Chapter 154: Location of the 90 Ruins
May 31, 2024
Author: Yi Weixie
Chapter 154: Location of the 90 Ruins
Last night’s moonlight was beautiful, and the wonderful festival atmosphere of the Godlin Festival infected many citizens of Nali City, as if the previous attack on the Shivali delegation had no impact on them at all.
This is indeed the case. Even if the public became aware of the incident, their lives essentially remained unchanged. At most, they developed some dissatisfaction towards the New Party due to the recent criticism from the royal family and the Griffin Party, but this was not aimed at the security issues of the academic conference, rather at the potential corruption within the New Party itself.
As previously mentioned, the New Party’s economic policy tends toward liberalism, lowering regulatory standards across multiple fields, including the market, to stimulate the economy. However, this doesn’t imply that the New Party and the Nali officials would completely let go of supervision.
As the economy soared, the New Party also undertook tax reforms, significantly expanding the official treasury funds and using those funds for urban construction, factory revitalization, environmental improvement, and other aspects, all of which were managed by Nali’s New Party government, achieving certain results.
However, the corruption issues mean that members of the New Party are extravagantly squandering public funds, possibly with less than thirty percent of the total tax revenue efficiently operational, while the remaining seventy percent flows into private pockets.
This has been the biggest setback for the Nali Pioneer Party recently.
Over the past period, reports of their consumption in high-end venues like the Pink Pavilion have been rampant in the media, while they were forced to retreat under the Griffin Party’s attacks in parliament and had no way to retaliate, all because Dexter from the Golden Palace supported the crackdown on the New Party from behind the scenes.
This prince understands the need for fairness; having had no chance to suppress the New Party before, he finally seized the opportunity to curb its rising momentum, disregarding past sentiments. As for the Griffin Party, they are ruthless in kicking a man when he is down.
Fisher even heard that the Griffin Party had hired many journalists to stake out the entrances of places like the Pink Pavilion daily, just to capture a few photos of New Party members taking part-time jobs to trade for money with the Griffin Party.
However, this has little to do with the scholar Fisher. After all, the foundation of the New Party has not been shaken, although they have faced considerable hardships recently.
Who could blame them? They had been riding high in recent years; this might be one of the few significant crises the New Party has faced since its establishment.
Nali’s political system appears to balance between the Golden Palace and Parliament, but in reality, it consists of the Golden Palace, the Griffin Party, and the New Party as three distinct factions because even if certain parties are in opposition, they still have voting rights in Parliament.
Certain official institutions must also prepare positions for opposition party personnel to avoid a situation of one party dominating entirely.
This is an implicit mechanism established since the design of this system, and it is explicitly stated in the kingdom’s constitution, presumably the result of countless compromises among all parties.
Even with many defects, it is much better compared to the noble-centered parliamentary system of Shivali or the religious intervention in politics in Cardu.
In the remaining two to three days, the academic conference continues. The New Party has learned a lesson this time; they like to mess around underground, so they directly called people to construct a new small building within Saint Nali University, hollowed out the underground space, and set up several protective magic spells.
This time, not even a fly could get in, and it is estimated that the Pink Pavilion has no plans for another attack.
The remaining days of the conference are held there, but the first day’s debate was the essence; afterward, Fisher answered a few questions for them before the agenda began to shift to other segments.
The anti-magic delegation first thanked Professor Fisher Benavides for his theories. Although no results were announced directly, it was evident that Fisher had won the debate.
Next was a discussion meeting for in-depth exchanges between Shivali and Nali academia, covering topics including exchange students, cross-border subject offerings, and professors from both countries holding honorary positions.
At the meeting, Prince Losang of Shivali personally invited Fisher to serve as an honorary professor at the Shivali Royal Magic Academy as a symbol of the two countries’ renewed academic friendship.
Fisher also took a photo with Prince Losang, while a host of media snapped away, dazzling him to the point where his eyes started to hurt.
From then on, the remaining meetings were not about Fisher; it was about exchanges between the education sectors of Shivali and Nali, as Prince Losang was very busy over these days.
In any case, since that night, Fisher hadn’t seen Carolina again, presumably because she was with Losang.
Why?
Because Prince Losang came to the meeting every morning with a beaming smile, looking like a young fellow who has just fallen in love, brimming with youthful vigor and brightness.
It wasn’t until around Wednesday noon that Fisher once again had lunch with Prince Losang, taking the initiative to invite him.
The lunch was just for the two of them in a specially arranged room. Inside, there were only dishes, and for once, there was no wine. This was rare because fine wine is typically an essential part of Shivali’s banquets.
When Fisher walked in, Losang probably guessed what he was thinking. He smiled and explained,
“I have to meet Carolina in the afternoon, so let’s skip the wine.”
As Prince Losang straightened his clothes and looked at the indifferent Fisher beside him, he suddenly recalled how he had introduced Carolina to himself before, which stirred feelings of regret.
