Norwich

The town of iron and the sea of coal will welcome a pilgrimage when Calamity recedes...

This is a well-known folk song from the Fairy Britain, and also a passage from a prophecy. At this moment, it refers to this very place. Two thousand years have passed, and this is the time when Norwich will encounter Calamity.

Bai Mo and Morgan had already changed his name to Ash, entered the port city and were somewhat surprised by the scenery. Generally speaking, when a city learns that a natural disaster is about to occur, it will organize some kind of preventative work.

What is about to erupt here is a Calamity that will destroy the entire city, yet Norwich sees no preparations whatsoever, and there are hardly any guards patrolling the streets.

"This feels really strange. Aren't these guys being a little too relaxed and carefree? Ash, what do you think..."

Bai Mo looked around and saw that the golden figure from before had disappeared. Turning back, she saw her walking out of a dessert shop, carrying a large paper bag of bread in her arms and even having a donut in her mouth.

"Hmm? Bai Mo, you want some too? Although this limited edition strawberry chocolate flavor is the only one left."

Seeing her relaxed expression, Bai Mo couldn't help but twitch his lips and said, "We came here to resolve the Norwich Calamity, right? Not for tourism, are we? And can you even eat all this?"

Soon, Ash answered Bai Mo with her actions. She quickly swallowed a palm-sized donut like a hamster and then took out another snack from the paper bag.

"You asked if I'm here to avert Calamity or for tourism... both, you know. After all, the Calamity hasn't happened yet, so being anxious won't help. If you're always on edge, you'll snap like a string pulled too hard."

As she spoke, Qin handed the pastries to Bai Mo. After Bai Mo took them, a cold glint flashed in her snow-white eyes.

"And there's no need to worry about this Calamity. If necessary, I'll use the Water Mirror to transfer Calamity away. Bai Mo, you don't need to have too many concerns. Our main objective for this trip is the Clan Bell. If necessary, we can simply move the Bell-Striking Hall, and that will be considered achieving our goal."

"If you use the Water Mirror, it will transfer that thing to the past, right? Will you be able to deal with it in the past?"

As he chewed on his bread, Ash said, "Don't underestimate me."

"I've seen far too many people rely on the wisdom of later generations; this is the first time I've seen someone trust the wisdom of their predecessors. It's best not to try and manipulate time. Besides..."

Bai Mo looked at a clothing store called Earl not far away; the clothes inside were completely different from those in Britain.

Some time later, Bai Mo brought Qin to the headquarters of the Earl's Clothing Store and knocked on the CEO's door. When the door opened, there was a very special and androgynous face, looking like an actor in stage makeup.

"Oh dear, it seems you two didn't make a reservation? Please have a seat. I quite like guests who come unexpectedly, after all, it's a pleasant surprise."

After entering the room, Bai Mo sat down in front of the person before him and then asked, "Are you Scandinavia Peperoncino, a member of Chaldea's A-Team and the Crypter in the India Lostbelt?"

"Um... okay, this is a bit too exciting for my expectations. My information in Chaldea has been opened? You're not Olga Marie -chan sent to eliminate a traitor, are you?"

"Not for now. I'm here to ask for some simple help."

As he spoke, Bai Mo extended his finger, and a golden light flickered and gradually changed at his fingertip. Then, Peperoncino recognized what it was. Although it was very different from the war wheel from before, he still recognized it.

"I see... So you've been to the India Lostbelt. What happened to my Servant... no, what was her fate?"

"The curse on Ashwatthama was lifted, and he was a great help in the final battle against Arjuna. This can be considered a connection established; perhaps we'll meet again at Chaldea in the future."

"I see... then this favor is quite substantial. Is there anything I can do for you and this... lady?"

Almost all of Norwich's information was presented to Bai Mo and Chen. As Chen looked at the dense pile of documents, he cast a curious glance at Bai Mo beside him.

"I didn't expect you to have so many connections, Bai Mo. I was originally planning to negotiate with him as Morgan. But thinking about it, with connections Lostbelt, you're practically guaranteed to run into acquaintances anywhere in the world."

Why do you think I'm the kind of person who's not good at socializing?

Bai Mo opened the intelligence report in his hand, while Peperoncino, who was standing beside him, brought over three cups of fragrant tea and asked with some curiosity, "I was quite surprised too. How did you discover me?"

"The Earl's shop in Norwich has clothing designs far ahead of their time, and I just happen to remember from the Chaldea intelligence that you have experience as a fashion designer. It was just pure luck; if it weren't you but some other person from Pan-Human History, I would have found a way to get him to talk."

Bai Mo answered, his brows furrowing slightly.

It's easy to guess why Norwich has so few guards: the Earth Clan Chief Spriggan, has gathered most of his guards in the Clan Chief's fortress, the Vault Castle, where the Earth Clan's Seed of Pilgrimage is also located.

Furthermore, there was another piece of news: during this period, Spriggan seemed to be building around Norwich, but all people saw was him tearing down and rebuilding the walls, then tearing them down again.

Therefore, strictly speaking, Norwich had no means to resist the Calamity.

"It's amazing how these fairies can live like this, as if nothing will happen. Why don't they move away?"

"Why... because..."

Peperoncino gave a subtle smile, then slowly uttered two words:

"Mortgage."

After Clan Chief Spriggan drove Boggart to Sheffield, he led the entire Earth Elf clan to develop Norwich. The Earth Clan had previously lived in caves, naturally wanted their own houses.

But Spriggan set the prices at almost astronomical levels, so he devised a very modern mortgage system for the Earth Clan, who couldn't afford to buy a house at all. Even for the most remote houses, the down payment was 200,000 Morgan Pound, followed by 50,000 Morgan Pound per year.

The total repayment period, including principal and interest, is fifty years. If you cannot afford to pay, you can postpone the principal payment, but the interest for that year will still be charged. If the fairy dies, the house will be reclaimed, and the next generation of fairies will have to buy it again.

Therefore, these fairies were absolutely unwilling to give up their houses; after all, they had already paid off so many loans, and if they let go now, they would have nothing left.

Peperoncino's expression gradually became exaggerated, and he burst into laughter at the end.

"The fairies can't outmaneuver the human capitalists in Norwich. After Norwich is destroyed, the remaining fairies will have to pay for rebuilding their homes, and because His Majesty Morgan has disappeared, they won't receive a single penny of disaster relief funds."

Upon hearing this, Bai Mo helplessly slapped himself in the face.

"Well, at least my illusions about this world have been completely shattered."

"That's not true. Spriggan was originally human."

Suddenly, Ash revealed some incredible information, causing Pepe to stop smiling and look at him with a puzzled expression. Ash seemed to be recalling something as he spoke:

"Although he used disguise and life extension methods, that guy is indeed a human from Pan-Human History. The original chieftain of the Earth Clan should have been killed by him by now. Anyway, this Spriggan still pays taxes, and the Queen is too lazy to care."

Instead of that, let's discuss taking Norwich's clock first. Even though Spriggan's defenses are excellent, they're nothing to us, right?"