61: Chapter 61 Bishop Hagrid is getting a promotion

Bala City was much larger than Kas Town.

Therefore, the church here was incomparable to the one in Kas Town.

The Fanatic walked quickly into the solemn church and stood behind Haige, who was praying in front of the statue of god.

"Bishop Haige, the residents of Kas Town have been driven out of the city as you ordered."

"Hmph." Haige turned around and cursed disdainfully, "That greedy City Lord actually charged me 200 copper coins a day for each resident's living expenses.

If I didn't need him to help report my achievements, he wouldn't get a single copper coin from me."

As a bishop, Haige could not directly report the credit for rescuing Kas Town to the superior church in the Royal Capital.

The City Lord had to inform the Royal Capital, which would then contact the local church, and the church would send him a promotion letter.

Until the letter arrived, Haige had to hold his nose and pay the "exorbitant" living expenses for the people of Kas Town every day.

This evening, the long-awaited promotion letter finally arrived. The second he received it, he ordered the Fanatic to drive all the townspeople out of the city.

The Fanatic handling the task naturally understood the situation and congratulated him with a smile: "Congratulations, Bishop Haige. You'll soon be taking up a post in the Royal Capital."

At this mention, Haige's pained expression over the copper coins turned into joy: "It is indeed worth celebrating.

Although I lost the bet with Potter, at least I didn't come away empty-handed.

Speaking of which, is there any news regarding the investigation into Potter's student's background?"

"The branch headquarters of the Lake Kingdom replied; there is no record of him receiving an identity plaque in the church's statistical list."

After hearing this, Haige was somewhat puzzled.

He hadn't sensed Zhang Mu's mana fluctuations at the time, guessing that Potter had given him a magic item to shield against Mental Energy detection, so he hadn't paid it much mind.

But regardless, since he dealt with the Magical Beast Tide, he must be at least a Beginner Magician.

Starting from Magic Apprentice, one must come to the church to receive an identity plaque and obtain magic books for practicing three abilities within that level.

Why was there no record in the church's statistical list for someone who was at least a Beginner Magician?

Before he could figure it out, his thoughts were drawn away by the Fanatic's next words.

"However, there has been progress in the task you gave us to find his whereabouts."

"Where is he?"

"Right here in Bala City."

"Are you sure?"

"The Guards defending the city said they saw him enter with their own eyes."

Haige's thick black eyebrows shot up, and anger surged onto his face: "He actually has the nerve to come to Bala City?!

Is he looking down on me!"

"It might be for the labyrinth that's about to open."

Suppressing his anger, Haige fell into deep thought with a gloomy face.

"The labyrinth opens in seven days. I have to leave for the Royal Capital in three days, and all the Fanatics must accompany me.

If he stays inside the city for these three days, there's nothing I can do to him.

Hmm... I've got it."

Haige smiled: "Go tell the Marvin Magic Family to take care of a solo magician for me,

and the next bishop of Bala City will be their most steadfast friend."

"But Potter might follow the clues back to us. Does that mean we'll have to stay inside the city forever?"

"Don't worry." Haige turned back toward the statue of god, "It won't be long before he goes to meet my God."

...

Zhang Mu stepped out of the Portal and arrived at the inn.

He pulled out the wooden box hidden under the bed and opened it; all the herbs had absorbed mana and mutated. Perfect.

Wasting no time, he immediately took a portable gas stove out of his inventory, lit it, and set up a pot.

Time flew by. Busy from dawn until dusk, all the herbs were turned into bottles of potions.

Most were magic potions and healing potions, with a small portion being potions to control the deterioration of lung cancer.

He put some into a Storage Pouch, stuffed the rest into his inventory, packed away the gas stove, and headed all the way to the Clover Tavern.

He pushed the door open and entered the shop.

Compared to the daytime, all the seats in the hall were now occupied.

Although not every seat was full, he felt that no Adventurers would be willing to share a table.

He asked at the bar; there were still empty private rooms on the second floor.

But he came to the tavern to gather information; going to a private room would be useless for that.

Having no other choice, he simply ordered a drink and leaned against the bar, drinking while listening to the chatter of the surrounding patrons, trying to find an Adventurer Group in desperate need of potions.

Wave after wave of patrons came and went. There were some who lacked potions, but he couldn't find anyone in urgent need.

He tried to strike up a conversation with an Adventurer Group that seemed to be short on magic potions.

As a result, before he could even speak, they all stood up, stared at him for a moment, pushed back their chairs, and walked out of the tavern.

Zhang Mu's eyes twitched. He simply sat alone at the table the Adventurer Group had vacated, waiting for a friendlier group that was at least willing to communicate.

In the end, he waited until the patrons in the hall had all left, but still hadn't found his target.

Fine, I'm really impressed by these magicians and knights. No one is using force in the city, so why are they acting like they're guarding against a thief?

He stood up and went to the bar to settle the bill.

The labyrinth opens in seven days. Not counting today, there are five days left. I'll come back tomorrow.

Zhang Mu mused to himself as he pushed the door open and walked out.

Almost the instant the door closed, Frederica's calves appeared on the stairs leading to the first floor.

My, my, the fruit wine at this tavern really tastes great.

Savoring the aftertaste, she walked down the stairs, took out copper coins to pay for the wine, and walked out the door with her hands behind her back.

...

Zhang Mu's pace back to the inn wasn't very fast.

The scenery of this city was decent enough, so he simply slowed down to look at the street's night view as a way to relax.

Ordinary people seemed fine, not so wary of each other.

Glancing left and right, he muttered, but they seemed quite wary of magicians, walking around them whenever they saw one.

These streetlights stay on all night; what kind of gemstone do they use?

The lamp posts are basically the same as in Kas Town... Speaking of Kas Town, did the townspeople also come to Bala City?

Probably. They left with Haige, and there doesn't seem to be anywhere else to go besides here.

After all, there are about a thousand people. The small towns around Bala City wouldn't be able to accommodate that many residents.

Is Lia also in the city then?

While lost in thought, he had already reached the entrance of the inn.

He stopped and pinched his chin. Should I ask the Bala City Guards tomorrow?

The Guards are at the city gate every day; they must know where the Kas Town residents are staying in Bala City. It just so happens there's nothing else to do these next few days.

Petting the Cat Girl during the day, going to the tavern in the evening to find a friendlier Adventurer Group, and then entering the labyrinth in seven days to find magic books and improve my strength.

What a pleasant life this is!

Slapping his thigh in excitement, Zhang Mu lifted his foot to enter the inn.

"Isn't this... that interesting person... the interesting Mr. Zhang Mu?"

Who's calling me?

He reflexively turned his head. Standing across the street was an Elf Lady with slightly flushed cheeks and tips of her ears tinged with a drunken red.

At this moment, the Elf Lady, wearing skirt armor, had a smile on her face and was waving her right hand to greet him.

It's her? What was her name, Frederica?

I remember she was quite easy to talk to, so there should be something to discuss regarding buying information about the labyrinth, right?

If we reach an agreement, I won't have to go to the tavern tomorrow. Wouldn't that mean... I can pet the Cat Girl all day long?!"