Surviving The Fourth Calamity

Chapter 843: Chapter 639 The Lin Family Digging Holes Everywhere

Hill knew that An Pengfei was explaining why the An Family made a mistake: despite valuing matters related to Hill, it wasn’t to the extent of causing such a significant incident.

In their minds, a newly arrived Archmage like Hill in Shulong would never be someone others would target to strike at the An Family.

Without understanding an Archmage’s abilities, most people would choose to temporarily observe.

An Ran actually explained to Hill that they had already notified major forces in Benevolence City about Hill’s identity the next morning, but they didn’t expect the enemies would react so quickly, nor that the Bai Family’s young master would be so foolish.

Noble Clans are familiar with the behavior of wastrels; before picking a quarrel, they would always clarify the person’s background. Who knew the Bai Family fool would believe an outsider’s words?

Others might think the An Family was shirking responsibility, but Hill found this explanation to be quite reasonable.

If Santarin had an opportunity to trouble Hill, they would spare no effort, exerting all their strength would be normal, not to mention Gold and Silver Jewelry.

The Wo Empire’s gangs are notoriously poor, that even High-level Warriors and ninjas would fish in the sea or mine to earn money.

However, Hill also knew that though the incident began with him, the aim was not about him.

It was normal for Santarin’s allies to involve Hill in their dirty work, even make him the scapegoat for a riot, since everyone is willing to earn some idle money.

But the true purpose of this shady business was obviously to sow discord between the Noble Clans and the Shoulong Royal Family.

The An Family must have some major plan, substantially affecting Shulong, making them a thorn in the side of these spies.

Otherwise, dealing with Hill wouldn’t necessarily require choosing the Treasure Pavilion.

Now, regardless of which side fails, the An Family will be closely scrutinized under the spotlight.

The An Family particularly brought An Pengfei back, and Hill suspected it might be related to this matter.

An Pengfei definitely did not shift the blame onto Hill. He should have learned from An Ran about Hill’s uniqueness, so his speech was sincere, just pointing out why the spies targeting the An Family used Hill as a raft.

Emphasizing that it was definitely not someone from the An Family using him as bait.

Hill listened casually to this An Family young master’s words. Such elites cultivated by Noble Clans are really incompatible with him.

He actually preferred dealing with the hypocritical fat An Ran.

The Wo people didn’t know how many secret agents were lurking secretly in Haidong Province.

Even counting the time on Reception Island, Hill had only been in Shulong for two days, yet he was included in their complete plans.

Though the Bai Family young master was foolish, it at least proved how fast these spies conveyed messages.

An Pengfei led Hill through courtyards guarded by rows of Fish Scale Armor-clad guards, towards the east side of the castle’s main courtyard: ”According to our Shulong tradition, the legitimate eldest son always lives on the east side.”

”Is this Lin Yi really from the Lin Family?” Hill couldn’t help but ask.

”The Lin Family’s eldest son’s mother has always been frail and resting in the countryside, while his father has many concubines around, and many favored illegitimate sons with ships and shops.

But Lin Yi only has a few dowry ships from his mother, with no goods.

So it’s not strange that he mingles among wastrels as the legitimate eldest son, and the Bai Family fool offering some benefits was enough to fill those few ships of his.”

Hill keenly understood An Pengfei’s implication; Lin Yi indeed had Lin Family’s bloodline.

These Noble Clans seem to have a unique way to confirm this.

”Does Mr. Hill know a characteristic of the Wo people? They are clan-centric, whether paternal or maternal, regardless of surname, only focusing on which side has higher status.” An Pengfei opened a door, inviting Hill in, ”Sometimes, if a big clan’s daughter marries into a lower clan, then that family is controlled by the matron, effectively making it a place chosen by a big clan’s lord for his daughter’s autonomy.

Women have ambition too, and their approach is often sharper.

This time, the An Family’s strategists made a mistake, and the Family Head has recalled some female members from outside, hoping they can analyze the future movements of this Lin Family Matron.

Especially in parts where we feel indifferent but women think are worth a try.”

An Pengfei tried to speak subtly, but was essentially saying the Lin Family was a loyal subordinate to a Great Lord in the Wo Empire, even marrying an ambitious princess from the lord.

Whether for ambition or supposed loyalty, they have been lurking in the Shulong Empire for over a century, as the Lin Family moved to Haidong decades ago.

The reason that mother and son dared to openly abandon the Lin Family to flee must be because they trust the Lin Family’s loyalty, or believe that with their methods, the Lin Family would remain silent about their identities.

The An Family must have used very ruthless means to get the Lin Family members to divulge the matter quickly, even revealing secrets that the mother and son could not return to Wo Empire’s mainland.

