Surviving The Fourth Calamity

Chapter 1433: Chapter 11: Earl Stelter of Basia City

Hill put the Magic Tower into the carriage’s compartment, then used energy-rich pasture in a nearby valley to tempt a tall and strong black stallion, and set off resolutely.

He needs to go to that city to learn how they use the crystal stones as engines!

Hill isn’t unable to use crystal stones to charge arrays, but... even at the poorest time in Teraxil, it used various crystals as energy sources.

With abundant energy, the circuit usage is direct... otherwise, the Undead Tribe wouldn’t have used humans as energy sources.

Like the arrays developed by Fran that can control entire cities, they are basically the most dazzling array diagrams of Teraxil... yet the energy pathways are spacious enough for small repair puppets to run inside!

Let alone in Toril, although half of the resources in this world have been depleted, even gemstone fragments are starting to be used, but after all, there is sufficient energy in the air, besides, they were rich in the past.

Though their arrays are complex, they don’t really require many nodes, a few gemstones can support them... After all, the Archmage himself is the strongest energy source.

But it’s different in Aesces.

Hill estimates that the array diagrams in this world resemble complex circuit diagrams and might develop towards chip models in the future.

Simply put, the arrays Hill created couldn’t be used in this world at all... Now, he uses the civilian alternatives developed by 1 and 2-ring mages from Toril.

Even the arrays he used when he first advanced to a mage can’t be used... Whether energy comes from crystal stones or complex arrays, a mage with the least bit of understanding of alchemy can tell.

Though Aesces hasn’t prohibited him from using crystals below premium grade, the energy from the crystals almost evaporates into the air once placed in arrays... This world naturally absorbs purer energy.

Even though Hill doesn’t mind giving Aesces a small treat, but... Whenever Hill imagines himself as a goddess scattering flowers, walking and sprinkling kindness, attracting all attention wherever he goes, like being under spotlights, he feels almost unable to breathe.

People, when faced with a more terrifying outcome for comparison, naturally become more flexible-minded, Hill suddenly remembers the amusement books he’s read.

Hill is quite glad that at that time, in order to make Candlekeep willingly transcribe books for him, he didn’t miss even the books somewhat related to magic.

Anyway, no matter how boring, the theoretical books collected by Candlekeep are genuinely effective.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t usually browse these temporary arrays relying on gemstone dust for one or two years!

Sitting in the small living room, listening to the ticking sound of horse hooves outside, with only an 8th-level puppet, barely maintaining human form, delivering tea by his side, Hill let out a sigh... just hoping Aesces is telling the truth, even though his current appearance is quite eye-catching, blending into the ranks of high-level warlocks in this world shouldn’t be a problem.

Hill touched the mage robe temporarily made... Humans in this world seem to love uniforms, even the upper part of the mage robe is like military attire, surprisingly double-breasted, with a row of cuff buttons.

The cloak worn over the robe also fits the body snugly, and surprisingly all without hoods.

It’s likely because their magic-based professions need to go on the battlefield, and also act collectively.

Conversely, the middle class in society dresses in simple fitted dress suits, long coats, and small leather shoes.

Women walking on the street do so freely, dressed not in the bindings of long skirts one would immediately identify as non-human, but more comfortable long-sleeve dresses... Occasionally, when the wind blows, pants of a similar color to the dress are exposed.

They look ready to lift skirts and sprint away if needed.

Occasionally appearing noblewomen are dressed beautifully: huge skirts, multi-layered cake cuts, intricately layered pleats, yet without tight bodices or corsets.

Young girls often wear riding outfits... Hill feels they simply add a fabric with a front slit over long riding pants... Motionless, it appears like a long skirt.

Of course, it’s probably the result of fine tailoring to achieve this look.

But once riding fast, that piece of fabric wouldn’t have much of an impact.

Hill estimates this appearance might be more due to noble girls’ pursuit of beauty themselves... A few straightforward girls wear riding pants, galloping back and forth, and nobody sees anything wrong.

No matter what, Hill’s first impression of this world is still very good.

At least, those simple linen shirts, modest cotton dress-wearing commoners, walking on roadsides, show no fear because of passing noble carriages.

The only time people retreat collectively is for those black military vehicles.

