It was peaceful throughout lunch. Though there was some unhealthy gaze from the Nicholas directed to Zhu Rong, there was no further conflict or debate. As if there was a tacit understanding to not disturb the dining table when they were eating.
The nine summoned Characters were sat in the circular dining table. Of course, after some forceful command from Xianli.
Nicholas persisted that he must stand beside him as a butler. But Xianli said that for now, he needs him as a merchant and not butler. Thus, he sat down with them.
As for Rebecca, Xianli commanded her to sat beside him and kindly introduce the local cuisine to the beautiful elf. He didn't know how old was she, but from her look only she looks like a 20 or so years-old.
After lunch, Juewang went to clean up the table. And Nicholas with the girls help her done the job.
Meanwhile, Xianli was fiddling with his inventory.
Inventory
Paltiac's Tome 1
Some Jade Necklace I Found in the Locker 1
Horsetail Brush (Round) 1
Horsetail Brush (Flat) 1
Roll of Paper 9
Charcoal Stick 4
Inkstone 5
Jade Seal 1
City Lord Manor Map 1
Dali City Map 1
Dongfeng Topographical Map 1
Lastarte Continental Map 1
This World Map 1
Medan City Map 1
Java Island Map 1
Sumatra Island Map 1
Indonesia Map 1
Earth World Map 1
Card Bundle (Effect) 2
Card Bundle (Creature) 1
Card Bundle (Magic) 2
Card Bundle (Enchantment) 1
Card Bundle (Equipment) 2
...
Xianli stored all of the things that he thought would be useful in the inventory.
Starting from the thunder tome, some writing instrument, and a necklace made of jade or something he found in the locker.
He had no idea nor had any memories related to this necklace, but he felt this was something that precious from him.
The memory of the original Dian Xianli was a bit blurry. As if he watched a cut-to-piece old negative film wheel in play. Memories of a 14-years-old boy weren't that any important for him anyway.
Still, sometime Xianli found himself feeling lost as if there was an identity crisis going on inside him. The soul from the earth could suppress it now, but. He was afraid that the original Xianli would appear and then took this body back to his control.
After all, it wasn't like the original soul was certain death just like he himself who was shot by a sniper. It couldn't stop him to think that someday he would be back and took back the control of this body. Well, if that would eventually happen then it would be very bad news for him. And although he couldn't prove any of it, he felt that this original soul slowly influenced his mind.
He needed to ensure this matter with Catherine later on.
Getting back to the inventory, last night he drew several maps before Arianne barged into his room. And this afternoon he continued to draw. And when he had nothing to do, he also drew the earth world map with his country, island, and city. Perhaps because he missed his homeworld.
And there was this card bundle(s). He bundled the cards of the same category and tied it before storing it into the inventory. It was the most effective way to store these cards he thought until then.
Before this, he stored the cards inside a small pouch then store the pouch in the inventory. But this had a problem on its own. If he wanted to grab a card, for example, a magic card ..., then he needs to search the card one-by-one before finding the card he needed.
It was not a problem in a battle because he would instantly and automatically change into battle mode. But what if he was suddenly attacked? Xianli didn't know what would happen, would he entered the battle mode or kept the summoning mode?
He didn't want to make a wild guess and getting killed in the end. It was enough to get assassinated once time. So he couldn't only think about the worst-case scenario.
Thus, he bundled a dozen of cards of the same category and store it into the inventory as it is. If there was a surprise attack then he would immediately get a hold of the cards he needed.
When they finished cleaning the table and Juewang laid down the dessert-like confectionary, Xianli began to speak.
"Okay, let's talk about the things need to be done."
All summoned characters simultaneously looked at him.
"First is, I want you to complete a task for me." He took the topographical map of the Dongfeng Province and took a brush to paint a few marks, "as of now, my father was still missing. The last path we took before we were separated was this opening. Currently, we are here ..., Dali City. I don't think he will be able to survive in the Beast Mountain Range over here so ..., perhaps he will be roaming around this vicinity."
Xianli looked back at the summoned creatures. Besides the elf-slave Rebecca who had this blank look staring at the wall, all of them paying attention to his explanation.
"This is your first task, I want you to find him and bring him back, alive," said Xianli.
"Uhm, Lord ..., before that. How can we know that your father is still alive and well? What if he already ..." the one who asks the question was Kanata.
Xianli looked at the girl two years older than him and nodded, "I know because I haven't yet inherited the noble seal of this territory. There was no time to explain it to you, but this is all you need to know. If my father dies then I will be the first one to know about it. Is this explanation acceptable? Good, any other question?"
"..."
Xianli looked around to see that none of them raise another question and waited for him to continue the order, "Okay, as for the one who will go ..., Khabid, Allescar, Zhu Rong, Umiko, and Mitra. You guys will go find my father"
"Huh ...? Me?" Mitra had a question look on her face pointing herself.
"Yes, your ability to dig underground and manipulate earth will come in handy. Ahh, that's right ..., you haven't seen my father yet right. Then wait a sec, I'll sketch it for you."
Xianli took a roll of paper and drew his father's visage. A clean Jiang middle-aged man with a thin beard and mustache was drawn on the paper. He had a round face and small eyes that screaming 'he is Chinese'.
