Surviving The Fourth Calamity

The finale of the Deepwater City auction was a magic ship.

Hill was somewhat intrigued and took a closer look.

The ship did not make an appearance in the auction hall, instead, everyone was shown an exact scale model.

Since it was claimed to be made from the same materials, Hill couldn't help but inspect it closely.

He smiled satisfyingly, as it turned out to be made of Star Meteoric Iron, a material he had in his possession.

Once back home, he planned to try making one himself, remembering that he had copied the basic magic array for a magic ship from the books in the Silvermoon City Library.

Velara Malendith curiously asked, "Why are you interested in something like this? You should be able to fly on your own, right? The magic consumption should be trivial for you."

"I still prefer comfortable travel," Hill said bluntly. "Besides, why should I waste my own strength on something that can be solved with money?"

"Heh," the Silvermoon Dragon Queen laughed mockingly. "To think you'd waste gold coins on something that could be easily handled with a flick of the wrist!"

The two looked at each other and confirmed that their views on spending were completely opposite; they certainly couldn't become friends.

Velara Malendith was a bit worried about her naive son.

If Terry truly became a Golden Dragon who was extravagant with money, probably even the Chromatic Dragon Queen would come to spectate.

She resolved to give Terry a proper education on the traditions of the giant dragons.

During the Deepwater City auction, they did not mention that the magic ship could travel to other planets. Instead, they simply stated that this ship could easily sail to other continents.

"Why do they keep other worlds a secret?" Hill was a bit curious. "The Toril people should have long known about the existence of other worlds, right?"

"But those they know of with the ability to cross worlds are all deities," Velara Malendith answered with a smile.

She didn't continue, and Hill knew that this meant the Silvermoon Dragon Queen also supported keeping the magic ship a secret and did not want to tell Hill why.

That meant that the lords were aware of the reasons, and at this time, even the friendship between Hill and Terry was not enough to make Velara Malendith speak freely.

Hill's territory was not far from the Silvermoon Dragon Queen's northern lands, and they were competitors as well.

Hill decided to read more books after going back, and it would be perfect to purchase a batch from Deepwater City. The exploratory books here were surely the most extensive on the entire Ferun Great Land.

In the end, a noble from the fourth floor purchased the magic ship for 300,000 gold coins.

"Why didn't you buy it?" the Silvermoon Dragon Queen asked with interest. "I remember many people saying that you're even richer than the Ancient Dragons."

The corner of Hill's eye twitched uncontrollably: "Are you itching for me to start a fight with the giant dragons? Is this what the people of Valkin are spreading?"

"Exactly~" Velara Malendith laughed proudly. "The words from the Goddess of Wealth were meant to cover her embarrassment from losing the auction to you.

She said that she is not the richest existence in Toril, that the accumulation of wealth over so many years by the Temple of Wealth may not compare to that of an Ancient Dragon.

And you, the visitor from another world, are the richest person from your world, very likely richer than the Ancient Dragons."

"There's no such rumor on the Silvermoon side," Lynn said seriously. "The bards would have passed on any news about Hill to me immediately."

"Does Valkin still have contact with the Chromatic Dragons?" Hill caught on, realizing that the Goddess of Wealth had spread the word from the Chromatic Dragons' side.

"She has now thrown her Divine Kingdom into the Stellar Realm and is wandering. She probably doesn't even know where she is herself," Velara Malendith said with a laugh. "Before she left, she specifically spread this message.

Dear Hill, she really hates you! However, the Chromatic Dragons think she is just being spiteful, and no one believes you still have that many gold coins.

Of course, if you weren't so powerful, dragons would still come knocking on your door, just in case you still had a few tens of thousands of gold coins, right?

The complete failure in Ambori has allowed you some peace.

It's just that many giant dragons are a bit regretful they didn't know about you before you spent your money and bought the Undead Swamp.

Otherwise, they would have rushed to partner with dragons to take it from you."

Hill thought carefully about the Silvermoon Dragon Queen's words. She had referred to giant dragons, not just Chromatic Dragons.

It appears that a few hundred thousand gold coins is enough to drive even the Metal Dragons mad.

He shook his head with a smile, at least for now, even if the giant dragons knew he still had that much wealth, they couldn't gather enough shameless Ancient Dragons to come after him.

The door was knocked on, and the steward of the auction house had finally come to deliver goods and collect payment.

Hill glanced at the serious-faced steward. As a Chosen of the Goddess of Magic, Kelben probably recognized Velara Malendith.

The steward, clearly briefed beforehand, silently took the money and hurriedly left without daring to utter an extra word.

The Silvermoon Dragon Queen lost interest in continuing the conversation. She stood up with a gloomy face: "Let's go. I'll head straight to your place to pick up the Dragon Egg and deliver it to the Platinum Dragon King.

