Honest Dealings

Chapter 16: Honesty is the Best Policy

Ethan watched as Ivy's body was pulled into the mailbox. Based on his own experience, the teleportation process was painless. After his vision blurred for a moment, he found himself on an unfamiliar dock. Several galleons, their prows carved with Gryphon figures, were moored there. Their sails were furled, and on the decks, sailors were wiping down ropes and the Deck. Their faces were also obscured by ornaments.

His gaze shifted to the stern, where the caravan's flag hung. The Gryphon emblem on the flag was lifelike, fluttering gently in the breeze. In the Empire, the Gryphon was a symbol of nobility and honor, representing the glorious history of the Lofik Consortium. Starting as bankers, they had amassed immense wealth during the Great Cataclysm of the previous era, their influence spreading across politics, economics, propaganda, and religion. Their presence was felt in every corner of the Empire, even in border towns like Brookwood Town.

People often said a town could do without an Occultism organization, but never without a bank.

The dock was bustling with activity, filled with guests dressed in bizarre attire. Masks and masquerade masks were the most common adornments. Some people had their faces wrapped in bandages, while others were covered head to toe in body paint, dressed as circus clowns. The diverse costumes made Ethan realize that many of them were likely not from his own country.

The other end of the dock led to a small town shrouded in twilight. The entrance to the town was guarded by Lofik Consortium guards, a mix of Knights and gunmen. Ethan noticed that only a few guests approached the town, and before entering, they would present identification to the guards and undergo a thorough search.

From the luggage these guests carried and the jewelry they wore, it was clear they were people of status. VIP 10 or higher, definitely big spenders.

That was clearly not a place for someone like him, a Zero Krypton player. Ethan was self-aware about this.

However, no one noticed the yellow light points that continuously reformed and dissipated, piecing together the outline of a door. All the guests had emerged from that door.

Ethan saw the trails of magic flow.

This was a masterful Teleportation Magic set up by some powerful being, usable even by ordinary people who hadn't stepped into the extraordinary realm.

Teleportation Magic ranked in the top three on Ethan's wish list. It allowed one to instantly travel from one end of the city to the other with just a thought. For someone who had been a wage slave in his previous life, nothing was more appealing than this. It meant he could skip the commute to work and sleep in for an extra half hour in the morning!

Unfortunately, although mages and Elemental Shapers both used magic, their belief systems were vastly different. Mages believed in the God of Trickery and often came from ancient, mysterious families, starting their training from childhood. For someone like him, who had started late, it was a bit too late.

This was also why Ethan had been planning to leave Brookwood Town.

The library in the town only contained popular science books, which could only give him a general understanding of extraordinary paths or Dark Creatures, but no practical guides. The only book with any real substance he had was "Fireball Ice Arrow Magic Mechanics," which Zhao Cai had somehow dug up for him two years ago.

Ethan really needed books like "Teach You 100 Magic Tricks," but such books were mostly found in the libraries of major cities, or one might even need to join an organization like the Containment Bureau to access them.

Perhaps, Fireplace Bay...

Ethan shook his head, quickly dismissing the wicked thought.

Before leaving, Ivy had warned him that giving in to temptation in a place like this was the beginning of an irreversible descent into the abyss. Fireplace Bay undoubtedly held what he desired, but there was that old, classic question.

But, what was the price?

Anything remotely related to the extraordinary in this world saw its value skyrocket.

Clearly, not everyone had a sense of crisis. Even through the decorative masks obscuring their faces, he could see the greedy and fanatical eyes of many.

So, the question remained.

Where was Ivy?

Ethan had waited on the dock for nearly ten minutes, but Ivy was nowhere to be seen. If he remembered correctly, the young lady had warned him not to wander around Fireplace Bay when she cast the Teleportation Magic.

When he wanted to ask passersby if they had seen Ivy, he froze.

Without being able to mention Ivy's name or accurately describe her features, how could he possibly ask where the young lady had gone?

Did he have to grab someone and ask if they'd seen a mysterious masked woman with an annoyingly disobedient voice?

However, Ethan soon lost the urge to ask for directions.

He wasn't the only newcomer in Fireplace Bay. Ahead of him was an anxious young man in a cheap suit, frantically searching the crowd, on the verge of a breakdown.

Seeing this, passersby were sympathetic and willing to offer guidance.

Asking for directions: 3 Gold Lions. Helping to find someone: 5 Gold Lions. No bargaining accepted.

Aren't you guys highway robbers?

Ethan mentally interrogated these profit-driven people on behalf of the young man. In a place like Brookwood Town, one Gold Lion could sustain a comfortable life for a month.

The young man demonstrated the result of asking for directions in Fireplace Bay, making him realize that in this hellhole, one had to rely on oneself for everything.

Mugram, that was the name of the shop owner.

Although he hadn't finished speaking before Ivy disappeared, the important information had been conveyed: Mugram's shop was located on one of these merchant ships.

As long as he browsed these ships, he would find her. Perhaps Ivy had already reached the shop and started selecting items.

However, Ethan had clearly underestimated the dangers of Fireplace Bay.

The one who suffered next was the young man ahead. He boarded the first ship with a pale face. Just as he was lost in darkness and despair, a friendly middle-aged man approached him. His hearty laughter was a stark contrast to the cold passersby from before.

"Don't worry, you'll find her. This is Fireplace Bay, and you can find anything you desire here."

He handed the young man a chilled beer. "Drink this, it'll help you regain your strength!"

Ethan looked at the young man's eyes beneath his mask, like a drowning person grasping at the last straw of hope.

The young man took the beer with trembling hands and drank it down in one gulp.

He regained his confidence, his eyes shining with renewed light.

"Thank you, thank you so much! I'll never forget your kindness!"

"No need for thanks,"

The middle-aged man smiled and shook his head, extending his right hand. "Just pay for the beer. 1 Gold Lion, thank you for your patronage."

"Huh?"

"This is brewed by a master brewer from Windless City, using top-grade hops and wheat. You can only taste this master-level craftsmanship here in Fireplace Bay."

In stark contrast to the cheerful smiles were the burly men who emerged from the crowd, surrounding the bewildered youth.

"Besides the Gold Lion, we also accept collateral. Eyes, blood, kidneys – anything goes. Did you know that humans can actually live with just one kidney? If you don't want to put anything up for collateral, you can borrow money over there. The interest rate is 45%, a very fair price."

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