"Here ..., father's name is Dian Yuanli. He was accompanied by twenty followers or maybe less than that. Find him and bring him & his followers back. Do you need any equipment? I can materialize some for you if you need one."
Xianli then took the Equipment Card bundle and laid down the twelve cards.
"Ohhh ..., then can I ask you to materialize this weapon, Lord Xianli?"
It was Allescar who speaks first. Allescar already had the Iron Sword and Iron Reinforced Shield, but it was a Colorless card. It wasn't the best for him, but not that bad either. But really, he already had two of the equipment cards on him and ask for another?
"Then, give back the sword and shield I lend you back then." Xianli calmly stated.
"Naturally, here you go ..."
After receiving the sword and shield, Xianli took the card [Trident(B)] that Allescar previously chose. And materialize it.
The card materialized into a polearm made of bluish metal with three sharp points. Basically a trident. Yeah, that three-pronged spear which was popularized by the Ancient Greek Mythological God Poseidon, or Neptune in Ancient Rome. It also a weapon used by Hinduism God Shiva, called Trishula or triple-spear.
"Ohoo ..., what a nostalgic feeling," said Allescar.
Allescar took the trident and did something that makes the pole's part become shorter and the three-part combined into one. The 2,4 m long polearm then became shorter, probably around 44 cm.
Allescar stored the shortened trident into his inventory. The other summoned also took a look at the equipment card in the table.
"Hmmm ..., none of these are Purple Equipment ...," muttered Khabid seeing the cards.
"Ahh ..., sorry about that. You see, it's hard to get purple or white without buying the colored card pack ..., so please bear with this." Xianli embarrassedly apologize.
"No, you shouldn't apologize about this, Lord."
Khabid shook his hand and pick a card, not a weapon, but accessories that look like a pocket watch. It was equipment from Colorless Card, the [Antique Clockwork(V)]. It was from Uncommon Card and has two effect options, both of them were passive. Option one would give the wearer boost to speed, and option two would give the boost of perception.
It was great equipment for a sneaky and nimble assassin like him.
"..., this will do." He put the pocket watch inside his assassin attire.
"The Yellow Equipment Card also just unusable stuff... Hmmm ..., Lord, do you have tome or some sort of book? I can't see the book type equipment here ..." Mitra stated after carefully looking at the equipment cards.
"Ahh ..., okay, here you go ..., select from that."
Xianli took the Book Card bundle and spread it in the table for her to pick. Kanata also joined to take a look at the book cards.
"Ohh ..., this is ...," there was only one Book Card of Yellow in the inventory, and it immediately gained her attention.
It was a book called [Journey to the Mzerthal(Y)]. A journal of a person who delves into a mysterious ancient cave city in the Myscreat. Mitra asked to materialize this book.
As for Kanata, because the book card of Blue at the moment was Single Stab Spear, she then forgets about that. She was a magic user and not a melee user so she couldn't use the book.
And even if she chooses it, Xianli wouldn't be able to materialize it because it was Unique Card that needed 8 VC to materialize.
In the end, he took the Paltiac's Tome and gave it to her. The [Umiko(B)] gladly received it with a smile. It seems like she was a Blue but not from the water branch, but from the storm/lightning one.
"Hey, you give them Book ..., give me a beast, I don't need equipment or anything! You'll give me one, right?" It was Zhu Rong speaking.
"That's a rude way to speak to your Lord, don't you think?" Nicholas intercepted with a frown.
"Who cares?" she just snapped it back with that and ignored him, Zhu Rong glanced back at Xianli and once again asked, "Hey, what about it?"
Xianli shrugged his shoulder and checked his Void Crystal, the 16 VC he saved for their equipment now reduced into just 9 VC. And for Creature Card of the Common Rarity, it needed 2 to 3 VC. He could afford it if it just that.
"I'm fine with that ..., here chose one!"
"Only one?" Zhu Rong asked back.
"My Void Crystal is limited, bear with it and choose one!" he rolled his eyes with how greedy she was.
"Fine ..." she then picked the card with the green foreground.
It was a beast Creature Card called [Viperion(G)]. A creature that looked like a lion but with the head and tail that of a Green Viper. Xianli didn't know how can that thing possibly be similar to lion without its majestic feline mane, but whatever no one cares about the naming sense of that thing.
"This one ..."
Xianli then summoned it into existence. The lion was three meters long and about the waist of a man in height. It glared viciously with its viper eyes and the poisonous branched-tongue constantly in and out.
"Allescar, you are the one who was the longest summoned by my side, you lead them. Got it ...? Good ... okay, now that you guys have your equipment you may depart and do your mission." said Xianli
"Like right now?" Allescar asked.
"Yeah, do you have some matters to attend? No right? Then go right away, what are you waiting for?"
"Then, Lord Xianli ..., I'll come back and bring you the good news. Let's go everyone ...," Allescar beckoned everyone to follow him.
Khabid, Mitra, Kanata, and Zhu Rong with her viper-lion beast followed him right after. Juewang also followed them for some reason, Xianli puzzled by that but he kept silent and turned his attention to the four other summoned creatures.
"As for you guys ..., I got another thing for you to do." He let out a subtle smile that was up to no good.