After packing up his things, Bai Yi gathered his mental strength, clearing away the dust and weariness from his body. Stepping out of the shop, he stopped, momentarily taken aback.
A white-haired elf with an icy, flawless expression—a classic office look—sat at the counter. Next to her was a loli-sized maid, nodding off with drooping eyes, too sleepy to stay alert but too afraid to sleep fully. These two were Irene and Luo Ning.
Out of a sense of security, Irene had been staying in the meeting room, which had now become an exclusive space for the two of them.
However, Bai Yi didn't linger on the scene for long. He had too many tasks to handle tonight to dwell on his slight irritation about dressing his future mascot as a maid.
He stepped out into the windy, snowy street. It was nearly the end of December, the year's coldest period. Snow fell heavily as he made his way through the inner city's core commercial district, moving toward the agreed meeting spot with Sabo. With each step, a worker bee flew out from the hem of his coat, restoring the snowy ground to its original state by emitting a special force field.
After winding through narrow alleys and crossing several streets, the area became lively with people, lights, and the distinct hum of the entertainment district: game halls, taverns, casinos, brothels, theaters, and other attractions. Despite the recent tragedy where over 30 people lost their lives, adventurers flocked to this lively part of the city.
At the back of a casino called "Golden City," a dwarf, barely over a meter tall, was waiting. When Sabo spotted Bai Yi, he called out, "My friend! You're finally here. Let's head inside and catch the show."
Sabo led Bai Yi through the casino's back entrance, down a dim corridor, and into a secret basement, where he flicked on the light to reveal a hexagram magic circle.
"Teleportation array?" Bai Yi raised an eyebrow, surprised. Teleportation arrays were rare and expensive, difficult to create due to the instability of the Xia continent's spatial structure, which had worsened since the gods disappeared. Only a few stable arrays existed, considered near-miraculous.
"Don't worry about where it came from," Sabo replied with a grin, pressing a switch to activate the formation. "East City is lively tonight!"
The two stepped onto the circle, and as the mysterious purple glow began to pulse, the surrounding space distorted, making Bai Yi's head spin. When they arrived, he staggered slightly, trying to steady himself.
He heard retching noises and turned to see Sabo, pale and squatting, retching by the wall. The unpleasant smell filled the dark room.
"Where did you get this cheap knockoff?" Bai Yi muttered, irritated by the intense spatial vibrations. He might have been better off walking.
Looking around, Bai Yi headed unsteadily toward the door. "Wait up, my friend," Sabo gasped between breaths, pulling out a mental recovery potion from his coat and taking a gulp.
Bai Yi, waving off the stench, picked up his pace and pushed open the old wooden door.
The cold wind and snow rushed in, clearing his mind a bit as he leaned outside, waiting silently in the snow. Five minutes later, Sabo emerged, looking weak but slightly refreshed by the wind.
"Curse that goblin, and curse Potter too! That rascal tricked me!" Sabo spat out angrily. While teleportation arrays are effective, low-quality arrays can be rough, jolting travelers through unstable spatial channels. Still, they're inexpensive, resistant to interference, and get more intense with increased magic—making them suitable for urgent needs.
"Enough complaints. What's the situation now?" Bai Yi shook off the disorientation in his head, though the surroundings still seemed overly noisy.
"Hold on, let me catch my breath," Sabo said, downing another potion. His color improved noticeably, and after a moment, his excitement returned. "Let's move. This time, we'll be the last to arrive."
As they walked into the storm, Sabo lowered his voice to explain, "The Scarlet Sect has amassed significant power, including hundreds of blood mages. They're preparing an evil ritual to connect with the Scarlet Lord. If successful, they'll become god followers, and the Scarlet Lord's power will seep into the Xia continent. It's… bad."
"And there's an invisible force involved too, working from the shadows. I've been stirring up trouble these past few days to redirect their focus toward the Scarlet Sect. That cult has stolen something valuable, and now many are vying to retrieve it."
"The Will family's reinforcements have arrived, bringing along the 500 energy guns they bought from you. They're well-equipped and add to our strength. But there's one odd thing." Sabo paused, looking contemplative. "What do you think the city lord is up to?"
"City's in turmoil, and he's just holed up in his mansion, with no sign of action."
Bai Yi processed Sabo's update, piecing together the clues. "The city lord doesn't play a huge role in this. He's on the brink of retirement, just waiting for the Apocalypse Legion leader to step up. So, he'll likely be a spectator here, while the Legion might get involved."