Hyperdimensional Player

Chapter 410 The Lucky Lady's Smile

Arabel City.

As dawn broke, several figures rode into the renowned city on magnificent warhorses.

The young man at the head of the group was very heroic, with a tall and imposing figure and a resolute and tough face that belonged to a warrior. His angular face had deep eyes that stared ahead. Then he slowed down his horse and slowly walked towards the direction of the Black Iron Market.

Beside him was a beautiful woman with light golden hair. Although her face was covered and she was wearing a cloak, her enchanting figure could still be seen, along with the occasional tinkling sound.

This is the sound of gold!
The most experienced thief can tell the sound of gold clinking just by listening.

Sara Tybrontë.

Duncan hadn't expected that Sara, one of the five fierce women of the Church of Wealth, would suddenly think of going on an adventure with him. But Duncan had no reason to refuse, because the priests of the Pleasure Cult were too incompetent. Unless the High Priest of Joy personally helped him, no one would be more suitable to be by his side than Sara.

It's really laughable when you think about it.

Duncan himself was so angry he laughed.

He was secretly influencing two churches of the gods, but he didn't have many capable priests around him. This was because the Goddess of Wealth, Woking, had disappeared, and the Five Witches' magical abilities had been greatly weakened. The Pleasure Cult had too many weaklings (many of whom were also poets, so they were only half-baked). The Great Mother of Bliss was unlikely to leave Serganth. So, before Sarala decided to leave, Duncan's first choice was actually the senior priest of the Love Cult.

This is absolutely hilarious.

The ancient city of Arabel is located in the eastern part of the Kingdom of Cormier, on the banks of the Starfall River, about 150 miles from the capital, Susar.

Its full name is Arabel Free City.

This place has many iconic buildings, belonging to the problem children of the Cormier Kingdom, similar to Florida in the United States.

Upon entering Alabel City, the first thing you see is the Broken Spire, originally a magic academy, now eroded by elemental turbulence. During the "Turbulent Era," Alabel's magic academy exploded due to conflict, causing elemental turbulence to sweep across the entire city.

After the magical calamity, King Cormier announced that he would relinquish direct rule, and Alabel became an autonomous city-state.

It is jointly managed by the Citizens' Council and the Noble Council, but the actual power is in the hands of the Black Iron Brotherhood (the Blacksmiths' Guild) and the Harpists' Alliance spies.

The black iron market here is one of the largest black markets in eastern Faerûn.

"Lord Duncan."

Shadow Dancer Kevin stood respectfully in front of a villa to greet them. After bowing to Duncan, he also addressed the beautiful woman beside him, saying, "Lady Sarala."

The five shrewish women, including the Upper Gold Bishop, also held high positions after the unification of the country.

Duncan dismounted, looked around, and asked, "How are the arrangements?"

Shadow Dancer Kevin said cautiously, "The manpower has already been distributed."

Sara-Tyblontian, standing to the side, curled her lips into a disdainful smile. A wanderer had arrived from the direction of the Black Iron Market, and soon a piece of intelligence bearing an arcane mark was delivered to her. Sara-Tyblontian glanced at it and handed it directly to Duncan, as if to boast, saying, "We've found the dragon."

The shadow dancer Kevin looked surprised.

Duncan took it, glanced at it, and nodded slightly, saying, "Very good."

The church of wealth is ultimately still the church of wealth.

Their network is far superior to that of the Pleasure Cult.

Adventurers have spotted the dragon in the direction of the Storm Mountains and deduced its range, including several hidden locations where a dragon's lair may exist.

Sara Tybrantan gazed at the man before her and said softly, "What's the next step?"

Duncan remained calm and said simply, "Let's eat first."

"Then go to the ladies' club."

what?
Upon hearing his words, Sarala Tebrantan looked quite surprised, tilting her head to carefully examine the man in front of her, trying to see if he was serious or joking.

Duncan looked very serious.

Yes.

His first stop was the Ladies' Club.

After a quick bite, Duncan, accompanied by one of the five fierce women, headed to the Ladies' Club in Alabel City, a very luxurious and eye-catching clubhouse located near the Black Iron Market and one of the largest temples of the goddess of fortune, Tamora.

