Yarra’s Adventure Notes
Chapter 201 - 56: Target, Dragonscar_1

Chapter 201: Chapter 56: Target, Dragonscar_1

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"There’s one particular place where this situation occurs most likely," Miss Mapple extended her finger, its trembling slow touch against the dinner plate on the table, "First, we have this fine dining ware from different locations around the world. Then, this collection was assembled into a set by someone non-proficient. Lastly, these pieces were either borrowed or acquired to make them appear here."

"The City of Innocence." Catherine pounded the table with force, startling Vivian who was happily munching on fried thornfish meat, oblivious to their conversation. She almost dropped her cutlery, "Only the City of Innocence is the most likely candidate."

"Yes, the City of Innocence, the global pool of stolen goods, the largest fence centre." Miss Mapple sighed distressfully, "Although the city wasn’t present in my time, its notorious reputation precedes it. It is an incredible city where theft, robbery, murder, arson and rape are rampant. To have so many criminals within a single city is quite an accomplishment."

"True." Pannis nods his head, "For the nobles, they have proficient stewards procuring their household items, preventing this kind of embarrassing mishmash of different types of utensils. Even if they fell on hard times and needed to sell, they would disclose the matching condition of these items during the sale. Therefore, it’s implausible for Sandy to have brought these from his house or bought or borrowed them from other nobles. The mismatch seen here only occurs with stolen items from various regions; the thief or plunderer has no understanding of their origins, while the fence can only rely on experience and judgment to match and sell the stolen goods. Undoubtedly, this bizarre collection of very similar but ultimately distinct dining ware would only emerge like this. Hence, the City of Innocence, the largest fence centre, is our prime suspect."

"Then there’s the liquor." Miss Mapple’s gaze turned to the wine cabinet, "During my time, the annual output for Vila Viloa Champagne and Koyala Gold Wine was merely 70 bottles, with all buyers being distinguished individuals and their identities recorded during the purchase. I’m unsure about the current output of these wineries, but I do not anticipate a significant difference. So, if we identify this year’s buyers and find out whose wines were stolen, follow the leads to the culprits, then the fences, we might finally track down Mr. Sandy."

"There are several more detailed issues." Miss Mapple concluded, "However, they all lead to the same deductions, which I will not explain individually. It states that one should never be too complacent, for often, one inadvertently exposes their fatal loopholes."

"As one ages, the energy does not compete with the young, even a short outing tires me out. I’ll take a break before you all, have a smooth investigation." Miss Mapple politely bid goodbye with her gaze to each person present, then gently closed her eyes.

"How was it?" When her eyes opened again, everyone realized that Lina had returned, "Any new insights?"

"Great, incredibly useful insights." Consciously ignoring Catherine’s glare, Dora enthusiastically tapped the table with her fork, "I need a Memory Crystal and these utensils as evidence to submit to our guild."

"I’ll take the other crystal." Vivian lifted her head from her food, stared pitifully at Catherine until she reluctantly pushed her piece of thornfish towards Vivian, only then smiled and said, "The Mage Guild searched for him for 37 years. Many people thought he had died in some corner. They will find this news quite interesting."

"Vivian, when you are done, I’d like to use it. I will report it to the Adventurer’s Guild." Though Catherine was smiling, her grin seemed exceedingly dangerous, "I want him to know that there’s a price to pay for mocking Nellie’s Adventure Team."

"These women are really terrifying." Sitting next to Pannis, the mole nudged him with his elbow and whispered, "Is this how your team leader looks?"

"Uh, haha, hahaha." Pannis looked up towards the sky, "The weather is great today, hahaha."

"Well, I got it." The mole understood and patted Pannis’ shoulder empathetically, "Hang in there, I understand you."

"We’re all unfortunate, aren’t we?" Pannis clasped the mole’s hand, his eyes welling up with tears, "I always get scared at such moments..."

"Hmm." Catherine and Dora coughed simultaneously, "Dear Pannis (Mole), may we ask what important issue you are discussing?"

"Ah? We, we." Pannis scratched his head while laughing awkwardly with a shifty glance, "Oh, we were sadly complaining about how despicable the enemy is and laughing at his pride that led to leaking his whereabouts."

"Is it?" Catherine rolled her eyes, ignoring Pannis who was now playing coy and said to Dora, "You inspected the corpses in the valley. Can you confirm they belong to the gang of thieves you were tracking?"

"I can confidently confirm that." Dora replied, "We found our insider, unfortunately, he perished too. Based on the minimal characteristics he had provided of gang members previously, we identified their corpses. Most importantly, we found the key persons- the corpses of the four Gold Rank leaders."

