Surviving The Fourth Calamity

Capítulo 1180: Chapter 971: The Deepwater City Mafia Targeted by Dragons

Ever since Deepwater City was stirred up by the Zholar, it has been under strict management.

However, the city guard, having decayed for too long, rendered the seemingly tight defenses almost useless… Those who are stopped from entering are mostly the low-level adventurers unwilling to part with their money to find a way in.

With Neverwinter blown up, Luskan demanding high prices, and Agleya being inaccessible… these people can only attempt to find job opportunities in Deepwater City.

Unfortunately, the cost to enter Deepwater City is so high that they cannot afford it.

Indeed, for the city guard in Deepwater City, who are accustomed to palms facing upward, the result of the lords’ repeated orders for strict defense is an entry fee that has gravitated from 50 Copper Coins to 50 silver coins.

If you’re a Half-Elf, then it’s 1 Gold Coin… They consider Half-Elves as spies for the Zholar.

Of course, this is the official statement, even though everyone knows they’re talking nonsense… But all they need is an excuse for collecting money, right?

Half-Elves earn money much more easily than humans.

However, Half-Elves aren’t stupid.

Those without faction issues naturally went to Agleya and Luskan to make a living… Deepwater City’s merchant ships may be numerous, but so are those in Agleya and Luskan!

Now, without those magic ships flying in from the Dimensional Gate, Deepwater City’s largest trade income has been cut off for a long time.

As for those assassins and thieves in the shadows, they had no intention of paying even when it was 50 copper coins.

In such a vast Deepwater City, with such a long port line, who wouldn’t find a gap to slip in?

Deepwater City doesn’t have a Puzzle Lock.

In the end, it’s the lowest-level adventurers who are stopped outside the city gates.

So when Edna, with her people and those trailing behind her, reached the outskirts of Deepwater City, she encountered a dirty and chaotic market.

No matter how arrogant the Deepwater City guards are, they cannot demand their citizens not to step outside… Once the entry fee is imposed on local citizens, confidentiality becomes impossible.

Although their superiors are basically aware.

But they take a share from these collections, with the highest cut going to them, yet they’re not the ones to take the blame.

Though the masked lords of Deepwater City may turn a blind eye to many things, if citizens report to these hidden rulers, who secretly control Deepwater City, they have to step in and address issues.

Then the adventurers outside realized not entering the city isn’t too bad, other than minor inconveniences in eating and lodging, and having to venture into the wilderness to hunt and gather… But as more people gather, there appeared vendors not just selling vegetables and firewood, but even cooks and songstresses.

The songstresses from the lowest rungs gleefully discovered a brand-new market, so they quickly set up large tents.

With their tents setup, those who survive by selling meals for 1 or 2 Copper Coins also appeared.

Those who came later clustered around those colorful tents, building wooden sheds circle by circle, and there were even a few earth houses… Apparently, someone has started collecting protection fees.

It’s only those kinds of people who need a fixed residence.

Aside from the unpleasant smell, this market had already developed quite a scale.

“Is Deepwater City looking for trouble on its own?” blurted out the ‘Old Age Striking King’ who was sitting with Edna on Elvia.

Having participated in the Pit Battle, she had a profound and unforgettable memory of this smell… the smell here closely resembled what her dulled senses perceived at that time.

Moreover, they were standing at a considerable distance on the main road… One could only imagine the stench inside the market.

“They’re even eating inside!” an Undead Tribe member couldn’t help but shout… Clearly, Black Rose’s management is very sensitive about such matters.

Looks like even if there’s a way to isolate those smells, they still remember which places they’ve strolled through.

Edna smiled lightly… The Sanda King usually loved to carry snacks and drinks while shopping, but yesterday she was empty-handed and completely uninterested in entering food stalls.

“Toril people, can’t they dig a pit a bit farther away? They just have to…” The ‘Old Age Striking King’ couldn’t help but let out a ‘ugh~’ halfway, “Forget it, let’s leave quickly!”

“Aren’t Deepwater City’s lords supposed to be quite shrewd?” Leonard, standing next to the White Dragon, suddenly spoke, “How come such obvious shadows went unnoticed?”

Nasir, who was isolated by colleagues from Quel Senta and had to walk next to the White Dragon’s tail, smiled and said: “They’ve managed it~ Without Deepwater City’s support, who would dare to collect protection fees so blatantly? Those are houses! Whether tents or wooden sheds, those disposable things never amount to much.

But for earth houses, in any city of Toril, taxes must be paid for those.”

Edna cast a cold glance at the market: “Let’s enter the city! There are lots of amusements in Deepwater City! If nothing significant happens, we’ll stay for two days and then leave.”

The ‘Old Age Striking King’ raised a hand to pat Edna on the back: “If you truly want to leave, just don’t jinx us with such talk.”

