottle she held, looking embarrassed at Fisher and saying,
"Ah, I almost forgot, Mr. Fisher is a famous demi-human scholar. That's right, Adina is a sli I t in the Northern Territory. But as a sli, she's a bit too young and tender, and very shy. Every ti she gets shy she can't even maintain her disguised appearance, truly sorry about this."
While explaining for Fisher, he gently pulled Adina into his embrace. Although this sli remained expressionless, she seemingly finally relaxed, gently wrapping her soft tentacles around Keken's waist, burying her face into his shoulder, looking exceptionally clingy.
"Then you go back first, I still have a bit of matters to chat with Mr. Fisher..."
"..."
Adina remained motionless, only her body becoming increasingly soft and hugging him increasingly tightly. It looked like she was instinctively frightened by being stared at by Fisher, who was at the Mythical Rank, just now.
Rather, Fisher was sowhat surprised. He cast a glance at the room above, asking,
"You just said your two wives are both upstairs. They are sisters not minding each other, I can understand. But could it be they also don't mind this... Adina?"
"Ah, although at the very beginning there were indeed so troubles, it's much better now. They get along very well now, and also like Adina's character very much. It's very harmonious now, and every night they even can together..."
"Smack!"
Before his words were finished, his mouth was already gently slapped by the soft tentacles of Adina in his embrace. Subsequently before seeing clearly, she gently jumped down, taking the disguise that was about to completely vanish and fleeing upstairs. Seemingly shad to the extre and unwilling to listen any further.
"..."
Fisher opened his mouth, seemingly not knowing what to say.
And Keken also smiled embarrassedly, reaching out to dismiss the maids beside who were already accustod to strangeness, preparing to officially enjoy delicacies with Fisher,
"Please go ahead, Mr. Fisher, sorry, making you see a joke."
"... Not at all."
Accompanied by such fine wine, the atmosphere at the table also gradually ward up. Fisher took a sip of Naris's high-quality Black Mamba Wine, his mood unavoidably also becoming happy,
"This wine I haven't tasted before."
"Of course, newly out of the factory. Naris recently had a few more newly erging wineries, the taste is impossibly good. You taste more, I also don't have any good things here to entertain you."
Fisher tasted a few more glasses of such treasures, the topic also gradually entering the main subject. The corner of his eye glanced at the door Adina sneaked away to just now, incidentally asking,
"That Adina from earlier, is she a person of the Frostwood Sycamore Tree?"
Keken was slightly stunned, but still swallowed the remaining half glass of wine in his cup, only then shaking his head, smiling and explaining,
"No, no, or strictly speaking no. Marrying her wasn't within the scope of my cooperation with Patriarch Barion."
"So, you are helping them run errands?"
"Can't hide it from you. Indeed it is so." Keken's face reddened slightly, explaining, "The Wutong rchant Guild was founded by borrowing their resources. The channels and resources of that group of slis were both unimaginable to , cooperating with them is very pleasant, at least more pleasant than at ho. These years I've also earned a lot using the identity of the Wutong rchant Guild's proxy. My footprints are everywhere, my reputation and strength have even made my elders look at with new eyes..."
"Is there any corresponding price?"
"Price? Mm, this depends on how to understand it... to a rchant there's no price, only cost. My cost is a suitable proxy identity and a useful brain, this is exactly what they need. But occasionally there is also need to do so errand-running jobs for people, just like this ti."
Keken added wine for himself and Fisher again. Subsequently he sat up a bit straighter, rubbed the glass wall, looking at Fisher and saying,
"I've heard of your deeds in the Northern Territory from the slis. The husband of the Phoenix, the excavator of the Sycamore tree, the eradicator of the curse, the gravedigger of the Turan family... Sure enough, gold will shine no matter where it goes. It's just your mysterious disappearance four and a half years ago still made Patriarch Barion quite mindful. These years, especially recently, they have always been searching for your whereabouts... The Phoenix, has already awakened, Mr. Fisher."
Valentiina sure enough had already awakened.
Fisher was slightly startled, subsequently similarly looking at the crimson wine liquid inside the glass wall. But before he had ti to reply, the slightly red-faced Keken before his eyes already opened his mouth once again,
"Really envy you ah, having such a legendary story. Empress Elizabeth, the legendary Phoenix, and even the Dragon Court's Dragon Queen are all connected to you. But I have no affinity with the word 'big shot'. But maybe my father was right in the past, when a person gets to a certain ti maybe their pursuits will change... For example right now, I feel it's pretty good."
