[Kiss Goodbye]

[Kiss Goodbye]

What made Du Wei feel a little sad was little Vivian's farewell.

The little fool had finally gone to the Mage Guild in Walker Port to complete some formalities.

Her mage's robe was gone, and even her mage badge had been lost in the sea.

Vivian went to the local Mage Guild to register. Once she revealed her identity, the Guild staff immediately checked the list of mage ranks... and two low-ranking mages in charge of paperwork fainted on the spot from fright.

After that, their attitude instantly became incomparably respectful. After all, the arrival of a Grand Mage was an exceedingly rare event!

Within the Mage Guild, which of those famous Grand Mages was not lofty and proud? If one carelessly offended such powerful figures, it could bring enormous trouble!

This Mage Guild branch in Walker Port was actually only responsible for such trivial affairs as purchasing supplies the Guild needed in this port city. The people here had almost never received a Grand Mage before.

Before long, Vivian had changed into a brand-new mage's robe and received a newly issued gold badge.

"I... I'm leaving."

The little fool sighed. After returning, those were the first words she said to Du Wei.

Du Wei was silent for a moment and said nothing. He understood very well that no matter how they had depended on each other for survival on that deserted island, once they returned, they would still have to go their separate ways.

"I... I have to go." Vivian's face was a little red, and so were her eyes. Her small hands rubbed the hem of her clothes hard. "Counting the days... M-Master is about to... r-return."

Du Wei raised his head and looked at the little fool. "Where can I find you in the future?"

Vivian fell silent for a moment. She looked at Du Wei cautiously. "M-Master doesn't allow me to... to tell anyone our address..."

"...Not even me?" Du Wei asked softly.

Vivian's tears were about to fall. Suddenly, her lips quivered, and with a wail, she burst into tears. Disregarding her appearance entirely, she threw her arms around Du Wei. Trembling as she cried, she said, "I... I really can't bear to leave you... I don't want to go back... M-my dragon is gone. Master will punish me..."

Held in her embrace and listening to those childish words, Du Wei could not help but smile. "All right. You can secretly tell me. When I have time, I can secretly go see you... Or the next time your master isn't around, you can sneak out to see me! Wouldn't that be nice? We've known each other for so many days. I consider you a good friend. You're not that young anymore—could your master really keep you locked away in that hidden place for the rest of your life and never let you see anyone? You need some friends too."

Vivian thought for a while, clearly hesitant... She had broken quite a few rules by coming out this time. Thinking it over, she decided one more broken rule hardly mattered...

We have to regretfully say that, to some extent, our innocent little Vivian had already been led astray by Du Wei.

Because the old little Vivian would never, ever have entertained such a thought.

"I... I live at..." Vivian whispered a location into Du Wei's ear. Du Wei carefully memorized it, then smiled. "Good! When I have time, I'll definitely come see you!"

Vivian's expression darkened. "Th-that place is v-very, very hard to find. It's not easy to get in either. M-my sister, when she went l-last time, wandered around outside for an entire day before she got in."

Could there be some sort of magic array... Du Wei thought about it, then smiled. "All right. There'll always be a way."

Vivian studied Du Wei carefully for a while. Then she pulled a sheet of parchment from her clothes and gently stuffed it into his hand. "Th-this is what I p-promised you."

Du Wei unfolded it and took a look. Several lines of words had been written on it in black ink... The writing was ancient, and the phrases obscure and difficult to understand...

They were, astonishingly, several magic incantations!!

"S-six... six lines in all." Vivian's face turned scarlet. "It... it's what I promised you."

Du Wei looked at the parchment in his hand. "You... knew I was deceiving you back then, didn't you?"

"I knew." Vivian lowered her head, seemingly not daring to look at Du Wei. Her voice became even quieter. "Th-these are the s-six strongest incantations I know... If your magic power isn't... isn't enough, don't... don't use them."

Du Wei solemnly tucked the parchment away close to his body. Then he looked at the girl before him—at her flushed face, her evasive gaze, and the faint shyness that nevertheless showed through. All of a sudden, Du Wei's heart stirred slightly.

Once that thought arose, even Du Wei himself felt a little wicked. After tricking so many things out of her, was he going to trick away her heart too? She was such a young, innocent girl.

Du Wei shook his head. He saw Vivian out the door and onto the street, then had someone prepare a horse.

"I... I'm leaving." Vivian looked even more distressed.

Du Wei suddenly said seriously, "There's something you absolutely must remember!"

