novelraw Chapter 321: 96 A Game of Q&A
Chapter 321: 96 A Game of Q&A
Valentina's horse carriage quickly arrived at the final destination of this leg of their journey. It was a large-scale hotel situated within the urban district of Mya. It seemed that even the Eldest Miss of a local emperor family like Valentina needed to stay in hotels just like ordinary people. The only difference from ordinary people was that she temporarily rented out the entire hotel building for her use.
"Later on we still have to negotiate with the tribesmen of the Snow Fox-kin. Renting this place out exclusively for accommodations makes it easier to tidy up in advance, and it's also quieter, isn't it?"
Standing at the doorway, Heidelin covered her mouth with a beam, speaking these words to Fisher, who was stunned by Valentina's lavish display of wealth. They had only just disembarked at this moment. The less-luxurious horse carriages that had sequentially followed from the port also arrived and stopped, and the maids who accompanied Valentina aboard the Narwhal stepped out.
The Turan Family also brought along a massive pile of ancient texts regarding the Slime-kin and Giant Troll-kin, which were also heaped upon the horse carriages awaiting organization. However, dedicated staff would worry about all this; Heidelin would arrange everything properly. As an employee hired by Valentina, just like Balzac and the others, Fisher only needed to first head to the hotel's top floor and select a luxurious suite as his resting place.
"By the way, Mr. Fisher, I'll be temporarily occupied here with moving things and room arrangements. Could I trouble you to temporarily help push Eldest Miss Valentina's wheelchair up?"
Fisher shot a glance at Valentina sitting in front of the hotel entrance, exerting herself to manually push the heavy tires of the wheelchair beneath her, yet it didn't budge an inch. Ever since the Cardinal of the wheelchair beneath her broke down, she seemed to have become genuinely disabled. The drawback of losing both legs entirely manifested upon her body; without the assistance of others, it was hard to move an inch.
"Isn't this Filis's task?"
"Ah, my, that child... every time she arrives at any town, all she contemplates is consumption. Valentina is also well aware of this minor flaw of hers; if she doesn't consume, she simply cannot enter her peak working state. Look, she's nowhere to be seen now, she's probably gone off to consume somewhere, hasn't she?"
Heidelin rubbed her cheeks in distress, looking around distressingly. Sure enough, not a trace of that Lion-kin could be seen anywhere.
"Anyway, Filis is very generous in this regard; she'll bring souvenirs back for you when she returns.""Bring them for me?"
"Mhm, she'll even bring them for Balzac and me. Just some trinkets is all. Alright, alright, hurry up and push the Eldest Miss into the hotel to the top floor, it's freezing outside."
Fisher blinked and pondered for a moment, then slowly walked behind the fruitlessly pushing Valentina. While her fair hands were still gripping the armrests on the wheels, Fisher had already spoken,
"Let go, I'll take you up."
Startled, Valentina snapped her head back, only to see the expressionless Fisher. She hesitated for a second before obeying and releasing the wheel handles. Turning her head away, she spoke to herself,
"...That fellow Filis, the moment she arrived in the city she ran off to frolic. If it weren't for Heidelin having other matters to attend... This is a miscalculation on my part."
The wheelchair slowly advanced forward. Valentina's words were somewhat coy, but the general meaning was "I didn't need your help originally". Fisher discerned the underlying meaning but didn't nod or say anything else. He solely lowered his head slightly, but abruptly noticed that on her petite back, the long cascading white hair was slightly parted, revealing her fair nape half-wrapped within her black clothing.
On the segment of her nape connecting to her body, streaks of pitch-black cracks conspicuously lined up, adding a touch of fragile brokenness to her porcelain-doll-like delicate body.
Is this the Genetic Disease she mentioned? Or is it a manifestation of the Phoenix Race bloodline within her?
Fisher abruptly recalled her posture of staring at the True Ice at the Mya port earlier. She seemingly had been searching for something within the True Ice before being abruptly interrupted by the officer. She would definitely look at the True Ice again, not to mention this True Ice was now residing beside her. Wouldn't looking at it be effortless for her?
If he "unintentionally" caught her surreptitiously viewing the True Ice, couldn't he utilize this as leverage to delve into more mysteries regarding her constitution?
