Super Righteous Player
Chapter 1043 - 101 Mr. An, an Ordinary Citizen

Chapter 1043: Chapter 101 Mr. An, an Ordinary Citizen

This answer, clearly, completely caught "Blackbird" off guard.

The originally somewhat drowsy "Blackbird," revitalized instantly upon hearing Annan’s response.

—or rather, Annan’s answer frightened him awake.

It was rather like a police officer, completely unprepared, suddenly interrogating the highest leader of another country on the street...

The object that "Blackbird" held seemed to be capable both of detecting lies and recording—this was why he immediately believed Annan’s words. Of course, the immigration record was right there; with Annan’s voiceprint already collected, there was no point in boasting or lying.

That is to say, Annan truly was the Grand Duke Winter, here just for a visit.

Cold sweat instantly broke out on "Blackbird"’s back.

Even after being under the intense sun for so long, he hadn’t sweated, but now cold sweat soaked him entirely...even his fingers began to tremble.

Annan felt he recognized this, having seen Maria use something similar in the nightmares of the White Tower; the gatekeeper of Viscount Roth Fort’s family had also used a similar device.

Because this was a specialty from the Storm Tower, used for continuously releasing spells to detect lies and true names. Just like the Black Fire of Heath Tower of Black, the substrate of Jade Tower, the gargoyles of the Twin White Towers, and the mini-games of Thousand-Faced Phantom Tower... It was one of the most basic revenue-generating projects for the Wizard’s Tower.

Maria had told Annan before that this device was not difficult to make.

Perhaps the most troublesome step was cutting them to standard size. In order to produce batches of these small stone slabs—one palm long, two and a half fingers wide, and half a finger thick—Storm Tower had to be involved...

Storm Tower possessed a ritual akin to a machine tool, specifically designed to cut and polish the stone material into these sizes.

Yes, they weren’t made from jade—but from ordinary stone infused with a curse. Just as the Mist itself is a material like smog, the original characteristics of the stone would change once infused with the curse.

This curse was not provided by wizard apprentices, but by the perpetual storm constantly swirling above Storm Tower. Rather, the process of crafting these jade plaques itself served to consume some of that power.

Unlike other Wizard Towers, which worried about sourcing power, the Storm Tower worried about "how to quickly use up all this power"...

Simply use a spell on it during the curse infusion process, and this spell would be pressed into it along with the aid of Storm Tower’s "machine tool."

The entire process was fully automated, and a single spell cast by a wizard apprentice could inscribe a set of twenty plaques; if it was a Formal Wizard, due to more powerful and varied spells, even more types of "spell plaques" could be created simultaneously.

Both the costs and the manufacturing were uncomplicated.

But that kind of "ceaseless, infinite curse" plaguing Storm Tower was something other Wizard Towers simply could not possess. The spells from Decree School also required certain talents to master.

And the designer of this machine tool ritual...

was none other than Annan’s "Victor Frostword."

Thus arose a strange situation: "While everyone knows these items are theoretically cheap, you still insist on buying them from me at several times the price."

Given that Storm Tower didn’t accept ordinary apprentices, the one "Blackbird" held, if not a relic from a decade ago, had to be personally crafted by Maria.

That is to say, "Blackbird" was using a device personally made by Annan’s sister and sold to Dennisiowa by the country governed by Annan, to record Annan’s words and determine whether he was lying.

"Blackbird"’s expression suddenly became quite ambiguous.

He remained silent for a long while before humbly bowing deeply to Annan, "Sorry, I didn’t know..."

"It’s alright; I don’t mind."

Annan simply asked curiously, "You said I have been in contact with a criminal? I’m quite curious... I haven’t met many people today, and even fewer from Dennisiowa. Who exactly is the fugitive you are looking for?"

Seeing that Annan was neither resistant nor upset, "Blackbird"’s rigid, pale expression finally relaxed.

If Annan got angry because of his disrespectful inquiry—even if Annan just showed dissatisfaction without committing any mistakes, simply following the standard procedure, the leaders of the "Special Bureau for Magic and Ritual Crime" would surely punish him severely as a gesture of apology to Annan.

"Your Majesty, it’s great that you don’t mind..."

"Blackbird" humbled himself with another bow to Annan.

Then he pinned the jade plaque back to his waist and pulled out a folded portrait from his bosom, bending over respectfully and handing it to Annan with both hands.

Meanwhile, the majestic "Shirley" sitting at Blackbird’s feet immediately put on a smile, coming over and softly lying at Annan’s feet.

"Just treat me like a normal citizen named ’Annan Winter.’"

Annan looked at Blackbird handing over the portrait and remained bent in a bow, not straightening up, and gave a helpless smile, "After all, you’re working. I understand. I know that some of our Winter nobles can have bad tempers... But I really don’t have that kind of issue.

"Would you inquire so respectfully if you were dealing with the nobles of Dennisiowa?"

—What you’re saying, how dare I question a noble.

Blackbird muttered to himself internally, but kept silent.

Mainly because he didn’t dare speak.

Because the recording device on his plaque was still on.

The deadliest part about that thing was, to prevent leading questions or deceitful answers and to validate one’s identity and purpose, the jade plaque’s lie-detection capability was bidirectional...

If he dared lie, then the recording played back would make the jade badge turn red.

That would definitely be the end for him.

"...Alright, I understand."

Annan looked at Blackbird’s reaction and gave a helpless smile.

He probably had a deeper understanding of the political situation on Dennisiowa’s side.

And behind Annan, Isaac was also frowning tightly, staring at Blackbird, who didn’t even dare raise his head to meet Annan’s eyes, and remained silent.

Annan focused on the portrait in his hands and immediately recognized the person’s identity.

"This man..."

He looked enlightened.

The painting depicted a dark-skinned, thin old man whose face bore the marks of sea wind. He wore a captain’s hat, leaning slightly forward with his waist bent, his left hand holding a dagger backwards, and his right hand grasping a gun.

But what was most noticeable was the silver bracelet on his right wrist.

The old man was looking back, his eyes fierce and malicious. The portrait captured that expression exquisitely.

Annan was just about to turn around and ask Isaac, "Do you think this is so-and-so," but he suddenly remembered that Blackbird had only come to question him, and since the recording started, Isaac hadn’t spoken.

If at this moment, he spoke to someone else and left a voice behind.

Then after Blackbird went back, he might be reprimanded for "Why not ask the other companion, but go ask Duke Annan?"

That would unnecessarily cause trouble for Blackbird.

—There really was no need for that.