The bard fantasized again.

Chapter 130 Connections (Please Subscribe!)
【Tang Qi's Guide to Longjin City】

Sometimes I wonder whether the 'commercial district' belongs to Longjin City or is simply an independent city located within Longjin City.

This is not only because of its 'currency value' which is completely different from other areas: a cup of Splashed Coffee in the Spine area costs only 1 silver coin, but the commercial area does not sell such cheap coffee, and the price starts at least in gold coins.

Rumors, just rumors—

A customer once walked into the commercial area with a cup of "Splatter Coffee," which immediately triggered an emergency defense. The independent guards stationed there mobilized all their forces to patrol the area, but ultimately found nothing.

So they all guessed that he was a wanderer who was extremely good at hiding.

Or a dwarf.

In addition, the architecture in the commercial district is so unique that you can see almost everything here that is different from the bizarre buildings in the rest of Longjin City.

For example, there's the coffee shop 'Leisure Time' shaped like a giant coffee cup, the 'Flower and Bird Market' supported by a towering tree full of birdcages, and the 'Goodies Street' specializing in selling novel magical items—

Of course, there wouldn't be any useful magical items or scrolls inside; those are rare treasures that only appear in the Upper City.

But occasionally you can find some interesting but useless little gadgets.

For example, 'frisbees that fly back to your hand when thrown', 'cat scratching posts that automatically release repair magic after being scratched', 'music boxes that can create specific illusions'... Yes, I've bought them all.

This appears to be a toy that originated from the 'Starlight Mage Academy' in the Upper City. Heaven knows what those academic mages are tinkering with every day.

The most famous building in the business district is undoubtedly the 'Harbor Pigeon'.

What? You've never heard of it?

You're right if you haven't heard of them. If it weren't for the fact that the "Guide" was being distributed through their channels, I would never have gone against my conscience to praise this publisher that only publishes melodramatic novels.

Not to mention that we couldn't even reach a cooperation agreement in the very beginning...

"Damn it, [Lame Pigeon], after all these years of friendship, can't you even vouch for this book?"

Seeing the dwarf shaking his head repeatedly, Merlin began to complain indignantly.
"You should have read the contents of this manuscript by now, right? With my illustrations added, even if it doesn't become a bestseller in mainland China or exported to Thailand, it should at least make a small profit!"

Compared to the strong and robust dwarfs and the proportionally shrunk half-humans, the most obvious characteristic of dwarfs, who are also short in stature, is their human-like heads and half-human-like bodies.

His top-heavy appearance always makes him look comical to outsiders.

But unlike dwarfs, they don't take jokes too seriously.

Instead, they are quite fond of making fun of themselves, trying to spread happiness to those around them.

This makes them naturally cheerful.

So when they show a frustrated expression, it's enough to tell that they are truly in a difficult situation.

The lame pigeon twitched its long, elfin-like ears and drooped its head in dejection.
"Of course I've read this manuscript. I even took it out of my mailbox and read it before you sent it to me. I have to admit, it is indeed very inspired."

"Then why did you turn down this opportunity to make money?"

The dwarf handed the manuscript back and removed the gold-rimmed single lens from his right eye:

"There's nothing I can do about it. After all, I accepted a large sum of money from Xingmei Tycoon and promised him that I wouldn't publish any books about 'Dawn and Dusk Forest'."

Merlin looked at Tang Qi: "Did you offend him?"

Tang Qi finally understood who had been hindering him for the past two weeks.

It turns out it had nothing to do with the content of the book itself.

Lord Mel was only targeting himself personally:
"It seems that the phrase 'you can't buy dignity' really hurt him back then."

"Damn it, no wonder no publisher recognized its value..."

Merlin gritted his teeth, unwilling to give up this chance to turn things around, and looked at the lame pigeon, continuing,

"Lame Pigeon, I guarantee with my reputation built up over so many years in the industry that this series of books will make us a fortune, far exceeding the monopoly fees charged by Xingmei Tycoon—"

"Hey, my respected great painter, you surely know that you've been added to the 'Longjincheng Dishonest Persons List,' right?"

The lame pigeon waved its hand, urging him to leave sooner.

"Of course, it's not that I don't believe you—"

But I'm just a businessman, and I don't want to mess with a nobleman. It's not a pleasant feeling to have this bunch of bastards sticking to me.

Considering our long-standing friendship, I will not reveal your position to the Red Scarf Gang.

They reportedly posted a bounty not long ago, offering a hundred gold coins as an extra reward for providing your information.

"Give us a chance! Can we self-publish and then sell to major bookstores through your channels? We'll pay you a distribution fee then..."

"guard--"

"Damn it, you big cripple!"

"A big head means a fully developed brain, and even a cripple can receive welfare care—besides, what's the difference between you with that afro and a giant version of a dwarf?"

The dwarf was always optimistic, so Merlin's furious curses had no effect and he was quickly pulled away by Tang Qi.

When the two of them arrived at the entrance to the port's homing pigeons, they looked at the vast square before them, adorned with crystal chandeliers of various colors—

This is a cluster of office buildings in the business district, housing the headquarters of organizations such as the Cleaners' Union.

