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Chapter 449: Enchantment

Steel country, Orson Castle.

Dorothy took a deep breath of the magic particles in the air of Orson Castle. As expected, she was more accustomed to the air of her own country.

“Ahem… That’s why I don’t like coming to steel country.”

“It should be industrial waste gas.”

Jose patted Hiri’s back, trying to make her feel better.

The special air in the country of steel had indeed affected Healy a lot. Even the wings of death on her shoulder made a strange cough, and her body gradually became blurry.

“Industrial waste gas? The air is filled with magic particles from the alchemy factory. Although I’m not used to it, it’s harmless to the human body.”Dorothy, as a local, firmly believed this.

“Harmless.”Jose glanced at Orson Castle.

This was the first time Jose came to the country of steel. The difference between this country and Nolan and Farosi was that… the scenery of ‘Steel is power’was everywhere.

The architectural style was made of dark colors. It didn’t have the colorful feeling of Nolan and Farosi. Moreover, there were ‘chimneys’that were sprayed with light gray light particles everywhere.

This kind of scenery could be seen on the other side of Nolan’s River of gears. However, the entire city of Orson Castle was made up of various alchemy factories.

“The air is filled with the fragments of the primary crystals. According to the research of Nolan’s Necromancer Association, a human being in the air would indeed cause a certain degree of respiratory failure.”

An old voice sounded behind Joshua, accompanied by a few ‘coo-coo-coo’sounds.

“But… I think I’m quite good…”

Dorothy looked at the dirty old man.

It was hard to imagine that Joshua would call one of the Seven Sages of Nolan, the gray-clothed man, for the acquisition of the Chamber of Commerce!

Nolan’s Sage had come to the steel country to visit. The local castellan should have come to welcome him personally, but the gray-clothed man did not care about these ‘unnecessary ceremonies’.

“Where is the headquarters of the silver-patterned chamber of Commerce?”

Joshua called for a magic car from a courier station by the side of the street. As one of the most prosperous cities in the steel country, Orson Castle seemed to have fully popularized the magic car.

“Twenty-second Street.”

The gray-clothed man did not stand on ceremony and directly sat in the front passenger seat. Joshua, Hiri, and Dorothy could only squeeze into the last row.

The design of this magic car originally only allowed two people to sit in the back seat. Even though Joshua sat on the far left side, Hiri, who was sitting in the middle, still leaned against Joshua’s body.

“That’s right. Today’s breakfast is honey bread.”

Joshua could clearly feel the temperature from Hiri’s body and the faint fragrance.

“What Honey Bread?”For once, Hiri didn’t understand Josh’s words.

“Nothing.”

Josh shook his head and told the driver the location of the 22nd Street.

..

Dorothy returned to the headquarters of the silver-patterned chamber of Commerce in the magic car.

The front of the Chamber of Commerce was still as deserted as before. There were no customers at all.

When Dorothy pushed the door open and walked in, she discovered that the atmosphere inside was somewhat strange.

“Eldest miss, you… have returned?”

A maid cautiously came to Dorothy’s side and said.

“Where are the others?”

Dorothy swept her gaze over the interior of the Chamber of Commerce and discovered that the interior of the Chamber of Commerce was frighteningly cold.

After her father’s business failure, the personnel employed in the Chamber of Commerce had been reduced from more than a hundred to more than forty attendants, but now there were only three people in the entire hall of the Chamber of Commerce.

The one who spoke to Dorothy was Dorothy’s personal maid.

“They all… left. Miss heard that you angered Lord edke, and it was rumored that Lord Edke was very angry and was ready to tear down our shop,”the maid said in a small voice filled with fear.

As expected?

Although Dorothy had never expected that her behavior of running away from the marriage would develop into such a terrible result.

She looked at Josh who was behind her. Josh did not seem to care about these things. He looked at the interior decoration of the trading firm.

“Do you have a basement here? Or a vault?”Josh asked.

“Yes, follow me.”

Dorothy did not bother to think about the problems that troubled her anymore. She directly led Josh to the interior of the trading firm.

