Surviving The Fourth Calamity

Chapter 1442: Chapter 20

Hill touched his chin, thought for a moment, and suddenly squinted with a smile... He remembered something good.

Back in the day, when Fran and William were working on that Illusion Crystal Ball, he also made a few... Of course, the content wasn’t as complicated since he couldn’t see it himself.

Mainly, they were some natural scenes... such as being trampled by an elephant, swallowed by a giant python, or directly falling into volcanic magma.

Although they were mostly smashed to pieces when he used them to prank Oriana and the others, the lowest-level ones were still preserved.

Hill lightly cast an Invisibility Spell on himself, walked out of the carriage, and slowly circled around the lawn... With his footsteps, a row of white marble rose from the ground.

The guards standing by the roadside turned in surprise... On the 3-meter high wall behind them, there wasn’t even a gate.

”Break time.” A gentle voice reached their ears, ”No visitors are allowed. You can leave now.”

The Stelter Family guards had been warned sternly before they came that if the gentleman inside asked them to leave, they should absolutely not hesitate.

The few of them immediately bowed, turned around, and quickly made their way to another piece of lawn, mounted the horses stationed there, and swiftly left.

Hill raised an eyebrow: The Stelter Family now had one more point in his mind.

He looked up at the blue moon and the twinkling stars already up in the sky, casually embedding four Illusion Crystal Balls into the four walls.

Then he cheerfully returned to the carriage, activated the Soundproof Array, and promptly fell asleep.

Awakening with the morning sunshine, Hill happily opened the window... and then, even more delightedly, saw a dozen people in black robes groaning on the ground.

There were even two first-level mages among them... Judging by their positions and awkward postures, they probably tried to rescue someone and ended up stuck themselves.

And as for those directing the thieves, they likely wouldn’t find anyone else willing to lend a hand.

Any mage with even a bit of perception would surely turn away upon seeing these walls... Unless they couldn’t even recognize a Tenth Level magic aura.

Hill glanced up for a moment, and this time, the peeping gaze only dared to linger 2 kilometers away... although it was still somewhat uncomfortable, at least it wasn’t as persistent.

Hill wasn’t so domineering as to prohibit even looking.

He fussed around in the carriage, tidying up his outfit for going out... Ah, how he missed List!

After rummaging through the wardrobe for a while, occasionally forgetting his cufflinks and silk handkerchief, Hill was really a bit flustered.

If today wasn’t his first appearance where he needed to seem more like a noble-born High-level Warlock, Hill thought he’d rather just wear an all-black set!

After all, only warlocks of noble birth would be so tight-lipped about their heritage!

Those were the rules ingrained in memory from childhood.

Hill studied himself in the mirror for a while, then suddenly placed his fingers over his reflection’s excited eyes... He seemed to be really getting into character!

Could it be because of having to endure for so long in Toril that he’s now playful?

In any case, regardless of his inner state... Hill tapped the mirror... He felt a bit of nostalgia for when he first arrived in Toril. No, it was liveliness!

If he were the one squatting in the castle in Agleya, he probably wouldn’t have chosen to form any friendship with Lynn.

Lowering one wall, Hill lightly stepped out onto the grass... Although it was still early, he wanted to wander around this world that filled him with curiosity.

Especially the commercial street with its shop windows and the advertisements everywhere.

That made him feel like he was walking into a vintage commercial street... In his unfortunate previous years, everything European-style, Bailu Town was all the rage.

Then he couldn’t help but furrow his brows.

After waving his hand to restore the wall behind him, Hill coldly spoke to a lavish villa a thousand meters to the left: ”If you don’t want your eyes, you can do without them!”

”Apologies.” A middle-aged mage, wearing a deep blue mage robe, appeared with an embarrassed expression. ”Honored Sage of the Earth sir, I... someone asked me to pass a message... as a fellow mage...”

”Who are you?” Hill almost laughed coldly, ”Do we know each other? Where’s the connection?

In the Blue Moon Goddess’s dream?”

The middle-aged mage’s face turned a shade of iron blue, yet he still forced a smile and said, ”Ah! It’s really... so embarrassing.

I am Lucimar Ismail from the Ismael Family.

You, haven’t you seen our auction catalog?

That is... it’s my fault for being impolite.”

Hill raised an eyebrow, the first page of that catalog did seem to have a portrait... But who would pay attention to a store owner’s appearance when planning to buy something?

Especially when it was such an uninteresting merchant.

Not some pin-up model.

”I did.” Hill responded softly, ”But why should I look at you?

