Chapter 351: Chapter 316: Magnet Town and Star’s Request【5K】_1
Translator: 549690339
Over the azure blue sky, white clouds floated like cotton, clean and unblemished.
Under the warmth and glow of two suns, big and small, the vast Hundred Ranges cloaked in perpetual snow shimmered under a veil of mist. The brilliant sunlight interlaced with the swirling fog, creating a hazy division between heaven and the ground.
Occasionally, a few predatory beasts would soar past, spreading their wings wide and letting out shrill, grating caws.
Beneath the continuous stretch of the white peaks lay expansive vibrant green fields.
As a gentle breeze passed, butterflies flitted about amongst the swaying flowers and grass.
The green plains, adorned with a plethora of colorful wildflowers, made a sharp contrast to the towering white peaks, lending the scenery an epic and majestic quality.
At the boundary between the snowy peaks and the green plains,
Stood a moderately sized town, the destination for Leo Ray and his companions: Magnet Town.
A century prior, the town nestled at the foot of the mountain consecutively discovered several rare ore veins, drawing a swarm of gold diggers from surrounding areas.
This cast the previously obscure town into a bustling period of prosperity.
However, the veins exhausted after consecutive, relentless mining efforts by the gold-diggers, and the town, akin to the numerous depleted mines, lapsed back into obscurity, lifeless and insignificant.
With no ore veins to be mined, the town was deserted.
Until a few years ago, when a new vein was discovered. For original chapters go to novｅlfire.net
This time, seizing the opportunity, the current Lord of Magnet City collaborated with the Former Lord of Cyan City for joint exploitation.
They rigidly regulated the number of outside gold miners and kept full control over the mining operations, keeping the process in steady hands.
Thus, the town seemed to return to its previous bustling state.
Within the height of the city walls, spanning the outer area of Magnet Town.
Rows upon rows of shabby, dilapidated houses could be seen, and numerous vernacular wooden structures lined the streets, contributing to a scene of absolute disorder.
As a chilly gust of wind swept past,
All the tottering wooden doors and windows creaked in unison, as if they could be blown away at any moment. An eerie melancholy pervaded the surroundings.
Due to its proximity to the snow-capped mountains, moisture clung heavily in the air.
Sometimes, melting snow would flow from the mountains, mixing with the residents’ wastewater to form a grid of stinky drains that constantly emitted a horrid smell.
In a narrow alleyway, a scruffy little girl with unkempt hair was seen skulking behind a decaying, blackened wooden wall.
This waifish girl clutched a tattered insect-catching net in her hand, her dull and malnourished eyes glaring intently at a Blue Stone Pigeon that had just landed in front of her.
Looking at the Tier 1 magical beast that had virtually no offensive ability, yearning welled up in the skinny little girl’s face.
After all, it had been quite some time since she last savored a square meal, let alone the elusive taste of meat.
Just when the little girl discerned the right moment to pounce, her body poised in anticipation, a stone suddenly landed in the filthy gutter beside her.
In a split second, the splash of dirty water soaked the girl, who couldn’t help but express her shock and dismay.
Furthermore, her desired prey, the Blue Stone Pigeon, had already taken flight out of alarm.
Not far away, a group of raggedy boys started to roar with laughter at the girl’s somewhat pitiful state.
Immediately afterward, the leading boy stepped forward, brandishing a wooden stick, and barked, “Outsider, go back to your Cyan Town! We don’t welcome you in Magnet Town!”
“That’s right! Ever since you arrived, our already scarce food supplies have shrunk even further!”
Another sallow-faced boy chimed in, “You’re the parasites here!”
“It’s your city lord who wouldn’t let us leave. What makes you think we want to stay here?”
Opposite them, the girl covered in grime retorted fearlessly, her small hands firmly grasping the insect-catching net as she stood her ground.
“Nonsense! Our City Lord would rather we were gone! In his protection only can we live in peace!”
The ringleader boy picked up another stone, threatening to throw, and added, “Not like you outsiders. Your city lord has probably abandoned you already, hasn’t he? What a pitiful creature with no city lord to claim.”
“…You’re the one talking nonsense! Our city lord in Cyan Town is the best, and he’ll definitely come to take us home!”
At these words, a resolute expression replaced the slight confusion on the girl’s grimy face.
“Ha ha ha, this is the funniest joke I’ve heard all year!”
The leading boy once again began to ridicule the girl, scoffing, “Face the reality. Your city lord has long since abandoned you. You pitiful creature!”
At that, the other boys joined in, making faces and echoing, “Pitiful creature, unwanted by any city lord. A homeless pitiful creature!”
Moreover, they started to throw pebbles at the girl.
“You’ve successfully angered me now!”