Chapter 185 The Inhuman Demon King
In the Adventurer's Guild of Thunder City, an old man with a white beard stared at the magic crystal watch in his hand. The more he thought about it, the more surprised his expression became.
"Through the interlocking inscriptions, energy is extracted from the magic crystal to light up the magic crystal powder on the dial, so that the time numbers can be directly displayed on the dial... Is this an inscription from the Isaac period? It's incredible... Is it the technology of the dwarves?"
His name is Angelo, a magician from the Northern Academy, and also a resident consultant hired by the Thunder City Adventurer's Guild and an expert in the field of maze research.
Ever since the news of the Demon King's resurrection spread, he has been stationed in this city for a long time, always observing the movements in the maze.
As a magician of Xuebang, he is quite confident in his knowledge.
Maybe he is not as rich as the businessmen in this city, but his understanding of supernatural powers is by no means comparable to these ordinary people.
But now, his self-esteem has been severely damaged.
Even after looking at it over and over for a long time, he still couldn't figure out how this ingenious little gadget could achieve such an incredible function with just a few lines of inscriptions! Not only that -
The craftsmanship of the inscription also amazed him. The lines of Chinese characters were neatly printed, just like they were printed by a printing press! In his impression, there was no printing press that could carve inscriptions on magical materials.
There is only one explanation. The person who made this thing must be an alchemist or a dwarf craftsman with superb craftsmanship! But why would he make such a useless gadget with such skills? For a magician, there are many ways to figure out the time. At most, a spell can solve it. There is no need to go through so much trouble.
At least in his opinion, it would be a waste of talent to use this amazing technology to make a watch without any additional functions!
After staring at the inscription on the dial for a long time, Angelo was puzzled. He looked up at the student standing in front of the desk and asked curiously.
"Where did you get this?"
The magic apprentice standing in front of his desk at this moment was the one who was shouting in front of the Sokoto Chamber of Commerce booth earlier.
"I saw someone selling them at the market for five hundred silver coins each, so I bought one." Out of curiosity about the unknown, the young man hesitated for a while, but finally opened his waist bag.
Five hundred silver coins was not a small amount, but those who could study magic in the academy were mostly rich or noble, and he was no exception.
But what he didn't expect was that even the respected Mr. Angelo couldn't understand the watch he bought with a lot of money.
It seems that these five hundred silver coins are wasted.
Thinking of this, the magic apprentice couldn't help feeling a little depressed.
After hearing his student's answer, Angelo was stunned for a long time and couldn't say a word for a long time.
After a full five minutes, he stared at his student with an expression of disbelief and asked again for confirmation.
"Five hundred?! Are you sure?"
The magic apprentice nodded and said confidently.
"Of course, I'm sure of it! I paid for it only a few hours ago, so I wouldn't have forgotten it in such a short while."
Hearing his student's answer, the expression on Angelo's face became even more intriguing, and he continued to ask in an urgent voice.
"Is the owner still here?"
"This... I don't know, it should still be there, right?"
The magic apprentice was stunned for a few seconds, unable to make up his mind.
After all, it is not a fixed store but a mobile stall. Maybe it sells here today and goes to some other place tomorrow. It is hard to say.
But at this moment, he suddenly remembered something, his eyes lit up and he continued.
"Oh, I remember the name of that caravan. It seems to be called the Sokodo Chamber of Commerce! If you are interested in them, I can look for them for you. I think I can find them... Those people will not leave Thunder City today."
Saukdo Chamber of Commerce.
Angelo silently memorized the name and then spoke.
"No, I plan to visit them myself."
With the Adventurer's Guild's connections and intelligence network, it was easy to find a caravan, and he was not worried about passing by that group of people.
As he spoke, Angelo opened a drawer, took out a check, and scribbled his signature on it.
"I plan to study this magic crystal watch further and maybe dismantle it. Since the technology inside is something I have never seen before, I am not absolutely sure that I can put it back together... Here are five hundred silver coins, consider it as my purchase."
The magic apprentice looked reluctant, but the man in front of him was his mentor after all, so he could only nod and accept the check.
After sending the student away, Angelo took out a copper magnifying lens and placed it on his nose, staring at the watch in his hand and studying it carefully.
He muttered to himself as he studied.
“How on earth is this done?”
…
Just as the chief advisor of the Thunder City Adventurer's Guild was marveling at the Netherworld technology of the Great Cemetery, the Demon King walking on the streets of Thunder City was also praising everything that caught his eyes.