The scale of this trading firm was much larger than Joshua had imagined. It had a total of three floors. Not only were there shops that specialized in selling goods, but there were also windows like pawn shops and a hall on the second floor that was used for selling ‘treasures’and auctions.

“The silver-patterned chamber of Commerce has a history of almost a hundred years.”Dorothy came to a dark room in the interior of the trading firm, there was a large door that was locked by inscriptions. “The most glorious period of this chamber of Commerce was when my grandfather was still alive. He expanded the scale of the Chamber of Commerce by ten times, and the trade routes spanned three countries. Unfortunately, after the defeat, this was the last of all the shops.”

“I can see it.”

Jose came to the tunnel behind the door. There were all kinds of strange patterns carved on the walls of the tunnel. Although a lot of them had been scratched, some of the patterns were made of gold powder.

“The runes of the Elves.”

The gray-clothed man at the back of the team looked at the murals carved on the wall and instantly recognized what these things came from.

“Elves?”

Joshua thought that these things were just things made by the owners of the Chamber of Commerce to show off their wealth.

“The ancient language of the elves. These runes are carved on many buildings in the underground ruins of Nolan.”The gray-clothed man stopped and tried to figure out the runes that were already badly damaged. “These runes used to work before. It looks like a large-scale defensive barrier. Little Girl, who is your grandfather?”

“My… My Grandfather is just an ordinary businessman.”

Dorothy did not expect that the strange patterns in her warehouse would surprise the gray-clothed man so much.

“But he used to tell me a story,”Dorothy said in a low voice.

“A story?”

“What… A Gift from an angel? It seems that his initial wealth was given by an angel who fell from the sky,”Dorothy said. “I don’t really believe the truth of this story.”

“Interesting.”The gray-clothed man stroked his owl beard.

Joshua fell into silence. Dorothy’s words reminded him of the ‘High Elves’that the Dark Elves had mentioned before.

Dorothy brought Joshua to the basement.

It looked like a wine cellar that was used to store wine. Wooden barrels were piled up all around.

“In the past, my grandfather put many treasures here, but most of them were sold by my father. Then, this place became a wine cellar.”

Dorothy held a crystal that was emitting light, illuminating the somewhat dark basement.

“Treasures? Are there any left behind?”The gray-clothed man was interested. He looked around but did not find anything else.

“This… there is one, but it’s in my room. I used it as a mirror when I was young,”Dorothy said.

“Show me your mirror later… although I’ve heard that ‘ruins’have been found in many places except Nolan, this is the first time I’ve found someone using the inscriptions in ruins.”

The gray-clothed man came to the center of a wine barrel rack and stabbed his magic staff into the bricks on the ground.

The Owl, who had been standing on the gray-clothed man’s shoulder, jumped to the top of the magic staff. The Magic Circle formed by pure white inscriptions opened with the gray-clothed man as the center.

The Magic released by the gray-clothed man was a kind of defensive barrier.

The reason why Joshua had entrusted the gray-clothed man to come to Fort Orson was that he hoped that he could build a barrier that could protect the world tree’s crystals.

The value of this thing was enough for many people to risk stealing or snatching it.

Joshua did not think that the current silver-patterned merchant would be able to secure this crystal.

This construction lasted for a full three hours. When it was completed, pure white runes of order could be seen flashing in every corner of the underground warehouse.

“You can put that crystal here. It will be safe.”

The gray-clothed man tapped his staff again. The soil on the ground suddenly rose and turned into a stone pillar. There was a groove in the stone pillar that was embedded with the crystal.

“Miss Dorothy, I think it’s time for you to start working.”

Jose inserted the crystal into the groove. A magic barrier instantly separated Jose and the crystal.

The World Tree’s crystal was officially in Olsenburg.

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    Chapter 449: Enchantment

    Ogounis, Osenberg city.


    Dorothy inhaled deeply, the magic-laden air of her homeland a familiar comfort. “Ah,” she sighed, a sense of homecoming washing over her.


    “Ahem… That’s why I dislike coming here.”


    “It’s more likely industrial waste gas.”


    Joshua gently patted Ciri’s back, attempting to soothe her discomfort.