Upon their arrival, a courier immediately came to greet them.

With Duncan's current status, he is no less than royalty wherever he goes. They were greeted by Dalamas-Rossl, the high priestess of the ladies' club, who was also an ambitious fellow.

He wants to unify the Lady of Fortune's church!
Perhaps because the goddess of fortune is too fickle, her church is also very changeable. Churches in different places are basically independent and autonomous, and even their advancement systems are different. This high priest wants to unify the church and make the other priests listen to him.

“Welcome, Mr. Duncan.” Dalamas-Rosser was very friendly, looking at him like he was a sugar daddy.

He desperately wanted the support of a powerful financial backer.

Duncan nodded slightly in acknowledgment, then gave a wink to the servant beside him.

soon.

Sarala's servants then presented her with a storage bag. The people of the Church of Wealth were always generous, and the Goddess of Wealth, Woking, encouraged spending and despised misers.

Wealth only has value when it circulates.

Dalamas-Rossler immediately smiled even more warmly, and the entire ladies' club made way for Duncan's arrival. Duncan then symbolically accepted the holy water and tossed a few gold coins into the pool in front of the statue of the lucky lady.

Until he left, he had gained a unique buff.

—"The Smile of Fortune (Temporary): You have received the blessing of Tamora. This effect is considered as a temporary feat [Heroic Luck] (can be fixed). All your saving throws are granted an additional +2 Luck, and your fortune is improved for the next period of time."

We should still give them this much face.

Duncan is a double-flowered red stick of two major churches. Since he came to pay his respects to the lucky lady's club, she had to do something to show her appreciation.

There is a saying in Faerûn.

You may not have to believe in Lady Luck, but you should at least have some respect for her.

Luck is something you really can't do without.

For Duncan, the most essential place to visit upon arriving in Arabel City was the Ladies' Club, because he knew that Lady Tamora was thoroughly enjoying her time there, and this was the most likely place for her to notice him.

If it weren't for Old Feren's vast knowledge, he wouldn't know anything about this place.

Of course, the money must be paid in full.

After checking in at the ladies' club, Duncan immediately took action. This was a temporary buff he had earned with real money and face (two goddesses), and he absolutely couldn't waste it.

However, when the group passed through the Black Iron Market...

Duncan suddenly stopped, then bent down and picked up a money bag from the roadside bushes. When he opened it, he found more than a dozen gold coins clinking inside, which was a considerable sum for an ordinary person.

Sara Tybrotan stood to the side, her eyes wide with amazement!
The beautiful pastor first looked at Duncan, then at the money bag, and then turned to look in the direction of the ladies' club, secretly marveling, "Is it really that effective?"

Given that the Black Iron Market area is frequented by many people and loiterers, the chances of finding money there are extremely slim.

"look."

"Lady Fortune is smiling upon me!"

Duncan put the money bag away; he didn't care about the amount of money, but what he found now was a completely different story.

This is by air.

In other words, the forces in the transportation sector are already blessing him.

Devonton.

This is the junction of the Desert Mountains and the Storm Mountains, a near-no-man's-land and a contested territory. Located on the eastern slopes of the Storm Mountains, at the border between the Kingdom of Cormir and the Ennook Desert, it is a vital passage connecting the north and south.

The population here is predominantly human (85%), but also includes elves, dwarves, dragonborn, and even tieflings operating in the black market.

It remains nominally independent, but is always at risk of being annexed by the Kingdom of Cormier.

The current governor is Adam.

This person is also a notable figure. Because the golden dragon "Sun Bearer" Oren and the bronze dragon Tyrinya settled in Thunder Peak, Adam took the opportunity to win them over and successfully made Tavanton a "Dragon Valley vassal state".

However, although Prince Assange withdrew the Purple Dragon Legion stationed there, he quickly turned to infiltrating Tavanton, cultivating pro-Cormier forces, and even sending the eldest princess as an envoy to show goodwill.

At this time, in the marketplace of Tavanton.

A group of elegantly dressed and weary adventurers are returning, bringing back many heads of raiding orcs. The handsome man at the head of the group is waving to the onlookers in a friendly manner.

