Chapter 87: Undercurrents

Chapter 87: Undercurrents

Grew heard everything he wanted, and then he started stomping his feet because it was no help to him. From fervor and anticipation to disappointment, this made Grew’s emotions somewhat lose control.

Grew took a deep breath and discussed with Eileen, “Lend this pair of Crystal Balls to your uncle for two days.”

Eileen crisply refused this request: “No!”

“What do you want? Whatever your uncle has, I can give it to you.” Grew began to tempt Eileen.

All he got was Eileen’s even firmer refusal: “I don’t want anything! Don’t even think about taking my Crystal Balls! Don’t even think about it!”

Then Grew turned his head to his old friend, his eyes showing a thick plea. Faced with his old friend’s pitiful look, Dragon Rider Father couldn’t hold out anymore and prepared to persuade his daughter. But before he could speak, Eileen spoke first: “Think about it, how was Uncle Grew driven out of the Azure Wave Archipelago?”

These words made Dragon Rider Father shelve his intention to persuade his daughter. Grew was good in every way, but he was a bit lecherous, using his abilities to peek through cracks in doors quite often. Plus, he had decent painting skills, and many young people liked to crowd into his house back then to appreciate the beauty of the human form. Until someone discovered their own sisters also appearing in his paintings, and a full-on fight broke out immediately. After the incident blew up, Grew was exiled to Sandstone City. Other Dragon Riders only took turns on duty, but he was stationed there, with no hope of returning in his lifetime.

Dragon Rider Father practically dragged Grew out of the house, his face somewhat pale, the veins on his head throbbing. He warned sternly: “Keep your dog eyes in check, don’t stare at my daughter.”

Grew was truly wronged: “I wasn’t staring at your daughter! She’s my niece!”

“If you weren’t staring, how did you notice something unusual?” Dragon Rider Father tightened his grip on Grew.

“I just glanced!”

“That means you still looked! You stay away from my daughter.”

The rift between the two old friends began to widen. Dragon Rider Father now had the urge to strangle Grew. When they arrived, had his daughter been seen naked by this old rogue? Although Dragon Rider Father was in an extremely bad mood now, Eileen was very happy. She hummed a little tune, excited about successfully protecting her property.

…

In the morning, swarms of mosquitoes always flitted about the empty Dragon Rider Camp. Sparrows near these insects constantly flew up and down, pecking at them as if playing.

Two or three Wyverns dashed from the camp into the sky, starting their routine patrol. Their patrol range today was much larger, no longer limited to just the camp area.

Baixian was standing under a big tree not far from the Dragon Rider Camp, carefully investigating through her sparrows. At the same time, she cautiously paid attention to her surroundings to avoid any possible danger.

When the Wyvern passed over Baixian’s head for the third time, this alert little girl knew she might have drawn attention. Although the area wasn’t off-limits to city residents, at this early hour, she still seemed somewhat conspicuous. So, she hid herself in the shadow of the eaves as much as possible and quickly left.

Grew stood on the watchtower of the Dragon Rider Camp, watching the little girl leaving, a line of disdainful smile tugging at his mouth. Due to a Wizard’s desire for Evolution, he cared more about the safety of the items in Eileen’s hands than anyone else. So, early in the morning, he had sent the Wyverns out, scanning the surrounding neighborhood. After noticing something unusual, he intentionally made the Wyvern fly over the little girl’s head repeatedly to test her reaction, and then he saw this interesting scene.

After moving away from the Dragon Rider Camp, no more Wyverns appeared overhead, which relaxed Baixian’s mood. She began to hop and skip towards the Sword and Shield Tavern. She would tell the companions waiting there about her discoveries this morning. They had no idea that their every move had fallen into someone else’s view.

…

Grew smugly placed four portraits in front of Hall and said, “The Sword and Shield Tavern in the swordsmen’s district. A few young people who don’t know their place made you this nervous?”

Dragon Rider Father didn’t even lift his eyelids: “Rare for you to be so proactive. What are you plotting? Spit it out!”

“Lend me that pair of Crystal Balls to look at.”

“Go discuss it with Eileen yourself, I can’t control it. And I don’t understand, borrowing one would be enough, why borrow a pair?”

“You don’t understand anything! That pair of Crystal Balls was made in different periods. Although their Mana Fluctuation is the same, there are big differences. With this comparison, maybe I can find a way out too.”

Saying this, as if suddenly realizing something, he slapped his head and continued: “No wonder, he probably evolved more than once. You must help me with this. This is very important not just for me, but for all the Wizards of our Azure Wave Archipelago.”

As he spoke, Grew began to sober up from his fervent state. The goods were no longer important, his own Evolution wasn’t important either. What was important was letting his people master the secret of Wizard Evolution. So his tone changed: “No! Send the information back, immediately! The Northlanders have found the path to Wizard Evolution, have them send people over.”

Seeing his old friend’s still hesitant expression, Grew shouted: “Think! If our Wizards’ abilities evolve, then we will surely see farther, hear farther. You know what that means. Pack up, you leave right now, escort Eileen and the items in her hands back first.”

“What about the alloy?”

“Forget the damn alloy! The alloy won’t get lost sitting here! I’ll watch it!” Grew jumped up and roared. “You need to understand which thing is more important! If you want the alloy, you stay here and guard it then, I’ll take Eileen back first.”

In the end, Dragon Rider Father accepted Grew’s suggestion. He did not stay to rest, and took Eileen back to the Azure Wave Archipelago at full speed.

After Dragon Rider Father left, Grew had someone deliver the portraits of Kkel and the others to the Knight Camp. The Knight Camp and the swordsmen’s district had always been close. Now he could do them a favor, letting them handle it internally. He believed they would give him a satisfactory explanation.

…

In the evening, while Kkel and the others were still scheming, they were cornered by their elders. When they saw their own portraits, they couldn’t believe it. They always thought they had been very secretive. They didn’t expect that in less than two days, someone had figured them out completely.

Kkel’s grandfather said: “Tomorrow I’ll go with you to the Dragon Rider Camp to thank them for sparing your lives.”

Kkel still didn’t quite believe it: “How did they find out?”

“The Dragon Riders are not people you can afford to provoke. Back in the day, they were also a renowned group. It’s just that after the defeat, our ancestors, to lessen our own guilt, pushed all the blame onto them. They didn’t say anything and shouldered all the responsibility. But later, our actions went a bit too far.

Since then, the Dragon Riders have drifted further and further from us. Now the Dragon Riders have become their own entity and no longer trust us, their former companions.

But no matter what, you now owe them your lives. Think carefully about how to handle things from now on.”