Then Du Wei took a deep breath. "I know your dragon was left behind on that island, and you're deeply upset about it. I think you must still want to go back and bring it out, right? But I'm telling you not to go! That island is not simple! Your sister's magical strength is no weaker than yours, yet she went there with her dragon and was nearly killed by the monster on that island! Her dragon was eaten by the monster too... So if you go again, you'll only be throwing your life away for nothing! Listen to me—don't even think about returning to that island to look for your dragon! Understand?"

Vivian nodded. "I... I understand. But M-my master may go."

Du Wei sighed helplessly.

But he had heard from the demon's servant Chris that the enormous monster itself could move; it did not remain fixed in one place, and would swim elsewhere after some time. In other words, the island's location was not fixed.

Perhaps by the time Vivian's master went looking for it, the island would already be gone, and all he would see would be the vast sea.

By the way, Vivian had always refused to reveal who her master was. But Du Wei guessed he had to be some extremely formidable reclusive master! Otherwise, how could he have taught a genius Grand Mage like Vivian at such a young age?

"Wh-what are those people doing?" While Du Wei was thinking about this, Vivian suddenly pointed into the distance and asked curiously.

In the distance, sailors preparing to put out to sea were bidding farewell to women. Some were saying goodbye to their wives, some to their lovers, and some even to prostitutes with whom they had shared only a single night of tenderness.

But those who made their living at sea always faced all kinds of danger. Before the men set sail, the women... even prostitutes from a single night of romance, would not begrudge them a little blessing...

And so, in the distance, several couples were kissing goodbye.

"They... are saying farewell, I suppose," Du Wei answered casually.

A strange expression flashed across Vivian's face. Suddenly, she blushed furiously, then quickly leaned in and kissed Du Wei on his left cheek... no more than a dragonfly skimming the water.

Afterward, even Vivian's breathing seemed to tremble. She hurriedly leaped onto the horse, not daring to say another word, then rode away as though fleeing.

Du Wei, however, covered the cheek the female mage had just kissed and stared blankly toward the end of the long street...

Under the escort of a thousand private soldiers from the Rowling Family, Du Wei and his party left Walker Port in grand procession, heading north toward the Roland Plain.

When the party passed through the capital of Lier Province, the province's governor personally received Du Wei, offering him a great deal of gentle consolation and encouragement. Before his departure, he even presented Du Wei with quite a few gifts, letting him make a small profit.

After all, he was currently being punished. His monthly allowance of three hundred gold coins had been canceled, making him practically the poorest noble in the entire Empire.

Joanna had left ahead of them. Taking Ruolin with her, she rendezvoused with Jacks Pailuo's ship, replenished supplies at the port, and then set sail to carry out their plan of robbing pirates.

Thinking of his future McDonald's Fleet... and all the ensuing mischievous schemes, Du Wei could not help but smile as he lay in the carriage.

Just imagine it... if one day, that poor pirate captain introduced himself to others.

And declared with perfect confidence, "I am Jacks Pailuo, captain of the Black Pearl, flagship of the McDonald's Fleet!"

If such an introduction had taken place in his previous world, it would probably have made a whole crowd collapse with laughter on the spot.

As he thought about it, Du Wei suddenly sat upright in the carriage!

He felt a little excited, and a little amused.

This world... was almost a blank slate to him! A sheet of white paper, one he could draw upon however he pleased!

Since I can build a "McDonald's Fleet," then there are still countless amusing things I can go on to do!

At that moment, their young protagonist seemed to have finally found a tiny bit of purpose in life again... though it was a rather wickedly mischievous purpose.

Fifteen days later, Du Wei returned to the Rowling Family's castle on the banks of a tributary of the Emerald River, on the Roland Plain.

The welcoming ceremony this time was much smaller. The thousand light cavalrymen of the Rowling Family's private army who had escorted Du Wei's party did not enter the castle. Having completed their task, they left directly.

Du Wei saw Hill, the old steward he did not particularly like, once again. This time, the old fellow seemed much happier to see him.

That was perfectly understandable. If anything had really happened to Du Wei, the old steward left behind would have had to bear part of the responsibility as well!

"Young Master, you have returned." The old steward's face bloomed like a chrysanthemum, though to Du Wei, his smile inevitably carried a hint of gloating. "I have already received the Earl's personal letter..."

"I know! Confined for one year, and my monthly allowance has been suspended for the time being too, right? Fine then, my dear steward. Where are you planning to lock me up?"

The old steward jumped in fright and hurriedly said, "This... Young Master, your words truly frighten me! Who would dare lock you up? Within the castle grounds, you may still do anything you like. It is only that your feet may not step beyond the castle gates—not for the next year. That is the order of the Earl, the head of the family."

"Fine!" Du Wei laughed heartily, then glanced at the old steward. "By custom, I have just returned. So tonight, I'll be staying in the study. Dear steward, have someone make the arrangements."