Where to Find Him

Back home, Rota brewed himself a cup of warm tea and lounged on the sofa with one leg crossed over the other. "Oh dear, it's time to start doing missions again~ Where am I supposed to find Tang Hao, that guy~?"

Rota could not help sighing. He had seen news about Tang Hao in the newspaper before, but there had been no other information regarding him.

At this point in time, Tang Hao should be traveling around if nothing unexpected had happened. That gave Rota quite a headache. The Douluo Continent was so vast; finding one person was truly troublesome.

Rota had considered going directly to the Clear Sky Sect to inquire about Tang Hao's whereabouts, but whether they would tell him was another matter entirely.

"This really is a headache~"

There were no other options for now. Regardless of the outcome, he should first pay the Clear Sky Sect a visit.

Tang Hao had not yet fallen out with Spirit Hall, so relations between the Clear Sky Sect and Spirit Hall should still be fairly good.

Just as Rota picked up his teacup, a black shadow suddenly appeared behind him. He casually handed over a cup of tea.

"Ghost, if you're here, just show yourself~"

"Haha, as expected, I still can't hide from you, Elder Kizaru. You're as sharp as ever!" Ghost revealed himself, accepted the teacup, and sat down beside him.

"What brings you here today? It seems Yue Guan didn't come with you~"

Normally, Ghost and Yue Guan acted together. It was quite unusual for Ghost to come alone this time.

"Didn't Elder Kizaru accept the mission to recruit Tang Hao? I came tonight to give you some information I gathered."

Rota was somewhat surprised by Ghost's words. Ghost utterly surpassed him when it came to gathering intelligence.

While Rota had still been sitting at home drinking tea, Ghost had already gathered information. Such speed was worthy of Ghost indeed!

"That's excellent. I was just worrying about how to find Tang Hao, that fellow~"

Ghost paused briefly before saying, "I heard that the Balak Kingdom will soon hold a grand Blacksmith Competition. Tang Hao is very likely to participate."

"The Balak Kingdom? A Blacksmith Competition!" Rota narrowed his eyes and smiled. "Well, isn't this something? These are all things I've never seen before~"

Ghost thought Rota meant that he had never seen a Blacksmith Competition, but what Rota really meant was that he had not expected such unfamiliar developments to occur.

The plot could change; Rota had never doubted that. But he had never heard of a Blacksmith Competition. A competition like this should attract a top blacksmith like Tang Hao.

"The Balak Kingdom, is it? Then I understand. You've really helped me out this time, Ghost~" Rota solemnly thanked Ghost.

"You're too kind, Elder Kizaru. It is my honor to be of help to you." Ghost felt that receiving Elder Kizaru's thanks was an enormously significant matter, so he was naturally overjoyed.

"Then roughly how long until this Blacksmith Competition is held?" Rota felt it was necessary to know the timing.

"The time? It should be one week from now!" Ghost replied.

"One week from now, huh? I understand~"

Rota still intended to visit the Clear Sky Sect first. If he failed to obtain any information there, he would head straight for the Balak Kingdom. In any case, there was still plenty of time.

"Elder Kizaru, I'll take my leave first."

Ghost had come solely to tell Rota this information, so once he was done, he naturally would not continue disturbing Rota's rest.

"Oh, right. Ghost, you and Yue Guan should keep some distance from me for the time being, at least while we're in Spirit City~" Rota kindly reminded him.

Ghost nodded. He understood the implication behind Rota's words: they should avoid getting Ghost and Yue Guan involved as much as possible.

Rota was also putting on an act for Qian Xunjie. His goal was clear—to make Qian Xunjie believe he was the sort of person who worked for a salary, so that he could more easily carry out his plans later.

However, with this mission, Rota had already made a good start. He had clearly shown Qian Xunjie the traits he intended to display.

"Clear Sky Sect~" Rota murmured as he searched the nearby bookshelf for relevant reference books.

Rota had not been idling around in Spirit City these past few days. He had spent some effort organizing the things in his home. He had only recently had someone acquire these books for him.

"Here it is~"

Rota found the book containing information on the Clear Sky Sect—Secrets of the Upper Three Sects.

After carefully consulting the book, Rota gained a general understanding of the Clear Sky Sect. The Clear Sky Sect, which had yet to seclude itself from the world, was currently located within the Star Luo Empire.

Since it was in the Star Luo Empire, he could ask that fellow Reid. Reid was from the Star Luo Empire, after all.

Rota closed the book and returned it to the bookshelf. He had learned about everything he needed to know. He would set out first thing tomorrow morning.

The night quietly passed. With the sun hanging high in the sky, Rota appeared outside Spirit City's gates.

"The weather is really nice today~" Rota raised his head, glanced at the sun high in the heavens, and sighed.

"Elder Kizaru, are you heading out to carry out a mission today?" The Spirit Hall Knight Rota had met before approached him and asked respectfully.

"So it's you. Have you been well lately? The Pope is forcing this old man to complete a mission, you know~"

Elder Kizaru's words made the Spirit Hall Knight laugh. "Elder Kizaru, you really are humorous. People like us would give anything to receive orders personally from His Holiness the Pope!"

"Young man, work hard~ One day, you'll be put to important use!"

Having received Elder Kizaru's encouragement, the Spirit Hall Knight was immensely excited. This was an elder! Receiving an elder's recognition and encouragement was such an honor!

"Yes, Elder Kizaru!" The Spirit Hall Knight excitedly saluted Rota.

"Then this old man will be on his way~" Rota had his own matters to attend to!

"May your mission be successful!" The Spirit Hall Knight sincerely wished Rota well.

Rota turned into a flash of light and instantly departed from Spirit City, heading toward the Star Luo Empire.

Not long after Kizaru departed, inside the Spirit Hall Sacred Hall, "Has that fellow Kizaru set off?" Qian Xunjie asked from his throne, addressing a figure beside him.

"Reporting to Your Holiness, Elder Kizaru has already departed!"

"Is that so? Good. It seems my judgment was correct. As long as I pay him, Kizaru can be handled!" Qian Xunjie could not help secretly rejoicing.

If Kizaru had not set off, Qian Xunjie would have worried that Kizaru might merely take his salary without doing any work. Upon hearing that Kizaru had already departed, Qian Xunjie's restless heart gradually calmed.

This proved one thing: as long as the pay was right, Kizaru could be mobilized. Qian Xunjie had merely made a preliminary guess yesterday, but today, he had reached a conclusion.

"Heh heh, Kizaru! I've already found a way to control you!" Qian Xunjie laughed smugly.

"Then, Your Holiness, do we still need to follow Elder Kizaru?" the figure beside Qian Xunjie asked for instructions.

"Hmm, well~ No need. First, I already know how to control Kizaru. Second, you can't keep up with Kizaru's speed anyway." Qian Xunjie stated the main reason outright.

They could monitor Rota to some extent while he remained in Spirit City, but once Kizaru left Spirit City, he was beyond their control.