    The unique, heavily particulate atmosphere of Ogounis clearly affected Ciri. Even Neltharion, perched on her shoulder, emitted a strange, rattling cough, its form momentarily blurring.


    “Industrial waste gas? The air is saturated with magic particles from the alchemy factories. Though I admit it’s not pleasant, it’s harmless to humans,” Dorothy asserted, her local pride unwavering, even if her words were slightly defensive.


    “Harmless.” Joshua’s gaze swept across the city, his expression betraying a hint of skepticism.


    This was his inaugural visit to Ogounis. The stark contrast between Ogounis, Norland, and Farucci was the pervasive, almost oppressive, aesthetic of “Steel is Power.”


    The architectural style was predominantly dark and utilitarian, lacking the vibrant hues of Norland and Farucci. Towering “chimneys” ejected light gray particle plumes, obscuring the already overcast sky.


    This industrial landscape was reminiscent of Norland’s River of Gears district, but in Osenberg, it dominated the entire cityscape, a testament to the nation’s reliance on alchemy.


    “The air is laden with fragments of originum crystals. Research by Norland’s Necromancer Association indicates prolonged exposure can indeed induce respiratory distress.”


    An aged voice echoed behind Joshua, punctuated by a series of soft, almost avian “coo-coo-coo” sounds.


    “But… I feel quite fine…” Dorothy glanced at the disheveled old man, her tone laced with a hint of defiance.


    It was astonishing that Joshua had enlisted the assistance of Gray Sage Lursk, one of Norland’s Seven Sages, for the acquisition of her Chamber of Commerce!


    A Norland Sage’s visit to Ogounis should have warranted a personal welcome from the local Castellan, but Lursk seemed indifferent to such formalities, his attention focused on the city’s strange atmosphere.


    “Where is the headquarters of the Silver Flower Chamber of Commerce?”


    Joshua hailed a magic car from a nearby courier station. As one of the nation’s most prosperous cities, Osenberg had thoroughly embraced magic carriages, their metallic frames a common sight.


    “Twenty-second Street.”


    Gray Sage Lursk took the front passenger seat without ceremony, his gaze fixed on the passing industrial scenery. Joshua, Ciri, and Dorothy were left to squeeze into the cramped rear.


    The vehicle’s design accommodated only two passengers comfortably. Despite Joshua’s attempt to position himself at the far left, Ciri was pressed against his side, her discomfort palpable.


    “Ah, today’s breakfast was honey bread.”


    Joshua could feel the warmth radiating from Ciri’s body, accompanied by a subtle, sweet fragrance, a stark contrast to the metallic tang of the city.


    “What honey bread?” Ciri’s confusion was evident, her senses overwhelmed by the city’s unique atmosphere.


    “Nothing.”


    Joshua shook his head, his gaze shifting to the passing factories, and relayed the destination to the driver.





    Dorothy returned to the Silver Flower Chamber of Commerce headquarters, a sense of apprehension settling over her.


    The building’s façade remained as desolate as before, devoid of customers, a stark reminder of the Chamber’s decline.


    Upon entering, she sensed an unsettling, almost chilling atmosphere.


    “Eldest miss, you… have returned?”


    A maid approached Dorothy cautiously, her voice barely a whisper.


    “Where is everyone else?”


    Dorothy surveyed the interior, finding it eerily empty. The once bustling hall was now a silent testament to the Chamber’s misfortunes.


    Following her father’s business failure, the Chamber’s staff had dwindled from over a hundred to forty. Now, only three people remained, their presence a stark contrast to the building’s vast emptiness.


    “They all… left. They heard you angered Lord Akite, and rumors spread that he intends to dismantle the shop,” the maid whispered, her voice tinged with fear, her eyes darting nervously towards the entrance.


    “As expected.”


    While Dorothy had foreseen consequences from her refusal of the marriage, the extent of the fallout was disheartening, a heavy weight settling on her shoulders.


    She observed Joshua, who seemed unconcerned, examining the building’s interior with a detached curiosity.


    “Do you have a basement here? Or a vault?” Joshua inquired, his voice cutting through the tense silence.


    “Yes, follow me.”


