Mystic Overlord: Reading Gives Strength-Chapter 1174 - 1168: Nighttime Visit

That night, a man and a woman entered with the crowd entering the city.

According to the locals, the atmosphere in [Joluno] city today is more serious than any other day.

Because just this morning.

One of the seven civil servants under the ruler Bapulor, the top of the cultists, also one of the seven original holders.

Was killed by an unidentified person outside the city, with no remains.

The same thing has happened elsewhere in the world, and now the entire city should have entered a state of lockdown, closing all entry and exit passages.

But the way cultists manage things is beyond common understanding.

After only an afternoon of strict investigation, internal trials and the capture of several casters, the city's operations quickly returned to normal. It is said that even a new civil servant candidate has already been internally approved.

And amid such inquiries, before the curfew began in [Joluno] city, Ronald and Patricia found an inn to stay for the night.

Honestly, Ronald wanted to find Heloise immediately.

But thinking about everything that happened today...

They had just taken down a civil servant cultist in the morning, and now they were defying the curfew to search for Heloise. Even with their formidable power, it seemed a bit too much.

Inside the inn, Patricia placed a lit oil lamp in front of Ronald:

"Ronald, how do you feel?"

Sitting at the table, Ronald was focused on casting reconnaissance magic.

Upon hearing Patricia's inquiry, he shook his head with a furrowed brow:

"No, using only magic makes it hard to pinpoint the location."

"If this were an ordinary country and a city of this scale, I could meticulously spend two days to filter out the specific situation."

"But the residents of this city... To be honest, nearly every one of them is making my job harder. This is definitely not something that can be achieved in a short time."

After expressing his recent findings, Ronald irritably reached up to scratch his head.

According to previous investigations, Heloise should be in this city now.

But due to these reasons, Ronald couldn't immediately bring her back to his side. This situation was truly frustrating and distressing.

The quickest way to retrieve Heloise should be to follow the original plan step by step.

Seeing Ronald's anxious demeanor, Patricia gently walked over and ruffled Ronald's tousled hair with a tender touch:

"Ronald, the progress isn't too bad now."

"Knowing she's a merchant, it shouldn't be too hard to find her."

Just as Patricia said.

Heloise had returned to her old trade, transforming into a merchant.

According to the information obtained from Noela, she was now hiding in this city, selling tobacco in a rather inconspicuous shop.

"Thank you, I was a bit anxious," Ronald thanked Patricia, then reflected, "One shouldn't rush such matters, especially at this stage of progress."

Patricia gave Ronald a slight nod before sitting down beside the table:

"But speaking of which, Ronald, don't you find this city too strange?"

"Even if it's under the control of cultists, there seems to be no reason for the entire city's population to transform into such... 'quirky' personalities in just a few months, right?"

Facing such a question, Ronald was uncertain:

"The speed of human nature's change has never followed a path, nor adhered to rules, and is unpredictable. Under the cultists' rule... Ordinary people witnessed terrifying cultist magic, were influenced by evil spells, or even inherently longed for supernatural power."

"What will happen on this backward land is unpredictable."

Patricia agreed with a nod: 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

"A country managed by cultists, such a thing has indeed never happened before. In any case, we should proceed cautiously onwards; after all, one original holder has already been taken down by us..."

Patricia's voice gradually lowered.

Because right in front of her, Ronald's gaze sharpened.

"Ronald, what's wrong?"

Ronald pointed outside the door:

"Someone's coming upstairs, heading towards us, and they're coming with greed."

Bang bang bang—

Just two breaths after Ronald gave the reminder.

A rhythmic knock sounded at the door.

"Who is it?" Ronald asked, suppressing his tone.

"Sir, you probably haven't rested yet, right?" A mature man's voice sounded from outside, "Could you open the door? I've got something good I'd like to show a distinguished guest like you."

"..."

Ronald and Patricia exchanged a glance.

At such a close distance, neither sensed any fluctuation from the other's presence, which meant—this was an ordinary person, knocking on the door of guests staying at the inn in the dead of night.

—Odd behavior?

Ronald was puzzled but still got up to open the door.

Then, a man in a dusty yellow coat squeezed into the room, immediately putting on a smile for Ronald and Patricia:

"Both of you, I am Klauber, a slave trader officially recognized by [Joluno] city. Upon hearing that distinguished guests have arrived, I specifically rushed here to speak with you."

Slave trader? Distinguished guests?

The man who called himself Klauber didn't say much, but even in his few words, Ronald found plenty of confusion.

"We have no plans to purchase slaves."

"And what's this about distinguished guests of yours?"

Ronald kept his tone casual as he inquired, but in reality, magic power was already gathering at his fingertips. The moment this guy mentioned anything suspicious, he was ready to take him down immediately!

In front of Ronald, the slave trader continued to ingratiate himself:

"Sir, this is what you probably don't know."

"Newcomers to [Joluno] can enjoy special official subsidies for slave trading. You might not have been interested in slaves before, but since you've come to such a fascinating city, why not have a look?"

Hearing this, Ronald suddenly realized:

"So in pursuit of this subsidy, you keep an eye on newcomers to the city and then approach them for discussion?"

"You are indeed an insightful and intelligent person!" The slave trader quickly offered compliments, "With such a lucrative opportunity, would you let it slip away from you?"

"I don't want to, nor do I plan..." Ronald, repulsed by the mention of slaves, immediately wanted to dismiss this greedy slave trader.

But Patricia was different from Ronald.

She promptly stopped Ronald, then emphasized in her suggestion:

"Brad, don't rush."

"Since he's a 'merchant,' perhaps we can talk to him?"