Chapter 394: Section 181: Urgent Situation
Zi Di stood by the window lattice, gazing out at the dock from afar.
After everyone had paid their respects to the City Lord of Fire City, a welcoming melody resounded at the dock, and the atmosphere quickly heated up.
Zi Di slightly squinted her eyes, keenly observing that many passersby were surprised by the appearance of the City Lord of Fire City.
But there were a small number of people who showed no sign of surprise.
“It seems that the decision to personally welcome Tuck was already known to the higher-ups of Fire City,” Zi Di thought to herself with a slight sense of joy, this discovery greatly increased the safety for Cang Xu and Sanda.
Tuck was equally surprised.
When a subordinate came to urgently report, Tuck was in the dining room, having breakfast with the Clan Leader of the Hundred Needle Family.
Upon hearing the news, Tuck paused briefly before immediately issuing orders, directing the relevant personnel to act.
Then, he expressed his apologies for not being able to continue the meal to the Clan Leader of the Hundred Needle Family.
The Clan Leader of the Hundred Needle Family hurriedly expressed his understanding and naturally complimented Tuck. Afterward, he requested to join Tuck in welcoming the City Lord of Fire City.
Tuck gladly agreed.
When the two walked out of the cabin arm in arm and arrived on the foredeck.
The ceremonial squad had already assembled on the foredeck of the Steel Giant.
Just as the ceremonial musicians had started to play and were about to proceed with the usual noble social rituals, they heard the voice of the City Lord of Fire City, “Hahaha, Earl Tuck, welcome to Fire Island.”
The voice of the City Lord of Fire City was booming, resembling the thunderous roar.
The nearby aide quickly raised his hand and used his gaze to stop the ceremonial musicians.
Indeed, in the next moment, Tuck bowed and replied, “You honor me with your esteemed presence. I am truly anxious and honored to set foot on Fire Island today and meet the distinguished City Lord of Fire City.”
The Clan Leader of the Hundred Needle Family, standing beside him, couldn’t help but show a hint of admiration.
Not only was Tuck a talented and brilliant alchemy master, but he was also an outstanding noble.
Though the surprise appearance caught him off guard, he maintained the demeanor of a noble throughout.
After chatting with the City Lord of Fire City for a few more moments, the Steel Giant finally docked at the pier.
Tuck and the Clan Leader of the Hundred Needle Family and their entourage stepped off the ship and approached the City Lord of Fire City. Tuck then introduced the Clan Leader to the City Lord.
However, the City Lord of Fire City was clearly more interested in Tuck, and even after learning the Clan Leader’s identity, he merely nodded slightly, unconcerned.
Yet, at this moment, someone else cast a curious and doubtful glance at the Clan Leader of the Hundred Needle Family.
“Why is the Clan Leader of the Hundred Needle Family here?”
At that moment, Zi Di’s eyes widened slightly in shock.
Seemingly sensing her gaze, the Clan Leader of the Hundred Needle Family slightly frowned and glanced toward the window where she was.
Zi Di quickly dodged behind the wall.
Immediately after, she felt her heartbeat accelerate and the pressure inside her mount.
“What’s going on?”
“Why has the Clan Leader of the Hundred Needle Family come along with Tuck?”
“Did the Hundred Needle Family convince Tuck to help them retaliate against the pirates who kidnapped his son?”
“How likely is that possibility?”
“What price has the Hundred Needle Family paid?”
Suddenly, Zi Di’s thoughts raced tumultuously.
Although the Hundred Needle Family was now in a destitute state, Zi Di never underestimated it because of its past glory, which could have left some legacy behind.
“This is bad.”
“If the Clan Leader of the Hundred Needle Family and Tuck join forces, we will have to face a Holy Domain Level Mage.”
“And this mage is also an alchemy master, whom the City Lord of Fire City highly values, making it even more likely that he will assist him.”
Thinking of Sha Ji, and then of Tuck, Zi Di couldn’t help but feel a severe headache.
Lan Zao was also shocked by the situation.
After discussing briefly, Zi Di decided to leave quietly first, hurrying to convey both pieces of news back.
Meanwhile, Lan Zao continued to scout the situation at the dock.
Now that the City Lord of Fire City had received Tuck, he naturally wouldn’t stay idly at the dock. He soon invited Tuck to board a carriage.
The Clan Leader of the Hundred Needle Family chose the right moment to bid farewell to Tuck.
Tuck was unaware of the Clan Leader’s real intentions, still thinking he was heading to another island. Before parting, he earnestly invited the Clan Leader to visit his domain when he had free time.
