Above The Sky
Chapter 436 - 436 406 Twin Trees Bread 13

436: Chapter 406: Twin Trees Bread (1/3) 436: Chapter 406: Twin Trees Bread (1/3) Let’s not discuss whether it was coincidental that the somewhat mysterious Elf, Anfa, showed up in Twin Trees Town; Mr.

Silver Workshop being there wasn’t strange at all.

“Here, a specialty, Twin Trees bread, it only tastes genuinely delicious when eaten hot and fresh right here.”

Mr.

Silver Workshop looked quite younger lately, aside from his white hair, his face, originally with a few wrinkles and spots, had become more relaxed and smooth.

He looked at Ian, his whole being radiating the kindly glow of an elder looking at a younger family member, and invited the boy to sit down in a gentle manner, personally bringing over a plate of bread, “I was planning on having dinner here, reading some books, and newspapers, never thought I’d run into you—if you don’t mind, have some to fill your stomach first.”

“Uh, I actually haven’t eaten…”

Ian, not particularly skilled at dealing with people who were sincerely kind to him, sat down on a chair, glanced at the Twin Trees bread in front of him, and then smiled as well, “Then I’ll start by saying thank you.”

The Twin Trees bread is actually quite simple to make; it looks like a doughnut but is bigger in size, with a crispy, golden crust that is incredibly fragrant, and the interior is filled with a soft, almost-sticky rice dough filling, with different fillings in the very center.

There are honey sweet sauces, as well as fruit fillings, some sour and sweet, and also savory meat fillings—each bakery has its own secret recipes, all unique and all with their devotees.

Freshly baked Twin Trees bread can be stored for quite a while, but it is best eaten on the spot, that way the sweet sauces and dough don’t solidify and you get the full experience of its filling.

When you shatter the crispy outer layer of the bread with a bite, slicing through the soft but chewy dough, letting the warm sweet sauce burst out and mingling the wheat’s aroma in your mouth as you chew, it truly is a treat after a day’s work.

“Indeed, it’s quite good, delicious.”

Ian quickly finished a serving of Twin Trees bread and had dinner together with Mr.

Silver Workshop.

The elder smiled, holding a cup of tea in his hands—his appetite was not small either, he had just eaten a serving of roasted flatbread wrapped with chicken and beef, with hot sauce inside.

Depending on personal taste some may add bean paste and vegetables, but most of the time, for a longer shelf life, its texture is not particularly impressive, and the ingredients are not as plentiful as when it’s freshly made and eaten.

While eating, Ian was still pondering Anfa’s mysterious whereabouts—indeed, the Elf had left Leyan Territory quite early and by the time Ian had arrived in Twin Trees Town, Anfa would have already been there.

But the question is, why did the Elf, who originally planned to venture deep into the mountains to engage with the Mountain People, turn back to Twin Trees Town?

“Was it to see the dragon?”

Recalling the journey he had encountered along the way, Ian felt somewhat enlightened, “Sio found me, so my journey was actually delayed, and as a result, Anfa had just missed Sio, arriving in Twin Trees Town early to observe the dragon’s situation?

It cannot be called coincidence; one can only say that the dragon really is very eye-catching.”

“He must be involved with the Dragon Worship Cult.”

Although Ian had found the answer in his heart, there were still many things he did not know—for one thing, he was unclear about what exactly the Dragon Worship Cult had done in Nauman City.

The youngster looked up at the elder who was gently sipping tea.

It just so happened that he had run into an elder who knew about it.

“What on earth happened in Nauman City?

Good question, to be honest, most people have no clue, but I happen to understand the ins and outs of it very well.”

Mr.

Silver Workshop also prepared a cup of Elf tea for Ian — Canaan Moore is famous for its top-quality leaf and flower teas.

The elder himself was drinking a cup of green-blue tea called ‘Moon Sea’, from a special aquatic tea tree, while the cup prepared for Ian was a light blue ‘Blue Gauze’, with a sweet taste and refreshing feeling.

The old man showed a reminiscent expression, “About a week ago, a merchant ship from Canaan Moore was stranded and sank in Blackstone Bay, the marine Guard Squad couldn’t find any of the living things or crew members declared on the ship—— it became an empty ship, and that aroused suspicion.”

“Soon, Nauman City found out that this ship was controlled by the Dragon Worship Cult.

They committed an offence over in Canaan Moore, clashed with the Torchbearers, and lost.

