For Xia De, playing cards with a cheater was a rather novel experience.
After resting for a while with Princess, the two left the tavern and headed to their next destination.
The Seven Broomsticks Tavern was one of the larger Ring術士 gathering places in the City, and Princess now wanted to introduce Xia De to several smaller Ring術士 black markets.
Still in the bustling and chaotic Wharf Area, after leaving the tavern, the two took off their masks and walked normally along the street in the direction of the port.
Princess led the way, with Xia De following behind; originally, Xia De was wondering whether to start a conversation, but to his surprise, the Sorceress initiated the chat.
Princess seemed to have been to many places and discussed with Xia De the customs, traditions, and political systems of various parts of the Old Continent.
Whether it was Carson Rick's unique parliamentary system, or the special preferences of the Grand Duchess of a small principality in southern Delarion, whether it was the strange customs of small coastal tribes in the eastern part of the Kingdom, or the environmental protection regulations of the primeval forests in the southern Old Continent, she could speak a little about all of them.
From the great ice cap in the north of the Old Continent to the primeval forests in the south, from Coldwater Port on the West Coast of the continent to the Broken Islands on the East Coast of the continent, Princess was familiar with almost everything.
In fact, if it weren't for her identity as a Letter-based Ring術士, she would have wanted to visit the New World to experience its unique natural scenery and magnificent ancient ruins.
"Not long ago, I took a short trip to Carson Rick, of course, just a short trip."
Princess and Xia De stood together at the intersection, waiting for a row of carriages to pass; these were transporting goods for the local art museum.
As she spoke, she observed Xia De's expression, but most of Xia De's attention was currently focused on the wharf post office on the other side of the intersection.
Coldwater Port City had more post offices than Tobesk; although its permanent population might not rival the northern pearl, the daily influx of outsiders was absolutely unparalleled.
Because Louisa said not to bring fish as a souvenir this time, Xia De wondered whether to buy some pretty postcards at the post office.
"How is Carson Rick?"
Xia De asked casually.
"It's very good, especially the vineyards in the south; the scenery there is absolutely beautiful."
Princess said; young girls in the north of this epoch seemed to be very fond of southern vineyards.
She had expected Xia De to continue the conversation about the vineyards, but to her surprise, he looked towards the souvenir shop next to the wharf post office again.
Colorful masks and various styles of wooden ship models were displayed in the window, and Xia De was considering whether to buy some models to give to Louisa.
"What do you think of these things as gifts for friends? I've finally made it to Coldwater Port City, and I'm thinking of buying some gifts for my friends in the same group."
Princess looked in the direction he was pointing, and the two walked together along the bustling wharf street.
It was Monday afternoon, but the wharf was still bustling with people.
"For a female friend?"
She asked.
"Yes."
"She definitely won't like it."
The Sorceress gave a very decisive answer without thinking.
"Why?"
"Because I don't like it; generally speaking, women don't like things that are cumbersome when placed on a cabinet and serve no purpose."
"Then what should I give?"
Xia De sought her help.
"You want me to help you choose?"
The golden-haired girl pointed to herself, with an expression that was a mix of wanting to laugh and wanting to be angry.
"Yes, is it too much trouble? Sorry, I just wanted to hear your opinion."
Xia De asked hesitantly, thinking that he was only paying her to be a guide, and she had no reason to help him choose gifts.
Seeing Xia De say this, the Sorceress took a deep breath:
"You really know how to find shortcuts. Souvenir shops probably have cheap small trinkets, like brooches made of shells, or bracelets strung with pretty pebbles.
These items are small and exquisite; although they're not valuable, they don't feel out of place when kept at home.
Look, the ruby earrings in the window, although the gems are certainly fake, the Mermaid-shaped design is very nice."
"Oh! Good idea! Please wait!"
Saying that, Xia De quickly walked towards the souvenir shop next to the post office, leaving Princess standing by the mailbox, watching Xia De's back disappear:
"Is he really clueless, or is he just teasing me?"
The Sorceress muttered softly.
Leaving the intersection, they did not enter the port area but instead walked north along the street until the surrounding buildings became increasingly sparse.
It took them half an hour to leave the bustling wharf and ascend the cliff on the outskirts of the Wharf Area.
Xia De saw the small lighthouse standing on the cliff from afar; that was their destination.
From the City to the lighthouse on the sea cliff, there was only a winding path.
Although unmaintained, the ruts on the ground barely kept the path from being swallowed by nature.
