Accompanied by the widespread blooming of spring dawn flowers, announcing that the harsh winter had thoroughly receded, and a beautiful season was about to arrive.
This was the largest city near the capital of the Stellar Empire, Starstone City.
Starstone City was a city of trade, with several trade routes leading directly abroad, adjacent to the Blue Water River, whose waters flowed straight into the sea. This also allowed it to host one of the largest trade ports on the Castro Continent, the Anthony Port.
Countless goods from all over the world were transported here every day, and countless precious minerals, gems, and silk cotton from the Stellar Empire flowed from here to all corners of the world.
Merchants from all over the world gathered here, creating its unique prosperous appearance.
Charid was a mercenary from the two-star mercenary group in Starstone City, the Dance of the Heavenly Maiden Mercenary Group. On this afternoon, he dragged his fatigued body into the tavern he frequented.
“Charid, long time no see. What have you been busy with lately?”
“No need to say it, our Charid must have been running around everywhere for his wife’s dowry. Come on, Charid, tell us what mission your mercenary group took this time. How many big coins did you earn?”
Some familiar patrons immediately greeted him loudly.
Charid smiled and joked with them a few times, but his eyes caught sight of the several imperial wanted posters pasted on the tavern wall. Damn it, lately he felt a headache whenever he saw these wanted posters!
The imperial wanted posters were entirely different from the bounties issued by the mercenary guild or assassin guild. If one was bountied by the mercenary guild or assassin guild, as long as the bountied person had the ability and gold coins, they could still walk openly into a tavern to order a fine aged brew from Qingting Island, or go to restaurants and inns to call for a table of delicacies. But if it was an imperial wanted poster, that meant they were wanted by the imperial royal family. Under such a wanted order, no one would dare to harbour them anymore. They would become public enemies of the empire.
And now, on the walls of this tavern, just like most taverns, there were several wanted posters pasted up. These were the wanted posters recently issued by the empire, targeting that illegitimate son wanted for killing the Ninth Prince, and his Name-Whatever Magic Guild.
The guild leader, the all-round demon instructor Ye Dui. On his wanted poster was an image of a handsome young man who did not look too old. The bounty was a full twelve thousand gold coins! His description: Can use all-series magic, and also possesses talents as a summoner, swordsman, and even believer. Established the guild in just over a year, and it has reached four-star level. Note: About to become a five-star guild.
The vice leader, the genius girl who traversed time, Debbie Anduin. The image was of a dainty and cute flat-chested (key feature) girl. Bounty of ten thousand gold coins. Description: Once the princess of the Anduin family sixty-four years ago, who traversed to the current era due to an accident. Genius summoner, can summon epic-level heroic spirits: the golden swordswoman Gilga, the Valkyrie Ji Ji. Additionally, she possesses a legendary-level heroic spirit, the Anduin family’s ancestor Joker heroic spirit, Sako Anduin.
The monster strength girl Guni. The image was of a girl carrying a terrifying giant sword. Bounty of eight thousand gold coins. Description: Girl of mysterious origin, terrifying giant swordswoman.
The blue witch Lessa. The image was of a girl dressed revealingly, full of seductive charm. Bounty of eight thousand gold coins. Description: Nun who abandoned the church, master of terrifying holy word power.
The gambler Green. The image was of a twenty-year-old demon instructor carrying a brick. Bounty of five thousand gold coins. Description: Gambling-addicted spatial demon instructor.
Logistics deputy minister Jacob. The image was a patch of black shadow (non-key figure). Bounty of fifty gold coins. Description: Guild handyman.
Charid looked at these wanted posters and could not help but sigh. Lately, the Name-Whatever Magic Guild had been making waves everywhere. Nationwide wanted. A while ago, their guild had received information knowing that this magic guild had appeared in a small city on the border, so they immediately rushed there overnight, hoping to intercept them.
They did not have the courage to deal with the leader and vice leader on the wanted poster, but those with slightly lower bounties, if their guild swarmed them, there might still be a chance of victory. After all, their two-star mercenary guild would not earn more than ten thousand gold coins in a whole year of busy work. The ones on the wanted poster were all quite valuable. Except for that logistics deputy minister.
Unfortunately, when they arrived at that small city, they discovered that the information they received earlier was wrong. The Name-Whatever Magic Guild was not there at all, making them run in vain. This outing had been both tiring and exhausting. They had only just returned to Starstone City today, wanting to come to the tavern for a good drink to relieve the fatigue.
He ordered a fine beer and sat down at the table. His mouth casually chatted with those familiar drinking buddies a few times. Inevitably, the conversation turned to the Name-Whatever Magic Guild again. This had also become a topic that could be seen almost everywhere in the past month.