"..."
Right while Keken was feeling emotional, conversation sounds transmitted from upstairs again. They were female voices,
"What's wrong, Adina, did sothing happen below? Hubby, are you below?"
"I'm here, Dora. Mr. Fisher is also here... exactly that Mr. Fisher Benavides we t once in the past..."
"Did you drink again? Aren't you bad at holding your liquor? And also, what's going on outside, why is the sky so red?"
"I also don't know..."
Fisher raised his eyes gazing over, then saw Keken's three wives. That one nad "Dora" was currently supporting Adina who just ran away from shyness. They looked quite harmonious, putting on an appearance of being worried about her.
Although it looked quite good, Fisher actually couldn't imagine a scene of those females he knew staying together so harmoniously.
Elizabeth smilingly supporting Raphaela, Valentiina and Jasmine conversing happily, Helaire smilingly looking at Renee, Alajina and Eliog staying together amiably, watching Asuka Karasawa's magic teaching beside them?
No, maybe the next second a world-destroying war like the second Mythical War was going to break out in the room, many people would die...
Cold sweat broke out straight from Fisher's forehead, not even daring to think about it. He had no choice but to hurriedly massage his own temples, reaching out to shut Keken up, asking,
"So, your coming this ti was to inquire about my news for the Northern Territory, right?"
"Ah, there's consideration in this aspect, but it's not the main reason. After all you completely lost your traces previously, whether it was or the slis neither could guarantee finding you. So essentially coming this ti is still to do a little trade with the Dragon Court."
"Then the news relating to you ntioned earlier, what is it? Are you going to tell the Dragon Queen about the relationship between the Phoenix and ?"
"I wouldn't dare. Even the slis wouldn't dare tell the Phoenix these things..." Keken helplessly waved his hand. He seemingly had an inkling of the terrifying scene of fierce conflict Fisher faced. At the sa ti, he also reached out fetching a newspaper from the side, handing it to Fisher, "The matter I originally wanted to say is another thing. Perfectly you are also here. This matter should not be that important to the Dragon Queen, but to you..."
Fisher was slightly stunned, receiving that newspaper. This seed to be last week's Naris Daily, and the first thing entering his eyes was a massive headline,
"Heavily Mourning the Grand Mage of the Century, Mr. Haelsem Lacazette"
Fisher's pupils slightly contracted, hurriedly sitting up straight to unfold the newspaper, word by word reading the text below,
"In the early morning of July 19th, Year 5 of Elizabeth I, the distinguished magician specially employed by the Royal Academy of Naris, President of the Nari Magic Society, mber of the World Magic Association, Grand Mage of the Century, forr Dean of the Magic Academy at the Naris Royal Academy, and the retired legendary mage, Mr. Haelsem Lacazette, passed away due to a heart attack in his manor outside the city limits of Chitel in northern Naris, at the age of 104.
"Looking back at Mr. Haelsem's life, it was the most glorious and legendary life. From his nineteenth year..."
Fisher unbelievably read the entire report word by word until it was complete, until the last few lines of text,
"The Nari Magic Society lowered its flags to half-mast. The World Magic Association has decided to designate July 19th of each year as 'Magic Revitalization Day', and established the 'Haelsem Award Fund' to commorate the contributions and achievents of this century magic giant during his lifeti. And as an alumna of the Royal Academy and student of Mr. Lacazette, Empress Elizabeth expressed deep condolences upon learning the news on the morning of July 19th, and stated she will personally attend Mr. Lacazette's funeral on August 1st..."
Fisher pinched the newspaper tight little by little, until after taking the final line of text into his eyes yet remained unable to put the newspaper down, only able to constantly stare at that black and white photo of Teacher Helson on the newspaper.
Keken coughed gently, sighing and saying,
"I'm truly sorry, Mr. Fisher, this is already a matter of last week, this matter has already spread throughout the entire West Continent... I clearly know, as the only closed-door disciple of Magician Helson, your feelings with him are not what ordinary teacher and student can compare to."
Fisher's expression was grave. Only after several seconds did he barely manage to place the newspaper in his hand back onto the tabletop again.
He took a deep breath, raising his eyes to glance at the calendar Keken placed on the cabinet at the side. Today happened to be July 26th, there was exactly five days until August 1st.
After being silent for a mont, he turned his head looking at Keken, abruptly opening his mouth and saying,
"... I will return to Naris, to attend Teacher Helson's funeral."
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