Free Web NovelChapter 2046: Chapter 2046: Unexpected Neighbors
The light of dusk concealed the figure of Shard, who disappeared after throwing the crystal shoes. At the same time, on the top floor of the city’s highest building, the Belindel Big Bell, a lady gazing at the night view of the city under the dim sky beckoned behind her:
"Divination cards."
The maid, with her head lowered, immediately approached with a stack of cards. The lady with fluffy golden hair quickly shuffled the deck, drew three cards, and then furrowed her brows deeply:
"A strange result... A non-human entity emerging from the ancient dragon nest, who once conquered the Dragon of Space-Time, will profoundly influence my life in the not-too-distant future... I just wanted to know what to have for dinner, so what is this outcome?"
The maid did not know how her mistress could obtain such specific results with only three cards, and she did not dare ask, keeping her head lowered.
"Dragon nest... a formidable power, the Dragon of Space-Time, huh?"
Though finding the result laughable, a cautious expression remained in her golden eyes:
"Matilda, investigate whether any Dragonborn Circle Warlocks have appeared in the city recently. Also, isn’t the summer internship of the Three Major Academies about to start? Contact our friends in Xerxes to inquire if we can get the list, or at least find out if any of the warlock students heading to the Moon Bay region are Dragonborn."
"Yes, miss."
The maid responded cautiously with her head lowered, and Duchess Bella Belindel continued to gaze at the deck of divination cards:
"Could it be a mistake? But fate shouldn’t be wrong. It happens to coincide with the time when that prophecy is supposed to come true... "
She removed her white lace gloves, reshuffled the remaining cards with a special technique, and placed her bare hand on the top card:
"Then, oh fate, please tell me how to respond."
The card flipped open, revealing a silver cat and an orange cat leaping into the air with entangled Silvermoon and blazing sun above them.
The Great Witch of Destiny remained silent for a long time:
"Is this card in my deck of divination cards? It seems my Sage-Level Relic [Strange Painting Tarot Card] is at work again, but what does this mean?"
Unable to decipher its specific meaning, she looked at the beautifully illustrated card:
"If the silver cat represents the Silver Dragon, then what does the orange cat signify?"
Her eyes glanced at the still-under-construction Bridge of Moon Bay on the distant Taton River. Once completed, it would form an "arch" shape, a design she had chosen after divination consultations with the city council. The last rays of the setting sun barely pierced through the clouds, casting light on the witch’s beautiful face, yet even the Great Witch of Destiny could not always successfully interpret the unknown fate.
(Mia is running...)
Shard, who had been wandering around Moon Bay City all afternoon, received an invitation for dinner from the Cavendish family ladies after returning home. More specifically, it was an invitation from Miss Galina and Lecia.
Thus, as Shard was about to go out to dine with Mia, he waited at home for quite a while. Just as the cat was meowing and on the verge of a frenzy, the carriage sent by the Duke finally stopped downstairs at No. 6, Saint Delan Square.
As Miss Galina’s "secret" lover, Shard certainly couldn’t dine in public with the Duchess and the Princess of the Kingdom, so the dinner location was still a secret club in the city.
Besides the ladies who extended the invitation, Angelina also joined. During dinner, the three Cavendish ladies listened to Shard recount the afternoon’s experiences and each examined the Dragon Pattern Gold Coin he brought.
Angelina envied Shard’s ability:
"To effortlessly travel to distant cities, and easily escape the hustle and bustle of big cities when feeling down, to see the distant scenery, that’s amazing."
Miss Galina smiled at her young grandniece and then handed the coin back to Shard:
"You don’t need to look up information; I know what you’ve encountered. The Dragon Altar in that dragon nest has been recorded since the Ancient Dragon Empire period of the Third Era. The appearance of these altars seems related to the Ancient God of ’Brightness’—the Radiant Dragon, but can only be worshiped and used by dragons or dragon-blooded races. They’re not completely unfindable in modern times, but most have lost their function. However, I know there’s one at Xerxes Higher Medical Academy, which is why they have the most Dragonborn students."
"I see...and what about this coin?"
Shard asked again, and the witch explained:
"Currency from the Ancient Dragon era. While it’s called currency, it’s actually more appropriate to describe it as alchemical material. This gold coin, when melted into metal, can enhance the metal’s hardness and strength, making its surface appear with dragon-scale patterns. If numerous, it can even grant ordinary metals supernatural abilities. Keep it; it’s very rare in this era. Although the altar at Xerxes is stronger than the one you found, it doesn’t produce many coins. Don’t you have a special door that can enhance alchemical items at home? This can be used as material."
Shard nodded, indicating understanding, and while the sorceresses of the Cavendish family were also interested in the dragon nest and altar, they were unfortunately unable to go there.
After discussing the altar, Lecia turned to Shard:
"This morning you came to me, saying you wanted to help me, but I wasn’t quite prepared at that time. Before we part tonight, remember to collect the letter and token. I have many people in Moon Bay City, and with the token, you can mobilize them directly."