A month ago, the Ninth Prince died in Joker Town, and at the time, the illegitimate son Ye Dui had also just been in Joker Town.
Thus, the rumour that the illegitimate son killed the Ninth Prince instantly spread throughout the world. But anyone with eyes could see that the Ninth Prince might not have been killed by the illegitimate son. But who cared? Being able to frame the illegitimate son through this incident and thoroughly eliminate him, the other princes probably could not wait to see their brother killed.
It was said that at the time, the Name-Whatever Magic Guild left Joker Town carrying the Ninth Prince’s corpse. They arrived at Ganglu City wanting to purchase a stone coffin to place the Ninth Prince, but immediately afterwards, a large number of city guards and mercenaries surrounded the coffin shop. Later, the Name-Whatever Magic Guild took the Anduin family’s sole daughter Denny hostage and left. Because the Anduin family had some influence, plus the Name-Whatever Magic Guild truly had some prestige, it was said that at the time no large-scale battle occurred. Their group just left Ganglu City safely like that.
Then they suddenly disappeared.
After that, it seemed no one had seen their traces again.
“I really do not know where they are hiding. Some guess they would continue to the capital, but I do not think that is likely. The old emperor is said to be gravely ill, and the struggle for the throne is about to begin. All sides’ forces are gathered in the capital. With the illegitimate son now wanted, how could he still risk going back to the capital?” Charid said after downing a few beers, his face slightly flushed.
“Those people really have ability. Nationally wanted, yet no one knows where they are hiding.” An old man with a full red beard said from the side. “I say, they must have fled abroad, right? After all, the royal wanted order only takes effect in the Stellar Empire. It has no use abroad.”
“Who knows?” Someone echoed.
“I really do not know where they are hiding.” Charid sighed again and drained the beer in his cup, then ordered another. At this point, he had decided to temporarily set aside these bothersome matters. He had more important things to consider. Thinking of the dilemma in his heart, he could not help but sigh: “Alas.”
“Charid, what are you sighing about again?” Someone beside him asked.
“I am thinking about how to arrange the date with Orisa tonight.” Charid said, his face somewhat flushed, seeming a bit embarrassed to mention such topics. Everyone in the tavern revealed smiles.
Orisa was Charid’s lover. In fact, it was they who had come up with ideas back then to help Charid win back Orisa.
Charid continued: “This time away from Starstone City for a full week and a half, Orisa is very unhappy. I must compensate her well. Now I am stumped on how to take her out on a date tonight.”
“Charid, speaking of dates, I happen to have a good idea.” The red beard suddenly thought of something and said this. He even fumbled in his bosom for a moment, then pulled out a crumpled piece of paper.
“What is this?” Charid was stunned.
“This is the circus that has recently arrived in our Starstone City. Oh boy, that performance is truly spectacular. I guarantee you and Orisa will like it.” The red beard introduced, handing the paper to Charid.
Charid opened the paper and found it was a flyer. On it, in fancy script, was written the circus’s name: Apple Circus. And there was a strange circus badge totem, a simple pattern of an apple with a bite taken out of it.
Another person said: “Captain Jobs’s Apple Circus is the hottest circus lately. If I have spare money, I would really like to go again.”
“Circus? What is there to see in that.” Charid said puzzled.
“You would not know. Their juggling and beast taming are all absolutely brilliant.” A bald old man squeezed over from the side to explain.
“Juggling? Is not it just tricks like throwing sticks and balls?” Charid shook his head.
“Ordinary juggling is throwing sticks and balls, but you definitely have not seen throwing bricks. Tossing a dozen or so bricks back and forth in one go, that scene is simply spectacular.” The red beard immediately said.
“And beast taming. Taming one’s own beasts to be obedient is nothing impressive. What is impressive is when the beasts simply do not listen to the beast tamer at all. That is what is rare. Especially since that beast tamer is a great beauty. Oh boy, just thinking of that scene makes me want to laugh.” Another person said, laughing heartily.
“Their circus acts are not things you can see in ordinary places. The most brilliant is also the ‘dinner performance art’, the singing and dancing of the peerless enchantress.” This time even the tavern’s bartender joined in, wiping a cup while recommending. “Charid, oh, take your lover to watch a circus performance. Who knows, maybe tonight you will have a warm bed to sleep in.”
One sentence caused the entire tavern to erupt in hearty laughter.
Charid blushed and laughed along a few times, but his gaze fell on that flyer.
“Then, tonight I will take Orisa to see it.”
