The bard fantasized again.

Chapter 32 Aspiring to be a Messenger
"Nothing."

Black Snake's tone was quite languid, even though he had just slept soundly in the car all day.

Spellcasters have always held a high status among adventurers, and it is not difficult for them to obtain information.

So much so that the rising star didn't believe it at all:
"Come on, Black Serpent. Wouldn't it be better if we were more honest with each other?"
Your team has been commissioned to search for treasure and has ventured deep into the desert.

After completing the commission, instead of handing the treasure over to the employer, he kept it for himself.

They even fought amongst themselves to obtain this treasure, causing the entire team to fall apart.

This is already a well-known fact.

"uh-huh?"

"Why don't you tell me what that treasure is and who has it?"

"You, dwarf, warlock, priest—or that old ranger Markwin?"

Xinxing leaned down and whispered in his ear,

"Three years have passed since you left the ranks of adventurers. So you probably haven't heard of me."

But it doesn't matter, I can tell you that I am very rich - how about I settle Lord Mel's losses, save you from imprisonment, and give you a mansion in Dragon Gold City?
Or if you have any other needs, please feel free to let me know, and I will try my best to meet them.

All I want to know is what it is and who hid it where.

That's all. "

Mages are indeed among the adventurers who are not short of money.

But there are too many things in this world that money can't buy.

Power, talent, and wonders.

Perhaps due to historical oblivion, most magical items, and even many standardized manufacturing methods, have been lost in ruins and remnants.

Nowadays, when mages create magical items, it's more like they're enchanting the objects themselves.

This means that even a rare item with unique effects is not commonly found.

Items like the "Intelligence Headband," which can directly enhance personal qualities, are mostly expensive but unavailable.

The black snake chuckled derisively:
"What good would it do me to tell you? Let's not even talk about whether you can get it. What if you go through all that trouble only to find that you can't use it at all? Wouldn't that be a huge disappointment?"

"That's a treasure left behind in the vast desert, how could I possibly keep it for myself?"

"uh-huh?"

“A treasure that cannot be held is a disaster.”

As a seasoned adventurer, you should understand this better than I do.

Just like your team, which fell apart because of it.

Nova waved his hand, as if mocking Black Snake's foolishness.

"If I were to obtain a treasure, I would certainly offer it to the Wizard Tower in exchange for a place to study there."

"Excuse me, is the tuition at the Wizard Tower really that expensive?"

Tang Qi had only heard of the Wizard Tower.

It stands alone at the northern end of the endless sea, far from the mainland.

It can almost be regarded as the highest institution of learning for spellcasters on the entire continent.

The secrets of creating high-level spells, as well as some ancient forbidden spells and magical items, have been monopolized by various parties for various reasons.

The relevant study methods, writings, and records are the only way for a practitioner to ascend to higher levels.

Of course, with enough strength, one might be able to create a high-level spell.

There are only two paths to entering the Wizard Tower: sufficient contribution or sufficient talent.

It's no wonder that rising stars always lose their composure after hearing similar news.

For mages, adventurers are the least promising profession.

The reasons for joining an adventure are nothing more than searching for materials, ancient books, or treasure...

The reason he became a rising star among adventurers was probably because he was working hard to reach the Wizard's Tower.

Tang Qi, however, showed little interest in this.

Just staring at a single spell symbol and formula in Kuru's spellbook was enough to make his head spin.

"I only need the information. As for the treasure itself, that's a separate price—isn't it a great deal?"

The rising star is still patiently guiding the way.

Tang Qi patted Black Snake on the shoulder, adding fuel to the fire:

"That's such a great deal! If it were me, I would have agreed."

He lacked interest in the Wizard's Tower, but was curious about the Black Serpent's treasure and the story of the Great Desert.

After all, for Tang Qi, the story itself was already a 'future'.

"Nothing at all."

"It looks like there's nothing there," Tang Qi chimed in upon seeing this.

“What other conditions do you have? You can name them,” Xinxing said, unwilling to give up.

