Otherworld Bone Dragon Operation Guide

Chapter 169 Hot Tea on a Winter Night
The two ran along the shadows of the street to the church, where there were no search personnel yet. A teenager dressed as a clergyman opened a side door and waved for them to enter.

“Jonas, take us to the basement to hide for a while,” Isher said.

“Okay!” The boy called Jonas led the two through the corridor into the church’s central hall. “Watchman, has Father Zeflin not returned?” he asked in a low voice as they walked.

“Zeflin has gone to investigate the trafficking route of the missing girl,” Isher explained. “He’ll be back when he’s done.”

As they passed the altar, Iser took the holy water bottle from it.

Behind the altar, Jonas lifted a section of the floor, revealing a downward entrance that appeared to be at least four or five meters deep.

“Right here,” Jonas said to Isher. “I will let you know as soon as it is time to leave.”

"it is good."

Su Ming took out his tablet to check and found that the signal strength had dropped to only three bars after entering the church; it would definitely be gone once he went underground. He immediately sent a short text message to Zi Jin explaining the situation, and then instructed the relay device on the drone to go into sleep mode.

The two entered the basement one after the other. Jonas moved the floorboards at the entrance back and gently covered everything up.

****
Iser snapped his fingers, and a floating sphere of light rose. The basement was very small, no more than three meters in diameter, and filled with many wooden crates. Having run all the way, Su Ming was a little tired, and his backpack, now heavy with the loot, felt heavy. He sat down on a crate and let out a long sigh of relief.

The main issue was that, despite the close proximity, Iser didn't detect anything unusual. Su Ming's method of concealing the necromancer's fluctuations—using all his magic power and a magic-banning cloak—had withstood the test.

Su Ming raised his hand to rub his face to warm it, but then remembered that Zi Jin had disguised his appearance, so he stopped.

“The tax guards are probably searching outside right now. Let’s rest here for a while,” Iser told him. “They’ll come into the city soon and search the cellars house by house. There won’t be much of a force outside the city then—we’ll leave when that time comes.”

Su Ming nodded; he thought Iser's plan was quite good. She was either a very clever girl or a troublemaker.

Or perhaps both!
With the light sphere illuminating the scene, Su Ming noticed that the girl's face was very pale and her body was trembling, as if she were extremely cold. She was opening a wooden box, pulling out a thick cloak, and immediately putting it on herself.

Su Ming felt that she looked exactly like those girls on Earth who wear short skirts in the dead of winter, and couldn't help but smirk.

Iser had sharp eyes and noticed even the slightest movement. She clearly guessed what Su Ming was wondering about and explained, "My clothes have warming runes that can be activated by my own magic."

When she escaped, she stopped the magic circle from operating to reduce the risk of being discovered. After being exposed to the sub-zero wind for so long, it's no wonder she was almost frozen stiff.

Iser suddenly added, "I dressed like this to train my magic, not to—" She paused, not finishing her sentence.

Having killed Benny Finn and successfully escaped, Su Ming relaxed. He chuckled, "Not for the sake of looking good?"

“It’s not just for looks.” Iser laughed as well. She chose a spot on the box opposite Su Ming, sat down, and tidied her hair, smoothing out the mess.

The basement was cramped, and the two were standing quite close together. Su Ming almost got a stray strand of hair from being lifted up.

Su Ming stepped back slightly to the side. He looked up; he had only caught a fleeting glimpse of her outside the city, and now he had a chance to get a closer look. The girl had long, silky hair and bright, sparkling eyes. In contrast to her earlier imposing figure standing in the cold wind, her nose was red from the cold, and she was huddled inside her cloak, wishing she could wrap herself up even more tightly.

"Thanks for your help!" Su Ming said to Isher. "My name is Graves."

“You’re welcome, Mr. Graves. Those people deserved to be taught a lesson,” Iser said. “My name is Iser Osha, a Watcher of the Temple of Light in the North.” She scrutinized Su Ming. “I’ve never seen such a skilled gunslinger and alchemist as you?”

The shock bombs and white phosphorus bombs released by Su Ming were clearly considered by her to be powerful alchemical products, and such novel items could not be made by ordinary alchemists.

Following the girl's words, Su Ming admitted that this was his profession.

“Actually, I’m quite envious,” Isser said frankly. “You did what I wanted to do, but couldn’t.”