After ascending the cliff, the salty smell of the sea became even more intense, the sound of seagulls carried far on the sea breeze, and the crashing waves were invigorating.
Princess led the way, explaining the situation here to Xia De as they walked.
However, she probably didn't come here often either, needing to stop and go to find the most convenient path.
It wasn't until they got closer to the lighthouse that Xia De saw the wooden planks and metal pipes stacked beneath the old lighthouse.
"Is this place undergoing repairs?"
Xia De asked hesitantly.
"This place is repaired every summer; the port lighthouse is crucial.
Not only because it guides ships on long voyages, but the 12 lighthouses on the outskirts of Coldwater Port City also serve to guard the coastline."
Princess and Xia De stopped together, looking at the old lighthouse standing on the sea cliff:
"Mr. Watson, do you know the history of Coldwater Port City?
Although this City rose with the discovery of the New World, even before that, it had always been one of the most important seaport cities on the West Coast of the continent.
The history of Coldwater Port City's establishment is completely untraceable, but in the early fifth epoch, a shocking event occurred here.
After that, the Orthodox Church, in conjunction with the Miracle Academy, established 12 lighthouses on the outskirts of Coldwater Port City as the foundation for a large ritual to protect this City."
"What is the purpose of the ritual?"
"I don't know; it's a secret of the Church and the Academy.
I only saw some information in the Zaras School of Spellcraft's history books when writing my thesis.
Of course, that was a thousand years ago; now, the so-called ritual for protecting the City has more symbolic meaning than practical significance.
After all, it's different from the chaotic years of the early epoch; the Orthodox Church can completely protect this place, so whether this large ritual, relying on the twelve lighthouses, can still be effective, we don't know."
Currently, only an elderly lighthouse keeper, Mr. Edmund, the person the two came to visit, lived in this old lighthouse on the sea cliff.
The sign of these old lighthouses' decline was that such an important ritual node was guarded by a secret Ring術士.
This old gentleman did not belong to the Church, and Princess also didn't know what organization he belonged to.
Because they couldn't fully trust him, both of them put on their masks before knocking, but after a long time, no one opened the door inside the lighthouse.
Just as they were about to leave, footsteps came from the direction they had arrived.
Turning around, an old gentleman, wearing a hat and a light gray cloth jacket with many pockets, walked up the winding path from below the cliff, carrying a fishing rod on his back, a bucket in his left hand, and a metal folding chair in his right.
That folding chair looked like it was assembled from the pipes stacked beneath the lighthouse.
He appeared to be around fifty years old, full of vigor, with a ruddy complexion, and his steps were very steady.
Seeing the masked strangers standing below the lighthouse, he asked:
"Who introduced you?"
His Coldwater Port accent was very heavy; the pronunciation methods of the West Coast and the inland were quite different.
"Two years ago, I bought a magical conch from you here.
At that time, you quoted 300 pounds, I gave you 310 pounds, and told you that I might come back much later."
Princess said.
"Oh?"
Mr. Edmund nodded, seemingly remembering the generous lady:
"I remember that; at that time, you said that my friend Old Yo introduced you..."
He saw the gesture Princess made and did not finish the name, instead motioning for the two to wait:
"Alright, I'll put my things down first before we talk business; today's catch is quite good."
He must have gone fishing just now; as he passed Xia De, Xia De curiously glanced into the tin bucket, but there was only a fish fry smaller than Xia De's three fingers inside.
"Fishing, well, there are always unlucky times.
Today's tide is very strange; I bet something strange is approaching the nearshore, and when I set up my bait..."
Seeing that Xia De had noticed, old Mr. Edmund explained with a red face.
The old man did not let them enter the lighthouse, but after putting down his things, he stood with the two at the edge of the sea cliff, discussing matters while gazing at the sea.
The ground was at least 50 feet (about 15.2 m) above the sea, and the tide constantly crashed against the rocks below the sea cliff, the booming sound of the water forcing them to speak louder.
But standing here, feeling the sea breeze and being bathed in mist, was very pleasant, and the distant scenery where the sky and sea met also greatly satisfied Xia De.
The old man living alone here kept a dog and two cats in the lighthouse.
These three animals, quite human-like, were below the lighthouse, eating the food Mr. Edmund gave them while observing the three people watching the sea in the distance.
The dog was a common village guard dog, and the two cats were also mixed breeds, but they had been quite affectionate towards Xia De just now.
If not for their owner's scolding, they would have even wanted to roll at Xia De's feet.
It seemed that Xia De's affinity for cats was effective not only for the cats in Tobesk but also for cats from other places.