"As long as it doesn’t interfere with your matters, that would be great."
Shard petted the cat sitting on the high stool waiting to be fed:
"I do need some help... how many people do you have over there? I mean, absolutely trustworthy ones."
Lecia thought for a moment:
"Twenty-three people. But if you count the unaware aides, and the hired helpers, I’m afraid it’s over a hundred."
"That many?"
Angelina explained to him:
"Almost all forces have their intelligence and spy strongholds in the City of Wealth - Moon Bay region. Although Coldwater Port is an important port on the West Coast, it’s strictly controlled by Draleon. The independence of Moon Bay makes it difficult for Carsonrick’s Grey Glove to have complete control over the whole picture. Additionally, I once overheard my father chatting with Director Anlos of MI6, saying that it also has to do with the laissez-faire attitude of the Moon Bay City Council. The situation there is very complicated, you need to be careful."
The Little Princess softly reminded, while the Red-Haired Witch sipped some red wine:
"Shard, you’re part of MI6, why not ask your superior about the situation? The unusual summer weather and plague have both the Southern and Northern countries busy dealing with domestic issues, and at least until the end of summer, a full-scale war won’t break out. So, both nations are accelerating their infiltration into the Moon Bay region. Once war breaks out, the importance of Moon Bay is self-evident. Director Anlos should have plenty of new intelligence on the Moon Bay area."
That was indeed a good suggestion, Shard nodded, pondering whether he could find traces of Detective Sparrow in Moon Bay City.
Angelina elegantly handled the food on her plate with a knife and fork, then spoke:
"Carsonrick seems like an unfriendly neighbor to us. If they were like real-world neighbors who understand that neither party can move away, they would coexist peacefully and occasionally exchange gifts."
Though her words were somewhat naive, Shard, Lecia, and Miss Galina all smiled. Lecia wanted to hint to her sister about the complexity of the relationship between the two countries, so she said:
"Sometimes, real neighbors may seem friendly but speak ill of you behind your back."
"But our neighbors aren’t like that, are they?"
Angelina said, then noticed three pairs of eyes suddenly fixed on her.
The Little Princess hesitantly looked towards Shard and her family:
"Um... what’s wrong? Oh, sorry, sister, I shouldn’t have refuted you."
"That’s not the problem. Lecia, when did you have neighbors? Miss Galina, are there neighbors at Yordle Palace?"
Shard frowned and asked, Lecia and the Red-Haired Witch both shook their heads:
"I don’t remember Yordle Palace having neighbors."
Located on Silver Cross Avenue, Yordle Palace is flanked by the Kingdom Parliament and the Royal St. James’s Palace, which hosts official royal banquets. Opposite the Yordle Palace complex are the Prophet’s Society and the Platinum Club, where parliamentarians on lunch breaks and nobles waiting to enter Yordle Palace congregate to enjoy leisurely moments.
In front of Yordle Palace stands a branch of the Draleon Royal Academy of Sciences. The headquarters of the Royal Academy is in the University District, and the purpose of the building opposite Yordle Palace is more for exhibition, rather than serving as a workplace for researchers. Hence, it resembles a museum, used by Draleon to showcase national technological prowess to the outside world.
Therefore, Yordle Palace does not actually have any so-called "neighbors." If Angelina regards the room next door as a neighbor, then her neighbor should be one of her sisters.
"Who are our neighbors? What do they do?"
Shard and Miss Galina grew serious, while Lecia also put down her knife and fork to look at Angelina, who appeared slightly frightened but still puzzled:
"Isn’t it Mr. Goodman and Mrs. Goodman... They’ve always been our neighbors. Mr. Goodman works as an accountant at a factory, and Mrs. Goodman is pregnant, she’s a housewife. They also have a Miltillis sheepdog, about the same size as Mia."
She described them in detail, but it only deepened the confusion of the other three. Seeing that Angelina was still unaware of what was happening, Miss Galina exchanged a look with Shard, prompting him to stand up and approach her from behind, placing his hand on her forehead. She blushed immediately, while Shard maintained the position for several seconds before letting go:
"Didn’t sense strong Whisper elements, the contact time wasn’t long, and the impact isn’t deep."
Lecia finally felt relieved and continued questioning Angelina:
"Are you sure we truly have neighbors?"
"Yes, the Goodman family has lived next to us since I was born."
She recalled carefully, ensuring her memory was correct:
"Is there something wrong with them?"
The Witch said worriedly:
"Either there’s something wrong with your memory, or everyone else in the world besides you has a problem with their memory. Let’s go, visit our neighbors."
"But it’s already so late."
"Which is why we need to deal with it promptly."
Shard said as he picked up the cat, rose with Miss Galina and Lecia, leading Angelina to follow the three out, still contemplating but unable to discern where the mistake lay.
