Chapter 2: New Century (Epilogue)
The newspaper recorded many interesting things. The key was that these interesting things were mixed with somewhat boring policies and propaganda. Layton felt that no one would be unable to read it.
There were many people on the street reading newspapers. He had also seen the newspaper reading hall that the little brat mentioned, which was overcrowded and as popular as the Succubus Cafe.
Obviously, newspapers had become a fashion in Winter City and were closely linked to the lives of those around them.
Layton pondered whether he could publish newspapers in the Saint Lodia Empire.
He eventually dismissed the idea.
Although newspapers were great and the production level of the magic holy land could keep up, they could even make the images on the newspapers move. However, the arrogant mage lords did not need commoners to understand everything around them. They only needed to do the most menial and mediocre work. Magic and Qi, they had better never touch them at all.
Thinking of this, Layton instead envied the simple folk customs of the Wintery Empire.
Finally, he stopped in front of a luxurious tavern in the Inner City.
The familiar magical fluctuations told him that the chief mage of the Violet Family, a top graduate of the Aurobak Academy, was in this tavern!
He pushed open the tavern door, and the sound of music and the noisy chatter of patrons surged towards him. The malty aroma of beer filled Layton’s nostrils. The heat and warm light enveloped him like two gentle, large hands pulling him into the tavern. The alluring busty women were the last straw that broke the camel’s back. Who could refuse to enter this warm and humid little tavern? Even the air was filled with a joyful atmosphere.
Layton’s gaze instantly locked onto the target he was looking for.
A young mage with a succubus in his arms, pale face with severe dark circles, scruffy beard, and unkempt appearance.
Was that Aurobak?
Layton’s hands trembled slightly, unable to believe it.
He had seen Aurobak before. He was a dapper and handsome young man. His moon-white robe was always neat, with hardly any stains or wrinkles. He never spoke loudly to his friends, practically a synonym for politeness. Even when facing enemies, he would only calmly and coolly construct spell models.
He should have been a typical elegant South Continent mage, the object of countless sleepless nights for many girls at Aurobak Academy, envied by his fellow students, and a genius mage with high hopes from his mentors!
But now…
He was actually gambling with a disheveled, ragged mercenary!?
“Damn it! You actually drew that damn weather card, Werner’s Severe Winter! Even more damn it! You’re still hiding it?! I’m going to kick your ass hard, you old schemer!”
Aurobak’s curses mixed with the tavern’s commotion did not seem out of place, as the tables nearby were basically the same.
Everyone here had a game of Gwent, and you could play for a whole day anywhere.
The warm tavern was the best choice for the cold winter nights.
Order a mug of ale and a plate of peanuts, and ordinary people could listen to stories here all night.
And Aurobak, this young mage holding a succubus and playing Gwent, had undoubtedly reached the pinnacle of life!
“Heh heh, sir, a bet is a bet~”
The mercenary grinned, revealing a row of yellow teeth, and happily pocketed the ten gold coins on the table. His greedy eyes slyly swept over the succubus.
Unfortunately, this mage was not only powerful but also a master at cards. It was fortunate enough to win some gold coins. Asking the other party to use the succubus as a stake would likely escalate to a fight to the death, and if he lost, his life would be gone.
The mercenary would not take the risk.
He had made too many mistakes for lust in his youth. Now that he was old, he had become much calmer.
“Your skills are very good, and at least you brought me a lot of pleasure tonight! Want another round?” Aurobak groped the succubus’s large breasts, drawing a coquettish cry from the succubus in his arms, but his eyes were fixed on the mercenary’s face.
He wasn’t short of gold coins!
He mainly wanted to regain his dignity as the king of cards!
“No sir, I have a mission tonight. I need to go to the wilderness outside Winter City to kill a pack of Wind Wolves. If I’m late, the captain will scold me.”
The mercenary did not want to gamble anymore. He decided to cut his losses and planned to leave with a casual excuse.
“Alright, then I wish you a good night sleeping in a wolf’s den~”
Aurobak chuckled and made a malicious joke.
“Thank you for your blessing!”
The mercenary put on his leather cap, pushed open the tavern door, and disappeared into the dim dusk with a sway of his body.
“Alas, it’s going to be boring again.”
Aurobak felt regretful at the mercenary’s departure. He had finally met a worthy opponent after a whole afternoon of fighting.
But the other party had a mission in the evening.
He really wanted to offer to help kill the wolves, as long as the other party agreed to play cards with him.
“How about I play a round with you?”
A slightly cold voice sounded in front of Aurobak.
Aurobak raised an eyebrow, wanting to see who was so arrogant in front of the king of cards in Winter’s Inner City. However, when he looked up, he froze.
“Holy shit… Layton!? No… no, Your Highness, you damn… spit… why are you here? Am I dreaming!”
“Clearly, you are not dreaming. According to Article 38 of the Imperial Law of the Saint Lodia Empire, insulting a member of the royal family will be punished by death. If this were the Wintery Empire, I would at least treat you to a sixth-ring dragon flame impact!”
Layton sat opposite Aurobak with a cold expression.
Before sitting down, he used a magic whirlwind to blow away the chair. It had just been sat on by the mercenary, and he was afraid of getting any strange smells on himself.
“Cough cough, apologies, Your Highness, it was just a slip of the tongue…” Aurobak chuckled, his eyes darting away.
He was panicking inside.
This feeling was like being caught soliciting prostitutes in a brothel, only to suddenly see the direct mentor from the academy, and then finding that the mentor and he had their eyes on the same girl.
In short, it was extremely awkward, making him wish he could stuff a Flame Burst fireball into his mouth.
“Look at you now! Do you still have the dignity and pride of a mage? Your beard, your messy, colorful clothes, and… even worse, you’ve kept a succubus! Damn it, are the soldiers of Winter City blind?!”
Layton became more and more angry, and the surrounding lightning elements also became more active. The hair of the guests at nearby tables floated eerily.
“Your Highness, Nana and I are truly in love. And she is different from other succubi. She has already signed a contract with the King of Winter, vowing never to harm my life, and that she will be loyal to me for the rest of her life!”
When it came to succubi, Aurobak straightened up. He would never allow anyone to point fingers at his beloved succubus, not even Layton!!
Let’s put a succubus
