Half-elf Notebook

Thunder Stone City, Adventurer's Guild.

The room at the end of the second floor is the guild manager's office.

At a large purple desk, a man in a dark blue, almost black wizard robe was reviewing documents that needed approval for the guild's expenses.

Next to his cup of cold coffee, there was a thick stack of bound papers with information and approvals.

The man no longer wore the wide wizard hat, and his brown hair just reached past his earlobes.

As his deep purple eyes scanned the contents on the pages, a hint of confusion flashed across them from time to time.

He seemed to be doubting the contents of the document, and seemed to be worried about whether to approve the expenditure.

His fingers tapped on the table in an orderly manner, and the "ticking" sound of the pendulum clock hanging on the wall formed a simple, single melody, which was also the only two sounds in the room.

Until a short knock on the door broke it all.

Shu Xi raised his head and looked at the double doors facing his desk: "What's the matter?"

An intellectual female voice came through the door: "Lord Effinic City Lord, I hope to discuss some matters with you."

"Come in." Shu Xi said as he put down the documents in his hand and left the cotton-filled leather office chair.

The single door was opened, and the first person to come in was an older, slightly bloated man with brown hair combed back, light blue eyes with deep eye sockets, and a neatly trimmed beard, with only two tufts of mustache extending outward from under his nose.

He was wearing a black and white aristocratic double-breasted suit and a pair of pure white tight trousers. Perhaps because of his age, his spirit was a little depressed overall.

The person who opened the door and followed him in was a woman in decent work clothes, Shu Xi's recording secretary - Helia.

"Lord Effinick, your sudden visit really frightened me. I'm sorry that I couldn't greet you in person."

Shu Xi walked forward quickly, speaking politely.

As for why the honorific title is Viscount instead of City Lord... it is a kind of etiquette in social occasions. Nobility represents privilege and a unique status, and the best representation of nobility is the title.

Not only viscounts can serve as city lords, but also barons and even knights with titles can serve.

Except for cases where the official position is higher than the title, nobles are generally addressed by their title in social occasions.

"Good morning, Baron Wayne, I hope I haven't disturbed your work." After all, Lord Effinic has been active in the aristocratic social circle for more than 30 years. Even though he is old and his thinking has become old-fashioned, he is still humble and decent, without the arrogance of a superior. At the same time, he stretched out his hand to shake hands with Shu Xi.

"Bernard Grey coffee? Or Earl Grey tea?" Shu Xi asked with a smile as he led the city lord to the guest sofa in front of the desk.

His secretary, Helia, went to the tea counter nearby to prepare.

"Black tea, please." Viscount Effinic was quite casual. He didn't care what to drink. If necessary, his black tea and coffee could cost more than ten gold coins per pound. He didn't look down on these drinks used for receptions at all.

"Actually, I came here for a commission, and I hope Baron Wayne can handle it." After Shu Xi sat down, Viscount Effinir spoke in a deep voice.

What made Shu Xi even more confused was that the city lord used the word "entrust" instead of "dispatch", "deploy" or "assist".

Most of the expenses of the Adventurer's Guild and the Magician's Association's branches in various countries are borne by the countries where they are located. Therefore, the guilds and associations are obliged to assist the kingdom and even the local nobles in their work, as long as they do not involve political struggles, illegal activities, or wars between countries.

Moreover, many of the lower-middle nobles of the kingdom, or their descendants, worked there, such as himself, Baron Shuxi Wayne.

Is it not easy to issue a commission casually? Why does it require a city lord to visit in person?

Of course, if it involves large amounts of misappropriation of the kingdom's funds, this is debatable.

For this reason, Shu Xi considered it for a while before asking directly:

"If it is just a commission, please ask Mr. Butler to come. As long as it is a commission from the city lord, the guild will definitely handle it strictly. However, as the client, I hope Viscount Effinir can explain what kind of commission it is and the specific commission details. This is the rule."

Shu Xi didn't really care about the matter of embezzlement. It would be more accurate to say that he was numb to it. During the seven or eight years he had served here, he had done this for the Viscount several times.

Since he had chosen this path, it meant that Viscount Effinel had already obtained certain approval certificates from the royal capital, and he only needed to go through the process.

Shu Xi didn't want to be targeted at work by a viscount and a group of nobles, but Shu Xi still felt that something was unusual.

As expected, Viscount Effinir shook his head and said, "No, this is not an ordinary commission. It will be useless to post it to the guild. Only you can complete this commission, Baron Wayne."

In the face of Shu Xi's surprised gaze, he continued, "Have you heard any recent rumors about the Warcraft Forest?"

"A little, but not much." Shu Xi took the tea handed to him by the secretary: "The hunting season has just begun, and many adventure teams are still exploring and completing commissions outside the "forbidden zone."

"We have intelligence proving that there is a seventh-level monster there!"

Shu Xi didn't try to hide his astonishment, and frowned: "Seventh-level magic beast? No, that's impossible! High-level magic beasts are promoted step by step, just like the extraordinary people. Before he became the seventh-level, he should have caused a commotion in the adventurer circle."

Even if the adventurers and bounty hunters haven't completed their hunt for him, there won't be no news at all...

Viscount Efenil confirmed Shu Xi's statement: "His eyewitness report and data are all stored in the data storage room of the Administrative Palace of Kamu Province - it was migrated here... and at present, the migration has not stopped."

"Its range of activity is getting closer and closer to the border of the "restricted area" facing the Thunder Stone!"

Shu Xi was silent for a moment and asked curiously: "What do other surrounding cities think?"

"I am discussing with them what measures and solutions to take if necessary..."

Shu Xi suddenly raised his hand and interrupted the city lord's speech. He looked at him with deep purple eyes:

"Do you think I should understand that the city is going to throw this trouble to me?"

There is no clear hierarchy among the nobles.

Whether they are a knight or a duke, they only need to follow and be loyal to the royal family that conferred them and have responsibilities to the kingdom.

Unless a noble exercises the minority right of investiture and uses his own territory for investiture, even a duke cannot deprive a knight of his title and territory.

Not to mention a viscount versus a baron.

The only things that can make a noble willing to provide help are always benefits and debts.

But unfortunately, Viscount Effinir obviously failed to make Shu Xi owe him a huge debt for him to control. On the contrary, he owed Shu Xi several favors.

As for interests... Asking Shu Xi to take risks, what could be more infringing on his interests than endangering the safety of a noble?

"No, Baron Wayne, this is a problem we all need to face. At the same time, each city will prepare sufficient compensation to satisfy you." Viscount Effinir exhaled and threw out his chips with pretended calmness.

"But since it's a commission, you have the right to refuse."

Unlike Effinil, who saw what he meant and was obviously panicked, Shu Xi slowly lit a cigarette.

"I reject."

"You are abandoning the lives of the civilians in the city!" At this time, Viscount Effinir could no longer hide his panic. His voice was filled with anger, his face was a little distorted, and the reserve that belonged to the hereditary nobles was long gone:

"Don't forget! Baron Wayne, your assets are in this city, and your fiefdom is in Earl Kthroy Ridge! If Thunderstone is destroyed, you won't be any better off!"

"Don't think you can keep your title!"

"Come on, Mr. Viscount, don't use your precious things to measure others in negotiations." Shu Xi's eyes became deeper and deeper. He took a light puff, and the slightly burning tip of the cigarette pointed directly at Effinir: "You know, as a wizard, if I am serious, my income is not less than the baron's assets and fiefdom tax revenue. The only difference is whether I serve the kingdom."

"If you want me to help you, at least show your sincerity first."