Chapter 211 - Secret of the Dark Alley. (1/2)

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Matthias started to panic. He could not understand what was going on…

Logically speaking, all of these should have gone smoothly.

Ever since he’d unintentionally heard somebody say that this Jarrosus country b.u.mpkin was going to leave, Matthias had put in a lot of effort. First, he’d inquired about the time he was going to leave, and then he’d sent quite a few men to keep a lookout. That morning, when he’d discovered that he was going to leave the Guild of Magic, Matthias was elated. He immediately looked for his mage mentor and asked him to stalk this Jarrosus mage and finally to finish him off in a safe place…

From Matthias’ perspective, if a level-16 archmage were to take action, even ten Felics would be finished, not to mention just one Felic. He had been at ease while waiting at the Guild of Magic. He did not even go out once—he only thought of waiting for Argus to bring him good news.

Yet, in the end, he only waited for the most hated enemy to stand alive right in front of him.

Furthermore, he even drew with Macklin during a duel just now.

Matthias stood in front of the crystal ball and stared at that face for a minute or so before he was certain that he was not mistaken. This fella that drew with Macklin was indeed the Felic from Jarrosus.

Matthias was restless; he had to look for his mage mentor immediately to find out what had happened.

“Morning, Mage Matthias,” Lin Li greeted with a face full of smiles.

“Morning.” Currently, Matthias’ mind was like roast pit. He did not even have the mood to be entangled with him. He hurriedly greeted him and brushed past Lin Li’s shoulder before leaving the Guild hall in a hurry.

However, this time, Lin Li did not continue provoking him. He only laughed in his mind. Good luck, Argus.

“Why does this fella look so weird…” Mason mumbled to himself while looking at the back of the leaving Matthias.

‘He’s feeling guilty.” Lin Li smiled, but did not explain further. He only spoke briefly to Orin and Mason and had them go back first. He decided to walk around and return later.

“Be careful then, Felic.” Before Mason left, he was somewhat concerned. “I’ve always felt that that fella is weird, he might use a cheap trick.”

“Relax, I’ll be fine.” This time, Mason was spot on. Matthias had indeed planned for a cheap shot, but it did not matter anymore. The Fire Plume Ridge was the Fire Plume Ridge. Alanna was Alanna. Under the eyes of the Guild of Magic, Lin Li believed that Matthias would not be brave enough to mess with him.

It was not a joke…

The outcome of the bet that was due in half a year would be directly related to the Mausoleum of Osric. If anything were to happen to him, Macklin would go mad if it were to cause the Guild of Magic to lose the chance to obtain Osric’s mausoleum. If something were to happen at that point, not even Wilhelm would be able to clear the mess.

To offend a powerful ent.i.ty such as the Guild of Magic due to a moment of rage was not very wise.

As for whether Matthias knew about this, Lin Li was not concerned. It did not matter if he understood as long as Wilhelm understood. Without using the Marathon Family’s resources, what sort of waves could a single Matthias create? Unless he intended to search for another Archmage to a.s.sa.s.sinate Lin Li…

Hence, Lin Li walked out of the guild hall without any worries, and walked along the streets towards Buck’s equipment store.

“Morning, Boss Buck.” The equipment store was not having a good business. When Lin Li walked in, there were only two adventurers browsing through the weapons, while Buck was in low spirits and yawning away, leaning on the counter.

“Morning, Mage Felic.”

“How’s it going, Boss Buck. Any good stuff coming in these two days?” Lin Li looked around after entering and realized there was quite a number of new equipment. From the looks of it, the craftsmans.h.i.+p was pretty decent. Immediately, Lin Li started to be interested.

“Stop joking, Mage Felic…” Buck smile was somewhat fearful. How could he not know what this young mage in front of him did? He was somebody that casually produced the Eternal Adamantine. Anything that could capture his attention would not be ordinary. Even if one were to search the whole of Alanna, Buck estimated that there would still only be a few such things, not to mention this weapon store that had been going from bad to worse.

“Oh, yes. Boss Buck, how’s business lately?” Just by looking at Buck’s expression, Lin Li already knew that nothing good had been delivered. He did not continue asking, but brushed off the topic instead.

“Let’s not talk about business…” Little did he know that mentioning this would make Buck frown. He saw the middle-aged businessman sigh and start looking dispirited.

“What happened?” Lin Li could not help but feel curious. It was not like he had not seen the equipment at Buck’s store. Even if he judged them as a Smithing Guru, the craftsmans.h.i.+p of these could be considered decent. For an average adventurer, each one was excellent. Furthermore, Buck was a person easy to deal with; he knew the principle of not overcharging while running a business. Even if it were those highly valued pieces of equipment that could easily command a price of tens of thousand of gold coins, his profit would only be one or two hundred gold coins. In the vicinity, Buck’s store could be said to have the lowest prices.

Therefore, Lin Li could not comprehend why business was bad if the prices were all appropriate?

“Recently, the business of this store has been going from bad to worse…” Buck sighed; he looked rather frustrated. While he was talking, those two adventurers that were looking at weapons left without picking any weapons that interested them after taking a look. They looked with a nitpicking manner and then left while shaking their heads.

“These two fellas really have poor taste…” Lin Li pouted and looked outside of the store curiously. He saw that those two adventurers walked into the store across the street after leaving Buck’s store. Instantly, Lin Li could not but feel uncertain. “Boss Buck, is that store newly opened?”

“Yes, it was opened a few days ago.”

“Oh…” Lin Li nodded, and did not question further. This was too obvious. The reason why Buck’s store’s business had been declining was most likely due to the newly opened store across the street. However, this was normal compet.i.tion between similar stores. It had nothing much to do with Lin Li.

“No choice, he hung the Marathon Family signboard. Business is bound to be good.”

“Men from the Marathon Family?”

“It should be. Two days ago I went to take a peek. The equipment there was indeed produced by the Marathon smithy.”

“Then you’re in big trouble…”

“It’s fine, if business is bad, then let it be. After all, I am returning to Moonset City soon. My son has been writing letters daily, rus.h.i.+ng me. I’ll just use this chance to wrap up the business.” Although Buck sounded like it did not matter, his depressed expression could not be hidden. After all, it was a business that was tens of years old. n.o.body could tolerate it if it were to be wrapped up.

“That’s not too bad…” Lin Li smiled and brushed off the topic.

During this afternoon, Buck’s store did not have any business, plus Lin Li had nothing urgent going on, so they just chatted away. They did not feel the pa.s.sage of time until it was evening, when Lin Li left Buck’s store.

After leaving Buck’s store, Lin Li was not in a rush to return to the Guild of Magic. He followed the walkway and walked towards the new weapons store.

He decided to take a look.

Of course, this had nothing to do with whether Buck’s business was doing well.

He just felt that it was weird.

After hearing what Buck had said, he instinctively felt that the Marathon Family should not be opening a weapon store at this area at a time like this. As to why he felt this way, he could not explain it temporarily, but it did not matter as he had nothing to do. Going over to take a look at Marathon Family’s weapon store was good as well. After all, it was the best weapon store in the Felan Kingdom; there might be a good surprise waiting on the shelves there.

“Mr Felic…”

Just when Lin Li had reached the corner of the street, he suddenly heard someone call his name. The voice was really soft—like a mosquito’s—plus it was already in the evening, and the sky started to darken. Lin Li stared for a while before he saw a familiar silhouette at the corner of the street.

“What’s with you, Argus?” Lin Li asked with a frown. At the same time, he was complaining in his mind. What’s with this guy, didn’t I already release him? Why did he come back, looking for me? Could it be addictive to be a prisoner?