“You can mention it.” Tang Qi turned to look at Black Snake. Black Snake shook his head.

Tang Qi also shook his head at Xin Xing.

Xin Xing couldn't take it anymore. He frowned, pointed at Tang Qi, and said coldly:
Is he your mouthpiece?

Tang Qi turned his head back again:
"He asked me if I was your mouthpiece?"

"I can hear you."

He said he could hear.

"Enough, you bastard! Shut up!"

The rising star was so fed up that he wished he could plug that noisy mouth.

Tang Qi, seeing that things were going well, stepped closer:
"How about we switch? I'll ask you some questions, and he'll answer some for you, how about that?"

"Who are you?" Xinxing hadn't even given him a second glance.

"Tang Qi, a formally trained student at the [Song of the Bard] Academy. Our academy's motto is 'Strive to become a qualified mouthpiece for the nobility!'"

"The one from the Terran Empire? I heard you used to play music for the court and nobility. How did you end up like this?"

The academy is clearly more famous than the poet himself.

"If you can't be a mouthpiece for the nobility, simply being a mouthpiece is a fallback option."

Buddhist monks are usually scholars.

Scholars always prefer tranquility.

This caused the new star to develop a kind of vexation that was inherently incompatible with bards.

He didn't want to waste his breath on this noisy poet, and simply looked at the black snake:

Does what he said count?

Black Snake glanced at Tang Qi and nodded silently.

Tang Qi didn't mince words and went straight to asking the question that concerned him most:
"First, I want to know what prompted you to arrive at the manor ahead of schedule, and then to turn back immediately—what unexpected events did you encounter along the way?"

"An accident? It's not really an accident. It's just that the forest paths were difficult to navigate, we encountered some undead, and ran into goblins raiding the forest. That's all."

“Your mercenary group has at least twenty well-equipped men, but these troubles are not enough to make that wolf-like man so anxious.”

"First of all, I'm not really part of their mercenary group; I just cooperate with them and we're barely acquainted. Besides, he's naturally an impatient person."

"But he said you've disgraced yourselves."

"Just a few mercenaries who went out to keep watch around the camp."

The rising star was indifferent.

"Once you go deep into the forest, the fog becomes eerie."

It can subtly influence a person's mind, create hallucinations, and cause them to unconsciously deviate from their intended path.

Those idiots wandered too far, and if they weren't careful, they wouldn't be able to tell which camp was which. Isn't it perfectly normal for them to get lost?

No wonder everyone says the Dawn Forest is so eerie; groups without spellcasters often disappear from the forest...

So it was just an illusion created by the mist?
Tang Qi asked again:

"Then how do you guarantee that we won't get lost in this forest?"

Xinxing turned around and pointed to young master Merad, who was enjoying a medium-rare steak in the camp behind him.

The construct's eyeball on his shoulder was floating inside a palm-sized glass bottle, surveying its surroundings in a 360-degree arc.

"There are many ways to detect hallucinations, such as renting an artificial life form that can see through illusions."

Of course, ordinary adventurers cannot rent magical artifacts of this caliber.

Only those influential figures in Longjin City with some status and power have the means to rent such a thing at a high price.

Okay, you've asked enough questions.

Now, it's time to answer my question.

Xin Xing didn't want to waste any more time talking to Tang Qi.
"What exactly did you get in the desert, and who has it all ended up in now—shut up, I don't need you to repeat it to me again!"

Tang Qi shrugged, giving up the idea of ​​repeating a grade.

The black snake, with its eyes tightly shut, answered as always:

"Nothing."

"You're playing me!?"

Xin Xing's face flushed red instantly, and she glared angrily at Tang Qi.

I never imagined that I would be tricked twice in one day.

Tang Qi blinked, feigning innocence:
"I'm just a mouthpiece; his breach of contract has nothing to do with me."

not to mention……"

He glanced at the black snake humming a little tune, and spread his hands.

"You can't expect a thug to follow the rules, can you?"

(End of this chapter)