Lann spent a night on Black Seagull Island, and when he returned to this world it was already late at night. Even if the Lady sent him away, he temporarily had nowhere to go.
Fortunately, it was neither cold nor hot by the Magic Pool, and if there was a soft bed available, even the guest rooms at the Silver Swan Tavern wouldn’t be more comfortable than this.
It’s now the spring season, the spring of 1261.
His journey to Yan’an this time took four months in this world.
The time differences between worlds are always exasperatingly complex and incomprehensible.
The next morning, the Lady of the Lake stirred the water and in the blink of an eye, sent Lann to the small harbor of the Dark Waters.
The small fishing boat he originally took was already falling apart due to Miss Nymph’s neglect, but he had no complaints. After all, Miss Nymph had to help the Half-Fishmen under the Vizima Lake rebuild their home.
The work over there was undoubtedly more important than watching over a small fishing boat, and much more difficult too.
Lann’s alchemy pouch was a great help, or rather the gleaming Oren Coins in the alchemy pouch were a great help.
Early in the morning, he bought a leather jacket in the village to wear, otherwise, just wearing an undershirt this season would be quite odd.
Because of advances over time, even commoners like Gascogne could wear shirts with lace and frills. Such attire was already the style of nobility or successful merchants in the Magic World. The source of thɪs content is Nove1Fire.net
He initially wanted to buy a hooded cloak to cover his head and face, but the Dark Waters, being just a small fishing village, didn’t have the complete range of goods like those in Vizima.
As such, Lann could only awkwardly pull at the slightly small leather vest as he walked into the small tavern of the Dark Waters.
As expected, his uncovered silver-white hair and that handsome to beautiful face caused the small tavern to fall silent in an instant.
Faintly, there were sounds of gulping.
Lann tried hard not to think about why a few drunkards would drool at him.
Fortunately, beneath the dazzling hair and handsome face, the Demon Hunter had a physique that immediately deterred anyone from messing with him.
This allowed him to avoid many troublesome situations.
However, simultaneously, it was predictable that the spies and informants clearly got the news at that moment —[Hunting Marquis] had reappeared. After he mysteriously disappeared for several months again.
A swordsman capable of charging head-on into a great noble’s guarded estate, killing all the defenses, disappearing for months on end... A story , akin to a horror tale, had already made many people quite unnerved.
And when people are driven by fear, what they might do is unpredictable.
Lann bypassed the somewhat untidy arrangement of tables and chairs, heading to the bar to greet the boss, who was more or less an acquaintance by now.
"Ah, long time no see, sir."
The tavern owner wouldn’t forget his valued customer, promptly setting a bottle of freshly chilled black rye vodka on the counter.
The owner remembered clearly that beers and such lower alcohol content drinks seemed to be insufficient for this customer.
A small wooden cup big enough to be grasped between thumb and forefinger was set up; the owner first poured a cup, pushed it in front of Lann, then screwed the vodka bottle cap back on.
Lann whistled, pinched the small cup with three fingers, slightly raised it towards the boss as a toast, then downed it in one go.
"Phew-" The cool, strong alcohol made Lann exhale a breath, "How’s my horse?"
"Just as I promised you." The tavern owner’s chest thumped so loud it almost dislodged the shiny dark towel from his shoulder.
"Not an ounce of fat lost, fed on bean cakes bought from Vizima, hooves trimmed immaculately, running five kilometers daily as a walk."
After listening, Lann nodded, and took out ten gleaming Oren Coins from his alchemy pouch.
Including previous board costs, a total of twenty Orens for taking care of a warhorse so it didn’t lose weight over three to four months was quite reasonable.
"Long time no see, Bopai."
Arriving at the stable behind the tavern, Lann saddled up Bopai with saddle and pack.
Horses are creatures that require emotional exchange, and a Demon Hunter’s horse ought to be a good partner.
But since Lann frequently traveled to alternate worlds, he had gradually grown estranged from Bopai.
However, Lann had no better solution. Bopai was just a fairly well-bred Codwin Warhorse; it couldn’t climb mountains and cross waters like humans could.
For instance, in Yan’an’s terrain, if Lann were to bring Bopai along, he would not only fail to gain any mobility support but would also have to take extra care of his mount.
These troublesome matters could be dealt with later. He had just returned; it was better to keep a relaxed mindset.
Riding the warhorse, the Demon Hunter left, and the Dark Waters once again returned to its usual dullness and tranquility.
"You said Tishaya left?"
Lann sat in the Dean’s office at Airetusa, with blazing red lips and golden curls of Margaret sitting across from him in the main seat.
Currently, the laid-back Female Warlock was trying to appear a bit more dignified.
"What does that mean?"
Lann was a bit puzzled.
"Tishaya was supposed to leave after stepping down as dean; don’t get it wrong, Airetusa wouldn’t chase anyone away."
After a series of changing expressions, the Female Warlock finally realized she couldn’t deliberately project any sort of dignified look, so she gave up in resignation.
"After stepping down as Dean of Airetusa, she became one of the five members of the Talent and Skill Association. She was originally supposed to roam countries, contributing to the development of magic in the world and expanding the academy’s influence across the continent. It’s just that I... made a mistake earlier, so she came back to oversee things for a while."
When mentioning her ’mistake,’ Margaret turned her head slightly, blushing a little.
Presumably, being knocked out on the road by a few ordinary people’s slingshots was embarrassing enough even for a regular Warlock.
Though it’s reasonable, it’s undoubtedly embarrassing.
Bystanders won’t stop their ridicule just because it’s reasonable.
Not to mention, this happened to a high and mighty Great Mage.
"Tsk, that’s a bit of a pity."
Lann muttered while rubbing his chin.
Sitting on the dean’s chair, Margaret’s alluring eyes narrowed slightly, as if triggered by an alarm.
"I had some experiments I wanted to conduct on the crystal cultivation project, with new ideas. Her leaving made things a bit troublesome... but it’s no big deal, she’d have taken the Thousand-Mile Telescope, right? We can communicate using it when discussing."
His Interstellar Warrior enhancement surgery had received correct knowledge support, and he could begin preparing the enhancement organs for his next surgery.
Upon hearing Lann’s connection with Tishaya was about those intricate and complex biochemical magic research, Margaret’s initially slightly narrowed eyes brightened up again.
Then, hearing Lann wanted to use the Thousand-Mile Telescope, she was completely reassured.
If a Demon Hunter wants to use the Thousand-Mile Telescope at this academy, who could open it without her consent?
In the end, communication between Lann and Tishaya still had to go through her first!