Gnome Zotes

Moria was exceptionally warm and friendly toward fellow believers who also revered Radiance.

Li Wen wanted to ask him about it. He had come looking for the Ghost Fairy, presumably with a purpose of his own, so why did he need to involve himself in her affairs?

But on second thought, she was now part of the Radiance Spectrum as well. No matter how outrageous Moria was, he could not possibly brand her a heretic. His intentions were probably sincere; he truly believed that place was too dangerous and had therefore suggested going together.

Since a powerful backer was voluntarily offering to carry her through a dungeon, why refuse?

So Li Wen readily agreed.

"Thank you, fellow believer, for extending a helping hand. My companion and I will remember your kindness. You may call me Mephisto."

"No need for that. Just call me Moria."

Moria flashed an easygoing smile as well.

"I've told you all you need to know, so I won't keep you two any longer. Off you go." Granny Marsha let out a few cackling laughs before plunging headfirst into the mirror and vanishing. Apparently, she had no desire to speak further with Moria.

"Do you know where that ruin is?"

Only then did Moria ask.

"I don't, but someone does."

Li Wen stepped out of the treehouse and saw two people whispering beneath the tree. They looked furtive, as if discussing some shady business. By coincidence, Li Wen recognized them: they were the Wild Mage who had been "fishing" earlier and his companion.

As for why they were here, Li Wen could only credit Moria for it.

"Who are they?"

Moria, who had followed her out, immediately looked helpless at the question. He rubbed his forehead lightly. "Them... two Wild Mages blinded by profit. I was planning to take them to Leicester City. I heard the Magic Society there takes in and disciplines people like them."

Moria descended the stairs and walked straight toward the pair.

"What are you doing?"

The moment they heard Moria's voice, the two of them jumped in fright. They clearly had quite a psychological shadow hanging over them from the Firstborn of the Holy Temple.

"N-Nothing!"

"That's good." Moria spoke with some satisfaction. "I'll take you to Leicester. As long as you behave yourselves... Of course, before that, you'll have to accompany us to an underground ruin in the Black Forest. Don't worry, I'll ensure your safety."

The two Wild Mages wore smiles uglier than tears. Compared to going to Leicester, they would rather Moria let them off, but that was obviously impossible.

"You're taking them with us?"

Li Wen frowned deeply.

The two Wild Mages were a man and a woman. The man's face was covered in stubble, and his clothes were ragged. Rather than a noble and mysterious mage, he looked more like an uneducated middle-aged swindler. The woman was shorter and rather plain-looking. No wonder she had been the one to make the move.

Wild Mages were those who had embarked upon the path of magic without a mentor or formal instruction. They were generally very weak, and because no one taught them, many strayed down crooked paths. If the Fire Mage from the Arcane Academy whom Li Wen had encountered before were here, he could easily kill a hundred Wild Mages like these.

As for the gap in academic knowledge, it was even less comparable.

"Is there a problem?" Moria asked doubtfully.

After thinking it over, Li Wen shook her head repeatedly.

Since Moria had said he would take responsibility, she would leave all the worrying to this Firstborn of the Holy Temple. This time, she only wanted to enjoy the show.

Li Wen headed back the way she had come, searching for the gnome vendor's stall. Moria said nothing and followed directly behind her. The two Wild Mages exchanged glances, then followed as well, intimidated by Moria's oppressive presence.

The gnome vendor was still at his stall. The items on the rag were still the same few things, clearly untouched by any buyers.

Thus, when the group arrived at his stall together, the gnome vendor showed no delight at receiving customers. Instead, he assumed someone had come to deliberately cause trouble.

"I don't have anything!"

The gnome mumbled, reaching out as though to protect his stall.

"We mean no harm," Moria said quickly.

Because he wore the attire of a Templar Knight, Moria's words carried considerable credibility. The gnome lowered his guard, crouching off to one side as the fingers of both hands twisted nervously together.

"I can do anything for you, but you can't take my things... at least, don't take all of them."

Moria reassured the timid gnome.

"I told you, we mean no harm. We certainly won't take any of your belongings."

At this point, Li Wen could not stand watching any longer. She took over and addressed the gnome directly. "Do you remember where you found these things? Especially this bottle of potion."

The gnome licked his cracked lips. He still recognized Li Wen. Her attitude could not be called friendly, but she did not look like a bad person either.

"I remember some of it. It was very dark there. Only people like us can enter."

"Then take us there. I'll pay you..." Li Wen suddenly remembered that she had spent all her money long ago, and aside from her staff, she had nothing suitable for trade. So she changed the subject. "This knight, my dear fellow believer, will protect you."

"And provide a reward that satisfies you," Moria added, catching on at once.

The gnome vendor hesitated. Mainly because he truly could not bear to leave his stall. He had no companions here, and if he left, the things on his stall would definitely be stolen.

Seeing this, Moria said bluntly, "I'll take everything you have. Name your price... Forget it. Is this enough?"

He took out a gold coin engraved with a crown-like sun.

This was not any currency used in the ordinary world, but a universal equivalent voucher jointly issued by the Sunset Compilation Society and the Alchemist Association for use in the hidden world. It was commonly known as a Sun Crown, or Sun Crown for short.

The ordinary-world value of one Sun Crown was roughly equivalent to twenty-two gold pounds in Arthur. In the hidden world, it was worth even more.

The gnome's throat went dry. He knew good merchandise when he saw it, and the value of this Sun Crown had already far exceeded all the junk on his stall.

"This is too precious. Zotes is willing to... serve you, sir."

The gnome hurriedly accepted the gold coin and tucked it into his clothes as though receiving a priceless treasure.

"Now, can you take us there?"

Watching Moria casually hand over a Sun Crown, Li Wen thought, That was truly such a Templar Knight thing to do.

"Yes, yes, no problem. I'll take you there, in Zotes's name."

The gnome, Zotes, spoke carefully. He wanted to wipe the stains and dirt off the goods for Moria, but Moria did not care in the slightest and simply stuffed them into his pocket.