Chapter 198: Lut Gholein
"Welcome, Elder Wu Fan Your Excellency."
A Sorceress with a large black beard, who looked to be around 50 years old, bowed slightly to me and said with a smile.
"It's also a pleasure to meet you, Sorceress Talen. You can just call me Wu Fan or Wu from now on. Speaking of which, we're practically fellow students. I also received personal guidance from Fara at the Mage Guild."
I returned the smile. It was strange to think that such a large country like Lut Gholein didn't have a single Elder. This meant that, nominally, among all the Adventurers in Lut Gholein, my Status was currently the highest.
Thinking of this, a slight sense of nervousness suddenly arose. I tightened the Cloak on my Body and pulled my Hat lower. Then, thinking this seemed impolite, I took the Hat off again.
"Is that so? What a coincidence. I didn't expect Lord Wu Fan to have also received guidance from Teacher Fara. I'm ashamed to say that although I also received Teacher Fara's Teachings, my Talent is truly limited, so I can only Live a Lazy Life here."
Hearing me say this, a hint of surprise appeared on Talen's face. My Class was a Druid, yet I had received Fara's Teachings. After thinking for a moment, he could only attribute this to my Talent. The Smile on his face became even more enthusiastic.
"Not at all. Strength is not everything for a Sorceress. Those Mages who are knowledgeable and quietly explore and research Magic are equally respectable."
Of course, excluding Sorceresses like Fara who specialize in tinkering with strange Magic Items, I silently added in my Heart.
Led by Talen, we walked out of the Magic Hall. Lut Gholein's Mage Guild looked almost identical to the one in the Rogue Encampment, both having intricate Underground Chamber structures. After walking up the winding Stairs for over ten minutes, Talen stopped. Because there was a Wall ahead, he softly chanted a few Magic Incantations. The Wall in front immediately emitted a faint grinding sound, then slowly moved aside. Blazing White Light shone down from above, causing my Eyes to squint slightly.
With this layer of fellow student relationship, Talen's Tone became much more familiar. In a Stone Study Room after exiting the Secret Room...
I handed him the Letter of Introduction that Akara had given me. He read it carefully for a while before slowly raising his Head.
"I understand Lady Akara's meaning. As for the matter of Lord Wu Fan using Remote Magic Teleportation, our Mage Guild naturally has no objection. However, besides that, we must also obtain the approval of the ruler here—His Majesty Jerhyn. Lord Wu Fan may need to meet with him. I will go to the Palace immediately to arrange a meeting Time, which will likely be in about two or three days. Lord Wu Fan might as well use this Time to familiarize himself with the environment of Lut Gholein."
It was similar to what Akara had said. I nodded towards him.
"Then I'll trouble you to make the trip. I happen to be very interested in this country, known in legend as the City of Jewels. I'm already a little impatient to go out and take a look around."
"Haha, if that's the case, Lut Gholein will definitely not disappoint you, Lord Wu Fan. Whether it's the Population or the Degree of prosperity, this place is incomparable to the Rogue Encampment. Especially our Twin Seas here, along with the Sea of Grass in the Rogue Encampment, the Sea of Forests in Kurast, Harrogath, and the Ice Plateau in Harrogath. These are recognized as one of the five most magnificent Five Great Wonders on the entire Sanctuary."
"Hearing you say that, I'm even more eager."
"Then, Lord Wu Fan, do you have any other Matters to instruct? If not, I won't hinder your visit. Oh, right, do you need a Guide, Lord Wu Fan? I believe someone in our Mage Guild can certainly handle it."
Talen's Suggestion quite surprised me. Had my Poor Sense of Direction already spread to Lut Gholein? Thinking about it, that seemed unlikely. I Refused Talen's Suggestion. After arranging to return to the Mage Guild within two days, I walked out of the Guild's main Door under the guidance of a Sorceress.
As I had imagined, being a city on the Edge of the Desert, the Air in Lut Gholein was dry and scorching. As soon as I walked out of the Mage Guild, I deeply felt this. The Sun hanging in the Sky was at least half again as large as the one I saw in the Rogue Encampment. The Sense of Oppression brought by the dazzling White Light felt like being in an oven. What flowed in the Air was not Wind, but wave after wave of heat. Coming here from the Rogue Encampment was like a resident who had lived in Alaska for a long time suddenly appearing in Hawaii.
Although I was a Class Changer, I wasn't afraid of this intense Sunlight. Still, I couldn't help but take out a Water Bag and pour several large gulps of bone-chilling Cold Water into my dry lips before letting out a breath and recovering.
The accompanying Sorceress saw my Appearance and gave a knowing Smile.
"The Climate here is indeed a bit uncomfortable for newcomers, but I believe Lord Wu Fan will adapt quickly. By then, you'll discover that this place actually has many charming aspects."
After speaking, he paused before cautiously asking.
"Lord Wu Fan, do you truly not need a Guide? You should know that Lut Gholein is not like the Rogue Encampment. The city's area is at least ten times larger than the Camp, and the residents number over a million..."
