Chapter 39.2: Black Mage Yang Sets Off
Blossoming Strokes, Unceasing Entropy, and Win By Grinding, who were at the side queuing up for their turn at the challenge, had their attention fixed on Ou Huang who had been standing steady within the array for over two and half minutes without failing.
The time limit for answering each simple multiple-choice question in the trial was two seconds. The time spent within the array was equivalent to answering at least half the questions correctly.
As Ou Huang persisted, Phantom and Guileless Gale, who had just failed, couldn't help but look over as well.
After three and a half minutes, Ou Huang's skeletal frame within the array trembled, making a crackling sound as his jawbone dropped to reveal a smile that, though eerie, was no longer surprising to the players…
"Big shot! Please guide us!" Blossoming Strokes and Unceasing Entropy immediately sucked up to him.
In the Town Hall, Yang Qiu, who was genuinely concerned that players would give up the spellcasting class, couldn't help revealing a relieved smile…
"Very good," Yang Qiu muttered, setting down his teacup and rising from his seat. He reached into one of the many spatial rings he wore and pulled out a little bag filled with magic powder, which was the fruit of players' hard labor, and sprinkled some powder around his chair.
Arrays used by illusionists were rather useful, just that he, as a practitioner of dark magic, needed to use magic powder if he wanted to cross over into other disciplines.
After setting up a miniature version of the illusory array, another "Yang Qiu" appeared on his chair.
By constructing specific light and shadow projections within the array and leaving a mind imprint inside, the caster could control the projection via the imprint. As long as there was no physical contact, the projection was indistinguishable from the real person.
This was why illusionists were so cunning; they could even create projections to replace themselves for extended periods, making it difficult for anyone seeking to assassinate them to locate their true whereabouts.
Leaving the projection to deal with the players, Yang Qiu put away the magic powder and activated an invisible barrier over himself. Then he left the Town Hall, summoned an undead horse—a different one from the gorgeous specimen he had previously released for the auction—and departed Exile Town.
He hadn't been riding through the wilderness for long before Ou Huang arrived at his projection to complete his quest while surrounded by the other players.
While on the move, Yang Qiu manipulated his own projection to engage in a lengthy conversation to compel Ou Huang to stand still and, at the same time, manually implanted the skill runes which could be "learned" by "Mage Apprentices" during their first job advancement into Ou Huang's character.
And that was why the final step for every job advancement, regardless of the chosen profession, was to "receive the Undead Race Resurrection Master's blessing."
Yang Qiu juggled managing the players while journeying, and approximately ten hours later, he crossed the western part of the Taranthan Wasteland and arrived at the Duchy of Shiga.
For his selection of "civilian NPCs," Yang Qiu preferred people of the Duchy of Shiga, who worshiped the Goddess of Prosperity, over those of the Rhine Kingdom, who believed in Lady Gold Coin.
In this world, the worship of gods had a significant influence on believers. Compared to the morally bankrupt Rhine Kingdom, the reputation of the Duchy of Shiga's citizens was far superior.
Of course, the primary reason the Goddess of Prosperity had such a positive reputation was because she preferred to remain within her own jurisdiction and never sent envoys roaming everywhere.
Were the Goddess of Prosperity's faith as active as the Lady Gold Coin, whose evangelism activities covered a considerable area and frequently clashed with other faiths, that reputation wouldn't be that favorable.
The Duchy of Shiga was mainly inhabited by people of agriculture, but it also had a well-developed handicraft and low-end manufacturing industry. It was a land that merchant caravans from neighboring countries would always go to, and during summer, the border towns of the Duchy of Shiga were always bustling with activity.
However, this referred to the border towns near the fringes of the Sorensen Mountains and in other directions. As for the side facing the Taranthan, there were hardly any decent cities or towns along the entire border…
The bustling town of Camore, located in the eastern region of the Duchy of Shiga, was home to nearly all the small and medium-sized landowners (rural nobility) within a hundred miles, as well as the servants and maidservants who served these rural aristocrats.
Yang Qiu sent his mount away a short distance from town and maintained the barrier around him as he calmly passed through the town gates, right in front of the watchmen patrolling outside Camore.
Due to the relatively high concentration of "upper-class individuals'' here, Camore had developed a remarkably good and civilized atmosphere. Lively laughter of young girls could be heard from the passing carriages on the main road, and most pedestrians strolling by displayed a relaxed demeanor, polite conversation, and respectable attire; women in long skirts that reached their ankles were abundant here.
The streets were clean and tidy, with hardly any visible litter, and the shops facing the street boldly displayed their high-quality goods behind glass windows, which an ordinary person would need to save for several months to afford.
If Yang Qiu hadn't passed through several villages where the farmers were barely clothed on his way here, he would have believed that the residents of Camore represented the epitome of this country's image.
As he turned into the back alleys, within two minutes, there were no longer gentlemen dressed appropriately or ladies in long skirts to be seen.
The narrow, winding alleys resembled a labyrinth, flanked by tightly packed low houses. Foul-smelling wastewater filled the depressions on the stone-paved ground, and the patched skirts of the women sitting under the eaves of their houses barely reached their knees.
Continuing further for a few more minutes, the road lost its cobblestones, and only muddy ground filled with various potholes formed by rainwater and constant trampling remained. Red brick houses became scarce, with wooden shanties for most of the residences.
Long clotheslines made of wooden stakes and ropes stretched across the rooftops of all the wooden shanties and open spaces near the riverbank, displaying clothes of varying lengths.
The weaving industry was the livelihood of the non-"upper-class" residents of Camore.
