After being issued a “good guy card” by Aino, Ayin did not choose to press the button to teleport away this time, but instead used his own power to teleport to Naxia Town.
Because, based on the landing points of his two random teleports, he reached a conclusion…
Herta is such a troll; she likely gave him a semi-finished teleportation device just to mess with him!
If he were to teleport again, who knows what strange place he might end up in.
It would be better to wait until the cosmic channel is truly opened next time, when he can descend in his physical body and utilize his full power to have a real blast.
After all, although he can use his original power now, it is only a fraction.
For instance, his once-prized ray-tracing production ability is something he, as a soul entity, cannot manifest yet.
“Towards the stars and the abyss, welcome…”
“Skip!” Arriving at Naxia Town, Ayin first found Katheryne.
After habitually raising his hand to interrupt his spiel, he continued to ask amidst the other’s bewildered expression, “How do I get to the Flagship?”
That’s right, he was lost.
Unlike the size of Naxia Town in the original game, Naxia Town in reality was conservatively estimated to be at least twenty times larger!
After all, as the largest external port and residential area in Nordkalle, the size in the game was clearly a version specifically cut down to accommodate system memory.
Consequently, having followed the appearance of Naxia Town from his Remembrance to find the Flagship, he got lost as expected.
But fortunately, he tracked…
followed a man dressed as an Adventurer to find the Adventurers’ Guild, otherwise, his trip would likely have ended before it even began.
“The Flagship?
First, look behind you, walk to the right until the end, and you will see a huge mechanical device.
After that, turn left, then turn right, walk straight to the end, then turn left again, and go down the stairs.
Once you go down the stairs, it will be on your left side.” Upon hearing this, although Katheryne felt slightly helpless, due to his programmed routine, he still provided directions to Ayin in his signature sweet voice, taking his time.
“Uh…
has no one complained that the Flagship is hard to find?” Ayin’s eyelid twitched; he clearly hadn’t expected such a famous place to be so convoluted.
“Not at all.
For the people here, going to the Flagship after work to have a drink and relax is a daily routine, so naturally, no one finds it troublesome.” Seeing this, Katheryne offered a smile and explained in his signature voice.
Having received the answer, he shook his head.
Although he was a bit speechless, he couldn’t really say anything.
A flash of red light passed under his feet, and like someone wearing Xtep sneakers, he ran in the direction Katheryne had pointed with incredible speed, disappearing in the blink of an eye and leaving only a faint red trail behind.
“Damn, how can an old man run so fast!
Katheryne, do you know him?” The Adventurer whom Ayin had followed widened his eyes and asked subconsciously.
“I don’t know him; he just came to ask for directions.” Katheryne shook his head upon hearing this, his face still wearing his signature smile.
“As for you, sir, towards the stars and the abyss, welcome to the Adventurers’ Guild~”
Two hours later, inside the Flagship.
Unlike the usual lively atmosphere, the tavern was now so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
“Damn, how many cups has that old guy had?” A bystander on the side reached out and nudged his companion, whispering a question.
“I’m not sure, twenty or thirty cups, maybe?
Among them were several ‘Black Horses.’ That liquor is so strong that an ordinary person would pass out after one cup, yet he’s drank so much and is still acting like nothing happened!
Haven’t you seen those people playing roulette against him?
They’re about to cry.” The companion nudged his chin toward Ayin on the stage and replied in a low voice.
“Cry?
Why?” The bystander clearly hadn’t caught on yet.
“What else could it be?
The person with the higher score in the roulette duel gets to ask a question, but look at the questions that old guy asks…
tsk tsk tsk, I suspect he’s not even human!” The companion shook his head in annoyance, his tone sounding a bit fearful as he replied.
Thud!
Just as the two were whispering, a loud thud drew their gaze back to the stage.
Ayin was sitting on the bar stool like a hooligan, casually tossing the glass that had held the ‘Black Horse’ liquor aside.
“Come on, come on!
I won this round again.
Quick, I want to ask a question.
Let’s ask…
what is the worst thing you have done to your wife?” Having won, he couldn’t help but reveal a Dragon King-like smile, though he still shouted boisterously.
“This…
I have never done anything wrong to my wife.
What kind of question is that, you old geezer?
I…
I’m not playing anymore!” A patron turned red in the face, his expression evasive; clearly, he had some secret.
“Heh, if you haven’t done anything, why are you so nervous, and running away?
Tch, you little brother are just weak.” Seeing the man fleeing in a panic with his cheeks flushed red like a monkey’s butt, Ayin gave him a middle finger with a look of disdain.
He then looked around at the remaining patrons, as if waiting for their answers.
“Uh…
I haven’t done anything either.
I have some business to attend to, I’m leaving first!”
“Me too, I just remembered I haven’t hung out my laundry.”
“And me!”
Watching the remaining patrons leave one after another, Ayin at the bar felt a bit bored.
He only asked a few small questions, why did they all run away?
Sigh, it seems this is love~
Clack, clack, clack~ Just as he was silently lamenting, the sound of high heels striking the floor instantly pulled him back to reality.
After all, in such a quiet environment, the tapping sound was amplified countless times.
‘Who is this…
Nefer?
Why did this woman come here?’ Watching the green-haired woman gracefully catwalking toward him from the entrance of the Flagship, Ayin subconsciously frowned.
After all, in the melting pot that is Nordkalle, if there is anyone who can talk to both the black and white sides, it would probably only be Nefer.
After all, her intelligence network has spread all over the world…
except for Liyue, of course.
So, for her to come to the Flagship at this time, any fool would know she is here to find him.
“It seems you aren’t surprised that I would come, the Grand Sage of Sumeru…
or should I say, the imposter?” Nefer didn’t mind Ayin’s expression.
She walked up to him on her own, casually ordered a glass of strong liquor, and asked with a playful tone.
“What imposter?
I have never said I am the Grand Sage of Sumeru.
I am just a frail old man with no power to truss a chicken.” Upon hearing this, Ayin clearly didn’t take the bait, choosing to play dumb and reply.
As he spoke, he didn’t forget to raise his hand and stroke his beard.
“Heh, an old man wouldn’t be able to run as fast as the wind, nor would he be able to drink 34 cups of strong liquor without showing any signs of intoxication.”
Seeing his reaction, Nefer couldn’t help but chuckle softly, then slowly shook her head.
With a hint of a different meaning in her words, she continued, “However, I think you, Little Fool, won’t easily spill the beans.
How about we play a round of roulette?
If you lose, you tell the truth, how about that?”