Exploring Technology in a Wizard World
Chapter 338 - Chapter 338 Chapter 337 The Cure for Earworms—An Ancient Folk

Chapter 338: Chapter 337: The Cure for Earworms–An Ancient Folk Song Chapter 338: Chapter 337: The Cure for Earworms–An Ancient Folk Song Having learned about the situation at White Stone Tower Academy, Richard then inquired about Gro’s recent circumstances. They talked for a long while, and before they knew it, evening had arrived.

Richard and Gro left White Stone Tower Academy and entered the “Salt and Fire” tavern they often visited before. They found a spot in the corner, sat down, and chatted while eating.

Gradually, Richard came to understand Gro’s situation.

It must be said that Gro had really been working hard. Although his talent was low, ever since he arrived at White Stone Tower Academy, he had been constantly catching up. So far, he had completed “meditation,” “Opening Magic Source,” and “Melting” Life Remolding three times, qualifying him as a competent First-level Apprentice.

After hearing Gro’s story, Richard let out a sigh and said, “It certainly hasn’t been easy for you, but you’ve done quite well, not letting down the choice you initially made. How are things going, any difficulties? If there are, I can help.”

“Lord Richard, there’s no need, everything is okay for now,” Gro replied with a smile, shaking his head, and glanced at Richard’s fingers resting on the table.

“Tap, tap-tap-tap, tap, tap-tap-tap…”

Influenced by the earworm, Richard’s fingers rhythmically tapped on the tabletop.

Realizing something, Richard promptly stopped his fingers and explained to Gro, “I’ve been recalling a piece of music I heard before, which made me tap unconsciously.”

“Oh, is that so,” said Gro, about to continue speaking when suddenly a disturbance arose in the tavern, interrupting him.

The ruckus started at one table.

Initially filled with people in cheerful conversation, someone’s face suddenly changed, and with a roar, they were grappling with a person next to them.

Those seated around the table instantly split into two factions, pulling out weapons and clashing fiercely. The sound of weapons colliding rang out constantly, with weapons occasionally flying through the air–one dagger heading straight for Gro.

Richard was about to help Gro dodge when Gro, having anticipated it, quickly dodged, looking at those fighting in the distance and said irritably, “Damn, it’s them again.”

“How so, you know them well?” Richard asked.

Gro raised his eyebrows and reminded Richard, “Lord Richard, you forgot? The last time you and I came to this tavern to eat, when you met that fat man named Alex and were looking for a house to move into. That time, these people had fought here as well, and it was intense with weapons flying everywhere. You… to help me dodge the weapons, you pressed my face into the bowl of meat soup several times.”

Richard shrugged his shoulders, naturally he wouldn’t forget such an incident, only surprised that Gro remembered it so vividly. It seemed he really shouldn’t have pressed Gro’s head into the bowl of meat soup, although it was to help him dodge incoming weapons…

Gro continued, “Back then, those people fought more fiercely until they eventually killed someone, scaring off most of the customers, but we didn’t run. When they saw us, they were very unhappy and came over to threaten us. Then you pulled out the ‘Auditor of White Stone Tower Academy’ badge, and scared them off.

“I asked you then if the auditor badge from White Stone Tower Academy was really that effective. You said ‘It works on those who live off their acting skills, not on desperadoes.’ I didn’t understand at the time. But after coming to ‘Salt and Fire’ tavern alone a few times and running into their staged fights and murders again, I understood; it was all an act.”

“It definitely was an act,” Richard nodded, “but at least it’s a good act, isn’t it?”

Indeed it was a good act, as Richard unconsciously began tapping the tabletop again, watching the performance of the others with great interest.

“Tap, tap-tap-tap, tap, tap-tap-tap…”

“Ah! Die!”

“You’re the one who should die!”

The fighting group shouted and slashed with such effort, it did not seem fake at all, terrifying the tavern’s patrons into staying frozen in their seats, not daring to move, lest they fall foul.

In the middle of the tavern, there was a platform where a woman in her thirties sat, singing and playing an instrument, specially hired by the tavern owner to add some uniqueness to the place. At that moment, the woman, watching a group of people, was in utter panic, not knowing what to do.

She had seen fights before and vaguely felt the other party might be pretending, but seeing the ferocity of their combat, she dared not expose them, nor make any unusual moves. Her platform was at the very heart of the battle, surrounded by combatants, and provoking them could result in a dozen weapons flying her way.

Thinking this, the singing woman forced herself to remain calm, plucked her chest-front harp, and started to sing softly in a calming rhythm, hoping to pacify the fighters.

The fight continued…

Richard’s fingers continued…

“You’re going to die, Mu Duo!” the fighters yelled.

“Weep, Ancient Spirit Dance…” the woman sang in an ancient language.

“Clack, tap tap tap tap…” Richard’s fingers tapping.

Ke, Goril Ling Gu… text from a Black Spirit Empire book, just then, unexpectedly sprung out.

“I’m going to kill you, Domus!” the fighters continued to shout.

“Rite, Heng’er Yingyu…” the woman continued to hum in the ancient language.

“Clack, tap tap tap tap…” Richard’s fingers continued tapping.

Tu, Lier Mon Noon… text from a Black Spirit Empire book uncontrollably continued to pop out.

“Clack, tap tap!” Suddenly, Richard realized something, stopped his fingers, and stared at the woman on the platform, his eyes wide.

The fighters, ignoring Richard’s reaction, just kept to their scripted climax, one man plunging a dagger fiercely into another, piercing the body.

“Ah!” the stabbed man screamed, convulsing as he fell, blood pouring out extensively, finally lying motionless on the ground.

The murderer, a bald strong man, slowly pulled the dagger from the body while scanning the surroundings and shouted, “Everyone get out!”

“Whoosh,” like receiving a pardon, the seated guests scurried away like rats, though Richard and Gro did not move.

“Hm?” The bald strong man turned, looking at Richard and Gro, furrowing his brow as if trying to remember something. But after a long furrowed recall without success, he couldn’t help but stride forward, brandishing the blood-stained dagger in mid-air, nearly grazing Richard’s nose, “Kid, are you asking for death? Didn’t you hear me tell you to scram? What’s with the big eyes, you think I’m scared of you?! I warn you… Ah!”

The bald strong man’s words were cut off by a scream, his lower abdomen hit as if by a charging elephant, his body bending like a large shrimp, flying backward at high speed, and slamming hard onto the ground.

The bald strong man’s companions, clearly not expecting this, paused momentarily; then several muscular men shouted as they rushed forward, waving weapons, ready to give Richard what for.

Richard’s eyes slightly narrowed.

“Die!”

The charging men were now close, shouting loudly, spittle flying from their mouths, their expressions fierce and terrifying.

Richard’s eyes narrowed to a slit, and in the next instant, he struck.

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