"No need. I'm just going to walk around nearby and feel the Atmosphere. I don't plan to immediately get familiar with the entire city."
"I see. Then please take care, Lord Wu Fan. If you encounter any problems on the way, I believe the nearby Sorceresses will be happy to help you resolve them."
This thoughtful Sorceress did not forget to offer a kind reminder at the end.
I gave this kind Sorceress a Smile, pulled my Cloak Hat tightly over my Head again, and strode out of the Door.
Ahead was a small Plaza. I turned my Head to look back and was immediately startled by the Mage Guild's grand scale. How could this be a Mage Guild? It was a magnificent Stone Fort, as colorful as a Palace, with towering Domes and soaring Round Spires. Compared to this, the Mage Guild in the Rogue Encampment was simply like a Dog kennel.
I clicked my tongue in wonder as I crossed the Plaza and arrived at the Guild's outer Door. Two Sorceresses and two Soldiers were guarding the Door. They turned their Heads and glanced at me, a hint of confusion appearing in their Eyes, but they quickly turned back.
Walking out from the Mage Guild, I was on a Brick Paved Avenue about ten meters wide. The bustling Crowd made me feel as if I had returned to the Scene of the Divine Birth Day in the Rogue Encampment.
Choosing a random Direction, I walked along with the Crowd for over ten minutes. After a rough observation, I found that the cultural Style of Lut Gholein was surprisingly very close to that of Arabia or India. This was because these places shared a common characteristic: most were located in a Desert environment.
The Buildings here were mostly made of Stone. If you wanted Wood, you had to go to the Edge of the Misty Forest dozens of kilometers away to cut it. Therefore, Wood, which was readily available everywhere in the Rogue Encampment, was very precious in Lut Gholein.
The large amount of Stone obtained from the Wasteland not far from here was used to construct distinctive Stone Houses with neat, three-dimensional trapezoidal stone masonry structures, mixed with a layer of gray Mud on the exterior. Only movable structures like Doors and Windows were made of Wood. These small houses with a strong ethnic Style were the residences of most Civilians.
Of course, this wasn't everything. Lut Gholein was known as the City of Jewels, and there were countless Merchants and Magnates within. Four or five-story high Stone Dome Tower Buildings were also seen everywhere. Although these tall and magnificent Buildings were mostly built of Stone, the Stone used was of a higher Quality, and the exterior was polished very smoothly. The craftsmanship of skilled artisans made them appear seamless and grand, completely unlike the Civilians' houses which needed dirty gray Mud to conceal their uneven and ugly exteriors.
On these magnificent Buildings, many were adorned with various Colored Geometric Patterns. That strange yet harmonious Style and color scheme, like African Totems, gave them a very distinct characteristic.
Lut Gholein was known as the Commercial Center of the entire Sanctuary. The Races living here were also extremely mixed—fair-skinned Rogues, Humans of various Skin tones, tall and aloof Amazons, incredibly robust Barbarians, and even many Intelligent Creatures whose Race couldn't be identified were seen everywhere. Perhaps a slender figure occasionally passing by you, wearing a Felt Wide-brimmed Hat, was one of the Elf Race, legendary for their Beauty and elegance. And standing at the entrance of a Tavern, a Dwarf completely covered by a Cloak was very likely a Dwarf who had been living in seclusion for a long time. Their Blacksmithing Skill was unparalleled on the entire Sanctuary...
Of course, the native residents—Lut Gholein Natives—were also indispensable. The attire of Lut Gholein Natives was very distinctive, quite similar to the Arabs I had seen in my Past Life. Most men here liked to keep messy beards. On their Heads, they wore Turbans and Headbands, and they were dressed in loose White Collarless Robes with very wide chests and sleeves, shaped like cylinders. Such clothing was more breathable and very cool to wear. Therefore, whether rich or poor, most were dressed this way. The difference was that the rich had better fabric, some wore Cloaks and looked energetic when walking, while those who paid attention to Style would hang a tassel on their chest containing some spices. Some even hung an exquisite Belt Knife at their waist to display their martial prowess. Of course, for Adventurers, these were just toys...
The women of Lut Gholein were also unique. Most women here were very slender; it was rare to see obese women. Most Lut Gholein women covered their faces with Veils, giving them a Mysterious and alluring Attraction. Some wore only a thin layer of Light Gauze over their Body, their Skin faintly visible, their dark Skin tone revealing a healthy glow, which also had a unique Flavor. Especially their small waists, which were long and slender. It was said that the Beauty of Lut Gholein women was not in their Appearance, but in the contour, slenderness, and flexibility of their waists. The bolder Lut Gholein women would dress themselves in a charming manner and be proud of their "water snake" waists, while the reserved Young Ladies from Prominent Families wore White Robes similar to men's, with high Collars covering their necks. Their Skin was delicate and smooth, and even in this scorching Desert Climate, it was as fair as a baby's, making them look even more captivating.