It's just that what he praised was not some new technology, but something else.
Looking at the citizens of Leiming City who had snatched away all the goods on the shelves of the Sokodo Chamber of Commerce, Luo Yan couldn't help but sigh.
"The leeks in Thunder City still grow better."
The watch, which cost less than 50 silver coins, was sold for 500 silver coins, and the most outrageous thing was that it was sold out! And this is not the most outrageous thing.
Daily necessities like nail clippers and shower gel are still worth using, but what puzzled Luo Yan was that all the flush toilets were also snatched away.
no--
Where will you, the residents of Thunder City, put the things you buy back home?
If he wasn't worried about getting into trouble, Luo Yan really wanted to ask someone and find out what these wronged people were thinking.
It is worth mentioning that Thunder City has sewers, and like the city walls of Thunder City, they were built at the end of the Isaac Dynasty.
However, due to the limitations of the times, even though the sewers planned and built by Lint Isaac are still far ahead of the world average today, their nature and appearance are still different from the sewers in the modern sense.
To make an inappropriate analogy, its positioning is closer to the large and small underground ditches connecting the Thames in London in the 19th century.
Luo Yan didn't know whether Leiming City allowed the connection of private drains and public sewers, but he was sure that even if it was possible, it would definitely not be a small amount of money, at least not something that an average family could afford.
From an economic perspective, these people would probably have to install a bucket underneath the toilet after buying it, which would be like taking off your pants to fart.
Looking at the citizens of Leiming City who were willing to spend a lot of money to keep up with the trend and the "profiteer" Sokdo who was counting money until his hands cramped, Luo Yan could only feel envy.
It's a pity that his players are not human.
Otherwise, there would be no chance for the middlemen to make a profit from the price difference, and the leeks in Leiming City would be dug up with roots and seedlings in a matter of minutes!
As the saying goes, like man, like dog.
Luo Yan was just thinking about it in his mind, while Youyou, the number one lackey beside him, was almost drooling with envy, and the next second he revealed his thoughts completely without any concealment.
“Hehehe… The residents of Thunder City are really not very smart! Lord Demon, please act quickly! With your thick skin and eloquence, you will surely trick them into bowing down at your feet in a matter of minutes!”
"What do you mean by 'with my thick skin and eloquence, when have I ever relied on these two things to solve a problem?'" Luo Yan glanced at the air beside him, sighed softly, and said in a slightly dissatisfied voice, "Also, who did you learn this tone from?"
"Ahem! Please forgive me for speaking without restraint. I just want to say that you can easily defeat the weaklings in Thunder City with just a little effort... Youyou is praising you!"
Perhaps hearing the dissatisfaction in Luo Yan's voice, Youyou quickly gave in and immediately changed the subject, hehe, and said with a smile.
"Anyway, that's not the point! Lord Demon King, who is supreme, wise, brave, and handsome, do you have any idea on how to corrupt the faith of the residents of Thunder City?"
There was no need to quarrel with his own divinity. Luo Yan did not continue arguing with Youyou. He just cast his gaze towards the busy street in front of him.
"I think I have some ideas, but I have to look at it again."
The last time he passed by here, he was in a hurry and left after just a quick glance, without having time to observe the city carefully.
Now the tension between the Labyrinth of Thunder County and the Principality of Campbell has eased. In addition, the latter is in the midst of internal and external troubles and has no time to take care of the Labyrinth for the time being. Therefore, Luo Yan finally has enough time to take a closer look at his neighbor's financial situation.
Passing through the bustling market, Luo Yan found a carriage at the end of the street, took Sarah in, then took out a golden Os gold coin and threw it into the driver's hand.
Looking at the gold coins in his hand, the driver was shocked.
He had been driving for so many years, but this was the first time he received gold coins from a customer, so much so that he could hardly speak clearly.
"Sir... I, I can't make the change for your money." The sunburnt face was full of embarrassment and a hint of panic.
He was just a coachman who couldn't afford to offend anyone, and he didn't want to get involved in any trouble.
Even he admitted that the gleam of gold was alluring.
Luo Yan did not make things difficult for the poor guy. He simply spoke in a tone that matched his current personality.
"You don't have to look for it. I'll take care of this carriage. From now until the end of this month, you only have to work for me... Any other questions?"
"No problem, sir! From now on, you are my master, just tell me where you want to go!" The driver agreed excitedly. Any hesitation for a second would be disrespectful to the emperor printed on the gold coin! In Thunder City, manpower is the least valuable thing.
