OBS Chapter 3923 Outer City and Fragrant Residence
Chapter 3923 Outer City and Fragrant Residence
Chapter 3923 Outer City and Fragrant Residence
Shad didn't mind going with them; this was definitely not the place to talk.
"Your tone is strange, but I'll go with you."
The seemingly delicate witch smiled and said:
"Have you had lunch? Oh, I know the answer. Then please allow me to treat you to lunch. Please don't refuse; this isn't some scheme of mine, it's just to thank you for your help. Yes, that's all, don't overthink it~"
Even after knowing so many great witches in the past and present, Miss Astley's personality still exceeded Shad's expectations. He was never afraid of those who were hostile to him, but he was particularly bad at dealing with such enthusiastic people.
But in the end, he still took the two prisoners and followed the witch away from the hill. After all, he wanted both information and the original manuscript of "Howling Manor" in her possession.
Furthermore, Shad must carefully consider whether this chaotic great witch will leak her information to the council.
[Probably not. Judging from her behavior just now, she's probably the kind of witch who likes to keep things to herself.]
She said this with a smile, and she really kept smiling.
Miss Astley did not walk into town with Shad, but instead crushed the signal stone as she left the hill.
“Let’s wait a moment. My men will be here in a carriage soon. The Astley family is quite prestigious in this area.”
Seeing that she was about to introduce herself like a peacock displaying its tail feathers, Xia De quickly stopped her:
“We can talk about these things over lunch. Why don’t you tell me what it’s like here? I’m not a local. I just arrived in the city today and I’m not familiar with the local situation.”
"here?"
The witch blinked, looking puzzled:
"What's there to talk about here? Then ask me, and I'll tell you everything I know."
"I'm curious, why are there so many temporary houses and tents in the outer city?"
Shad pointed to a spot not far ahead:
"I can tell that this area should be farmland and windmills, so why does it look like a refugee camp? Are all these people fleeing here?"
"Yes."
The witch nodded:
"After the war began, people living near the border had no choice but to flee south. Arcadia is an important city that circumvents the Rommel Mountains, so a large number of refugees came here."
For the sake of the city's appearance and security, the city hall prohibits them from entering the lower and upper city areas. The original residents of the outer city also dislike them, so they can only temporarily live on the outskirts of the outer city. However, a small number of them have found work in local factories; but given the sheer number of refugees, the number of jobs available locally is limited.
She and Shad watched as the refugees lived on the outskirts of the city. It was nearing noon, and people in the small camps were starting fires to cook.
"This is the norm during wartime, but at least they can live a period of peace before the war reaches this city."
"You believe the front lines of the war will be pushed to this city of scholars, is that right?"
Shad then asked, and Miss Viggo Astley gazed at the Grey Rock Pass through the fog:
"No one can say for sure about these things."
Soon, two carriages arrived in haste and passed through the thick fog of the outer city, stopping in front of this small hill located in a remote part of the outer city.
The drivers were all middle-aged women, or rather, followers of the witch. It was clear that this chaotic great witch had excellent control over her followers; although they saw Shad, they said nothing and instead, following the witch's instructions, placed the two prisoners into the second carriage.
"this way please."
Feeling exceptionally comfortable, the witch, who even seemed to want to hop around, gestured to Shad. Shad hesitated only for a moment before following her into the first carriage.
As the carriage slowly started moving towards the city, Xia Decai finally asked:
"Aren't you curious why my blood was able to restore you to this state?"
In an exceptionally good mood, Viggo Astley sat down opposite Shad:
"Of course I'm curious, but I know that even if I ask, you definitely won't answer me. After all, to you, I'm just a pretty girl I just met today, whom I saved out of kindness, and I even mistook you for a bad guy at first."
She smiled and looked at Xia De:
"So I'll wait for you to explain it to me on your own initiative."
After the Council provided the supplies called 'Star Dewdrops,' I did some research on them myself. Of course, my research yielded no results; I only knew that they were made from starlight and special materials. Although my health has been deteriorating over the years and I don't know much about what's happening in the Council, I do know that none of my colleagues are easy to get along with.
