Chess Mage of Faerûn

Chapter 54 Sudden Intervention

Feeling rebuffed, Zhang Yuan rubbed his nose and asked, "Why do the spellcasting materials need to be prepared on-site?"

If you don't understand, just ask. This isn't the first time I've been embarrassed. Gaining some knowledge is better than anything else.

“The information you provided is far too little. I can only ask some very vague questions. I plan to use the True Knowledge Flash spell now. The necessary casting material is a special toxin that can only be prepared on-site.” Andrei explained as he worked.

Zhang Yuan nodded repeatedly and kept it in mind.

"Okay, step back a bit and don't bother me."

“Scio, Didici, Pecto! (I know, for I have pondered with my heart.)”

As Andrei finished casting the spell, an amorphous being emitting a dark red aura was summoned. Although he didn't know what it was, Zhang Yuan could tell from the terrifying aura it emitted that it was definitely not a benevolent being.

"I have been summoned by contract, mortal, speak your question." The unknown being did not speak, but Zhang Yuan could clearly understand the fluctuations of thought it emitted.

Andrei, seemingly already adept at this, appeared to be on the other side: "An unknown and powerful being, I offer a sacrifice as payment in accordance with the contract. My question is:"

Is Gavial, the nine-year-old boy who disappeared ten years ago with Grand Duke Iltan of Baldur's Gate and Lady Elizabeta Hidalgo, still alive?

"Yes!" The unknown entity then vanished, along with a vial of poison.

Andrei took a short breath and said, "Let's come again tomorrow. I'll ask again if that child is at Baldur's Gate."

While excited, Zhang Yuan was also a little puzzled: "Your divination skills are truly amazing. What level of spell is this? Can it only be used once a day?"

The prophet rolled his eyes: "True Knowledge Flash is only a third-level spell, not particularly advanced, but..."

At this point, Andrei's expression turned serious: "The essence of this spell is to make a deal with an evil and unknown entity, and such communication deals are always dangerous and unpredictable. No one can predict the consequences of communicating too frequently, nor do they want to."

"Okay, thanks for your hard work. I'll come again tomorrow. Oh, and put the cost on the tab." The person was as shameless as ever.

Upon hearing this, Andrei felt an urge to feed the other person the prepared poison. He remained silent, gesturing for the other person to get lost.

However, before Zhang Yuan could even leave the house, he heard a familiar voice:

"This is the powerful prophet you were talking about? I never imagined that a real prophet could exist in Baldur's Gate, a place teeming with charlatan fortune tellers."

As Zhang Yuan's pupils contracted, a figure suddenly appeared in the tent.

That former thorny rose—Nancy.

Nancy, who was walking slowly towards Andrei, also looked at Zhang Yuan and spoke in a flat tone that seemed to be an apology:
"I didn't believe your boasts at first either, but like you said, there's no harm in giving it a try, right? But I have to admit, I really underestimated you. You actually found such a true expert."

Then he turned to Andrei, his tone much more polite this time: "Master of Prophecy, please forgive my intrusion, I am Nancy, the maid he just mentioned."

She looked directly at Andrei and said in a firm and unwavering tone, "I can give you any materials or intelligence you need, as long as you can find Gavial."

Andrei didn't waste any time and told Nancy everything she needed, then said that he would have to wait until tomorrow to cast the spell again.

Nancy nodded, turned and left the tent, Zhang Yuan following closely behind. "Hey, didn't you say you didn't trust me? Why are you following me now?" Zhang Yuan pressed.

Nancy showed no embarrassment and said naturally, "Precisely because I don't trust you, I want to verify it with my own eyes instead of listening to your nonsense."

Zhang Yuan, somewhat annoyed by the retort, asked, "So, what about now? Cautious Ms. Nancy, can you confirm whether I'm reliable now?"

“I’ve now confirmed that you are indeed Ska’s subordinate. Ska is reliable, that’s for sure, and the prophet you found is also reliable. As for you, I don’t know.” As if she hadn’t noticed the barb in Zhang Yuan’s words, Nancy replied slowly and deliberately.

Seeing that Nancy didn't take his sarcasm seriously at all, the person felt even more suffocated.

"Okay, when can you get everything ready? Is tomorrow enough time?"

"This is none of your business, I'll take care of it." With that, she turned around and disappeared into the crowd after making two turns.

Zhang Yuan, who had returned to the camp alone, told Ska about Nancy's situation. Ska was slightly surprised.

"I heard that Nancy was a wandering swordsman with considerable thieving skills, but I didn't expect it to be true. The lady-in-waiting of the Grand Duchess was actually a wanderer."

"What do we do now?" Zhang Yuan was a little unwilling. Things had gotten to this point and were beyond his control.

“What’s there to worry about? Things are moving in a positive direction, aren’t they?” Ska smiled, seemingly noticing someone’s awkwardness. “Don’t try to take control of everything, especially when your strength and wisdom are insufficient to manage it all. You might as well participate as a participant rather than a leader.”

Zhang Yuan, who outwardly agreed, was actually unsure of himself, because the key issue was still money.

In his initial plan, he would persuade Nancy to obtain the intelligence, then have Andrei find information about Gavial's whereabouts. He would then either find a few companions to go and find the target, bring him back to Grand Duke Iltan, and finally, naturally, he would say: "I, your savior, will pay you."

As a result, things went wrong right from the first step. Nancy herself has strong initiative and execution ability. It's good enough if we don't get left behind and go it alone. As for taking kickbacks and making money off others, that's just wishful thinking.

That night, Zhang Yuan didn't even know how he fell asleep. He kept tossing and turning, thinking about whether Nancy and Andre would kick him out the next day. After all, he was only responsible for connecting people, and his own abilities were extremely limited.

The next morning, Zhang Yuan took leave and rushed to Andrei's place. Andrei had just opened for business when he saw someone rushing over.

“What’s your rush? There’s nothing we can do without Nancy,” Andrei said.

Zhang Yuan chuckled dryly, unsure how to respond. Should he say that he was worried about being kicked out by the two of them and had to come and stake out the place beforehand?
Fortunately, they didn't have to wait long. Soon, Nancy appeared beside them silently, like a cat.

However, Andrei was well-prepared this time. Before Nancy could reveal herself, the white light in Andrei's hand burst forth. Although it was not very obvious under the morning light, almost all the dark corners around were illuminated as if by a shadowless lamp.

The second-circle spell of the Prophecy school—See Invisibility.

Nancy had been crept up along the corner of the tent when she was suddenly shone with a spotlight. She felt like a commando being targeted by a searchlight from a Japanese pillbox, with nowhere to hide.

Once discovered, Nancy simply straightened up and walked over, a fleeting awkwardness crossing her face before she returned to her expressionless state.

She glanced at Andrei and said as if nothing had happened, "The items you need from back then are here. I've written all his personal information on this note."

“This should be enough. Let’s go inside first. I’ll go prepare the spell ritual.” Andrei took the items and went into the tent.

(End of this chapter)