So they’ve been hiding their identities, carrying a ‘treasure’ and trying to escape to our territory.

However, halfway here, their ship was sunk, and they had to scatter and hide amongst us.”

“Logically speaking, the Dragon Worship Cult should have succeeded.

They’ve already arrived in The Empire, each one using a prepared fake identity to blend in locally.

At most, the Torchbearers would report their identities to us, and then we would send the Knight Order to arrest them…

But it’s said that these cult members have an exceedingly precious treasure, so they were pursued relentlessly, ultimately leading to their discovery by the Defend Knights Order.”

At this point, Mr.

Silver Workshop lifted his teacup with an air of indifference and toasted in the direction of Nauman City, “That was indeed a fierce battle.

The sewers in the eastern district were completely blown up, the Marquis’s garden was filled with filth…

Honestly, my coming to Twin Trees Town isn’t just a matter of safety considerations.

After all, at the very least, the air is fresher here.”

“It truly was a fierce battle.”

Ian bowed his head, struggling to hold back a laugh—he had long known that these outsiders who were hiding their identities either relied on local collaborators with strongholds, or took refuge in the dark and hidden places like the sewers.

But he had never imagined it would culminate in a ‘battle between the Knight Order and the Torchbearers that ravaged Nauman City to its ends, not even sparing the sewers’.

A new ending to a classic scenario, it seemed.

“Of course, it’s all just a joke.

The Torchbearers are fine.

The main thing is, other factions have arrived as well.

That night, the entire Nauman City was restless, everyone was scared.”

Mr.

Silver Workshop also laughed, jokingly saying, “Two different mysterious groups, the exposed members of the Dragon Worship Cult, the Knight Order and the Torchbearers, as well as the Embrace Light Church that locked its doors, six or even more forces were jostling in the city—if they really came to blows, the casualties wouldn’t be confined to the sewers in the eastern district.”

After laughing, the old man seemed a bit sentimental, “Earlier yesterday, the people of the Dragon Worship Cult were almost caught, but then a dragon just flew over, and everyone in the city was shocked.

In that moment, the cult members slipped away, quick as a flash.”

“The real panic set in when the dragon truly appeared, which meant that these cult members really had powerful reinforcements locally.

Now, it’s not a problem that can be solved by simply arresting people.

So, by the time we left Nauman City, the city had calmed down quite a bit, but danger still lurked everywhere.”

“Who would want to risk being attacked by a real dragon just to catch a few cult members?

Other factions might not care, but Marquis Barton and the Knight Order had no such plans.

The risk was not worth the reward.”

With that, the old man concluded, “So, the situation reached a deadlock.”

“But to be honest,” Ian sipped his sweet tea, placing down the teacup with a puzzled look, “isn’t it easier to be attacked by dragons outside of the city?”

“My young knight…” Mr.

Silver Workshop waved his hand, chuckling and then offering his wisdom to Ian, “The Dragon Worship Cult isn’t some new cult trying to make a name for itself.

They’ve been famous across the continents for six hundred years.”

“Pretending to attack the city to make a statement is one thing, but it would be insane to really attack the villages and kill many people.

How would they then recruit locally?

How would they smuggle supplies?

Especially in a key transit like Twin Trees Town, could it be possible without their own people?

The key for local organizations is to have the support of the locals, unless they’re outsiders, like those from Fiery Flame Land, and…

you know, those folks from the Imperial Capital.”

He winked at Ian, everything implied in his look: “Believe me, it won’t escalate to fighting, especially if dragons are attacking.

The city walls are just for show.”

“Places like this are much safer than the big cities.”

Mr.

Silver Workshop was indeed correct because Ian had also witnessed the dragon from the previous day.

Although it seemed to fly very fast, almost like a high-speed missile, in reality, it just made a round over Nauman City to assert its presence and then disappeared, with no intention of actual combat.

If the dragon he saw yesterday was the same one he encountered that night…

“So that’s why Anfa hurried back to the outskirts of Nauman City…”

Ian considered this in his heart.

At this moment, he showed a young man’s curiosity, eager to hear the stories from an elder: “Mr.

Silver Workshop, I’m rather out of the loop over there in Harrison Port…

I’m not very clear about what these forces really stand for.”

“The Dragon Worship Cult and the Torchbearers, what kind of forces are they, really?”

“Dragons aren’t that rare, and worshipping them isn’t unusual either, so why are they considered a cult?”