“Because I don’t care~” Edna said cheerfully, “It’d be great if something happened, it’d give us a chance to broaden our horizons.

Isn’t that powerful Mistrala Elector Kelben here? I’d really like to see what he can do!

If nothing happens, that would be such a pity~”

The ‘Old Age Striking King’ looked at his young friend dropping a FLAG everywhere and couldn’t help but laugh: “You really hope something will happen~

Yeah, well, as long as it’s not Agleya, it doesn’t matter if it blows up.”

Leonard’s voice was deep: “Let’s hope it doesn’t blow up… that could be dangerous for us too! Huh? Why are you all looking at me like that?”

Edna’s mouth twitched slightly: “Because we never make assumptions about ourselves, understand?”

The Half-Elf Mage looked blankly at the group staring at him with disapproval… even that Nasir from the Shaer Family was giving him a strange look… Why?

Josanie, perched on top of Elvia’s head, used her beautiful, large butterfly wings to cover her eyes, unwilling to see her friend’s innocent yet foolish demeanor… On a path related to destiny, and daring to say ‘if’ about his own future?

The last person to do this should be Kranvo, right?

Their renowned journey to collect the Tablets of Fate was marching towards ruin in his nonstop string of ‘ifs’… To be honest, for Cyric to have a fallout with those two by then, the dragons chatting over here all admire the patience of that guy.

Not only did he have to sacrifice his own interests, but he also had to listen to that notorious crow mouth hoping for the future.

Sometimes it makes people wonder if the Tablets of Fate set obstacles according to his thoughts.

So no dragon was surprised that Kranvo would be taken back to become the God of Death… this kind of guy who could cause heavy casualties with just one word is really so perfectly suited!

Edna’s team walked towards the gates of Deepwater City in an eerie silence… without encountering any obstruction, and no one stepped forward to charge an entry fee.

Not only had the Deepwater City lords repeatedly ordered a few days earlier not to say anything to such large adventuring parties with mages, but even the towering White Dragon Queen was enough to make this group of guys shrink back.

No one on Toril, no matter how foolish, would reach out to ask a dragon for a city entrance fee.

Even if it could set the stage for a famous dragon-slaying war, the ones brave enough to ask for money have already met their doom.

Elvia strode confidently through the Deepwater City gates… Of course, she had wanted to come before, but with her nickname as ‘Mage Killer,’ entering a city controlled by the Magic Tower would inevitably spell trouble.

The White Dragon Queen possesses the rare cunning and rationality of the White Dragon race, basically never doing anything to trouble herself.

Who knew there would be a day she could strut into this commercial metropolis. Elvia was genuinely quite pleased.

However, walking down that famous Sword Street, the white dragon felt disappointed: “This… it’s not even as good as Agleya?”

“Wasn’t it said to have been invaded by the Zholar not long ago? It can’t be rebuilt quickly; Deepwater City doesn’t have an Archmage who can build a house with a wave of the hand,” Edna said carelessly, “But if you look at the number of shops, Deepwater City certainly has more variety than Agleya.

Yet, if you look at the sophistication of the buildings, how could this compare to Agleya?

Lord Hill’s works have always been grand; even the materials used for those residential homes typically are what only big merchants can afford.

Not to mention his own shopping streets, just go have a look, even those Great Nobility’s estates aren’t as good.”

Elvia flapped her wings, completely indifferent to the people dodging madly on either side and the angry looks they sent her way, saying somewhat gloomy: “Then there’s only the famous Deepwater City gangs left, I hope they’ll give me a thrill.”

Edna paused before saying: “You don’t think those guys specializing in extorting the lower class and flaunting themselves in the slums are rich, do you?

I reckon even if you fixed everything, it’d still be less than what you earn from one undead tribe’s hiring task.”

Elvia was not easily deterred, she had heard many legendary stories: “Maybe there’s some treasure that these dim-sighted folks have tossed in a warehouse like junk!

Let’s go give it a try?”

Then she twisted her long neck towards the back, her large eyes filled with longing: “Striking King, what do you think?”

“Although I think there’s unlikely to be anything.” The ‘Old Age Striking King’ said calmly, “Deepwater City’s gangs were swept by the undead tribe not that many years ago.

However, if you’re looking to play, it’s fine, but according to our tradition, you need a proper reason to take action against forces in other cities.”

Elvia hesitated for a while, then suddenly turned to look at the leisurely White Robe Mage following behind: “So… Snow Elder… Mr. Snow Cloud Peak? Can you help me out?

I really want to experience a real adventure novel story!”

‘Snow Cloud Peak’ could naturally tell what this white dragon wanted to call him, but upon seeing the Loli Priest seated on the dragon’s back, he could only twitch his mouth and nod: “I’ll pay attention, I’ll call you if there’s a chance.”