Super Righteous Player
Chapter 954 - 12 Annan: I’m laying my cards on the table

Chapter 954: Chapter 12 Annan: I’m laying my cards on the table

Nigel Elliott now believed that this person was indeed a fan of his, not someone who had come to cause him trouble.

To be able to say such a thing—to appreciate his clumsy and futile attempts from those paintings, this was definitely not something those barbarians would do.

"Ah... my apologies."

Nigel wiped his eyes and nodded with some reserve, "It’s been a long time since I’ve heard about those old times... sorry."

"No, the one who should apologize is me."

The man with black hair once again displayed a cheerful smile, "I am also sorry to bring up such secrets—it’s something we should be discussing over drinks and laughter, hugging and crying together, after we’ve become acquainted. But I guess, only by mentioning these things can I convince you that I am truly a fan of yours? Hahaha..."

This response was undoubtedly slightly impolite.

But it gave Nigel a way out and explained why he had been so nervous before.

—Because the middle-aged man had figured out that Nigel had encountered some trouble before. This was why Nigel had been so overly cautious to the point of rudeness. Nigel didn’t have to explain any further...

"I’m really sorry, I ran into some trouble earlier."

Nigel smiled awkwardly and lowered his head to express his apology, "I thought I was being chased again..."

This slightly painful statement actually made the conversation less awkward, allowing it to continue more smoothly.

He looked back at the bustling chatter of the Hussky and Thirteen Spices, focusing on the differently colored robes of the two for a moment.

Nigel decisively shifted the previous topic and asked, "Speaking of which... what are you doing going to Noah?"

"Going to the Heath Tower of Black."

The middle-aged man answered without hesitation, "I have some things to handle."

"...the Heath Tower of Black," Nigel hesitated, "seemed to have encountered some trouble a few months ago."

"Ah, I’m aware."

The middle-aged man laughed heartily, "I’ve come to help deal with the aftermath of that incident."

"...Oh."

Nigel nodded his head in sudden realization.

He must be a wizard from somewhere else... The Winter Duchy seems to have two Wizard’s Towers.

"I’m somewhat envious of you..."

Nigel sighed, "You know, if I hadn’t taken this path back then, I might have become a wizard."

"Oh?"

"My mother was a ritualist, and she always hoped I would enter the Heath Tower of Black to study transformation spells."

The middle-aged painter picked up his teacup and took a sip, then held it in front of his face as if to shield his expression.

His face showed a mixture of emotions.

After taking another sip of tea, he sighed softly and said in a low voice, "But I wasn’t up to par. I preferred to run away from home to paint.

"Of course... I do not regret that choice from those years. But sometimes, I wonder—perhaps studying spells and painting are not conflicting pursuits? If I had chosen to become a wizard back then, perhaps I would have had time to practice painting as well..."

Nigel spoke softly and set down his teacup.

The cup landed on the table with a sound like a bell chime.

He spoke in a deep, clear voice, "But it still wouldn’t have worked.

"My talent was insufficient, unlike those geniuses. If I hadn’t been pushed to a desperate point, I might have just given up on this path..."

No, he would have definitely given up on this path.

It was because he was still a young boy back then, with no other options... he owed the Paper Princess too much and was dissatisfied with his muddled life at the time, so he trained hard for twenty years... all so that one day, he could repay everything that the Paper Princess had given him without expecting anything in return.

It was all to express his gratitude.

If he had become a wizard, his life would likely not have been so difficult, and it wouldn’t have been so dull. There would have been so much more for him to pursue... he might have been happier, perhaps seen as a success in the eyes of others.

—But that ultimately wasn’t the life he wanted.

"I still prefer to paint."

He spoke in a low voice.

The middle-aged man kindly said, "That might also be your luck."

"...What?"

"You probably only know that something happened to the Heath Tower of Black back then. But you don’t know exactly what it was."

The affable middle-aged man seriously told the painter, "Just a few months ago, the Heath Tower of Black was attacked by a Gold-level enemy. At that time, every wizard in the Heath Tower of Black—except for Tower Master Hugo—perished."

"Ah, this..."

