Chapter 634: City of White

*Stoen University... Professor Michele... Notebook from the Twenty Year

War era...* Audrey extracted the key terms in the words and

glanced at Susie, who was running happily in front of the mare. She went

straight to the point by asking, "Ma'am Smine, what kind of notebook is

it?"

"I'm not sure. All I know is that it belongs to the period of the Twenty

Year War. It's part of Associate Professor Michele's collection. It has

an important characteristic---the patterns on the cover faintly forms a

dragon." Smine didn't hide it from Audrey as she told her all the

information she knew.

Audrey, who silently listened to her descriptions, restrained her

burgundy mare as she considered how she could complete the mission.

*Visit Associate Professor Michele and view his collections before

raising a request to buy one of the items isn't too difficult.*

*Although it's embarrassing to admit this, it's quite unlikely he would

reject me regardless of the way it's said. Yes, Audrey, you shouldn't be

overly reliant on these...*

*The biggest problem is being out-of-the-blue. I didn't know Associate

Professor Michele before this, making it very difficult to explain why

I'm suddenly visiting him. Besides, I don't know what the notebook means

to him. Announcing my desire to purchase it might result in him being

alert and wary.*

*...Jen's elder brother is studying at Stoen University. At the last

gathering, he depicted his penchant for describing and discussing

matters. If I were to invite him and his sister to the next afternoon

tea and steer the topic towards history, archeology, or collections,

then he will likely mention Associate Professor Michele. Yes, at a

university, there's definitely not many people who can be called

collectors.*

*With such a precursor, I can send someone to pay a visit to Associate

Professor Michele and make the request to view his collection. At the

first meeting, I'll try my best not to show my desire for it. I'll

observe the owner's actions and guide him to reveal his true self. This

will be helpful for me to use suitable matters for suitable requests at

a suitable time.*

After confirming her line of thought, Audrey nodded at Smine and smiled.

"I'll work hard to complete the mission, but I can't guarantee success."

Just as she said that, she tightened the girth before shooting forward

like an arrow, heading straight for a reddish-brown fox that was darting

around in a hunting encirclement.

Above the tumultuous sea, the Blue Avenger was like a leaf tumbling

amidst heavy squalls. From time to time, it would be thrown up before

crashing back into the waves, but it maintained a stunning sense of

balance without any signs of capsizing.

Inside the captain's cabin, Alger Wilson was floating around the window

as he looked at the waves outside which were as high as mountains. There

were forceful winds blowing around him in silence.

Some time later, he landed his feet onto the carpet.

*Wind-blessed is indeed a Sequence that can be easily "acted" based on

its name. The only problem is that it occasionally makes me irascible,

completely matching the characteristics of a gale...* Alger

sighed inwardly without any delight.

Over the past two months or so, he had failed to obtain the Ocean

Songster formula through his own resource channels and the Tarot Club's

trades. After all, it was that of a Sequence 5, the Sequence closest to

a demigod. The corresponding formula was already something where demand

far outstripped supply. Even with boatloads of money and the willingness

to pay a premium, it was very difficult to buy one.

Normally speaking, joining the corresponding Church or organization was

the most effective method of obtaining the corresponding formula, but as

a Church of Storms bishop, Alger was unable to rely on this method. Due

to particular secrets, he needed to hide his strength in order to win

the freedom he needed to take action and be under light monitoring. Only

after he had sufficient confidence would he head for a place and

complete the goal he had been waiting for all this time.

To his joy, he didn't waste the past two months. At the very least, the

speed at which he digested the Wind-blessed potion was pretty decent.

*The Wind-blessed is simple. Ocean Songster is said to be quite

difficult... Must I frequently sing?* Alger couldn't help but

turn his head and look towards the deck.

Although he was separated from them by several rooms, he could still

hear the drunken sailors singing with gusto, creating a din that could

rival the storm's roars.

Alger unknowingly frowned.

Backlund, Cherwood Borough. Synthes Circus.

"Ma'am, didn't you say that you're performing magic? Why are you dressed

like that?" a youth asked the woman dressed in a pitch-black pointed hat

and dress of the same color in puzzlement.

*I don't know why I'm wearing this as well. Perhaps it's because of my

first appearance here. My brain was freezing from the weather and my

style was subsequently fixed...* Fors rubbed her face which had

red and yellow paint as she replied with a smile, "In ancient times,

magic is often mistaken as witchcraft."

But this has nothing to do with why I'm wearing this... She

picked up the middle of three porcelain cups which were placed in front

of her. She then placed a white ball beneath it.

Then, she quickly switched the positions of the cups before smiling at

the youth who had questioned her.

"Guess where the tiny ball is?"

"Isn't this one of the gambling methods invented by Emperor Roselle?"

the youth said with piqued interest. "But you aren't a croupier, but a

trickmaster at a circus. Therefore, I believe that the ball has already

been switched away. All the cups are empty!"

Fors smiled and said, "Congratulations, you got it wrong."

She suddenly picked up the cup in the middle as a white blur flew out.

It was a dove!

As for the tiny ball from before, it was where the dove had left!

"Wow!"

"Godly!"

"Wonderful magic!"

"Brilliant!"