Hill surveyed the 15-square-meter small living room he occupied... basically furnished with cabinets styled in past minimalist Nordic style as the background wall, the cabinet behind him is a hidden door that can push the bookcases on either side into the glass cabinet with double doors in the middle, one side is a bedroom, the other a small bathroom.

In the center are three white single sofa chairs, along with a simple glass coffee table topped with a set of crystal tea sets.

The panels beneath the cabinets on both sides can fold down to become chairs, and naturally a slim table appears below the window in the middle... Hill could write on that if needed.

Hill placed various sized booklets, and some blank scrolls on the bookshelf... Without opening them, nobody can know there’s nothing inside.

But if anyone can sneak in while he’s not in the carriage, they wouldn’t find anything peculiar.

As the sound of horse hooves suddenly turned crisp, Hill knew without Purwell’s notification that the carriage had already reached the main road in front of the city gate.

He exhaled lightly... success or failure hinged on this moment.

Hill wasn’t too nervous, after all, even if his identity was found suspicious, with his certification from the God of Runes, he wouldn’t become a wanted criminal.

At most, he would be regarded as a spy by those sensitive nobles and guarded against... Anyway, he wasn’t interested in politics, and those people couldn’t catch him doing anything wrong.

Still, Hill hoped everything would go smoothly without too many troubles.

He liked watching others’ fun, but that didn’t mean he liked being watched.

The carriage quietly stopped outside the city gate... Hill had felt it long ago. Ever since he came within two kilometers of the city, someone had noticed him from the city walls.

And they appeared very cautious.

Probably because there was no coachman.

The carriage bore a noble emblem, and the tall and majestic horse was clearly of Horse King caliber, capable of traveling by itself. This setup unmistakably indicated a mage or a magician of no low rank.

”Honorable Mage...” a male voice sounded outside his right window, ”Welcome to Basia City.

Joshua Pike, Captain of the Guard of Basia’s East City, greets you.

Are you... here to attend Count Stelter’s celebration banquet?”

”Belfran Family, Earth Traveler Hill.” Hill waved his hand, and the window on the right side automatically opened, revealing a middle-aged man on horseback in a black and blue officer uniform, smiling at him.

Joshua Pike’s eyes quickly scanned the carriage’s interior and the young, handsome earth magician within.

He felt a slight tension... Magicians are notoriously hard to judge by age, but the faint halo emanating from this earth magician proved he was at least Level 10.

In all of Basia City, there weren’t more than ten professionals above Level 10... Among them, three belonged to the army system, and Count Stelter couldn’t easily enlist their help.

He then quickly noticed the rune certification in the glass cabinet at the back of the carriage... it was indeed a formal document bestowed by the Rune Temple, and Joshua quickly committed its contents to memory.

Upon returning, he could just confirm it with the Rune Temple.

No one could impersonate such a young high-level magician.

Based on this magician’s demeanor, at least he harbored no malice toward Basia City and Count Stelter... Otherwise, this Belfran magician wouldn’t have explicitly displayed his professional halo.

Allowing a Level 10 great magician to enter the city unnoticed would indeed be terrifying... Who knows from which sky a dagger might fall?

Joshua couldn’t guarantee that the city’s reckless youths wouldn’t offend this archmage, especially since he indeed had a charming face.

The noble offspring of Basia City might not dare to forcefully seize men, but they would definitely harass them.

To provoke or even harass and insult a high-level magician, even if it’s Count Stelter’s own son, being killed would only be their fate.

But these kids were just a bit unruly, and having watched them grow up, Joshua didn’t want to see them come to harm.

Having decided to issue a warning upon returning, Joshua put on his gentlest smile and asked once more, ”Honorable Mr. Belfran...”

Hill interrupted his question, ”What is Count Stelter’s banquet celebrating?”

Joshua immediately understood, this was a genuine Earth Traveler... one of those earth magicians who grew bored of their reclusive dwelling and started to wander the world.

Perhaps due to the abundance of mines, their world had many earth magicians... and those who could call themselves Earth Travelers were generally above Level 8.

”Miss Alitorman, the eldest daughter of the Stelter Family, has just become an official mage.

The Count has decided to hold a celebration banquet lasting seven days for this occasion.

It starts in three days.

So these days, many mages have been arriving in Basia.

I... thought you were one of them.”

Hill nodded, ”That’s quite a coincidence.”