At the very center of the complex stands a giant central library, displaying all the books available on the market.

As a result, some financially supported newspapers and publishing houses have relocated to the vicinity.

The same applies to homing pigeons in the harbor.

Merlin couldn't help but stomp his foot:
"Damn Mel Barry, he's cutting off my source of income!"

When I have time, I'll definitely paint a picture of a wild boar eating plums and hang it in the most conspicuous place in Longjin City, so everyone can see how it eats!

"Remember to hang it low when you do, I'm afraid my dwarf friends won't be able to see it."

"Seriously? You're still in the mood for jokes?"

Merlin looked at Tang Qi in surprise.
“Because of this old wild boar, we don’t even have the chance to self-publish! Shouldn’t you be angry?” Tang Qi called out to Anbi, and the little girl quickly caught the 'boomerang' that he had thrown out.

She instinctively wanted to run back on all fours, but then realized that she was a human, not a real wolf.

So he forcibly suppressed his instincts and skipped back to Tang Qi's side.

"I don't necessarily have to publish in Longjin City. There are suitable publishers everywhere, such as Fengshazhou, Heijiaogang, and the Tyran Empire."
Ironforge won't work; after all, there are too many dwarf jokes in the book.

Besides, what other purpose does anger serve besides making you feel unpleasant?

As Tang Qi spoke, he stroked the little girl's hooded hand, Yiwu.
"Now that it has already happened, we should think about what to do next, instead of wasting time complaining about pointless things."

Merlin couldn't help but ask:

So what do we do next?

"Have a meal."

Tang Qi rubbed his stomach, which was rumbling after a morning of aimless wandering.
"You need to be well-fed to have the energy to think."

Thinking of the agony he'd endured these past few days in prison, drinking gruel and chewing bread, Merlin's eyes lit up:
"I know a good restaurant that specializes in elven cuisine. Even the nobles in the upper city often travel a long way to the commercial district to taste it."

"Since there are no elves in this world anymore, where would elf cuisine come from?"

"That's what the head chef there said—he's a half-elf who supposedly inherited the ancestral skills of the elves."

"It doesn't sound cheap at all, I can't afford it."

Tang Qi thought it would be more cost-effective to dine in the spine area, where a hearty meal for four people could be had for just 5 gold coins.

If you want to eat your fill in the business district, you'll have to pay at least ten times the price.

"Hey, I'm a very famous painter—I have connections!"

Merlin patted his chest, as if to prove something.
"I once painted a portrait of that half-elf boss, who, like me, is a big fan of the afro and would definitely be willing to do me a favor."

Don't worry, if I get turned away again this time, I'll eat the manuscript in your hand!

……

"Sorry, Merlin, the era of the afro is over; now it's the age of the mohawk."

The handsome half-elf innkeeper, sporting a rooster-comb hairstyle, waved to Merlin.

"Besides, you've already been added to the blacklist, so I can't grant your request for credit."

Tang Qi looked at Merlin, who was kneeling in the restaurant, weeping bitterly and unable to believe that his aesthetic sense was outdated, and held out a brown paper bag:
So, are you going to eat by yourself or should I feed you?

"Waaah—you damned heretic who betrayed the afro! We're not friends anymore!"

Whether genuinely heartbroken or simply wanting to escape Tang Qi's ridicule, Merlin ran back to the commercial street without looking back.

Tang Qi was about to follow when he saw Anbi gently twitch her nose, as if she were sniffing something.

"Ambi, we're leaving."

"Okay, Brother Tang Qi."

The little girl muttered something strange.

"I think I just smelled a familiar scent."

"Is there someone you know?"

"It smells like beer."

"That's gravel?"

Tang Qi turned around and looked around, but couldn't find a single trace of a dwarf.

"It seems he's gone into hiding."

Why is the dwarf uncle avoiding us?

"Maybe he's afraid I'll laugh at him?"

Tang Qi shrugged and led the little girl into the carriage.

Inside the restaurant surrounded by greenery, the gravel, seeing the figures outside disappear into the distance, finally crawled out from under the table, seemingly relieved, picked up an egg roll from the plate in front of it, and stuffed it into its mouth.

Sitting opposite him, the noble lady Wendy Silvershield looked at her newly recruited teammate with some curiosity:

"Excuse me, sir dwarf... are you hiding from someone?"

"I'm hiding from a really annoying guy."

"Enemies?"

"Not really. The kind of annoyance I'm talking about isn't the kind that makes you want to smash it with a hammer, but the kind that makes you want to kick it."

A dwarf next to him patted him on the shoulder and laughed:

"Hey, I don't think you need to worry at all. With our heights combined, there's no need to worry about anyone spotting us in a crowd!"

"boom!"

The dwarf was kicked off the dining table by a pile of pebbles:

"See? That's how annoying it is—never hang out with that guy, or he'll throw in five jokes at you in every three sentences!"

"Wait, you mean...?"

Was it the former teammate who left the forest with you?

Wendy's eyes suddenly lit up.

(End of this chapter)