Are you... also up for sale?”

Lucimar’s face turned completely black: ”I heard you were a reclusive sage, and I was a bit skeptical...

It seems, you haven’t stepped out of the mountains for quite a while!”

Hill couldn’t help but laugh: ”What? Is it already eons past?

”A world where an eighth-level mage dares to warn an earth magician?”

”The Ismael Family, after all, is the cradle of Crystalstone Technology!” Lucimar announced loudly, head held high, ”My father, the great sage Jack Ismail, founded modern alchemy single-handedly!

No matter where you come from, you should...”

”But what does that have to do with you?” Hill struggled to suppress a laugh, ”I don’t feel the light of alchemy shining on you at all.

Ah... even a great sage can only lament when there is no successor!” Hill said with feigned seriousness, ”Indeed, an alchemist can’t expect their child to have talents, better take on a student early.”

”Nonsense!” Lucimar was immediately on the defensive, ”I just choose not to waste my mage talents!

I became a mage before I even came of age!

I’m only 40 years old this year!”

Hill nearly twitched his lips... The Ismael Family putting this guy in Stelter City probably wasn’t to annoy Count Stelter but rather to make him laugh to death.

The real decision-maker shouldn’t be him, but his status or rather, his mage level wasn’t high enough.

From how the conversation was led this astray by Hill and no one stopped it, it’s clear that this guy’s daily conduct is like this, and... he’s definitely overly biased and stubborn, so much so that no one dares to stop him from making a fool of himself publicly.

”Very well.” Hill nodded reservedly, ”Young folk should keep up the effort, hope you advance to high-level soon.”

This world is rather simple, low rank below level 5, intermediate below level 10, high-level below level 15... level 16 is a great sage.

But because there are so few high-level mages, many people will directly refer to those above level 10 as sages.

Once he finished speaking, Hill walked away, his steps swift and sure... really swift... directly leaving the scene.

Only Luciemar remained with a proud face answering: ”Of course, I’d be younger than you when I reach level 10!”

Hill glanced back blankly, then quickly left at even faster speed... This world doesn’t have the transcendent phase, so humans generally look about their age.

Some magicians with unique bloodlines may age slower, and... even with elven bloodline, after many generational gaps, they can’t achieve eternal youth.

The spell to maintain one’s appearance at minimum needs a sixth ring, and it can only be used on oneself.

While Hill isn’t in such condition... but anyone who sees him would first think of this.

Starting at level 12, the tremendous power is the reason forces in Basia City appear so obediently on the surface.

Underground probing is something else entirely, as long as there’s no acknowledgment, it’s unrelated to them.

Facing such a Hill, still being able to say such words... it’s all thanks to that great sage’s abilities that this guy could reach the eighth level.

Hill had already reached the business district when that high mage Lucimar finally reacted: ”Eh? No, wasn’t I here to get him to release someone?”

Through the Mage’s Eye left behind by Hill over there, he saw a voluptuous and wave-bosomed ravishing mage rushing toward Lucimar: ”Lu～ci!”

Curiously eavesdropping, Hill couldn’t resist shuddering along with those undulating waves.

”Lucy!” Lucimar instantly stopped pondering whether he had unfinished business, ”You’ve returned! I...”

”What are you doing here?” Lucy’s face transformed all her recent anxiety into a gentle smile at this moment, ”The auction tonight still has a few things left undone!

I planned to ask you for help, yet there’s no sight of you!

Didn’t you say you’d help me?

Where exactly did you help?”

”Pierre Monte came to me, saying he and that newly arrived high-level magician had a misunderstanding.

Hoped I could help mediate, he was willing to pay sufficiently, as long as the misunderstanding got resolved.

I thought it was no big deal, you were busy, so I...”

Lucy’s smile suddenly froze for a moment, then she quickly said: ”Are those trivial matters more important than me?

That Floating Shield, I always feel...the current arrangement is not quite comprehensive.

You’re good, not helping me, but help Monte!

Ha～ isn’t it that guy who took you drinking in such places?

You sure... prioritize him!”

Lucimar instantly became anxious, started explaining to Lucy, following her seemingly slow steps back to the business district.

After watching the whole scene, Hill couldn’t help but blink.

Then quickly drew a question mark in the Ismael Family’s mental note.

The struggles of the Stelter Family aren’t a façade, and Ismael Family indeed suppresses them in various ways intentionally.

But this family doesn’t arouse much resentment.

Of course, being foolish and being bad, that’s another matter entirely.