Su Ming felt a sense of goodwill towards the commoner priests of Beiliu who were here. Judging from their words and actions, Iser seemed to be on their side. Although he didn't understand why Iser, as an imperial princess, would get involved here.

“Your very existence here is the greatest contribution,” he said to Iser. “Killing a few people like I do will not bring about change.”

As a religion, the Cold Mountain branch needs to expand its influence and seek wider dissemination of its faith. However, this is in fact undermining the foundations of the backward system in the Ice Plains, a point that deserves praise.

It is understandable that clergy in the North must abide by the rules here in order to maintain a legitimate space for their activities.

Hearing Su Ming's words, Iser was slightly surprised, "Your views are quite similar to my mother's."

Catherine? Could she have come to the Ice Plains too? Su Ming's eyelids twitched; he had absolutely no desire to push himself too hard on this trip. Fortunately, judging by the timing, she should be in her postpartum period.

****
After being busy for so long, Su Ming felt a bit hungry. He had some food in his backpack, so he took it out. It was a piece of bread and a stick of malt candy. He noticed that Iser wasn't carrying any baggage, so he obviously didn't have any food with him.

He tore the bread in half, giving one half to the girl, and then folded most of the maltose candy and handed it to her as well. Iser accepted it without ceremony. She clasped her hands together, recited a prayer in the sacred language, and then began to eat.

Divine language is a complex language with a complex vocabulary and highly efficient expression. A few affixes can form a word that can express the meaning that would require a whole sentence in other languages.

This language looks difficult, and Su Ming never even considered learning it.

He joked, "Why should you thank the God of Light when I share food with you?"

“Because the God of Light led me to you,” Iser replied earnestly.

Well, anyway, everything is a gift from God, Su Ming thought to himself.

****
There's no way to make maltose in this other world. Iser took a bite, and her eyes lit up. "Wow, it smells like rice, and it's sweet!"

"Thank you, God of Light, for bestowing us candy," Su Ming said.

Iser raised his head and looked at Su Ming with a strange expression. "Mr. Graves, you don't seem to like the god I revere?"

Am I just agreeing with her? Su Ming's mind raced, and he instinctively knew he had said the wrong thing. Just now, when the girl was praying, he had habitually imagined that familiar phrase, "Thank God for the food."

But that's clearly not the case!
Iser put down the malt candy and reconsidered the conversation. A hint of doubt crept into the watcher girl's mind; this adventurous scholar before her seemed completely ignorant of the teachings of the God of Light!
“My prayer just now was: ‘Thank you for the light that guides us forward, and for all the good things in the world!’” She said to Su Ming solemnly, “God gives us spiritual guidance, not material things.”

Su Ming was dumbfounded. He had completely misunderstood. The girl's reply was an expression of how wonderful it was to have met him, filled with politeness and respect. Su Ming's current identity was that of an "alchemist," and it was impossible for him to be completely ignorant of the religious doctrines that permeated the entire continent. He had to explain this immediately!

Su Ming apologized repeatedly. He covered his face with his hands, his mind racing, "Actually, I have a bit of a language barrier."

Isher was even more puzzled. "You seem to speak very fluently to me."

"No, it's just that when I encounter something I find hard to say, I unconsciously blurt it out," Su Ming cobbled together a reason.

Iser sat up straight, placed his hands on his lap, and said in a gentle voice, “God listens to everyone equally. If you have anything to say, please speak up bravely.”

She occasionally worked part-time as a confessional priest in the North, listening to the elderly women and men talk about trivial matters. This was the first time she had received such a learned scholar.

During his resupply mission at sea, Su Ming used the opportunity to purchase intelligence on important figures from the otherworld from the intelligence guild, including information about Catherine and her daughter, Iser. After all, considering their encounter in the Battle of the Agate Sea, Su Ming believed that his side had suffered a loss at their hands.

Iser, 18 years old, is the most outstanding student at the Central Academy of the Temple of Light and is recognized as the strongest of the younger generation.

The girl is strikingly beautiful and exceptionally capable; intelligence reports indicate she has many suitors, which is causing her considerable distress. If that's the case—

“Miss Iser.” In the basement, the weathered-looking alchemist lowered her head, her disguised face turning red with suppressed emotion. “Confessing…is…it…okay?” Su Ming stammered.