After receiving the bounty from the orc raiders, he handed it to the administrator near the market and said, "This is a day to celebrate."

"Let everyone enjoy this joyful moment."

Soon, cheers erupted throughout the market, and vendors busied themselves offering free food and drinks to passing travelers, and even homeless beggars.

For the poor, encountering members of the Joyful Cult is probably one of the few times in their lives they can truly enjoy themselves.

— Laughter Guardian (3-star silver-gray).

Looking at the happy people around her, Liana-Flameheart was delighted that they could feel the blessings of the goddess, and even the pain she had just experienced had faded considerably.

She was once a fire magician, the ringmaster of the "Flame Dancers" circus, and now serves as the magic advisor to the Guardians of Laughter, her profession somewhat resembling that of a sorcerer or magician. Beside her are Elreon Starspin, Darian Thunder, Selena Moonstring, and others.

These people were basically selected from the entire Church of Joy, some of them from under the High Priest of Joy. Their purpose was to spread the gospel of the goddess, or in other words, to 'spread joy'.

—After the outbreak of the Holy Cataclysm, the world became increasingly turbulent, and the hidden darkness and evil were stirring. In order to protect the joy and laughter of every household (referring to believers), the Guardians of Laughter selected elites from various sects to form a semi-public fighting order.

They were sent to various places for training, and the best among them would be incorporated into a secret cult.

At the market.

Delicious roasted lizard with desert spices was served. This place is famous for its enchanted weapons and roasted meat. As barrels of fine wine were opened, someone in the distance soon raised a glass and shouted, "Praise be to the Lady of Joy!"

Like waves rising and falling, shouts of "Praise be to the Lady of Joy!" echoed throughout the market.

Liana Flameheart felt a great sense of satisfaction as she looked at the scene before her.

Chaotic yet kind people like these things.

Their mission was simple: to hone their fighting skills, expand the influence of the Goddess of Joy, and spread the gospel of women and joy.

Reforms within the church have already begun at the behest of Lord Duncan and High Priest Joy.

Even the goddess of joy has changed, linking areas such as family, joy, and happiness, rewriting new doctrines, and attempting to expand her influence and control the 'protection' domain through them.

These people are all strictly selected, and even their future advanced training has strict templates to prevent church members from advancing haphazardly, resulting in uneven combat power and being only half-baked in everything they do.

They were the first chosen ones, using the nearby orcs, half-orcs, gnolls, and others as whetstones.

After Lady Duncan-Starfall came to power, the Pleasure Cult abolished the ritual of 'renunciation of violence,' and the branches such as Pleasure and Enchantment were controlled by the Great Mother of Bliss, while the Reformation Cult was led by the High Priest of Joy.

This is a doctrinal reform.

No one knows what divine revelation Lord Duncan Starfall received, or whether he secretly persuaded Lady Joy, but now even the Great Mother of Bliss almost all follow his lead within the cult.

These people will not leave the area surrounding Zambia. Their activities are supported by the Church of Wealth, and unless they do something reckless, the casualties will not be significant.

"Are they members of the Pleasure Cult?"

"They seem to be quite active lately."

Meanwhile, in another part of the market, a beautiful girl with long, light purple hair was curiously watching the jubilant crowd.

Princess Taina Lasta, the eldest daughter of Prince Asan.

She is known as the Crown Princess and is the first in line to the throne of the Kingdom of Cormier.

A waiter nearby whispered, "They are the messengers of joy. The doctrines they spread these days seem a little different from before."

"They have indeed been very active during this period."

"these people……"

At this point, the attendant beside him hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but then stopped.

The young Princess Taynerasta couldn't help but ask curiously, "What's wrong with these people?"

The waiter whispered, "We secretly sent people to follow them."

"Their strength is not that great."

"But recently they have achieved remarkable results."

Average skill level, yet a brilliant record?
Is there such a thing?
Princess Taynera looked up in confusion and asked, "Hmm?"

The waiter whispered, “They are very sociable. These messengers of joy have just arrived here and have already won the friendship of Dragon Valley.”

"They even have a good relationship with the powerful golden dragon, the Sunbearer Oren."