Fisher kept gazing at her fair nape, his gaze gradually growing intense. This caused a chill to run down Valentina's spine. She turned her head and glanced back at Fisher, predictably finding him staring blankly at her. Her face instantaneously flushed with humiliated anger, biting her teeth and saying,
"What are you looking at?"
"Hair."
His face calm, Fisher barely shifted his gaze away, proficiently sprouting nonsense, concealing the trifling scheme born within his heart.
"Hair? What's so interesting about hair?"
"Miss Valentina's hair is white, just like pristine white snow. In my homeland of Naris, no one possesses such hair color, nor does it snow during winter."
"...Then having been in the Northern Border for this period, you must have seen such spectacular snow, no?"
"Truthfully, those were all seen the very first time I met Miss Valentina on the Southern Continent."
Valentina pursed her lips, her hand clutching the ring tightly. Thereafter, she slowly spun her head back. It was only after consecutively inhaling deep breaths did she smile placidly,
"...Glib-tongued Nali Person. However, you were aboard the Iceberg Queen Ship back then. That Captain Alajina is also a Northern Border native and possesses white hair too. If you speak of seeing snow for the first time, it should have been when you first met her."
Fisher's pace was light as his steps pushing Valentina's wheelchair were neither fast nor slow. Without Eimhart's restraint, he uncharacteristically felt an ounce of freedom. Otherwise, at this very moment, Eimhart would have certainly showered him in contemptuous gazes. This would not only perturb his state of mind; more crucially, it would disrupt his "Secret Valentina Bloodline Research Plan" implementation.
Yet at this very second, Valentina's invocation of Alajina caused Fisher to voluntarily recall the Iceberg Queen from the Sardin Woman's Country. Furthermore, Old Jack and Isabel whom he had brought from Naris were still aboard she ship. He wasn't sure if they had arrived at the Pirate Harbor.
Fisher shook his head, temporarily discarding the association within his mind. He let out a profound sigh and stated,
"It's different. Captain Alajina's white hair didn't remind me of the blowing snow of the Northern Border. It solely reminded me of the surging waves of the azure ocean. Prior to arriving at the Northern Border, I knew absolutely nothing... I never realized her temperament was entirely incompatible with this place... Miss Valentina, on the contrary, instantly immerses me in genuine Northern Border temperament."
"Oh, is that so..."
Valentina blinked thoughtfully, not bothering to inquire what exactly he meant by "genuine Northern Border temperament".
Because it was Fisher pushing the wheelchair, a relatively unfamiliar male sudden drawing near, Valentina didn't even lean her back against the wheelchair, merely straining herself to sit upright. However, upon hearing those words, she hesitated for a few seconds before leaning her body back onto the wheelchair anew.
Fisher pushed her before the entrance of the elevator. Since Sertil and Balzac had not yet arrived, he unceremoniously pushed his boss there unilaterally. Seemingly, they were still engaged with matters outside, gifting him and Valentina an additional chance to communicate. They hadn't waited for but a few minutes before Balzac and Sertil strolled over.
"Apologies Boss, I visited the restroom, so I'm late."
"It's no matter. Let us board first to allocate the rooms. Many items haven't been unloaded today; we shall formally commence preparation work tomorrow."
While Valentina was speaking, Fisher behind her had already physically pulled her into the elevator. As such, she could only shuffle into the elevator whilst continuing her sentence. Awaiting the entry of the other two employees, the elevator plunged into temporary silence anew. Fisher also transiently released the handles of her wheelchair and closed his eyes to recuperate his spirit.
Only Valentina, incessantly rubbing her ring, abruptly lowered her head and caught a glimpse of the long white hair cascading down her shoulders... no matter how she scrutinized it, she simply felt her long hair was dissimilar to the wind and snow of the Northern Border.
"Aha! I'm back!"
On the top floor of the hotel, Filis gleefully kicked open the conference room door, hugging a massive bag of goods. Because she arrived the latest, she possessed no rights to pick a room. Then again, having bought such an abundance of goods, she honestly didn't care in the slightest.
Her eyebrows cascaded into curving crescent smiles, and the distinct outline of a canine tooth manifested within her parted lips. The bag bulging against her embrace contained countless objects of unidentifiable origin. Meanwhile, the atmosphere within the conference room before her was relatively harmonious. Valentina sat in front of the sofa with her arms crossed. On the coffee table before her, a game of chess commonly played in the West Continent had already surged to the mid-game phase.