The climate in Camore was similar to that of Taranthan. It had a hot summer, abundant sunlight, and significant temperature differences between day and night, making it perfect for cotton cultivation.
In order to cultivate cotton more efficiently, the landowners of Camore had long formed strategic alliances and employed various means to seize the land of free citizens or turn them from farmers into cotton growers.
However, large-scale cotton cultivation did not require so many farmers, at least not during the non-harvesting period. The aristocrats had no need to support these individuals who were known for their hearty appetites and high fertility. Consequently, these farmers, who had once believed in the doctrine of the Goddess of Prosperity and had diligently worked the land for centuries, underwent a transformation. They became residents of the town, transformed into "independent weavers."
"…This place hasn't really changed much," Yang Qiu muttered with a shake of his head as he stood before the area where the "independent weavers" resided. Over a hundred years ago, he had passed through this very place.
Compared to the backbreaking life of toiling in the cotton fields during harvest season for the aristocrats and weaving cotton fabrics under the supervision of estate stewards, life as a craftsman was undoubtedly a bit easier.
But whether it could truly be called freedom… That would depend on one's perspective.
It could only be said that compared to the exploitative methods in Old Europe, where most workers became corpses within three years of being forced to work in factories, the "independent weavers" of Camore had it somewhat better.
"Anyway… I best find some useful people first."
Yang Qiu surveyed his surroundings, selected his target, and made a beeline…
Within these slums, under a taller building with a signboard of a wine cup, several thuggish-looking men were crouching before the steps, gambling with dice.
Yang Qiu bypassed this group, stepped on the stairs, and entered the establishment.
It was evident that this larger wooden construct was no ordinary tavern. Apart from the counter, tables, and barrels lining the walls, there was also a crowded gambling table.
Gamblers were a rowdy bunch and could perhaps even be considered more raucous than OtherWorld players. Yang Qiu observed on the first floor for a bit before taking the stairs and heading to the second floor.
There were numerous private rooms on the second floor, with the shouts of gamblers from some, while unrestrained laughter and banter between men and women came from others.
Yang Qiu listened at the door of each room as he passed by. When he reached a certain room, he heard the voice of a man trying his best to suppress his anger.
He stopped, pushed the door open, and entered, then casually closed the door behind him.
The room was filled with people. Several middle-aged men, dressed as decently as pedestrians on the street, sat behind a coffee table adorned with bottles and cups. There were also several bodyguards standing nonchalantly in the corners of the room.
The sudden opening and closing of the door silenced everyone in the room.
One of the bodyguards near the door approached in confusion, checked the corridor outside, locked the door from the inside, and then shook his head to indicate to his boss that there weren't any suspicious individuals.
Thus, the several seemingly respectable middle-aged men sitting on the sofa resumed their conversation. Yang Qiu patiently stood by, quietly listening for about ten minutes.
Then… he suddenly revealed himself, grabbed one of the flushed and slightly handsome middle-aged men, and forcefully slammed the latter's face into the coffee table.
"Who?!"
"Stop!"
The others on the sofa were equally shocked and flinched reactively. Their grunts, though, didn't hesitate and rushed forward to subdue Yang Qiu.
Yang Qiu ignored them and enveloped the entire room with a spatial barrier, restricting the movement of everyone within. Then he drew out a metal rod and meticulously shattered all the bones beneath the elbow of the man whose hair he was grabbing.
Amid the stunned gazes of everyone in the room, Yang Qiu supported the man who had passed out from the pain and gently laid him flat on the sofa. Only then did he straighten his posture and nod politely at the stupefied crowd. "Good day, gentlemen."
A chubby man who bore some resemblance to the man that had just been crippled really wanted to raise a finger to accuse Yang Qiu of his brutality. However, he couldn't bring himself to do so; instead, he glanced at his cousin and said in a trembling voice, "W-who are you? Why did you disable my brother?!"
"It's our first time meeting, so everyone may address me as Yang," Yang Qiu gave a slight nod at the chubby man.
"I'm asking you why you disabled my brother!" The chubby man was so furious that even his excess fat jiggled like jelly.
"Naturally, it's because of this gentleman's accusation," Yang Qiu raised his hand and pointed at another well-dressed man. "This gentleman accuses your brother of deceiving their underage sister and making her pregnant. Isn't that the reason why everyone has gathered to discuss this matter?"
The gentlemen and bodyguards present strained their eyes in astonishment, looking at the man whom Yang Qiu had pointed out.
That fella being pointed out also wore an inexplicable expression on his face. Although he found great satisfaction in seeing the other guy being beaten, he genuinely didn't know Yang Qiu.
Yang Qiu had no intention of forming any relationship with this man either. He calmly stated, "I don't know this gentleman, nor do I know anyone among you all. However, my personal principle is that any scum who lays a hand on a young boy or girl, once encountered by me, deserves to have their hands or legs broken, depending on the severity of their actions, to ensure that such a person finds it difficult to commit such a crime again."
Everyone: "???"
"Usually, I would choose to act in front of the immediate family members of the offender to ensure a sufficient deterrent effect. But it's been too long since I last did something like that, so I was a bit impulsive," Yang Qiu added.
"Ahhh!" The chubby man who was from a family with some influence in the lower, middle echelons of Camor suddenly exclaimed in shock, "Y-you… Could you be the notorious Nightmare Butcher who once publicly broke the hands and feet of Sir Hans in his manor?!"
Yang Qiu's face immediately darkened. "Watch what you say. I have never acknowledged that appellation."
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