"That’s enough." Catherine nodded, "So, how will your mercenary team’s mission be classified? Success or failure? After all, we didn’t personally exterminate these thieves."

"This is indeed quite troublesome." Dora massaged her throbbing temples. "But according to precedents, it should be considered successful since the client’s request has been met. However, we need to make it clear when we report back. All in all, it’s a task that hasn’t been smoothly accomplished but we should still receive the commission."

"So, about our...", Catherine spoke with a grin and a hint of implication.

"Sister Catherine, don’t worry." Faced with Catherine in this state, Dora quickly responded, "I’ll go to the Adventurer’s Guild Branch to make payments for the procedures once we get back to the team."

"Smart." Catherine snapped her fingers and pointed at Dora, "It’s settled then."

Dora felt an immense weight lifted off her shoulders as she secretly wiped away the perspiration. "Sister Catherine, since the mission is accomplished, what are your plans next?"

"We will continue, of course." Catherine replied, "Assisting you guys was just a side task, our main mission isn’t completed yet, so we have to carry on. What about you?"

"We have no choice but to continue following you," Dora answered with a helpless smile. "You took our guide with you, if we go alone we’ll get lost, so we have to stick with you and maybe even lend a hand when necessary."

"You are also following us?" Catherine’s gaze turned dangerous again, "Remember, I didn’t ask for your help, you volunteered to come with us and there will be no payment."

"Sister Catherine, that’s where you’re wrong." As soon as the topic of payment was brought up, Dora no longer treated Catherine with the same compliance, her eyebrows furrowed, she leaned in and an imposing tone entered her voice, "Mr. Elrad was initially our guide and theoretically, his job isn’t done until he brings us back to our point of departure. If you want to utilize his services midway, you need our permission. Furthermore, because of your use of our guide, we had to make extra effort and face more dangers, we deserve compensation."

"They are at it again." Pannis knocked his forehead, looking at Lina who maintained a serious expression, then at Vivian who was dreaming while resting on her hand, he let out a helpless bitter smile, whispered, "Elrad, now would be the time to discuss the itinerary."

Ever since the previous unpleasant exchange, Elrad returned to his initial cold persona, only communicating with the team when necessary. When he heard Pannis’s question, he first threw a glance at him before slowly replying, "I know the place, it’s called Dragonscar, home to seven hundred-meter pits. A relic from the War of Gods, when seven dragons had reportedly committed suicide by detonating, taking their enemies with them. The destructive power from the explosion is still present deep inside the pits, so no vegetation can grow it’s a dead zone."

"Sounds about right." Pannis answered Elrad impassively, "I think that’s the place. Didn’t you say it would take another seven to ten days to get there?"

"If all goes well, seven to ten days should be enough." Elrad responded, "It’s less than three hundred kilometers from here, and the condition of the route is much better to navigate."

"And if things don’t go well?" Pannis inquired, "The journey here was full of minor mishaps."

"If things don’t go well? Then one might never reach there." Elrad scoffed, "The route may look easy, but it’s highly dangerous. Even the most experienced hunters don’t dare to tread there. If you wish to go there, be prepared to die at any moment, otherwise, it’s better to turn back."

"We have long been prepared to face any danger." Catherine and Dora seemed to have sorted out the negotiations over the remuneration, their faces bore satisfied expressions. On hearing Elrad’s caution, Catherine said, "So we absolutely must go there."

"Suit yourselves." Elrad remarked, "But I want it clear from the start, if we face any danger, I have the right to hide and ensure my own safety."

"Of course, that is only fair." Catherine agreed, "No matter the situation, ensuring your safety is of prime importance. However, could you briefly tell us, what dangers are we actually facing there? Are there very powerful magical beasts?"

"No, that’s not the main reason." Elrad explained, "The danger there lies in the unknown. There isn’t any fixed lord-ranked magical beast or tribe, and the magical beasts keep shifting, no one knows what we might encounter. Besides, the magical beasts there are extremely bizarre, they have a myriad of hunting methods, so no one knows in advance what one might face. There’s no possibility of preparing in advance, complete on-the-spot handling is required, and that’s the most terrifying part."

"I see, in other words, we need to maintain the highest level of alert at all times." Catherine nodded, "Alright, I don’t have any more questions. If the rest of you don’t have further queries, let’s finish the meal and utilize the remaining time to thoroughly search the valley. We should also properly bury the dead bodies. They may have been thieves but we cannot simply let their corpses rest in the wilderness unburied. We’ll set up camp here and rest at noon, and prepare to depart tonight at ten. Our target - Dragonscar."