Previously reading the hotel encyclopedia, she was now observing Balzac and Fisher play chess. Anyway, with absolutely nothing to do at present... Originally Fisher intended to engrave Magic; unpredictably even the Magic Material had yet to be delivered. Had he known, he would have brought a sack along. With them being at a loss for things to do, Valentina proposed to let them both play chess.
Fisher was indifferent. This fellow Balzac, ever since Fisher's arrival, harbored an underlying sentiment of a luminous pearl cast into obscurity. Towards a scholar like Fisher, he naturally bore the intention of tacit rivalry. Thus, he readily acknowledged the invitation to battle across the chessboard, thereby orchestrating such a harmonious afternoon.
"Boss, Old Bal, and this... Fisher, I bought souvenirs back for all of you."
"Old Bal your mother—"
"Oh? Let me take a peek. You're losing?"
Filis drew closer. While blindly rummaging within the bag, she shot a look harmless to people and animals while declaring towards Balzac. Infuriating Balzac remarkably, he turned back furiously with his face flushed and neck bulging, gritting his teeth at her,
"Can a country bumpkin like you even understand chess?"
"I can't. Yet looking at this expression of yours, one glance is sufficient to tell you're being chased down and beaten... Here, for you."
With absolute causalness, Filis tossed him a Schwari-style silk scarf. She then rummaged slightly and procured another walking stick transparently of Naris style from the bag, yielding it to Fisher. Taken completely aback that she would bestow such an exorbitant gift, Fisher received that feather-light walking stick pleasantly and rendered his thanks.
Upon examination, this walking stick even seemingly served as a commemorative iteration crafted to celebrate the ascending Emperor. Carved continuously around the very apex was a ring of small text,
"Ah, esteemed Your Majesty Godlin X, pray permit me to dedicate my works in eulogy of the decree promulgated by you, which enabled my family to acquire food and warmth."
Fisher felt slightly speechless. Holding this walking stick in hand, it simultaneously felt like grasping a scorching iron, fearing it contained Elizabeth's eavesdropping and tracking Magic. Fortunately, exhaustive inspection verified nothing over it.
"Finally is Boss! This, a gift for you."
Eventually, Filis extracted a miniscule silver charm out of the massive bag, engraved with a lifelike mini-kitten. Witnessing that lifelike baby kitty, Valentina's face instantly glowed a rosy tint for a brief second. A second later, she gently cleared her throat and smiled whilst extending her hand towards Filis,
"Much thanks."
Wagging her tail left and right, Filis profoundly satisfied hugged that remaining massive sack of items and paraded out of the room,
"Then I'll just slip away. I'm going back to tidy up... Oh no. Did Heidelin not bring the items I deposited on the ship down?! Oh no, oh no..."
With the closing of the doors, the room returned to tranquility. Receiving their presents, the trio exhibited respective facial expressions. Only Valentina meticulously perused the kitten statue in her hands, holding on to it fondly on her hand palm continuously.
Fisher and Balzac shared a glance. Whereupon Balzac exhaled an entire sigh and uttered,
"I concede."
"...You let me win."
Fisher's chess proficiency was bestowed by Dami'an. This director of the military academy was a deft hand at chess. Whenever Fisher was dragged over to his office for tea, it customarily culminated in games of chess to deduce the course of punishment for Fisher. This simultaneously attained the effect of penalizing Fisher, while formlessly gifting face to Her Highness Elizabeth.
From beginning to end, Valentina witnessed Balzac surrendering three matches. Yielding sympathy for her subordinate suffering continuous defeats against Fisher, she lightly flipped the book in hand and stated with a grin,
"Since chess has finalized, why don't you two answer a few questions of mine next?"
"Answer questions?"
Balzac and Fisher conjointly turned back and cast a glance at Valentina, whereas she lightly raised the history encyclopedia in hand.
"Here is a compilation recounting historical knowledge. As things conveniently remain unoccupied presently, I shall pose questions to both of you, culminating in your answers. A triumphant response will earn a point, whilst a failed response shall reap void... naturally, I shall wager a subtle stake... Mm... The Turan Family possesses an abundance of profoundly intriguing literature unavailable for borrowing externally. Whoever triumphs... I can dispatch a catalogue from home for you to pick a book for perusal."
