Chess Mage of Faerûn

Chapter 127 The Storm Disaster
···Day 21···

We're not too far from Baldur's Gate. I suddenly miss Low Lantern. Shall we go check it out?
Turning around, I saw the gift I had lost and found again. The more I thought about it, the stranger it seemed. Maybe I should just open it and take a look, then wrap it up again later.

No, this is a gift for Uncle Dalin; this is not something a nobleman should do.

···Day 22···

I can't take it anymore! This damn curiosity is driving me crazy! Just one look, just one look.

Upon opening the package, there was indeed a small box inside, which looked quite exquisite.

It won't open, not even by prying. Is this a magic lock? Why would anyone put a gift in a box sealed with magic? This is very strange; there must be something wrong.

Is this a conspiracy against Daelin? Or is there some dirty deal going on? No wonder that damned Revanak cares so much about this thing.

I need to take a good look at it.

If I could thwart those treacherous plots, my father would surely look at me differently. And that idiot Levi, he was just born a few years earlier than me, what's he so smug about in front of me all day?
Fortunately, I have the Disintegration Staff. Let's see what your magic lock can do.

Wow, this damn thing actually took five spells to break open. It must have been a spell cast by a great mage himself.

What is this? When I opened the box, I saw... a necklace?
It's called a necklace, but who would be so bored as to wear such a heavy necklace?
This thing is a bunch of heavy discs strung together with iron wire. The large disc in the center looks like it's made of silver, and there seems to be something engraved on it.

Upon closer inspection, it appears to be Talos's Chaos Symbol!
Wait a minute, what does this mean? Isn't Uncle Dalin a follower of Suren? Why would that guy give Talos a necklace?

Moreover, the necklace was damaged, with two intertwined, three-shaped engravings on the Talos's Chaos symbol.

Never mind, let's take it back first and have the enthusiastic lady's pastor examine it later.

······
There are no further records.

This book is finished!
After reading this diary, which could almost be called a guide to evaluating the prostitutes of the Faerûn world, Zhang Yuan was filled with admiration for this veteran driver—no, he should be called the veteran helmsman.

It wasn't just the other person's extensive knowledge and rich experience of visiting every hair salon that impressed me; I also admired their curiosity and reckless spirit.

After reading the description of the Talos emblem in the diary, Zhang Yuan knew that this matter had gotten serious.

That mark engraved on the Chaos symbol wasn't a scratch or some kind of scribble; no, it really was a "ghostly" scribble.

This is the dark hand hidden in the deepest shadows of Kalinsan, the mastermind behind the tragicomedy of separation and reunion on this grand stage, a group composed of undead spellcasters—Entangled Runes.

After a moment's thought, Zhang Yuan roughly understood what had happened on the ship. It was a premeditated scheme, but he didn't know its purpose or whether "Uncle Dai Lin" was involved.

Poor Captain Rosell was undone by his own curiosity. The petty Talos didn't care whether the people on the Snowwind were responsible for this; he only wanted to spread destruction on this desecrated Chaos Emblem. Whoever was with this thing would die together.

As for the specific truth of the matter—why would the Entangling Rune deliberately provoke the Lord of Storms—Zhang Yuan had no way of knowing and didn't want to know. The lessons of the past were right before his eyes; whether it was Talos or the Entangling Rune, which one could he afford to offend?
Zhang Yuan tossed the diary into his storage pouch and left the captain's cabin without a word, as if he had never seen the logbook before. The dwarf behind him also remained silent; Kegan wouldn't stubbornly pry into things he shouldn't know.

After searching the entire ship, Zhang Yuan and his team found nothing more, so they left the cabin and went to the rocks on the shore.

As the saying goes, "The wind blows the eggshell away, and the wealth is gone but the person is at peace." With all their possessions taken away, the Siren Sisters, now belonging to someone else, stood together nervously and cautiously made their request to "Boss Zhang."

"You said you can't leave the water source, so you have to stay here and can't come with me?" Zhang Yuan looked at the three newly hired "employees" in front of him and said noncommittally.

The three heads nodded repeatedly; it was the absolute truth, and bound by the contract, they could not lie to Zhang Yuan.

However, not lying doesn't mean one doesn't have their own ulterior motives. Oaths can indeed bind the sirens' words and actions, but it's impossible to summon them to one's side with just a thought.

"Can't disobey orders? What if I go far away, into the sea? Do you think you can come looking for us at the bottom of the Sword Sea?" The three sea monsters were making a huge calculation in their minds.

Zhang Yuan, who had clearly seen through the other party's seemingly fearful but actually secretly delighted expression, was all too aware of the other party's little scheme.
Zhang Yuan drafted the contract himself, so how could he not know its limitations?
"Of course I've considered that, but you don't need to worry. As your boss, how could I not consider my subordinates' housing situation?" Mr. Zhang fully demonstrated his care and concern for his subordinates, showing that he thought about what they thought and worried about what they worried about.

"Although you are called Sirens, you can actually survive as long as you are near a water source, right?" Zhang Yuan asked.

“That’s true,” Hill replied honestly.

“That would be wonderful. The Chongsa River would be your ideal place to live. I happen to know a druid who lives there.” Zhang Yuan said slowly and logically, leaving the other party with no room for rebuttal, and of course, no one daring to refute him.

"By the way, that druid is also a woman. You can both be considered children of nature, so you must have a lot in common." The person said cheerfully.

With things already said this far, the sirens had no choice but to agree to travel with their cheap boss.

It was getting late, and the group wasn't in a hurry to set off. They simply returned to the ship and found a dry cabin to spend the night.

The next morning, Mr. Zhang, accompanied by several employees, set off again for Baldur's Gate. He planned to entrust the three siren women to Jady while passing through the riverside village on the way.

Although Zhang Yuan may seem like a heartless boss, he is quite considerate of his subordinates within the limits of his power.

Sure enough, he summoned two more enchantresses to heal the siren sisters early in the morning, and even had three moon riders carry them on their journey. After all, the siren sisters were slender and graceful, and the black panthers could easily afford them.

In someone's words: "As your boss, I take care of everything for you, from food and clothing to housing and transportation. I can say with my hand on my heart that you will never find a more generous or benevolent boss in all of Faerûn."

The three sirens, riding a mount for the first time, ignored Zhang Yuan's nonsense and focused only on curiously examining and stroking the black panther beneath him.

Thank you to Shu Qianquan, Suiyuanjianbudikejiqiang, Lengjiutou, and Danmohuaxin for your monthly ticket support. Thank you everyone.

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(End of this chapter)