Chapter 23: Disaster Always One Step Ahead
The three of them packed the supplies into their respective backpacks, letting Brat carry more of the communal items. With time still early, they went to browse the trade market again.
There were indeed many good things inside. To survive, many people brought out their most treasured possessions to sell, but unfortunately, the three poor wretches couldn’t afford anything.
Wizard items had plummeted in price. For example, spellbooks that were once worth a fortune, even those filled with third ring spells, had no takers.
The prices of grain and livestock had multiplied several times. Anse originally wanted to buy three mounts with his remaining two hundred-plus gold coins, but even at three times the premium, he couldn’t get any and had to give up.
However, he found Finn a nice pair of studded leather armor, and got Brat a shield and several hand axes. They weren’t magical items, but they would do.
Suddenly, the sky darkened, clouds gathered thickly, and visibility dropped to zero.
They hurried back. Just as they closed the door, lightning flashed and thunder roared outside the window, fierce winds howled, torrential rain poured down, battering the window with cracking sounds, as if it might shatter at any moment.
Finn called Greyhawk back to the inn to rest and pass on the latest intelligence.
After the underground creatures probed an attack on Flame Fist Fortress, they quickly withdrew. While confronting the Upper City, they occupied Baldur’s Gate’s Outer City without widespread destruction of buildings, as if intending to settle in.
The good news was that Dragon Bridge was intact.
In the room, Finn sat on the floor, cutting meat strips into small pieces and tossing them casually, which Greyhawk nearby snatched and swallowed.
This Greyhawk was exceptionally majestic, nearly a meter tall standing on the ground, with a dignified posture in every glance.
At this moment, it leaned against Anse, allowing the man to wipe the water droplets from its feathers without any resistance.
“Looks like not only humans like you, even beasts like you. Sorcerers really are loved by all…” Brat said, unable to hide his envy.
He really liked Greyhawk, but Greyhawk rejected anyone except Finn from approaching—Anse being the sole exception. It even actively snuggled up to Anse, getting closer and closer.
Anse smiled and tossed the wet towel onto the nearby rack.
Greyhawk liking him wasn’t just because of his high charisma; the mana around him was as docile as a kitten. Primal beasts instinctively avoided chaotic mana environments.
“You worked hard today. Here’s one for you.” He took out the remaining magic berries and tossed one to Greyhawk.
Greyhawk precisely snatched it with its beak, tilted its head to swallow, and narrowed its eyes, clearly enjoying it.
Nearby, Brat pulled out weapon oil and carefully maintained his magical longsword, the most valuable possession he had.
“I heard the guild just posted a no-level hunter task targeting underground creatures. Exchange their complete skulls or left ears for bounty. The bounty’s from the three Grand Dukes…”
Anse paused, his face full of regret: “What a loss, what a huge loss…”
Brat smiled: “A goblin is 2 gold coins, an ogre 6 gold coins, a bugbear 20 gold coins, a duergar 35 gold coins. Professionals calculated separately…”
“That’s… too stingy.” Anse was speechless.
Even the weakest goblin minions were armed monsters, often in groups. Risking life for just a few gold coins felt hardly worth it.
“That’s already quite generous,” Brat explained. “If the bounty were higher, the Grand Dukes probably couldn’t afford it.”
In Baldur’s Gate, a skilled old artisan earned only a few silver coins a day.
“Makes sense.” Anse thought as long as it could be redeemed, plenty of professionals or commoners would be willing to adventure.
He ate a magic berry and lay back on the bed: “I’m going to meditate. No dinner for me.”
“Okay…”
Brat and Finn acknowledged, their movements becoming gentler.
Anse focused on meditation, spending two hours to attune to the spell storing ring and protective cloak in sequence. His mana recovered somewhat.
Next was storing spells into it.
This was harder than plain spellcasting. The spell couldn’t be fully released; it had to be controlled to the brink of launch, then stored in the ring. The power depended entirely on the spellcaster.
This didn’t stump Anse; his mana control was strong. He quickly completed the casting and storing.
Five first ring spells: 3 magic missiles, 2 prismatic sprays.
The blue runes on the ring fully lit up, as if coated in a sheen of mana glow.
The spells in the spell storing ring still required activation and guidance—not quick cast, and no metamagic—but the casting speed was faster. Dumping them out in short order, professionals below level 4 probably couldn’t withstand it.
Consuming 5 mana points, Anse felt somewhat drained. He kicked off his shoes and flopped back onto the bed.
The night rain poured heavily, making sleep especially comfortable.
——
He didn’t know how much time had passed.
“Boom—”
A deafening roar actually overpowered the thunder, with shockwaves sweeping through Livington.
Anse’s heart jolted; he abruptly opened his eyes. The room was pitch black, with pattering rain outside the window.
“Something’s happened!”
Brat was already up, standing by the window, pulling it open a crack. The wind and rain sounds surged, mixed with noisy voices.
The window faced south, so they couldn’t see what happened to the north.
Click. Anse opened his pocket watch: 3:30 a.m., the deepest hour of sleepiness.
“Fuck!” Since transmigrating, he hadn’t slept a good night, a bit emotional now. Mana churned around him, his eyes glowing faintly.
“Open the window,” Finn reminded.
Brat opened the window fully. Greyhawk leaped onto the sill, observed for a moment, then powerfully launched its legs, spread wings, and vanished into the night.
“Pack up. Be ready to leave anytime.” Anse felt uneasy in his heart, dressed in clothes and shoes, placing his backpack by his feet.
“I’ll go scout some news.” Brat was already geared up.
“Be safe, don’t go far,” Anse instructed.
“Got it.”
Finn sat on the bed’s edge. Greyhawk had flown far, no telepathic link possible; they could only wait passively for its return.
A few minutes passed. His eyelids drooped, gaze turning vacant, but a trace of horror gradually appeared on his wooden face.
“What happened?” Anse’s heart sank.
“Dragon Bridge collapsed. River water changed course, flooding into the city district. Underground creatures…” Finn spat out word by word.
Anse shuddered, waves of shock surging in his heart, fists clenching unconsciously.
‘That was an explosion just now!’ He was absolutely certain.
With large numbers of underground creatures appearing in Livington, combined with the explosion, he already had a guess:
Duergar night raid; Flame Fist Fortress fell instantly, too quick for any alert.
But the Flame Fist commander was prepared, destroying Dragon Bridge, damaging the river embankment. The Chongsa River’s southern section was cut off, surging waters diverting into Livington.
High tide, heavy rain, and overdeveloped dock area became accomplices.
“Clang clang clang…”
While pondering, piercing bell tolls rang through the Adventurer’s Guild, piercing the night sky, carrying far and wide.
Bang! Brat burst through the door, panting:
“Go, go now! Chongsa River burst its banks. Monsters are in the city!”
“Let’s go!”
Anse shouldered his backpack, pulled up his hood, and quickly pushed out the door.
Outside was pitch black. He raised his hand, casting light on his staff; bright light immediately repelled the darkness.
The corridor was extremely chaotic, many doors wide open, adventurers panickedly rushing to the stairs, many half-dressed.
The three hurried downstairs. The Adventurer’s Home small hall was already empty, only a wall lamp glowing faintly.
Thanks to all reader masters for your support and suggestions!
