Catastrophe Card King

Chapter 1574: Chapter 479: Running into a Love Rival Outside the City?_3 Chapter 1574: Chapter 479: Running into a Love Rival Outside the City?_3 The topic was quite clever.

Whether traveling together or sharing information was quite normal among mercenary adventure groups.

This way, both parties could exchange resources and maximize their benefits.

Initially, this approach to striking up a conversation was perfect, making it hard to find a point of rejection.

Yet unexpectedly, Sophia Jones cut him off, still with an uninterested tone, “No need. Our group needs to find some obscure materials this time, and we’re heading off the beaten path.”

Thinking of something, she caught a glimpse of Leonard Churchill’s suppressed mocking smile from the corner of her eye and added, “Moreover, we’ve already found a suitable information merchant.”

“I…”

William was stunned, “???”

He intended to say that, no matter what Sophia Jones said, he was en route anyway.

However, unexpectedly, what did this mean, a suitable information merchant? Could there be anyone better than the King’s Group’s designated information merchant?

What he didn’t know was that from the beginning, when he mentioned “Eighth-Order Magical Beast,” it not only didn’t scare away the members of the Great Sword Group.

On the contrary, one of their purposes for this trip was to seek out an Eighth-Order Magical Beast.

As for information, indeed, they didn’t need that either.

William was at a loss for words and didn’t know how to continue the conversation.

However, he wasn’t the only one there.

Watching his young master falter in flirting, it was imperative for a sycophant to have quick wits and step forward immediately.

A middle-aged man with a wine nose and messy hair suddenly spoke in a sing-song voice: “Oh, Captain, you might not be fully aware that the situation in Giant Spirit City is a bit complicated recently. Just by chance, I too happen to know a bit about information… I’m Parker, the vice president of the ‘Spiderweb Intelligence Guild’… Oh, there’s no other intention from young master William, but with the recent treasure craze, many con artists have come to Giant Spirit City. Those con artists pose as local gangs and offer information for a few Gold Coins at taverns… that’s a hundred percent scam…”

This guy acted very sleazily.

But in reality, anyone who could be an information merchant was very shrewd.

He was well aware that the sleazier he acted, the more he could play up to young master William’s nobility and grandeur.

And with this statement, the expressions of the Revolutionary Army members became odd.

This “wait for information for a few Gold Coins,” the ‘Blaster’ Rosin had indeed encountered it.

At first, they had held out hope thinking it was real, but now, it became clear it was indeed a scam.

The shrewd-eyed wine nose Parker turned his small eyes and immediately realized that they probably had indeed encountered a scam,
after all, the adventure group had arrived in Giant Spirit City only a day ago and claimed they were ready to set off?

William finally breathed a sigh of relief.

This lackey had saved him from a major embarrassment, and he continued with the topic, “Yes, Captain Johnson, I meant no harm. It was fate meeting you earlier. Seeing you all leave the city so hurriedly, you might have received some wrong information. This Mr. Parker here, is one of the finest information hunters in Giant Spirit City…”

…

The members of the Revolutionary Army didn’t have any inclination to question Sophia Jones.

But outsiders might not necessarily feel the same.

Now, listening to these guys, they instinctively thought, could their leader really have encountered a con artist?

After all, they had truly encountered one before.

Though… but what if?

And what was most important was, they were all very curious about the mysterious person beside Sophia Jones. What was the situation with him?

Sophia Jones, on the other hand, remained composed, calmly listening, with an attitude that seemed to say: You see, someone is calling you a con artist.

Leonard Churchill couldn’t help but chuckle inwardly, knowing it was time for him to step up. He threw back his cloak, revealing an ordinary middle-aged face, and smiled as he greeted the red-nosed man, “Hey there, old buddy Parker, what a coincidence to see you here too?”

Parker, the wine-nosed man, one of the old-time information merchants in Giant Spirit City, indeed had some skills.

“`
This greeting stunned Wine Nose on the spot; his expression stiffened for a moment as he recognized the person calling out to him, “Sean? What on earth are you doing here…”

Initially mistaking him for a scammer, and now realizing he was a colleague, things got awkward.

Leonard Churchill had nurtured several undercover identities while operating in Giant Spirit City.

Information merchant “Sean” was one of them.

Now that he had been recognized, the other party immediately understood.

Upon seeing this situation, William, unable to continue his speech, glanced at his henchman.

Parker, not daring to state it outright, asked, “Sean, aren’t you the guy who never takes on assignments outside of the city? What’s gotten into you to leave now?”

Between colleagues, saying too much could ruin things.

Leonard Churchill said, “I’ve been short on cash lately and wanted to go out to see. I happened upon a well-paying client, so here I am.”

“…”

Parker listened with a darkened face, silent, cursing the lost opportunity to show off.

With a colleague present, it wasn’t easy to boast of one’s exploits.

William, observing the dynamic, only then realized the Great Sword Group had indeed found a reliable source of information.

He hadn’t given it much thought before – an Adventure Group from abroad and a local snake, there was no way they could be connected.

Ultimately, William failed to find a topic to continue the conversation.

As a division leader of the King’s Knight Group, he wasn’t nobility, but he still had some dignity; it wouldn’t do for him to keep pressing.

Meanwhile, the record officer had checked the documents that Sophia Jones had submitted, and the group was allowed to proceed together.

Watching as Sophia Jones and her companions left,
William’s expression suddenly lost its previous gentlemanly warmth, becoming somber instead.

…

Having left the city smoothly,
The Revolutionary Army felt a great relief.

But Leonard Churchill and Sophia Jones showed no change in demeanor. After all, although the encounter with William was unexpected, they were well-prepared for the city gate inspection.

However, for Leonard Churchill, such surprises never just happened and then were over.

Looking off into the distance as if a thought had struck him, he remarked, “That William is after all from the King’s Knight Group; they’re likely heading to the Death Domain on a mission. We might encounter some trouble in the future…”

Sophia Jones nodded, “Mhm.”

The two said no more.

A few kilometers outside the city gate, the narrow pass led to the “Gold Echo Post” spanning the Titan Mountains.

This sentry post offered a view of Adventurers returning from the Magical Beast Forest; “Gold Echo” meant you could hear the sound of gold coins in the adventurer’s pouch from afar.

It symbolized that everyone returned with a bountiful harvest.

Past the city, the road still showed signs of many Adventurers. But beyond the narrow pass of Gold Echo Post was the endless, untouched jungle. A group of several dozen entering the forest was like sand merging into the sea, leaving not a trace.

This land belonged to the Demon Beasts.

Despite the Ariel Empire’s might and vast territory,
In the Southern Continent, humanity occupied but a fraction of the map’s edges.

And that was merely the explored regions.

Deep within the Magical Beast Forest lay vast, uncharted reaches beyond measure.

Although Leonard Churchill was well-acquainted with the Magical Beast Forest, this was his first time entering it in person.

“`