At this point, the waiter added, "As far as I know, these people, the Messenger of Joy, did not see through the disguise of Oren, the Golden Dragon Sun-Holder."

"They thought they had befriended a friendly local nobleman."

The dishes are still the same as before.

However, their social networks expand exceptionally quickly, especially among those kind-hearted creatures who are easily infected by their joy.

This explains why, despite their average strength, they have achieved a remarkable record.

Someone (a dragon) helped them.

An older waiter whispered, “As far as I know, the Sunbearer Oren hates the constant stream of orc raiders in the area, and he secretly provided a lot of help after the Laughter Guards were deployed.”

"In addition, they also have a good relationship with the lady that the Bronze Dragon - Taelinia is disguised as."

Princess Tayna Rasta couldn't help but beam with joy upon hearing this.

What is this?
Do fools sometimes have good fortune?

In Tavanton, many people looked down on them, but no one dared to provoke them, because they had the Church of Wealth behind them, the friendship of two dragons, and they often spread joy by treating everyone to a feast.

The saying goes, "You can't hit someone who's smiling," and many locals still like them.

Moreover, since Lord Duncan took office, the Pleasure Cult's sayings have changed. Daily greetings have become "May you be joyful and healthy" and "May joy always be with you," which are basically auspicious words.

no way.

If someone is incompetent, say more nice things.

Only ruthless people don't talk much.

Duncan rose to prominence within the Pleasure Cult, hailing the Mother of Bliss. He had many admirers throughout the church, so he had to put in some effort.

While talking.

The sound of galloping hooves came from outside the market.

Soon after, people saw Adam, the consul of Tavan, leading a group to greet them, with dozens of fully armed guards rushing toward the gate.

"It must be Lord Duncan who has arrived!"

Liana Flameheart was excited and immediately went to meet her. She had participated in the battle to annihilate the Lord of Pain, Marathos, but at that time she was just a nobody and rarely had the chance to fight.

However, this does not prevent Lord Duncan Starfall from becoming an object of worship for many priests of joy and happiness.

This man is such a tough guy!

It is both tough and strong.

According to some unreliable private rumors, even the Great Mother of Bliss trembled under his strength and hardness, thus gaining insight into the true realm of pleasure.

Liana Flameheart hurriedly stood up, then saw an elegant noblewoman not far away and took the initiative to speak, "Ms. Taelinya."

"Would you like to come with us to meet Lord Duncan?"

The woman was beautiful and elegant. Although she looked young, she had a dignified and noble air about her and possessed a wisdom that came from experience. She hesitated for a moment, then nodded with pleasure. To her, these young people were indeed very energetic.

Outside of Teverton, Duncan reined in the horses.

His gaze involuntarily turned forward, then quickly swept past the burly man at the head of the group and landed on an elegant noblewoman in the crowd.

—Adam (Consul) (five-star silver-grey).

This is not the point.

—Bronze Dragon - Taelia (Five-star Gold).

A hint of surprise flashed deep in Duncan's eyes. He had no idea when these messengers of joy had become friends with the dragon.

A giant dragon?

In the crowd, Liana-Flameheart was excited. She had no idea about dragons; she just felt close to Lady Taelinya because she was kind, beautiful, and elegant. So she became friends with her.

During this time, the messengers of joy repaired roads and gardens for free, treated many people in the market to food and drink, and even provided relief to many poor people.

They spent most of their bounty on these things.

These people don't save money for retirement like other adventurers, because they have the church to guarantee everything. The Joyful Cult refers to its members as brothers and sisters, and although they can't be completely equal, they are much better off than other cults.

"That man saw through my identity."

Ms. Tyrinya looked slightly surprised, but not at all. After all, she was a renowned chosen one of the gods, so it was not surprising that she could see through her transformation technique.

Duncan quickly approached Governor Adam and nodded to Ms. Taerlina as he passed through the crowd.

Liana Flameheart, standing to the side, thought Duncan was greeting her, and her pretty face flushed with excitement. She then lifted the hem of her skirt and gave a ladylike curtsy.

Duncan is looking at me!
He acknowledged my achievements during this period.

This is fantastic.

………………

(End of this chapter)