CHAPTER 211: CHAPTER 209 THAT IS A BEAM OF LIGHT_1

Yan Xing, having experienced a once-in-a-century transformation in the real world, deeply understood how cultural prejudice could turn people into paranoiacs.

Bringing the matters of the real world into the Magic World, one could analyze why the Eternal Commerce Guild suffered so many attacks in Nuta City. Besides Yan Xing having disrupted many people’s livelihoods, it was mostly because he had a background from the Swamp.

If the Golden Oak Chamber of Commerce had done these things, those who lost money would likely just accept their misfortune.

After all, business comes with profits and losses, and those who speculate must bear the risks of speculation.

Yan Xing believed... that in Nuta City, those coveting Count Theodore’s power were few.

Those who sought to disrupt Nuta City naturally saw him as a thorn in their side and sought to quickly remove him.

Most of the others simply couldn’t stomach the sight of barbarians profiting while they faced losses.

"When I’m eating dirt, you dare to feast on meat. Naturally, I’ll slaughter you and eat the meat myself."

Therefore, there was no use in explaining or negotiating with those who wished to ’eat’ you.

There are only two methods to resolve such discrimination.

One is by force, to beat them one by one until they call you daddy.

That would naturally solve the problem.

But Yan Xing needed to maintain stability in Nuta City and couldn’t slaughter his way through the city.

Count Theodore wouldn’t allow it either.

Thus, Yan Xing chose the second method.

To let everyone in Nuta City see the light.

See the Thunderous Swamp’s embassy, shining bright enough to compete with the starry sky.

See what other places in the city look like under such illumination.

Let the nobles and rich merchants see how the magic lights they once took pride in at their homes look so dim under this brilliance.

Humans are creatures that lean towards the light.

Light also guides the development of human civilization.

When the Thunderous Swamp’s embassy becomes the brightest light in Nuta City, will its people still dare to regard the Swamp as uncivilized as they did before?

Yan Xing planned to host an opening banquet to entertain the nobles and wealthy merchants of Nuta City.

Without Count Theodore’s endorsement, his first step was to achieve ideological equivalence before dialogue.

To have the right to speak.

To ensure his words were truly heard and pondered upon.

Otherwise, if they still regarded the Swamp dwellers as inferior beings, like unruly cattle, their only thought would be of savoring well-cooked steaks.

If the majority of speculative nobles and wealthy merchants accepted their business failures, the number of people Yan Xing needed to deal with would be greatly reduced.

The Thunderous Swamp’s embassy had become a unique sight in Nuta City. Meanwhile, the bounty for Yan Xing’s assassination within the Assassin’s Guild had accumulated to three hundred thousand Gold Coins.

Such a hefty bounty prompted Count Theodore to assign heavy troops to protect Yan Xing’s embassy. He also advised Yan Xing not to leave the premises casually.

But as the saying goes, a thief may try for a thousand days, but one cannot guard against them for a thousand days.

Especially when the embassy’s opening banquet was to be held, all sorts of people would be inside.

At that time, Yan Xing had to meet diverse characters, which would also be the most opportune moment for an assassin.

Although Chui Chui had set up a tight security system for the embassy, it was not guaranteed to be foolproof on the day.

Therefore, Yan Xing still decided to take a proactive approach.

He wanted to see who was so flush with cash to offer such a high price for his head. It made him contemplate assassinating himself just to collect the three hundred thousand Gold Coins.

During this period, Yan Xing knew the name ’Terence’ had gained some fame in Nuta City. He had casually mentioned it when meeting Donald, the leader of the Farsight Mercenary Corps.

Because Donald praised the thief ’Terence’ highly and issued a bounty, the whole city was searching for this thief.

Then, through a process of distortion and exaggeration, the rumors spread further.

Versions of the thief ’Terence’s’ legendary escapades started circulating among the mercenaries.

Some said thief ’Terence’ possessed a Giant Dragon’s treasure map. They claimed he had stolen it from the Dragon Clan queen’s bedroom through very dishonorable means. Donald was after ’Terence’ to seek the dragon’s treasure.

Some said thief ’Terence’ had defiled a noble’s daughter and was now evading a manhunt.

Some said thief ’Terence’ had snuck into the Underground City and successfully seduced the Minotaur princess. He was then supposedly cursed by a Dark Wizard to never see sunlight again.

...

In short, in the entertainment-starved Nuta City, the thief ’Terence’ unexpectedly became a hot topic.

The more elusive the thief ’Terence’ was, the more people were willing to speculate and discuss among themselves.

And everyone liked to make up stories that everybody enjoyed hearing.

Only Yan Xing knew that he had supposedly committed dozens of crimes, victimizing almost every known intelligent species.

He was truly indiscriminate.

His lewd notoriety was widespread!

But no matter what... the sheer number of those crimes proved the strength of the thief ’Terence.’

So Yan Xing put on the same outfit he had worn when first sneaking into Nuta City. He then fastened the alchemical short sword, which held some symbolic meaning, to his belt.

He headed to Li Jiya’s tavern to meet with Grey Mouse.

When he saw Grey Mouse again, his condition had improved a lot.

He was still thin but had become much stronger. He looked spirited, and his clothes were new.

He had fitted a prosthetic where his finger had been.

It could awkwardly stretch and clench, clearly fitted with alchemical muscle fibers—a little alchemical gadget.

Yan Xing placed five Gold Coins on the table and said to Grey Mouse, "I looked into those names you told me about.

Although I didn’t acquire any useful intelligence, at least it proves you didn’t trick me.

The money is yours now."

Grey Mouse quickly gathered the Gold Coins, then checked the Soundproof Magic barrier Yan Xing had set up, and whispered, "Did you really sleep with the Underground City’s Minotaur princess, steal the Black Dragon’s treasure map, and go after the Medusa Lord?"

Yan Xing’s hand involuntarily trembled upon hearing this.

Fortunately, his hood was drawn so low that no one could see his face darken.

"Some rumors are true..." After all, he would discard the name ’Terence’ once it served its purpose.

He could take the blame for sleeping with the Minotaur princess, but he absolutely could not admit to stealing the Black Dragon’s treasure map.

"But I did not steal the Black Dragon’s treasure map. Dragons pile all their wealth in their lairs; they wouldn’t bury it and then draw a treasure map. Only fools would believe such rumors."

Grey Mouse nodded in agreement and looked at Yan Xing with admiration.

Aside from the Black Dragon treasure map theft, what other major case wasn’t fraught with peril and filled with legendary color?

Most mercenaries lacked the ability to discern truth from falsehood; anyway, whatever everyone said must be true.

Especially since the party concerned had also admitted it.

The various legends of the thief ’Terence’ were absolutely captivating within the mercenary line of work.