"Whether it be long-lost Magic masterpieces, histories encompassing the Demihuman race, or covert knowledge of the Schwari Empire, identical documentations abound within the family repository... How about it, willing to partake in this minigame?"
Initially retaining barely any interest, Fisher immediately exhibited blatant desire upon hearing 'Demihuman race-related'... no, 'Magic masterpieces'. Unsurprisingly, the identical reaction plagued Balzac. To such scholars, the prospect of investigating further into unknown ancient texts and knowledge matched exactly their highest aspiration. Naturally, no inclination to decline was housed.
Pinching that miniature feline stature, Valentina chortled whilst spreading open the book in her hands. Initiating her questioning,
"If that's the case, we shall begin now. Let us commence from the easiest instances. How about eleven questions? The first problem: the founding of Schwari... it was continuously purported that the inaugurating Emperor slaughtered a pristine white constrictor prior to his ascension to the throne... In genuine history, what occurred precisely?"
"...He genuinely slaughtered a pristine white constrictor... but that white constrictor was merely a hibernating serpent he picked up beside the road. Following his return, he roasted the snake and made snake soup out of it."
Concerning inquiries involving the imperial ancestor of his homeland, Balzac, the outcast subject, still retained fundamental respect. Therefore, carelessly answering was an absolute impossibility. Paradoxically, this precise moment of distraction was seized by Fisher.
"Fisher earns one point... The next problem: Several colossal battles previously ignited amidst the Misty Mountains of Schwari. State their titles, please."
"Twice. The Kadu Expansion Campaign... meant to invade the distant Kadu, hence compelling them to take a risk in desperation traversing the Misty Mountains. The Misty Naval Battle... the naval battle engaging distant minor nations from Kadu. Following the preliminary naval skirmishes, the campaign progressively proliferated towards the encompassing Misty Mountains, only concluding after months wherein Schwari's marshalled legions eradicated the guerilla troops roaming through the mountains..."
"Excellent. Balzac earns one point. The ensuing problem: to which ancient realm's bloodline does the current Empress of Schwari trace her heritage?"
"Kadu!"
"Excellent. Balzac earns another point."
Fisher raised an eyebrow. Abruptly observing every successive question posed heavily involved Schwari... Fisher shot a glance at Valentina. Predictably, she also recognized his glare. Noticing Fisher's profoundly resentful glare, Valentina was almost compelled to burst out laughing. Constrained by decorum, however, she forcibly maintained a severe visage to safeguard her 'impartial and just' demeanor acting as a referee.
Fine... Just you wait...
Fisher crossed his arms and intensely revolved his mind. Enduring through the forthcoming rounds of interrogations, regardless of the inquiries posed by Valentina, Fisher was exceptionally responsive and answered proficiently. Since Schwari and Naris bordered closely, Fisher naturally commanded some competence over Schwari's history. Regardless, he unquestionably yielded against Balzac, a native resident raised locally.
Coupled with immense facts prevalent to both, victory lay purely upon the celerity of tongues. In this game of rapid questions, Fisher continuously answered successively utilizing speedy remarks, actually balancing the score to five versus five.
This similarly sparked faint amusement in Valentina. Negligently flipping pages, she miraculously uncovered lines of amusing information atop a miscellaneous corner. Immediately inaugurating questioning,
"...Alright. The final question. In the epicenter of the Death-Rot Plague epoch in Schwari... the Church once amended their perspective towards the plague. They once affectionately christened that epidemic as..."
Nearly unanimously, Fisher and Balzac vocalized synchronously,
"The [Unbladed Knight]."
"At humanity's epoch of profound despair towards the bubonic plague, the Church vociferated that very plague equated to punishment the Mother Goddess imparted down towards her flesh-and-blood, endeavoring to eradicate humanity's profound sins ingrained perpetually within them... Invisible and impalpable, leaving paths entirely overflowing with desolate corpses, reminiscent of a pristine blameless knight bereft of any blade... Therefore, in proceeding iterations, the 'Scripture of Creation' added verses recounting the Unbladed Knight."
Thus explained Fisher. Prompting Valentina's satisfied head nod. She sealed shut the text in her hand,
"Outstanding... Both gentlemen shall tie. Do rest assured; both of you shall obtain the rewards I assured you of. At that moment... I shall extend the catalogue to both of you."