Otherwise, the An Family wouldn’t have called back their clan members, Hill could tell that these people had legitimate work outside too.

In the Shulong Empire, women’s status is not low. As long as they have ability and ambition, both family and empire would grant corresponding power.

Hill didn’t think further; using any means on spies was normal and unrelated to him.

What’s most important to him is tracking down Lin Yi.

He slowly surveyed the three-part mansion before him. Truly worthy of the eldest son’s residence, its courtyard was dense, surrounded by a creek and scattered with standing stones.

An Pengfei led him to the wide-open second courtyard, which was Lin Yi’s living quarters.

”Mr. Polanio, the front yard study has been thoroughly excavated by the An Family, there’s basically nothing left to find.

The middle courtyard here has a lot of hidden mechanisms, we’re still carefully searching for things like secret chambers.”

Hill raised his hand to stop An Pengfei’s words and patted a small inconspicuous head on his robe.

Five or six little Brown Sprites timidly poked their heads out.

”Could you help me find out where the secret chambers in this courtyard are?” Hill switched to Elvish to ask them.

The little ones, although still a bit scared, were emboldened by Hill’s presence beside them. They all knew that Hill was even more powerful than their Queen.

Out of the corner of his eye, Hill kept an eye on the members of the An Family, as it was normal for the Shoulong People to understand the common tongue, but Hill was using Ancient Elvish, which few in Ferun could comprehend.

Yet both An Ran and An Pengfei could understand, and even the small team leader responsible for managing this courtyard, who came whispering to An Pengfei, could understand.

Indeed, the An family’s target wasn’t the Ferun Great Land, but the Elves.

Or possibly the Elf Fleet?

Agleya City was indeed the closest link to the Elves they could find, and one that could speak on their behalf.

Due to some ancient issues, the relationship between the Elves and the Shulong Empire isn’t good. Even now, their naval fleets clash when they encounter each other at sea.

However, it hasn’t reached the level of enmity, as it’s mostly just a clash of personalities.

The Shoulong People have too many rules, even speaking with them tires the Elves, not to mention dealing with them, often causing the Elves to lose patience before any agreements can be reached.

Hill had no intention of exposing them.

Since the An Family wanted to take their time to establish a good rapport with Hill and plan for the future, they might as well take it slow!

After all, he was in no hurry.

Exposing them would only give them an excuse to take advantage of the situation, something Hill wasn’t planning to allow.

In a slow, deliberate tone, he told An Pengfei, ”Follow my Brown Sprites, they can find all the secret chambers.”

Then Hill released a sofa under the ginkgo tree in the courtyard and sat down.

He leaned back on the sofa, appearing to rest with his eyes closed, clearly uninterested in further conversation.

An Pengfei quickly restrained one of his subordinates, whose face had darkened, thinking Hill’s attitude arrogant: these people were members of the An Family who had returned from the military camp outside the city after the incident and didn’t know Hill’s identity.

If it were an ordinary Archmage, standing on Haidong Province’s ground, he might need to show face to the eldest son of a local powerhouse family like this, but not this one.

The face of the An Family’s eldest son meant nothing in front of someone even stronger than their Great Witch.

Giving that guy a hint and a kick to quickly follow those Brown Sprites, An Pengfei respectfully stood guard beside Hill, dismissing everyone else except An Ran.

The few silent followers beside this Archmage, they adhered to a certain formation when standing or walking. No matter what happened, they could immediately enact a formation to protect their master, so there was no need for the An Family’s protection.

As long as he and An Ran accompanied them here, others weren’t qualified for the task.

The Lin Family, like groundhogs, had dug tunnels everywhere, with numerous mechanisms in place that required a lot of manpower.

An Pengfei envied those Knights for a moment. The major military formations on the Shoulong side were strong, but those compact formations really couldn’t compare to those on Ferun’s side.

If the Grand Knights on Ferun knew An Pengfei’s thoughts, they would probably be eager for a good sparring session.

Ferun’s battle formations could provide a boost for at most a thousand people, so the Grand Knights had to lead from the front lines.

Yet on the Shulong side, military formations could bolster tens of thousands of soldiers, with the main leaders often only needing to command from the rear, something Ferun’s High-level Knights would deeply envy!

If one could avoid death, who would risk their lives?

Hill didn’t concern himself with the commotion around him; he was carefully analyzing the information carried by the wind.

The atmosphere on Toril was too complex, and mostly stank with the foulness brought by evil, he hadn’t immersed himself in the wind in a long time.

Bit by bit, he broke it down and explored, until Hill finally discerned an evil aura tinged with a volcanic scent.

Clearly volcanic in origin, yet it felt cold and cruel, with a hint of something sticky.

Just like a snake from a volcano.

Suddenly, Hill opened his eyes. Got you!