He worked hard for a month and could only earn 2,000 copper coins at best, but this one gold coin was enough for him to earn in five months!
Although neither the horse nor the car belonged to him, he still made the decision for his boss without hesitation.
After all, for a mysterious guest who was so generous, he believed that even his boss would have to curry favor with him, and would never dare to offend him.
Luo Yan nodded slightly and looked at him and said.
"May I have your name."
The driver answered immediately.
"Punk! Master, or whatever you like."
Looking at the driver who was trying to be frantically attentive, Luo Yan smiled faintly and continued in a gentle yet dignified tone.
"Okay Punk, this is my first time in this rural area. Now tell me, where do travelers like me usually stay?"
The only people who can call Thunder City a countryside are probably the nobles of the empire.
Seeing the purple to black pupils and hair, as well as the taciturn female guard next to him, Punk became more certain of his guess, and even figured out the identity of the man in front of him.
Not daring to show any disrespect, he spoke respectfully, imitating the tone of the bard in the tavern who was said to have wandered from the empire.
"Distinguished guests like you usually stay on Queen Street near the port. There are the most luxurious hotels and restaurants in Thunder City, and the people who come and go in those places are the richest people in Thunder City. You will definitely not feel bored living there!"
Luo Yan nodded and gave instructions.
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"Then let's go there."
"Yes, sir!"
Punk responded enthusiastically, then pulled the reins in his hand with great energy and drove the carriage towards the city of Thunder City with great energy.
Because his attention was completely on the gold coin and the identity of the passenger in the carriage, he did not notice that the calves of the horse he was driving were trembling slightly and the nose was emitting a little fear.
Although the pressure from the dragon's blood is not as strong as that of the dragon itself, it is still a huge deterrent to ordinary livestock.
Especially at such a close distance...
The carriage slowly set off, and soon left the bustling market, and walked from the flat stone road to the country road compacted by snow.
Their current location is equivalent to the Acropolis of Thunder City, and there is a not-so-short pastoral scenery between the city walls and the core urban area of Thunder City.
In the distance, smoke rose from low-rise cottages, the smell of burning firewood could be faintly smelled in the air, and a few orange lights warmed the snow-capped horizon. A winding river flowed along the road, the river water was clear and slow, reflecting the sunset glow and sparkling waves.
Luo Yan kept his gaze outside the window, paying close attention to everything he saw along the way. Whether it was the pedestrians nearby or the scenery in the distance, he quietly recorded it with his video crystal.
On the one hand, this can serve as a reference for him to formulate subsequent strategies, and on the other hand, it can be put on the official website as a pie in the sky for the next version update.
Or promotional PV.
The carriage continued to move for a while, and as time passed, Luo Yan's vision was once again filled with the outline of the city.
The pastoral scenery was replaced by low red brick houses, growing like moss in the area between the city wall and the rushing river. This is the workers' residential area, where houses are tightly packed together and there is almost no green space. The streets began to become noisy, and the air was filled with the smell of coal smoke and grease.
Besides, the roads here were obviously much wider than before, but also much dirtier. The streets were full of footprints and ruts, and mixed with dirty water, they looked muddy. The towering chimneys were emitting slow black smoke, blending into the gray sunset in the distance.
People wrapped in thick coats hurried along the road, as if rushing from one grid to another without stopping for a moment. Children played on the street, made crooked snowmen with accumulated snow, and stuck coal balls on them as noses. Vendors pushed carts full of charcoal fires, selling steaming chestnuts and pies, and the whole street was filled with tempting aromas.
"Dear sir, this is the industrial area of Thunder City! Although many people don't like this place, and the prosperity here can't be compared with the city area near the port, but in my opinion, this is the place with the most fireworks in the entire Thunder City!"
"And there's this factory outside your window. You may not have heard of it, but if you've ever been on a steamship, you've definitely seen its masterpiece! The steam boilers on half of the Whirlpool Sea are produced here. It's said that its shadow can be seen on the distant front!"
As they passed by a power machinery factory, Punk's face was filled with pride and he spoke enthusiastically.
Although the Principality of Campbell is not large and its area is far less vast than that of the Empire, the prosperity of the Empire is inseparable from them!
Luo Yan smiled faintly and said nothing.
When Miss Mia needs performance someday, she can blow up this factory as performance. In a rounded way, it can also be considered a blow to the empire's supply lines.
Feeling that the atmosphere was a little awkward, Punk, who was driving the car, swallowed his saliva, changed the subject and continued.