It's true that you can see the Degree of development from the Appearance of a city. In the Rogue Encampment, most Civilians buried themselves in work, and only on days like festivals could they rarely relax. But in Lut Gholein, it was almost like a Celebration every day. Everyone here, regardless of gender, age, Civilian, or Magnate, was good at singing and dancing. On the Streets, you could always see some bold Lut Gholein women singing and dancing.
The dances they performed looked very much like Belly Dance with an Arabian Style. Their intricate and sensual body Movements, sometimes charming and sensual, sometimes proud and Mysterious, fully highlighted their beautiful "water snake" waists. The men were also skilled with musical instruments; most were good at the Hand Drum. If they didn't have a drum, they could even pick up a rough Plate and tap out a rhythmic melody.
Of course, not everything was so beautiful. Although Lut Gholein, known as the City of Jewels, indeed had Gold everywhere, the richer it was, the more it couldn't be without something that couldn't be eliminated—the Slum. It was just that the Street I was on was the main road.
Those poorly dressed Civilians were not qualified to walk here. You could tell how strict the public order was from the teams of neat and stern Soldiers passing by every few minutes.
"Hey, wait."
A Squad of Soldiers passed by me. The leading Captain suddenly turned his Head and said coldly to me.
I was slightly startled. I turned my Head back.
"Something wrong?"
"Looking at your Appearance, you seem unfamiliar. Take off your Hat."
I was stunned. Although being completely wrapped in a Cloak did make me look a bit Mysterious, it seemed I wasn't the only one dressed like this in the Surroundings. How did he determine that I was "unfamiliar"? Looking at their fierce Appearance, they were clearly looking for trouble.
"What if I Refuse?"
I squinted my Eyes slightly. In the Rogue Encampment, I had never received such Treatment. A nameless anger suddenly surged in my Heart.
"How dare you! Do you know where this is? Don't think a mere Mercenary can be so arrogant."
The leading Captain choked slightly. How could their Presence, which was usually only used to bully Civilians, compare to the Killing Intent tempered by Adventurers' long-term Slaughter?
"Is that so? What if I still insist on Refusing? What can you do to me?"
A Smile curled up at the Corner of my mouth. With a slight turn of my palm, a pitch-black Raven appeared in my hand. I replied softly.
Perhaps those who didn't know would think it was just a crude performance, but that Captain was quite discerning. This Raven didn't seem extraordinary at first glance. But the sharp Gaze flashing in its dark Eyes and its smooth lines looked as if it could pierce his Heart at any moment—he was Affirmative that this was definitely one of the Druid's Signature Skills.
Don't assume the Lazy Crow's Strength is weak just because it doesn't usually participate in Battle. It's a Raven with a Skill Level of Level 8 and Mutated Level 2. If I wanted to take down this small Squad of Soldiers in front of me, who haven't even reached Soldier Rank and can at best fight against Students in the Rogue Encampment, it wouldn't take more than 5 seconds.
The Captain's face suddenly turned very ugly. From the other party's Voice, they sounded quite young, so he estimated that the other party was at most a Mercenary or even an Adventurer of Soldier Rank. He didn't expect them to be a Class Changer. He was very clear about what such a young Class Changer meant.
His face flickered between light and dark several times. Finally, he resentfully lowered his Head slightly towards me and quickly left with the Soldiers behind him. A Class Changer was not someone a small Soldier like him could afford to provoke. If they were angered, it wouldn't be surprising if they killed you without anyone knowing; they had that Strength.
I watched their retreating figures thoughtfully. I was really too lazy to act against such Minions. However, compared to the Militia-like Atmosphere of the Rogue Encampment, the Quality of the Soldiers in Lut Gholein really had a bit of a Gap. Was this the so-called Style of a metropolis? Or was it...
I silently pondered for a while and didn't put away the Lazy Crow in my palm. It nimbly jumped onto my Shoulder, its round Brain rubbing against my face ingratiatingly a few times. Its Eyes rolled around, seemingly very interested in the prosperous Scene before us.
What a pity. If I didn't want to reveal my Status so quickly, I wonder if directly Summoning Light Snow could scare that Squad of Soldiers shitless? I thought with a silent laugh.
With a "swoosh," the Lazy Crow suddenly disappeared from my Shoulder, and then, in less than a second, reappeared on my Shoulder, displaying its Mutated Level 2 Speed to the fullest. Unless it was a Class Changer or a sharp-eyed Rogue Archer, very few people could catch sight of it, let alone those Soldiers and Civilians?
Therefore, even if it was now holding a glowing Stone in its beak, no one would know where it came from, except for me.
"You damn Raven..."
I fiercely poked its round Brain with my index finger. This fellow hadn't changed its thieving nature. In just that one second, it had actually snatched a Stone from the Stall across the way. Luckily, no one seemed to have noticed, otherwise my Reputation would have been ruined by it.