"So, it’s fortunate that you didn’t get accepted into the Heath Tower of Black back then. Otherwise, you might already be dead."

The middle-aged man spread his thick, reliable hands, emitting a gentle voice, "That’s ’Fate’. Fate is the track of the celestial chariot, once traversed, it’s fixed.

"Just stop pondering about those things from the past."

"...Indeed."

Nigel nodded.

"By the way," the middle-aged man’s face showed curiosity, "I remember you always lived in Noah. Recently, you even released a drawing of the Paper Princess... When did you come to Winter?"

"Ah, some minor work..."

Mentioning this, Nigel’s smile suddenly became somewhat strained, "Previously a friend... someone asked me to come over to help draw a few things."

"Did you encounter a contractual dispute?"

The middle-aged man leaned forward slightly, speaking somewhat seriously, "Not to hide from you, I do have some properties in Winter... Many people respect me here. Even the Tower Master, I can have a word with him."

"Really..."

Nigel hesitated, somewhat incredulously.

"Yes, I can even meet Prince Dmitry at any time."

The middle-aged man leaned back slightly, speaking sincerely.

Nigel’s eyes slightly brightened, "Then you know Prince Annan... no, Emperor Annan?"

"Of course, I’ve known him for not just a year or two."

He declared matter-of-factly, which Nigel couldn’t discern the truth of, "The reason I can travel abroad during this tense season is by the archduke’s command."

With that, he took out his documents for Nigel to see.

After confirming Annan’s signature was indeed there, Nigel finally relaxed a bit.

He looked around, hesitant but still gritting his teeth, lowering his voice to speak.

"If you know Emperor Annan... when you return to Winter, make sure to especially alert His Majesty about Saint Felix Province."

"With the Tower of Storms there, shouldn’t they be safe from any issues though?"

"It’s hard for me to say this to Emperor Annan... but I can mention it to you."

Nigel spoke earnestly, "I suspect—just suspect, no evidence. But I always feel there’s something beneath Furnace Mountain. Something not very good."

"Furnace Mountain?"

The middle-aged man’s eyebrows raised, "Does this have anything to do with you suddenly rushing back to Noah?"

"It’s like this. I haven’t been in Winter for long; previously an old friend asked me to draw some ’indescribable things’... right beneath Furnace Mountain."

"Did you see those things?"

"I saw them and I drew them. Indeed, they are queer... truly indescribable, but I don’t think they are particularly dangerous."

He spoke seriously, "What feels off is not the crystal clusters beneath Furnace Mountain. It’s the whole Saint Felix Province... My friend, and the nobles I met, all seemed unusually... mild?"

"Is mildness a bad thing?"

"Of course, it’s good. But would those noble lords really be so mild towards a commoner like me?"

Nigel furrowed his brows, "That’s why it’s hard to speak of this to Emperor Annan. I actually do know Emperor Annan; the Frost Fortress isn’t far from Frost Speech Province. But because I don’t have any evidence, it’s hard to bring this up... it might cause trouble for many people if it’s just my overthinking..."

"But if I convey it, merely as ’something I heard, possibly happening’, and it reaches Emperor Annan’s ears, he wouldn’t particularly believe it, right?"

The middle-aged man straightforwardly broke through Nigel’s hesitation, "Actually, you should have some evidence—just whom do you want to trust it with on Noah’s side?"

Upon hearing this, Nigel’s expression changed drastically.

His face turned pale, and he became exceptionally anxious and unsettled, "You, this person..."

"—What about this person?"

A gentle and pleasant voice came through.

Somehow, the middle-aged man had transformed into the cross-legged Annan.

Annan, with a smile that was not quite a smile, said, "I think there’s no need for such hassle—I didn’t expect to just try my luck but end up catching a big fish—I’ll just ask directly then, Mr. Nigel. Who invited you to Winter, what exactly did they ask you to do?

"What is beneath Furnace Mountain? And... what exactly is amiss with the nobles in Saint Felix Province?"

Annan casually said, "Would you like to speak here, or shall we go to Noah together... and meet Queen Kafney there and discuss this matter?"

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