Chess Mage of Faerûn

Chapter 592 Transfer
What followed was quite natural; Flame Fist and his group were coaxed and tricked by Kadmond and Nancy into booking their tickets to the High Cliff.

The ship responsible for this transport was naturally the diligent Auerbach. If the ship could only take on human form, it would inevitably transform into an old woman nagging and complaining a bit.

There's no other way; other modes of transportation either take a long time, like setting up a fleet of vehicles to drive all the way to the north, which would probably take more than a month for the whole trip.

Either the cost is too high, such as teleportation, which costs hundreds of gold dragons. Even if Master Zhang had some wealth, he wouldn't dare to burn money like that.

Two days ago, the Auerbach received a notification and departed from High Cliff Port. It is now docked at the Baldur's Gate Bay area pier, ready to welcome you.

At dawn the next day, iron clogs and steel shoes stepped into Bodø Harbour in the first rays of morning light. The owners of the footprints were a group of figures whose bodies and faces were shrouded in cloaks.

The Flame Fist, or more accurately, the former Flame Fist soldiers, silently moved forward, boarding unfamiliar ships one after another, eager to sail to an equally unfamiliar distant place.

"Chanem, these are all the supplies our team has left."

Kadmond handed over a list detailing the equipment and supplies they were allowed to take with them when they were expelled from the base.

The monk took it, glanced at it, and understood the contents. Perhaps he still had some reservations. Factional struggles were one thing, but he didn't make things too ugly.

Large equipment such as carriages and supplies were out of the question. The former teammates whose identities had been revoked still retained their weapons, armor, and personal belongings, which saved Master Zhang some money on military equipment.

But that's actually irrelevant; what Master Zhang is really looking at is the Flame Fist group itself.

Veteran soldiers who have been through many battles are not so easy to recruit, especially those with clear backgrounds who can maintain at least a basic level of trust rather than just engaging in a simple transaction of employment.

The mage should be thankful that Baldur's Gate is still a place where city-state politics are played out, and it hasn't escalated into a palace intrigue drama of the imperial era, otherwise he wouldn't have had a chance to pick up the scraps.

"Lawrence, you're in for a tough job now. The relocation and resettlement of all the old brothers will have to be left to you."

"No, boss, I've only just caught my breath, and now it's happening again?"

"The capable should do more work. If you don't work harder, how can I, as the lord, grow bigger and stronger?"

The mage easily ignored the old thief's complaints, who could only sigh before discussing the specifics with the unscrupulous boss and his newly recruited colleague.

The rising sun poured its radiance down, casting dappled light through the windows into the cabin and onto the deck.

"That's settled then. You can set off immediately. We've already spoken to the port authority, so there won't be any checks."

After instructing Lawrence, the mage turned to look at Kadmon:

"This incident is no small matter, and there will be many complications. I will not be returning with you. There is no need to worry, just wait patiently."

"Your orders are welcome." The vice-captain of the Flame Fist team nodded in acknowledgment.

Not long after, Zhang Yuan and Nancy watched as the Auerbach, in a show of hoisting its sails, sailed away from the port and headed into the distance.

"Aren't you going to let Ska come out and meet them?"

"No need. Alpha will go with you to the academy first to appease Gavial. There's no need to rush, lest we cause more trouble."

"how about you."

The female thief, sensing that the monk had other plans, asked a question.

"I must go to Gaolibao and the Silver Shield Duke's place. Wait for me at Gaoya."

After finishing his words, the mage did not turn and leave, but instead returned to the merchant guild with the other party to find Ska.

"Have Kadmond and the others already set off?"

"Yes, we should get going too,"

The mage answered Ska's question, and as he opened the door, he turned and beckoned to him:

"Let's go, buddy, it's time. As for this place, we'll see what happens one day."

"I hope so." The latter sighed, put on his cloak and followed. The three of them went outside, crossed the plaza area, and headed towards Habashir's mage tower.

The market was at its liveliest as noon approached, with bustling crowds creating a vibrant and lively atmosphere.
Or rather, a considerable amount of noise.

The most jarring of all was the affected, affected arias sung by certain wandering poets in affected, high-pitched voices:
"Why did this majestic monarch, who sat regally on his throne, fall? Betrayal from those closest to him is more venomous than the fangs of a viper..."

"The Grand Duke's eyes widened, and he turned to look at Ska: 'It was you?' Then he covered his face and went to his death."

……

These words, like a castrated actor squeezing out a swallow with a skin, sounded utterly bland to the well-informed Master Zhang, but to the person directly involved, they were truly scathing words.

The figure under the cloak trembled as if chilled to the bone by the cold wind, and it took a while for them to regain their composure.

The mage and the female thief in front also stopped and looked at each other, a hint of worry in their eyes.

"Let's go. I'm fine."

The female thief wanted to say something, but didn't know how to start, so the mage pulled her along to continue.

The three remained silent all the way until they reached the teleportation room of the Habashir Mage Tower.

A flash of light, and the two figures were obscured by the radiance. The world spun around them, and when they came to their senses, they were in completely different places.

"Welcome to Neverwinter Academy. The fee is eight gold coins. Please pay."

"This is a senior faculty badge; the number of teleportation attempts will be deducted from it."

"Okay, all done." The mage on duty took the badge, performed a few operations, and then handed it back to Nancy.

A short while later, in a conference room, Gavial, who had just finished his class, suppressed his sudden heart palpitations and looked at the two guests.

“Ms. Nancy, Mr. Skaarl has come all the way from Baldur's Gate. He must have something important to discuss.”

He sensed something was wrong, and this unfortunate premonition soon came true.

The two exchanged a glance, and it was Ska, the person involved, who spoke up:

"Internal turmoil within the Flame Fist, your father, Grand Duke Iltan,"

Ska pursed his lips tightly, and under Gavial's alarmed gaze, those words were finally forced out:

"Unfortunately, he/she perished."

Silent and still, the young apprentice's frail body swayed precariously, barely managing to steady himself.

“Gavial”.

Nancy was a little worried, but the former seemed not to hear, his unfocused gaze gazing blankly into the distance.

"So it's all over? It feels like a dream?"

"Father, Grand Duke, Flame Fist, they are all leaving me, as if they never existed. Have I finally woken up?"

“Gavial, you still have us, your teacher, and your lover.”

Nancy reached out and shook Gavial's shoulder, trying to wake him up, but the latter remained as unconscious as a rag doll, still immersed in the sudden bad news.

"Grand Duke Iltan is dead. You can continue to grieve, even cry your heart out, but that won't change anything."

Ska pushed Nancy aside, and with one hand held Gavial's head still, forcing him to look directly into her eyes:

"Whether you believe it or not, when it comes to grief, I am no less than you. I even watched the lord I swore allegiance to be murdered right before my eyes."

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