"Speaking of which, Master, I still don't know your name... Of course, you don't have to tell me, I don't mind at all!"
Luo Yan didn't feel comfortable calling himself Qin Shi Huang again. After all, this vest might be used for a little longer, so he thought seriously for a moment and said.
"Roxie Colin."
That was his father's name.
Although the Colin family is well-known in Hell, few people know about it in the Principality of Campbell, which is far away from the front line, not to mention that there are a large number of people with the same name.
Most people would not think in that direction when they hear this surname, and would just regard it as an unknown family in the empire.
Punk pondered the name over and over again, but he had no impression of it at all. This also made him more certain of his guess - this gentleman was indeed from a prominent family in the empire! As for why such a distinguished guest appeared in the suburbs of Thunder City, he had no idea, and he didn't dare to ask casually.
"Master Colin... May I address you as such? Please forgive me for being so rude, but I do not know your title."
Luo Yan replied casually.
"Whatever you want."
Perhaps he heard the impatience in the voice, Punk finally shut up, and didn't say another word during the rest of the journey, until the carriage passed through the hustle and bustle of the industrial area and after several turns, it entered a clean and tidy street.
This is obviously different from the previous few blocks. The streets here are not only clean and tidy, but also have some kerosene street lights that are not found on other streets.
The snow here had been cleared clean, and the streets were paved with stone bricks, reflecting the lights, looking wet and smooth, as if they had been polished.
There were people walking on the road in twos and threes, some wearing heavy woolen coats, some wearing velvet cotton jackets, their steps were calm and graceful, and more people were sitting in carriages.
Punk driving a horse-drawn carriage feels out of place.
Both himself and the carriage he drove.
Especially when he noticed that the patrolling guards saluted him frequently, the expression on his face became even more uneasy.
Swallowing nervously, Punk looked behind him and asked quietly.
"Master Colin, we are now in Queen Street... May I ask which hotel you are going to stay at?"
Luo Yan said patiently.
"You can park in front of the one you think is the most expensive."
Punk didn't know whether to laugh or cry when he heard this.
This was also his first time here, so how could he know which hotel was the most expensive? He looked around the street and finally found a hotel that looked magnificent, so he drove over in his carriage.
The glittering sign had the words "Morning Embrace" written in artistic script, and waiters in wool coats stood in two rows at the hotel lobby entrance like street lamps.
Looking at the shabby-looking carriage parked at the door, the waiters all had obviously strange expressions on their faces.
Not to mention Punk, who was driving the carriage. He had already clenched his toes in embarrassment and wanted to abandon the carriage and run away.
A waiter came up to the side of the carriage.
Although he seriously suspected that the two guests in the carriage had taken the wrong road, he still spoke in a polite voice.
"Dear sir, do you have a reservation?"
Luo Yan: “No.”
The smile on the waiter's face was a little stiff, but he still spoke politely and gracefully.
"I'm sorry, sir, we only accept guests who have made reservations in advance--"
Before he finished speaking, a gold coin jumped onto his chest. Without waiting for the emperor's head to fall onto the snow, he bent down almost subconsciously and held it with unprecedented speed.
"……gentlemen?"
Looking at the waiter whose face was filled with shock and even fanaticism, Luo Yan, who was sitting in the carriage, spoke in a gentle yet dignified tone.
"Here's your tip. Now call your manager over for me and tell him that I like his hotel very much and ask him to name a price. I want to buy it."
The waiter couldn't say anything to refuse the heavy gold coins in his hand. He was as proud as a swan one second ago, but the next second he said "Please wait a moment" with an earnest look on his face, and then ran quickly to the hotel lobby, fearing that he would neglect it for a second.
Punk, who was driving, looked at his back with envy and jealousy, then looked at Mr. Colin in the car, his pupils filled with passion.
Sarah frowned slightly, not liking the look in this guy's eyes.
However, thinking of the Demon King's instructions before leaving, she suppressed her dissatisfaction, focused her attention on her surroundings, and continued to be a quiet and transparent person.
What’s interesting is that the real “invisible man” couldn’t sit still at this moment. He looked at Luo Yan in surprise and whispered.
"Master Demon, what are you going to do?"
Luo Yan smiled faintly and answered Youyou's question in his heart.
"As you can see."
"I am greeting the citizens of Thunder City in their favorite way."
A completely different approach from Erin Campbell. - (After being one-eyed for a few days, although I felt the pain of missing you, I made fewer typos. It's amazing...) (End of this chapter)