Sanda and Cang Xu soon received the news and Zi Di’s speculations.
“Did the Clan Leader of the Hundred Needle Family really ask Tuck for help?”
“If that’s the case, he should try to conceal this connection, making the pirate kidnappers underestimate him instead of openly accompanying Tuck,” analyzed Cang Xu.
The Undead Mage felt very heavy-hearted.
Sha Ji’s troubles still persisted, and Tuck was back.
On their own, either of them could crush the entire Justice Pirate Group into powder.
In Fire City, the Justice Pirate Group was like walking on a tightrope, always on the verge of plummeting into the abyss of destruction.
“Guessing here won’t help, we might as well enter the city first!” Sanda urged impatiently.
Excluding the unexpected situation with the Clan Leader of the Hundred Needle Family, the news that the City Lord of Fire City had long been prepared to welcome Tuck was actually good news for Sanda and Cang Xu.
According to the plan, Sanda would enter the city first, followed by Cang Xu.
They chose not the main city gate, which had already been sealed off.
However, this also caused the number of people coming and going through the other three city gates to greatly increase.
Sanda and Cang Xu, with nervous hearts but calm faces, passed through the city gate.
No one scrutinized them.
They quickly and smoothly approached the merchants’ encampment.
But unlike last time, they did not dare to delve in too deeply but instead kept a distance.
Again, an inn.
After choosing the rooms, Cang Xu immediately set up an Alchemy Array, and Sanda took charge of keeping watch.
Once the Array was activated, Cang Xu began to cast Undead Magic and released ghosts.
Three ghosts took a turn around before splitting up and infiltrating into the merchants’ encampment.
The defense at the merchants’ encampment was clearly much sparser than before.
This made Cang Xu even more cautious.
Finally, a ghost successfully infiltrated into the previously targeted tent, only to find that the number of Treasure Boxes inside had noticeably decreased.
“What’s going on?”
“The number of Treasure Boxes has decreased, and there are fewer guards.”
“Something must have happened!”
Cang Xu started to take risks, using ghosts to inspect and investigate the merchants’ encampment.
“Sha Ji has disappeared too!” After a while, Cang Xu’s face paled slightly, and he said to Sanda.
“To confirm the situation, next, I plan to use Undead Magic to pry open the mouth of a giant servant in the merchant team.”
But Sanda shook his head.
“Wait a moment.”
“The way you’re doing it is too troublesome and time-consuming. We need to get even closer to the merchant’s encampment than last time, maybe even sneak in.”
“I’ll just go out on the street and ask around. Trust me, Cang Xu. I used to be a Mercenary Group leader. The current situation gives me a feeling: Sha Ji, the Treasure Boxes, and the guards have all disappeared, and it’s not necessarily because they are investigating us in secret!”
Cang Xu hesitated, “By doing this, you’d be exposing yourself…”
But Sanda no longer cared about his opinion and turned to leave.
He skillfully used conversational tactics to directly ask the townspeople living nearby.
Cang Xu provided support from the shadows.
Sanda returned, his expression somber, “One piece of good news and one piece of bad news.”
“The good news is, the merchant’s Sha Ji and those Golden Level giant guards haven’t been investigating us. They haven’t even noticed that the Alchemy Puppet was stolen.”
“The bad news is that they went to meet with Qi Ya. When they left the merchant’s encampment, they were very ostentatious and attracted a lot of attention.”
On hearing this, Cang Xu’s heart sank.
“Qi Ya is the one meant to marry Sha Ji.”
“They took some of the Treasure Boxes, probably as a gift for the meeting.”
“This could greatly showcase the wealth of Sha Ji’s family and their sincerity towards this marriage.”
“If Sha Ji were to discover the Alchemy Puppet was stolen on the spot, it would inevitably become known to Qi Ya as well. By then, our room for negotiation would be vastly reduced.”
Sanda nodded, adding, “And it might also provoke Qi Ya to help us proactively.”
“By then, we would have to face both Sha Ji and the whole of Fire City!”
“Ah,” Cang Xu sighed with resignation, “perhaps Tuck will be involved yet again.”
Sanda clenched his teeth, “I know the location. Sha Ji and his party walked into a tavern very prominently. We should hurry over there and see if there’s a chance.”
Qi Ya was of the Holy Domain level.
And they were merely Black Iron.
And this was Qi Ya’s stronghold.
Was there a chance?
Both Cang Xu and Sanda wore pained expressions.
They knew the chances were slim, but helpless, they steeled themselves to try their luck.