After a series of amazed exclamations, Fors clearly looked pleased with

herself as she looked at the distant cathedral bell, put away her props,

and returned to the tent where the circus master resided.

"Are you really resigning? I can double your salary!" the circus master

came over as he tried to persuade her otherwise.

*Unfortunately, I had already summarized the Trickmaster principles by

the middle of March and had already completely digested the potion last

week. If it wasn't because the contract ended today, I wouldn't even be

here today...*

*Although being a Trickmaster feels very nice, this doesn't stop me from

my goal of advancing to Astrologer. Teacher said that he would be giving

me the formula, ingredients, and a gift this week... What kind of gift

will it be?*

*Sigh, the ravings from the full moon are getting more terrifying. If

not for Mr. Fool, I definitely would've lost control and become a

monster...* Fors extended her right hand and covered her mouth,

languidly yawning. Then, she said with a smile, "Well, I'm actually a

best-selling author. My next book is related to circuses, so I came here

to be hired."

"A best-selling author?" The circus master's eyes lit up as he said

worriedly and expectantly, "Will you write bad things about us?"

"Are there any? I had a great time for the past two months." Fors took

off her pointed black hat.

The circus master revealed a sincere smile and said, "Wall, Ma'am Wall,

can you mention our circus's name in your book? I-I'll pay you

advertisement fees. Of course, it won't be much. As you know, I'm

responsible for the livelihoods of many people."

That can be done? This circus master is quite smart... For the

first time, Fors realized that a novel could "advertise" just like in

newspapers or magazines. Furthermore, the format was more obscure and

natural.

Amidst waves, a liner with rows of cannons traveled along a safe sea

route without daring to deviate far from it.

Any deviation from the sea route east of Oravi Island usually meant

disappearing. Even pirates didn't dare to stray too far from the safe

zones.

This sea was filled with unexplored regions, filled with all sorts of

sensational legends!

After two months of volunteer work and finding four chances to engage in

true acting, Klein bade farewell to carrying patients, scrubbing toilet

bowls, cleaning vomit, and other miscellaneous chores. He boarded a ship

headed for the Gargas Archipelago.

At the Tarot Gathering in early March, he had hired The Hermit Cattleya

in a private conversation. He would meet her at the capital of Gargas

Archipelago, the City of White, Nas. He would then board her ship and

head for the dangerous ocean, which was close to an illusion, on the far

east of the Sonia Sea. There, he would search for unaffiliated mermaids

who lived there.

The Hermit Cattleya seemed to be very interested in meeting members of

the Tarot Club in the real world. With just a few seconds of thought,

she agreed to The World's request. However, due to the high level of

danger, she had given a high asking price.

3,000 pounds!

Klein's first reaction was to give up and take Mr. Hanged Man's ghost

ship, but considering how there would be many sailors from the Church of

Storms following him, making his freedom limited, and the fact that the

level of danger in the easternmost area of the Sonia Sea was high, he

finally accepted Ma'am Hermit's condition. As for her, she would wait

around the Gargas Archipelago for a month at the beginning of April. Any

delay would imply the end of the cooperation.

To not waste the thousand-pound deposit, Klein didn't wait to complete

his digestion before heading for Gargas Archipelago from Oravi Island.

Of course, with the summaries and chances at true acting from before, he

was already very close to completely digesting the Faceless potion. Even

if he didn't use true acting, just acting in his capacity as Gehrman

Sparrow was enough to complete the digestion in two to three weeks.

Due to this reason, as well as The World's identity being tied with

Gehrman Sparrow, Klein transformed back into the lunatic and powerful

adventurer once he left the hospital. However, he did disguise himself

to a certain degree.

As he watched the perturbed sea surface, Klein finally saw a port city

that had houses mainly made of white rock.

The most eastern front of the Feysac Empire, the capital of the Gargas

Archipelago, Nas!

I'm finally overseas... Klein looked at a fishing boat

carrying whale meat cruising into the harbor. Its ruggedness wasn't

concealed.

Meanwhile, he discovered several ships hanging pirate flags docked at

the harbor without any signs of concealment.

*Indeed, Oravi Island's eastern front is a playground for

pirates...* Klein wore his hat and carried his luggage and left

the cabin after the liner came to a stable halt. He went down the

gangway into the harbor.

After a few steps, he saw a crew of pirates seemingly entering conflict

with a local gang. Both sides drew their weapons as they clashed.

Klein calmly walked past, showing no signs of stopping them.

At that moment, he saw a local pull out a few cans from his pocket and

opened the lid before throwing it into the middle of the road.

What's the meaning of this? Klein nearly laughed out before

recalling an infamous item at sea.

Canned wolf-fish!

Canned wolf-fish was popular on the east coast of Feysac and the Gargas

Archipelago!

Just as the thought surfaced, an indescribable stench seemed to inundate

Klein's olfactory senses.

His facial muscles twitched as he tried hard to resist his body's

discomfort as he quickly left the region.

A small number of pirates who were struck by the stench vomited

immediately, while the remaining ones frantically fled while dragging

their companions as though they had lost all their combat strength.

A minute later, in a secluded corner, the crazy adventurer, Gehrman

Sparrow, crouched down and silently belched.