This guy only introduced her and didn’t clarify the specifics at all, which left him deeply troubled that night. Even when he rushed over to catch Carolina’s hand, it was a spur-of-the-moment act.
He just didn’t want to miss the opportunity and spoke without thinking to hold her back.
But ultimately, several days have passed, and Losang feels no regret at all, even feeling fortunate for his earlier decisiveness.
After all, the taste of a sorceress is truly delightful.
However, on the surface, he still had to vent his frustrations. If he didn’t have to meet Carolina in the afternoon, it would have been certain for Fisher to face a drinking penalty.
“You bastard, you’ve hidden so many things from me; are you trying to kill me?”
“You said it yourself, as long as you find her appealing and she is a lady, it’s fine.”
“Bullshit, is she even a lady?”
“Isn’t she?”
Prince Losang opened his mouth, not knowing what image floated in his mind. Then the corners of his mouth trembled as if he had truly learned from experience, and he conceded,
“I guess that’s also true.”
“.”
It’s unclear what he recalled to arrive at that conclusion, but Fisher could tell that he didn’t come to argue about this matter, so it was just a joke.
Fisher chuckled, took a bite of the dish, and asked,
“So, what do you want me for today?”
Prince Losang wiped his lips and replied,
“Well, after this meeting is over, I plan to take her back to Shivali. Even though returning will also be quite troublesome.”
Taking Carolina back means that the Shivali queen will definitely investigate the girl’s background. As for when she will learn that she is from the Sorceress Research Society, and when she will find out that she barely counted as a girl before, who knows.
In any case, these two significant milestones cannot be avoided, and it’s likely that setbacks will be inevitable then.
However, since Prince Losang is willing to make this decision, Fisher can only believe he has the courage to face difficulties, so he sincerely wishes,
“I wish you both all the best.”
Prince Losang smiled bitterly and shook his head, returning to the main topic,
“Let’s hope that Carolina tells me everything; she asked me to remind you not to expose your identity easily. That place, what’s it called… the Pink Pavilion, right? The waters behind it run very deep. Her connection to you is a secret, with no flaws. Also, she reminded you that if you want to investigate, there’s a woman named Anna in the Pink Pavilion who is very important, and she said you’ve met her before.”
Fisher thought for a moment, and the image of the graceful and stunning woman appeared in his mind. He had met that woman twice: once disguised as a Shivali citizen entering the Pink Pavilion, and once at the humanitarian event at the Full Moon Church.
The Shivali identity cannot be used because it was connected by Trandal, and now the New Party’s issues are significant; he may not be able to enter again.
Fisher thought that the volunteer charity connection might be worth exploring further, as according to the bishop there, Anna seems to frequently go to the Full Moon Church to pray.
“I understand, thank you for her reminder.”
Fisher nodded and said.
“One more thing.” Prince Losang reached into his pocket and pulled out a note, handing it to Fisher. “This is her promised reward for you, an address of a ruin.”
Fisher took the note and unfolded it. Inside was a very detailed map; Carolina’s drawing skills were impressive, and she had annotated many notes around it.
This sorceress ruin is actually in the Northern Region!
And it is within the largest kingdom in the Northern Region, the Kingdom of Sardinia.
In other words, the Sorceress Research Society once crossed the ocean to explore this ruin in the Northern Kingdom and obtained a lock of black hair related to the Undying Sorceress from inside.
“Carolina said that this ruin is very deep and extremely dangerous, located in the rarely populated Sema Mountain range of the Northern Region. Many people had already died trying to reach that ruin, and the former president of the Sorceress Research Society went missing inside and has not come out to this day.”
“The lock of hair on Carolina was found on the outskirts of the ruin, and that hair has now lost its original magic; she is gradually returning from being a sorceress to a human.”
Upon hearing this, Fisher instinctively asked,
“Returning to being human? Does that mean she’s gradually losing her abilities? Doesn’t that mean she…”
Prince Losang’s expression turned dark, and he covered his face and waved his hand, saying,
“Don’t think too much; she hasn’t reverted to her original appearance and is still a normal lady. She just meant that she can’t help you locate the true sorceress with that lock of hair anymore. The ruin might have more clues, but it is very dangerous. You must be careful.”
Fisher looked at the detailed route recorded on the map in his hand and nodded,
“I will be cautious; please thank her for me.”
His gaze remained on the map that Carolina had drawn, where she noted,
“Sema, meaning ‘giant’ in Northern Regional Language, is the largest mountain range in the Northern Region, which is covered in ice and snow year-round. Even the oldest natives of the Northern Region have never fully explored the mysteries buried within. Exploration routes must strictly follow mine to avoid accidents.”
“By the way, there seem to be many subhuman races living there; if you are interested, you can go study them.”
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(End of Chapter)