He's already made it known that anyone who doesn't want to raise their offspring can send them to him.

The giant dragons are relatively friendly towards the hatchlings, but if they're not of their own bloodline, they actually aren't very interested in raising them. Most will probably end up being sent to him."

Hill escorted her to the entrance of the auction hall along with Lynn.

The petite Dragon Queen waved her hand and blended into the night, vanishing from sight.

"Let's head back too!" Hill glanced around and said calmly to Lynn, "The best thing about Deepwater City is that you can make a move at any time."

A row of thin ice swords appeared in his hand, and without looking back, he led Lynn into the carriage.

As they were about to turn onto the street where the inn was located, Hill extended his hand out of the carriage window, and the thin swords flew out swiftly, pinning the shadows on the ground.

Behind the corner turned by the carriage, only a chorus of wails remained.

"The Thieves' Guild of Deepwater City probably wouldn't dare to provoke the innkeeper who 'favors travelers'," Lynn said softly, "It shouldn't affect your rest."

"These are scouts, not mere thieves," Hill replied slowly. "They were keeping an eye on me; it seems Deepwater City is quite wary of me."

"I know a little about that prophecy," Lynn glanced outside the window, "Twins who lost their father's protection, one inherited the Silverfire, saved Deepwater City from the brink of disaster, and became its new master. The other inherited the Black Staff and became the Master of the Wastes.

You are so close to Deepwater City, yet not in the prophecy as an outsider; maybe he is worried about some changes."

"Does he believe it that much?" Hill was somewhat puzzled. Kelben is a mage after all! Prophecies are something mages should be struggling to break, aren't they?

"When he heard his child would become the Master of the Supreme Wastes, Kelben probably went completely mad. Otherwise, he wouldn't have left the Silvermoon Alliance in that manner.

Many in Deepwater City are dissatisfied with his choice, especially last year when so many giant dragons appeared in the city center, just when the city lost the protection of Elaströ, who had the best relationship with dragons.

This time Deepwater City was lucky, but that does not guarantee the next time will be the same.

Actually, Kelben only has the option to move forward; otherwise, he wouldn't even be able to maintain his rights in Deepwater City.

Plus, the prophecy is not known to everyone. I was chatting with Miliel, and he told me about it."

What kind of chatting is that? It's just exchanging rumors! It's just that the information you guys exchange tends to be more accurate.

Miliel still loves gossip, doesn't he!

But it's no wonder he would talk to Lynn; the man is quite tight-lipped, not letting out a single word if he wasn't worried about Hill.

Hill nodded and got off the carriage, "I understand, thank you, Lynn.

Rest well! Starting tomorrow, let's have a good look around Deepwater City. After this time, I probably won't come here again for a long while."

He could actually go straight home, given that with the carriage's speed, a round-trip within the day would not be a problem.

But Hill knew that if Kelben truly died, Deepwater City would be in chaos for a while, and he had no interest in helping others manage security.

Moreover, Hill decided that when Coron really brought the Undead Tribe from Teraxil to this world as he intended, as his trump card, he would have to notify Lynn.

Miliel had also observed the Undead, so he should know how to deal with them.

And as a long-serving Sheriff, Hill didn't think Lynn would fail to answer the call of his family.

They had just ascended the tower when they heard an enthusiastic greeting, "Gentlemen, good evening, it must have been a long journey. The bathwater is ready; please, enjoy your bath to the fullest."

Both of them nodded at Shana, who stood at the bottom of the stairs by the door to the room, "You can rest now, Shana. We won't be needing you tonight."

Shana curtsied, watched the two ascend the stairs, and then stood up to close the door.

When Hill entered the room, he saw several books and a map album that Shana had put in the living room.

Next to them was a basket of plump honey bread and a cup of steaming fruit tea.

She must have estimated the time the auction would end.

Hill entered the bathroom and saw a tub of hot water sprinkled with sleep-inducing essential oils and smiled faintly.

The innkeeper was quite interesting; he must already know who Hill was.

This sleep-inducing essential oil is a specialty from Silvermoon City called 'Guardian'.

Was this meant to tell Hill that within the inn, under his protection, he could sleep without worry?

Hill returned to the bedroom, changed into a robe, and picked up the map of Ferun to study.

There were many ruins in the Supreme Forest and the Supreme Wastes, with the Wastes lined with cities.

The Elves' former strength was evident from these cities.

Yet now, except for a city on the outermost cliff claimed by Kelben, other places remained ruins.

Aside from Demons and Devils, only the Dragons could live there.

Hill lightly touched the city larger than Bemis Drano, located on the edge of the Supreme Forest; the Elf King City, which had once housed hundreds of thousands of Elves.

Now, only countless Demon races remained after the magical tides receded.

Coron probably had been eyeing them ever since he encountered the Undead.