A golden object traced a gleaming arc through the air and landed in the bald merchant's arms.
"Take it! That's the commission you earned!" Leilin withdrew his hand and strolled off casually.
"Thank you for your generosity, honored young master!" The bald man hurriedly bowed.
"Next, I need a butler and two clerks who can keep books! If you can find them, this gold coin is yours!" Leilin casually tossed another gold coin in his hand.
"Let me think! Let me think!" Seeing yet another gold coin beckoning to him, the bald man immediately perked up. A little incoherent, he clutched his bare head and racked his brain. "That's right!!! Old Walker! Old Walker once served as butler for a baron! He's been going on lately about coming out of retirement to make money!"
the bald merchant said.
"Very good! Take me to him!" Leilin nodded in satisfaction.
Two days later, at dawn, the white mist had not yet fully dissipated, and a chill permeated the air.
Creak! The gates of Roland City slowly swung open, and a carriage procession emerged.
Over a dozen mercenaries in tattered leather armor, armed with iron spears, bows, and other weapons, flanked a large black carriage as it rolled out through the gate.
In front of the carriage, Faren rode a chestnut-brown steed, and behind him a mercenary of about twenty carried a red banner embroidered with a black eagle—the emblem of the Roland Eagle Mercenary Group.
Surrounding the carriage, Gelin rode on horseback, leaving an empty seat for the coachman, upon which sat a white-haired old man. Though the wind whipped his hair into a mess, his clothing was arranged immaculately.
This was the butler Leilin had found—old Walker. The baron he had previously served had gone bankrupt, leaving him unemployed. He had hit it off instantly with the bald merchant who came knocking and joined Leilin's retinue.
From Roland City to Polar Night City, it took only about seven days. The Roland Eagle group truly lived up to Faren's earlier boasts—they knew the route intimately and frequently found places to stay overnight, sparing the convoy the hardship of camping.
After seven days, the convoy arrived safely at Polar Night City.
Leilin lifted the carriage curtain and gazed at the somewhat gloomy sky in the distance. Layers of dark clouds pressed together in the air, blocking out all the sunlight, as though rain was imminent.
The surrounding bushes and grass were shrouded in shadows, giving them an eerie look.
"Faren!" Leilin stepped out of the carriage door. "Didn't you say there was a large area of withered vegetation near Polar Night City? Which area is it?"
"Young master!" Faren pulled on the reins, slowing his horse to match the carriage's pace. "Polar Night City is vast. The region where the strange incidents occurred is only a tiny part in the east. We usually try to detour around it—after all, humans always do their best to avoid danger…"
"Where is that forest?" Leilin leaned against the carriage door, as if admiring the distant scenery.
"The eastern part of the Dark Night Forest, closer to its core!" Faren glanced at Leilin and lowered his voice. "The Dark Night Forest is rich in all kinds of medicinal herbs, but ever since the withering incident occurred, Polar Night City's herb supply has dropped by thirty percent!"
"Is that so?" Leilin smiled faintly. Polar Night City was considered a major city within the East Forest Province, and a significant part of its economy depended on the herb trade. This situation must have the city lord and stewards in quite the state of anxiety.
"The Dark Night Forest? I've noted it down." The forests in the duchy were dangerous, certainly—but only for ordinary people. Leilin had already ventured through the Black Forest near the Academy, so he wasn't worried about the dangers here.
"Have any herbalists gone missing in the withered area?" Leilin suddenly asked.
"Herbalists? You mean all the mercenaries, thieves, and adventurers?" Faren shrugged. "The forest is full of dangers. It's perfectly normal for a few to die every day. Who can say?"
As the two talked, the convoy gradually approached Polar Night City.
The walls were not very tall but extremely thick, seemingly constructed from blocks of black granite, looking very sturdy.
The guards at the gate clearly recognized Faren. After collecting an entry fee and a carriage toll, they let the whole party through.
"Find an inn first and settle in," Leilin instructed calmly.
…
Night fell. Leilin sent Anna away and stayed alone in his room at the inn.
He opened the window. Cold wind howled in. Outside it was quite dark, with only a few dim yellow flames flickering here and there.
Leilin closed the door and pulled a small blue crystal ball from the bundle he carried with him.
The crystal ball was tiny, but it radiated a strange luster. Within its glass core, many golden motes of light drifted about ceaselessly, like fireflies.
"Activate!" Leilin spoke the incantation.
As the spell's syllables rang out, the points of light inside the crystal ball began to ripple and shift, finally arranging themselves into a peculiar symbol.