It wasn't that Su Ming was a good actor; it was simply that he didn't know what to say next.

[Miao Xin, phone, open DS!] He hurriedly contacted Miss Vengeful Spirit.

Okay, sure!

"Huh?" Iser was slightly surprised by Su Ming's words, but disappointment followed. She was somewhat annoyed by this kind of scene. In school, girls were often courted by boys, and even after graduation, they were frequently bothered by them, including various adventurers.

Following Su Ming's instructions, Miao Xin quickly entered the keywords: "Imagine you are an adventurer who wants to confess your love to a girl, how would you phrase it?"

"[Confessing?]" Miao Xin was startled. "[You're planning to make a move on Sister Zijin?]"

On the app interface, the blue whale was still muttering its deductions. Miao Xin suddenly realized something, [Your search terms are wrong. Sister Zijin can't be considered a young girl, right—well, according to the active age at birth, right?]

It's a different one, don't make a fuss!

[…Scumbag!]

Finally, the answer was revealed. Su Ming peered through his fingers at Iser's expression, forcing out a few words of emotion as he recited the lines provided by DS, "Miss Watcher, these eyes, accustomed to exploring dark realms and searching for lost treasures, have found the most worthwhile scenery to linger in because of you—"

“I’m sorry, my heart has already been given to the light.” Iser interrupted Su Ming with practiced ease, and gave a formulaic apologetic expression.

Su Ming pretended to be embarrassed and turned his head away. The two fell silent, and Iser lost interest in talking.

Passed! Su Ming secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, this was a girl who was used to being fawned over.

****
Iser picked up the holy water bottle he had taken earlier to get a drink, only to find it was frozen inside. Su Ming didn't notice the freezing; he was also thirsty and took out his thermos from his backpack.

This is a gradient stainless steel cup, half bright turquoise and half calm indigo, with a flowing beauty under candlelight.

When Isher saw the cup, he immediately declined, saying, "I can't accept such a valuable gift."

"Ah, this is what I use to drink water," Su Ming quickly explained, opening the lid and taking a drink.

Then it was Iser's turn to be embarrassed.

With its matte, finely frosted finish and elegant design, Su Ming's water bottle possessed a style and texture she had never seen before. Even more remarkably, the bottle was steaming, something no easy feat in the -25 degree Celsius icy plains.

A renewed curiosity arose in the young girl's heart towards this alchemist with his mottled appearance. "Mr. Graves, you must be very knowledgeable in alchemy. May I ask you about the alchemical school you belong to?"

Alchemy? What's that? Su Ming began to regret his lack of common sense about this other world, which had repeatedly caused him trouble. Next time, in a similar situation, he'd simply adopt the persona of a taciturn man!

Suddenly, a knocking sound came from above, followed by the young Jonas's hushed voice, "Your Excellency the Watcher, they've started searching this way and will be at the church soon."

“Let’s go!” Isher stood up from the wooden crate.

Having been rescued, Su Ming quickly put the water bottle into his backpack and slung it over his shoulder. Iser led him out of the basement, and under Jonas's guidance, they crawled out of the church through the back door.

Most of the people conducting the house-to-house search were low-ranking combatants, and the two of them used their illusion magic to slip through the search lines at the weakest point. They then entered a house that had already been searched and hid in the attic.

By moving back and forth, Iser has truly mastered the essence of mobile warfare.

The attic was quite spacious. Avoiding the gaze of the Watcher girl, Su Ming took out his tablet, activated the drone, and used the camera to survey the city. Sure enough, the guards had all returned from the wilderness, and the town of Shafern was in complete chaos.

With the relay communication established, Su Ming contacted her via text and learned that Qi Luo had easily shaken off the archmage and successfully reunited with Zi Jin. Of course, it was also possible that the other party was hesitant to pursue further and had chosen to retreat.

A combatant who can reach this level would never lack caution, otherwise they would have died somewhere long ago.

This also means that the town has gained a powerful fighting force.

"And you?" Violet sent a message asking.

"I'm with Iser," Su Ming briefly described the current situation.

“I’m still waiting here. If you’re discovered, sell Iser to cover your retreat. If that doesn’t work, bring the pursuers with you,” Violet continued to send messages.

"it is good."

(End of this chapter)