    Dorothy, setting aside her worries for the moment, led Joshua into the building’s depths, her footsteps echoing in the empty corridors.


    The trading firm was more extensive than he had imagined, spanning three floors. It included shops for selling goods, pawn-like windows, and a hall for “treasure” sales and auctions, all now silent and abandoned.


    “The Silver Flower Chamber of Commerce has a history spanning nearly a century.” Dorothy led them to a dark room, its entrance secured by inscribed doors, her voice tinged with a hint of melancholy. “Its golden age was during my grandfather’s tenure. He expanded the Chamber tenfold, establishing trade routes across three countries. Unfortunately, this is the last of our holdings.”


    “I see.”


    Joshua followed her into the tunnel beyond the door. The walls were adorned with strange, almost alien patterns, some scratched away, others rendered in gold powder, a testament to a forgotten artistry.


    “Elven runes.”


    Gray Sage Lursk, trailing behind, recognized the markings instantly, his aged eyes widening with interest.


    “Elves?”


    Joshua had assumed the patterns were mere displays of wealth, a testament to the Chamber’s past grandeur.


    “Ancient Elven script. These runes appear on many buildings in Norland’s underground ruins.” Gray Sage Lursk paused, attempting to decipher the damaged runes, his fingers tracing their intricate lines. “These runes were once functional. They appear to be part of a large-scale defensive barrier. Little girl, who was your grandfather?”


    “My… My grandfather was just an ordinary businessman.”


    Dorothy was surprised that the warehouse’s patterns had piqued the Gray Sage’s interest, her own knowledge of their significance limited.


    "He recounted a tale," Dorothy said softly, her voice echoing in the tunnel’s depths.


    "A tale?"


    "He said that one day, an angel descended from the sky. They aided the angel, who was injured. Upon its recovery, it bestowed a gift upon them. It would seem his initial wealth stemmed from this celestial encounter," Dorothy said. "I find the story rather fanciful."


    “Interesting.” The Gray Sage stroked his bearded owl, his gaze lingering on the runes.

    Joshua fell silent, his mind racing. Dorothy’s tale reminded him of the “High Elves” mentioned by Thousand-Face, a connection he had not expected.


    Dorothy led Joshua to the basement, the air growing cooler and damp.


    It resembled a wine cellar, filled with wooden barrels, their dark forms casting long shadows in the dim light.


    “My grandfather stored treasures here, but my father sold most of them. This place became a wine cellar.”


    Dorothy illuminated the dimly lit basement with a glowing crystal, its light revealing the dusty barrels and forgotten corners.


    “Treasures? Are any left?” Lursk inquired, his gaze scanning the room, his curiosity piqued.


    “There’s one, but it’s in my room. I used it as a mirror when I was young,” Dorothy replied, her voice tinged with a hint of nostalgia.


    “Show me your mirror later… Though ‘ruins’ have been found in many places besides Norland, this is the first time I’ve seen someone using their inscriptions.”


    Gray Sage Lursk approached a wine barrel rack’s center and thrust his staff into the ground, the sound echoing in the confined space.


    The owl, perched on his shoulder, hopped onto the staff, its eyes glowing faintly. A magic circle of pure white runes formed around Lursk, its light illuminating the basement’s depths.


    He was constructing a defensive barrier, a task he undertook with quiet efficiency.

    Joshua had brought him to Osenberg to safeguard the World Tree’s crystals, their value making them a target for theft.


    Joshua doubted the Silver Flower Chamber could adequately protect them, hence the need for Lursk’s expertise.


    The construction lasted three hours, the basement transformed into a fortress of magical energy. When finished, pure white runes of order pulsed in every corner of the underground warehouse, a silent sentinel.


    “You can place the crystal here. It will be safe.”


    Lursk tapped his staff, and a stone pillar rose from the ground, featuring a slot for the crystal, a perfect fit.


    “Miss Dorothy, I believe it’s time to begin your work.”


    Joshua inserted the crystal into the slot. A magic barrier instantly sealed it away, its energy radiating outwards.


    The World Tree’s crystal was now in Osenberg, its presence a silent promise of change.
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