Since you've been able to establish a working relationship with at least one of them, I think I can completely trust you. After all, someone has verified it for me—I'm not the kind of girl who, once she's interested in someone, will randomly strike up a conversation regardless of their character. So far, you're the only one I've been interested in.
She emphasized again, and then Shad asked:
"You don't seem to care at all whether I have the ability to completely cure you."
The witch laughed:
"You can't cure me completely. My problem has penetrated to the depths of my soul. I'm destined to die young, and I know that very well."
She wasn't discouraged at all; on the contrary, she became excited:
"But to die in my prime, so that the world's impression of me remains at my most beautiful stage, is already a very good thing for me. In particular, I was originally worried that I would die sickly, but now that I have you, I can even wait for death with youthful vitality."
"Look, the world really does favor a beautiful girl like me, so it can't bear to ruin my perfect image."
Xia De was somewhat speechless. He had thought that after two years, he had learned how to get along with strange girls, but now it seemed that outsiders had underestimated the diversity of human beings.
"Alright then, about me."
"Don't worry~ I won't tell anyone else in the council. You can enjoy the most beautiful things yourself. I won't use you continuing to treat me as leverage. I'm willing to keep your secret."
She tilted her head and looked at Xia De:
"And I can't even imagine how heartbroken I would be if someone as rigid as the Speaker knew about you, and I lost you."
"So, how will you convince me to continue providing you with treatment?"
Shad asked again, and Miss Astley smiled:
"That's a good question—what do you want? I can give you anything you want. I don't have much time left to live, and I'm glad that my life has a greater meaning in the days I have left to help someone like you."
"Oh, you just said you're from out of town and only arrived today. So, what brings you here? The Astley family still wields some influence here."
She laughed again.
"We can discuss your illness later; I think there might be other solutions. As for my situation, we can talk about that over lunch."
That was all he could say, and the Great Witch of Chaos showed an interested expression:
"You seem a little embarrassed. Is it because I was too enthusiastic? With your temperament and looks, you shouldn't lack beautiful girls around you. Haven't you met any girls as proactive and enthusiastic as me before?"
Xia De briefly recalled:
"I do have girls around me who are in love with me, but we went through a series of things before we officially became a couple."
Miss Astley paid no attention to Shad's mention of "mutual affection," and nodded in satisfaction:
"I knew it. I was the only one who could appreciate your beauty. I really am the best."
Shad was at a loss for words, but thankfully the carriage stopped. Through the window, Shad heard the lady driving talking to someone about "passes" or something similar, and soon the carriage started moving again.
"To prevent refugees from entering the city, the city hall has set up new checkpoints at all the gates between the lower city and the outer city, and a pass is required for normal entry and exit. Before the war, there were no checkpoints here."
The witch then explained, and Shad was very curious:
"How can ordinary people travel between the lower city and the outer city? There must be frequent population exchanges between these two districts, right? We can't just issue a pass to everyone; that would be too costly."
"Only carriages require a pass. Pedestrians can be checked based on their appearance and clothing. If the sentry suspects someone's identity, he will check their accent and familiarity with the area. Checking carriages is mainly to prevent refugees from outside the city from transporting dangerous goods into the city. This is not to look down on outsiders who have left their hometowns because of the war; similar situations have indeed occurred in the past few weeks."
Shade shook his head, deciding not to discuss these matters further; he was new to the area and had no say in such things.
"Speaking of which, where are we headed? We should be going to the Upper City, right?"
The witch laughed:
"You see, you subconsciously chose to trust me, otherwise you wouldn't be asking where the destination is now."
She introduced it with great pleasure:
"Our destination is 'Fragrance Residence' in the Upper Town. It's not our family's old house, but the residence that my teacher passed down to me. I usually live there."
Before my generation, the family merely managed 'Greyrock Pass,' possessing neither titles nor substantial assets. It was only after I began that the Astley family capitalized on the advantages of Greyrock Pass to engage in the spice trade. The manor's warehouses were stockpiled with spices, giving the area a distinctive aroma, which is why the locals called it 'The Fragrant Manor.'"