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"what about now?"
"A foolish sorcerer who has no clue what he wants to do."
Elizabeth's face flushed slightly, and it was unclear whether it was because of anger or shame.
Anyway, the cat-man was laughing so loudly that even the warrior was mumbling, "Come on, this is not good."
The king asked another question: "Then I don't understand why such an experienced drow rogue would willingly become the princess's subordinate?"
The drow said decisively, "Because of kindness. She accepted me when I had nothing, and let me complete my revenge. Listen, wizard, you may be extremely smart, and you may become the princess's think tank in the future, but remember, if you dare to harm the princess, my sharp blade will pierce your chest."
Wang nodded: "I remember it. What about the others? Is it for similar reasons?"
Elizabeth interrupted the king's question: "It doesn't matter. I admit that I was inconsiderate in some aspects. If you are willing to share your... your wisdom, I will be grateful."
The king stared at the girl's face for several seconds before nodding, "I understand. Then let me tell you what I think. Starting with the goblins should be one of the few actions we can take at the moment. Another action we can take is to scout the nodes in the city that can serve as magic hubs.
"The two actions correspond to the two paths I just mentioned to achieve the extinction of cats and dogs: investing a large amount of manpower, or using magic.
"Also, we can investigate whether there are a large number of druids in the city. They can also control a large number of cats and dogs at the same time."
The cat-man sharpshooter raised his right hand: "I'll take care of this."
The king looked at the cat-man: "So... there is an association of nature casters in the city?"
The cat man nodded: "I guess so. Anyway, leave it to me. In the tribe, I often deal with the druids of the tribe."
Wang: "Then I'll leave this to you."
The drow interrupted, "Wait a minute. I don't remember you becoming our leader. I remember that wizards of the School of Conjuration liked to boss people around."
Elizabeth: "He just said that he is very good at spells of the conjuration department."
Wang: “Indeed.”
Elizabeth: "And I was taught to let people who are good at what they do do what they are good at. If he is good at thinking and commanding, let him do it. I just need to retain the veto power."
The king winked at Elizabeth. "I know this. It's called imperial studies! Using the ability to appoint the right people to the right positions to gain the loyalty of your subordinates."
Elizabeth sighed. "This is far from being imperial studies. Go on with your arrangements."
Wang: "Okay. While Misha is gathering information about druids and other natural spellcasters, I will visit places in the city that can serve as magic nodes. Some of these places may be in more chaotic urban areas, so I need a guide who can ensure that I don't get ripped off."
Zhuoer: "I will do it. I will draw you a map, and you can find the places yourself, while I will stalk in the shadows to protect you."
Mark also raised his hand: "I have some connections in the slums, and I can show you the way."
King: "Okay, all of you come. Finally, in order to investigate the ruins of the underground goblin tribe as quickly as possible, we need to find a divine spellcaster."
Elizabeth sighed, "If there is no other way, I do know a paladin."
Wang: "You said you didn't want a Paladin."
"I mean, if you can't find any..."
"Then let's find one first. And according to my teacher's experience, it's best to find a dwarf priest."
Elizabeth frowned. "Why? Is there any explanation for this?"
Wang replied seriously: "Dwarf priests will not block the view and are reliable front line. My teacher said so."
The cat ranger laughed. As the representative of the impatient race, the cat people naturally did not get along with the slow-paced and rock-hard dwarves.
Chapter 4 Conspiracy, of course, there must be a conspiracy
Bruce Langdon sensed something, so he raised his head and took a vigilant posture, pressing the brooch with his right hand. This brooch was a life-saving prop that he had obtained with great effort, and the magic stored in it could save his life at a critical moment.
After all, he was not like his sister - although Bruce Langdon was also quite handsome, he was not a warlock and had no ability to cast spells.
Bruce Langdon breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the tall, thin figure walking out from behind the curtains.
"Can't you just go through the front door? Use your famous disguise skills." He spoke to the figure in a completely relaxed tone, but his hand did not take it away from the brooch.
"We live with shadows out of habit," the figure whispered.
"So, let's get down to business. Have you checked out the background of the wizard who showed up at the city gate this morning? Is he a disciple of my father's guest?"
"No, there is no evidence that he was the disciple of the Grand Master of the Palace. But many people saw him staying in front of the notice board at the door for quite a long time and taking down the notice posted by your sister."
Bruce Langdon frowned. "Why would a wizard accept a commission from that notice board?"
Only the lowest-level mercenaries would look for tasks on the notice board at the city gate. Most of the tasks that appeared there were boring jobs such as transporting goods and exterminating rats. Occasionally, there would be a debt collector, who would immediately be snatched up by the lowest-level muscle gangsters.
A day ago, when Bruce Langdon heard that his sister had posted a recruitment notice on the bulletin board, he couldn't believe his ears.
His sister, the youngest daughter of the Duke of Langdon, usually appeared to be smart, but in this matter she behaved like a mentally retarded person.
To the point that Bruce Langdon once suspected that there was some mystery in this and thought it was actually a secret signal to someone.
After all, the content of the recruitment notice was also very nonsensical. Investigating missing cats and dogs? It sounded like a noble lady playing house.
Although Elizabeth Langdon was indeed the most distinguished noble lady in the city.
Today, it seems that everything has come to light.
Bruce Langdon said seriously, "I understand. My lovely half-sister has established contact with a certain great wizard at some point in time. This recruitment is actually their secret code for contact. The great wizard has sent a magic consultant to her!"
