Ethan is definitely a dangerous person.
He can describe fabricated stories as if they're real without flinching, just like earlier. She completely believed the story about the first King of the Empire and stinky tofu, immersing herself in this epic tale and even considered going to the village Ethan mentioned to taste the stinky tofu.
However, it was all lies. In just a few minutes, Ethan had made up a story that could be included in the "War of Apostasy".
Marshall believed it and paid a painful price.
He kept spitting out his blackened tongue, as if all happiness in life had been extracted.
No wonder Ethan considers himself no worse than the nobles of the Imperial Capital, just lacking opportunity. Ave felt that making him her assistant wasted his talents; someone like him is more suited to enter politics and become a spokesperson for a key institution.
After all, those spokespersons excel at making unbelievable things sound real.
On the other hand, the blockers worked very well, proving that Marshall's laughing affliction was indeed some kind of mental influence from cursed objects.
From his angry expression, swinging his pillow like a knight from the War of Apostasy period would swing a flail, he seemed to be recovering well.
Marshall immediately expressed his heartfelt emotions to his attending physician once he recovered.
——"Get the hell out of my house!"
This is probably Ethan's magical charm; he can make someone raised with noble etiquette return to their true nature and curse.
"We'll split up. Miss Keroy and I will first inspect the cursed apartment; you stay here for questioning."
While being thrown out of the mansion with a pillow, Ethan seized the opportunity to shout his plan to Ave.
No matter how circumstances change, Ethan always has a plan.
Ave looked at his silhouette as Keroy carried him away, increasingly feeling this man should be a politician.
Ethan was delighted to be kicked out of the big banker's house; the unexpected overtime tonight left him no time to organize his business plans. Before leaving Fireplace Bay last night, he visited a tavern, the intelligence hub for merchant ships, where all sorts of people gather, and you can hear about big events happening in any country worldwide.
He spent 1 Golden Lion to persuade the bartender to advertise for him.
The bartender would spread that an Elemental Shaper had arrived at Fireplace Bay, offering private customized magic scrolls for the upper class, tailoring services to clients' needs, more flexible and closer to real requirements than the fixed spells in scroll shops.
Want to experience high-end customization? Want an Elemental Shaper exclusively serving you?
Just 30 Golden Lions for VIP treatment!
Find Heisenberg; he'll appear at the beach on the southwest corner of the pier every Wednesday night.
After all, he had lived through the 21st century and seen numerous advanced business methods.
Is the Fireball Skill and Frost Arrow unsuitable for this version?
Perhaps so, but the clever merchants have already found a strategy. They repackage outdated products with attractive packaging and names that sound impressive, selling them at prices dozens of times higher.
Some call it an IQ tax, but enough people fall for it to make them a fortune.
Label it as "private customization", "high-end service", and it sells for 30 Golden Lions.
He's confident in his product; the only problem is how to attract the first batch of customers.
Ethan pondered his business plan while directing Miss Keroy, heading to the civilian apartments in Ximu Town where he was very familiar with the layout. When he first arrived at Ximu Town, he seriously considered buying a townhouse of over 50 square meters, a place of his own.
Later, Ethan discovered he could stay at the Guild for free, so he abandoned the plan to buy a house.
Approaching the residence, the eye-catching billboard read—Want a new home of your own? The Imperial United Reserve Bank offers various loan services!
In loan services, the Imperial United Reserve Bank is always ahead. Ethan heard the Lofic Consortium initially accumulated wealth by setting up banks across the Empire.
Ethan stood downstairs looking upwards; the entire building was pitch dark, with a dead ambiance.
He was about to investigate a haunted apartment.
The apartment owner hanged himself in the bedroom, owing the Imperial Reserve a large loan. As per the agreement, his apartment would be repossessed and auctioned by the Imperial Reserve. Marshall was affected by the cursed object while inspecting the apartment, contracting the laughing syndrome.
The name in the documents from the Reception Bureau gave Ethan pause; one of the few people in the town who left a lasting impression on him.
Mr. Luoxang, Ximu Town's clown performer, always handed out balloons to children after events. Though not valuable gifts, they brought joy and laughter to the town's kids, earning his deep affection.
Ethan had exchanged words with Luoxang at Guild events. On the surface, he was an optimistic person who loved his job, claiming his mission was to bring joy to others.
If the Reception Bureau's report hadn't mentioned Luoxang's name, Ethan wouldn't have known he was dead. Recently, the town's people were on edge due to the witch's incident, none noticing a few familiar faces were missing. It was hard for him to imagine such a person would end his life with a rope in his apartment bedroom.
Ethan used a spare key to open the door, entering Mr. Clown's apartment for the first time.
Yet, it was hard to see traces of Luoxang's life here; old furniture packed in the living room, ready for the Imperial Reserve to sell again. If it weren't for the cursed objects, someone new might move in within days.
He placed the detector on the empty bedroom floor, where Mr. Luoxang hanged himself.
A beam dangled overhead, showing clear scratch marks from his desperate struggle.
Judging by the dust tracks, Marshall had been in the room, standing under the beam for a while. Perhaps, Marshall looked up, noticing the marks, and might reprimand the staff handling aftermath, as no one wants to see reminders of a previous owner's suicide when going to sleep.
The detector didn't beep sharply, and the needle stayed in the blue-safe zone.
Ethan raised the gas lamp overhead.
Besides the marks on the beam, he saw something else.
A line of small characters.
The writing was very sloppy, right next to the marks; Luoxang's handwriting left his final message to the world before ending his life.
——"Luoxang was here."