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Join the ServerAmidst the clinking of cups, hushed discussions rippled through the tavern, punctuated by occasional debates.
“Hey, have you heard? The Moonlit Dynasty of the Fox Tribe has declared war on the Serpentfolk, vowing to eradicate them completely.”
“Brother, that news is already outdated.”
“Oh? Do tell, then.”
“Well, esteemed guest, I won’t lie to you. Not long ago, a great upheaval was discovered within the Beastman territories; two Beastman kingdoms have gone to war.”
“They say the war between the two nations invoked divine wrath. That very noon, lightning flashed and thunder roared across the sky, and a colossal dragon’s shadow seemed to coil within the black clouds.”
“Come on, I heard the Dragon God perished long ago, dying alongside the God-King of old.”
“Nonsense! The God-King made a pact with the Dragon God. As long as the God-King lives, so too does the Dragon God!”
****
“Waiter, the bill.”
“Coming right up!”
From a secluded corner, Gern narrowed his eyes. Having gathered the intelligence he sought, he waved a hand dismissively, tossing a handful of copper coins onto the table.
He rather enjoyed this taste of being a generous patron. Gern was quite pleased; the sensation of having money felt incredibly liberating.
Black bread with low-alcohol wine—in his previous life, this would have been a luxurious feast.
Now, he could devour four or five loaves of black bread and down several bottles of wine without a second thought.
His only minor regret was not sampling the full array of dishes at Theoviga Academy, having only seen a few main courses and some rice porridge.
Gern couldn’t help but let out a wry chuckle. His palate truly had become refined lately; in the past, simply having food was enough.
As the waiter cleared the table, Gern began to discreetly inquire about the local situation.
“Waiter, are there any routes from here that lead to the Beastman territories?”
“Hm?”
The waiter visibly froze, then scrutinized Gern from head to toe. Noticing his uncommon attire, he lowered his voice.
“Esteemed guest, if I may be so bold, what brings you to the Beastman lands?”
“Oh, I’m simply running a few errands on behalf of someone there.”
The waiter heard this and harbored no suspicion. He glanced left and right, confirming no one was nearby, then leaned in close to Gern’s ear and whispered.
“Esteemed guest, there’s a war raging in the Beastman territories right now. I advise you to turn back. This business venture isn’t worth it; what’s money compared to your life?”
Gern’s eyebrow twitched slightly at the waiter’s words.
Though they were mere strangers, this unexpected counsel warmed his heart.
Yet, outwardly, he remained impassive, appearing no different than before. His voice even dropped a few degrees in temperature.
“You only need to tell me where I can enter the Beastman region.”
A vast mountain range separated the Beastman territories from human lands. The peaks were plagued by a venomous cold, making passage treacherous even for powerful knights.
While Gern, in his Silver Dragon Girl form, could traverse this mountain range, the cost would be considerable.
Furthermore, a small town existed around the base of the mountains. Exposing his true form there would undoubtedly attract unwanted trouble.
Thus, he intended to gather information about the path ahead from this location.
Hearing this, the waiter sighed resignedly before speaking.
“Esteemed guest, about five hundred *li* from here, there’s a pass—that’s the only way to the Beastman territories.”
“If you seek a shortcut, I know of a small path within the mountains just outside the city.”
Following the waiter’s pointed direction, Gern gazed upon the snow-capped mountain range stretching for a thousand *li*. He pondered for a moment, then inquired.
“Is there truly a passable route there?”
“There is! Look at this map.”
With that, the waiter pulled a map from his pocket and unfurled it before Gern.
“The path is a bit treacherous, though. If you’re carrying heavy supplies, esteemed guest…”
“Alright, thank you.”
Before the waiter could finish, Gern took the map and turned to leave. In his wake, two gleaming silver coins lay on the table.
The waiter rubbed his eyes, wondering if he had misseen.
“Hey, esteemed guest, you…”
By the time he reacted, Gern was already far away. He could only cradle the two silver coins, shaking his head with a wry smile. Just then, two burly men approached, patting the waiter on the shoulder.
“That young man is a good sort. His attire suggests he’s not short on silver, so just take it.”
“Consider it payment for your map.”
The waiter looked up, seeing a group of oddly dressed individuals, each adorned with various black firearms.
“Esteemed guests, you…”
“It’s fine, this is from us. Thanks for the directions. We have urgent matters to attend to, so we won’t linger.”
“Hey!”
****
High on the snow-capped mountain, Gern forged ahead along the path marked on the map. The snowy scenery truly evoked a sense of awe.
His only thought was to complete his mission swiftly and report back.
This was a habit he had cultivated in his previous life. The cultists were notoriously strict with their task requirements; failure to complete any part meant certain punishment upon return.
Thus, Gern instinctively quickened his pace, pushing ever onward, not even noticing the small tails trailing behind him.
It wasn’t until he reached the mid-slope that Gern paused to survey his surroundings. White snow blanketed everything, and even with the map, he couldn’t immediately discern his next direction.
Just then, a squirrel scurried across a pine tree, dislodging a patch of accumulated snow.
The snow fell beside a section of the mountain base, sinking very deep into the ground.
Witnessing this, Gern’s brows furrowed. He walked to the mound of snow, pushed some aside, and revealed a dark cavern entrance.
This must be the location marked on the map. Passing through here would lead him directly into the Beastman-controlled territories.
Gern then retrieved several Flame Scrolls from his storage ring. A single fire spell struck the accumulated snow, fully revealing the cave’s entrance before his eyes.
He rummaged through his two storage items for a while, finally locating a Lighting Magic Scroll.
Unfurling it, a dazzling light emanated. These were emergency supplies the Witches had given him before his departure.
It had to be said, those Witches were quite reliable.
With one hand holding the glowing Lighting Magic Scroll, Gern slowly advanced into the cavern.
Behind Gern, a middle-aged man slowly lowered the binoculars he held, nodding to the figures on either side of him.
The others beside him remained silent, nodding in acknowledgment before following the middle-aged man forward.
You think this chapter was thrilling? Wait until you read The Moon Reflected In The Water! Click here to discover the next big twist!
Read : The Moon Reflected In The Water