"But," the wanderer hiding in the shadows interrupted Bruce, "the one who came out of the portal was a young man. When the guards at the city gate checked him, they were very sure that he was at most eighteen years old. Most apprentices at the age of eighteen can only cast second-level magic. Isn't he a little too young to be a magic consultant?"
Bruce Langdon frowned, "He may have deceived the guards, through spells like suggestion. Mages are very cunning. In short, my sister may now have a powerful mage assistant. Be careful about this in the future."
Wanderer: "In fact, after meeting your sister, the mage quickly left her base and began to wander around the city."
"Alone?" Bruce asked in surprise.
"No, two, with Swordsman Mark. Also... maybe that drow is nearby too."
Bruce pursed his lips, thought for a moment, and then asked, "If we test his strength...will it be revealed that it was us who did it? I don't want to break up with my lovely sister so soon."
Wanderer: "Actually, you don't have to worry so much, because your sister seems to be planning an adventure. We don't know where she's going yet. If she's going to a dangerous place, such as the city's sewers, maybe you'll have one less opponent forever."
Bruce: "Isn't she looking for a cat? What's the risk?"
"Last week your father mobilized the city defense forces and adventurers to wipe out the underground goblin tribe. Wild cats and dogs are the favorite food reserves of the goblins living in the city sewers."
Bruce was shocked. After a brief thought, he ordered, "Find a way to release intelligence suggesting that the goblins are responsible for the decrease in the number of cats and dogs."
"There's no need to hint at this. All adventurers know this."
Bruce: "My sister is not an adventurer, she is just a little girl playing adventurer. Release the information, and - it's best not to go through the Thieves Guild, Marika will see that we are trying to lure her."
Wanderer: "Then it's up to you to take action. Perhaps you could tell Miss Marilyn, your classmate, about the story of the goblins who like to eat cats and dogs?"
Bruce: "I'll let the bard do it. Marilyn is very obsessed with that guy. Go ahead and continue to monitor the wizard apprentice. It would be best if you could find out his strength."
The wanderer bowed slightly, then quietly retreated into the shadows.
Bruce breathed a sigh of relief.
The Wanderers Guild of this city has placed its hopes on the second son of Duke Langdon as the future lord, at least for now.
Bruce knew that the guild was betting so confidently because their life could be threatened at any time.
Who knows if Big Brother’s strength will be further improved in the future? It is already very difficult for the wanderers to threaten his life now.
As for the youngest daughter, Elizabeth Langdon, she is a sorceress. Killing her now might be as easy as twisting a baby's arm, but that may not be the case in seven or eight years.
Moreover, Duke Langdon has hired a well-known old wizard to be Elizabeth's teacher. Who knows whether the old wizard has left any life-saving spells on her.
From this perspective, the second prince Bruce Langdon is the easiest to control.
Of course, the second prince would never sit still and wait for death.
He called softly, "Cassander."
"I'm here, Your Highness."
A gecko on the wall suddenly transformed into a tall cat-man and landed on the ground swiftly. The druid gestured to his employer: "Everything is normal. The thief has left."
"Let Kellerman take over, and you go and see my sister, your new mage companion."
"Understood." Cassander paused, then said after a brief hesitation, "Your Highness, as a druid, I have been having nightmares recently. I asked Verney about it, and his interpretation of the dream said that nightmares are warnings from nature."
Bruce smiled. "Nature, you mean to say that at a time when all parties are eyeing the next Duke, I should worry about nature in addition to the various forces with their own ulterior motives?"
"I don't know." Cassander shook his head. "But the disappearance of wild cats and dogs is indeed very strange. The Green Field druids are also investigating this matter."
Bruce: "Then let the druids take care of everything - and my sister, of course. Find out the details of that wizard."
Casander nodded, turned around and transformed into a sparrow, jumped out of the wooden window of the study, and disappeared under the sun.
Chapter 5: A Mage Apprentice's Journey into Langdon City
At the same time, Mark was taking Wang around the city.
"Can you really tell where the magic nodes are through this map?" The warrior stretched his head and looked at the map drawn by the drow in the king's hand.
Wang: "It should be fine. Although this map is hand-drawn, it is quite accurate and the main landmarks are clearly marked. For example, the statue of Langdon I is only one meter to the left of its actual position on the map."
Mark looked up at the statue of the first Duke of Langdon, and then found a crow perched on top of the statue.
Mark: "How do you know it's off by one meter?"
"I have mastered a variation of the positioning technique, which my teacher developed to solve his own problem of being directionally challenged."
The warrior frowned and put his hand on the hilt of the sword at his waist: "Did you cast a spell?"
"Yes, I have always had the effects of this spell on me."
Mark: "I didn't notice you were reading the words?"
When casting a spell with verbal elements, the spell needs to be pronounced clearly and accurately, which generally means that the creatures around can hear the spell. Most common spells contain verbal elements, so Mark was so surprised.
Wang: "I cast this spell when I set out in the morning. After all, Landon City is a big city, and it lacks a complete urban planning, and the roads are chaotic. Without this spell, I might not even be able to get to your tavern before the gathering time."
"Three Wild Boars." Mark said, "Our tavern is called Three Wild Boars. When you say departure... you mean before you leave the Mage Tower?"
"Yes."
"Is this spell so long-lasting?"
"It can last for five hours. There's still a little time left, maybe five to ten minutes?"
"You didn't know the way after that?"