Don't disturb the sorcerer's scientific research

Chapter 213 Jia Xiu's Plan

Jia Xiu did not experience the local succubus services.

There's nothing we can do about it; he's a good person who never breaks the law, strictly demands of himself, and resolutely upholds chivalrous virtues.

It is definitely not based on considerations of personal safety.

He is blessed with holy light and possesses an extraordinary body; ordinary diseases cannot even get close to him.

But who knew that the disease carried by the demon was unusual?

It's hard to say what kind of disease comes from the abyss.

Jia Xiu's goal was very clear.

First, find a place with lots of people.

Crowded places make it easier to gather intelligence so they can carry out their next steps.

This experiment cannot be simulated directly in a dark room; it requires physical contact with the experimental subjects.

Regardless of the type of experimental subjects or the conditions to be negotiated with them, there is only one fundamental premise.

First, we need experimental subjects.

Moreover, a considerable number of experimental subjects are required.

To ensure the feasibility of this plan, a certain number of demons in disguise are needed.

They also need to figure out how many ways the demons can disguise themselves. Although, according to Justina, the divine magic given by the Holy Light can identify what kind of demon it is and what form it takes.

So let's assume Justina is telling the truth for now, though given her biased view of the Holy Light, there might be some exaggeration involved.

Moreover, the solution Jia Xiu came up with was a poorly configured, piecemeal version that couldn't guarantee it would be able to handle all situations.

Therefore, it is necessary to test as many scenarios as possible.

This means that various demon races, including humans, elves, dwarves, and other races common or rare on the continent, are needed.

The more scenarios tested, the more versatility can be guaranteed.

The best outcome is to capture the exact same signal patterns from these different types of feedback, so that only one detection spell is needed.

At the same time, we also need to test humans as a control group, which is actually easy to do, as well as the Typhoons, the sorcerers who inherited the power of the demons, the evil sorcerers who made a pact with the demons, and the cultists who worship the demons...

In short, anyone even remotely related to the demon race was subjected to a vampire transformation spell.

To eliminate any other potential impacts.

Based on what I saw upon arriving in Goward, there was no shortage of the necessary control groups.

In this place, ordinary people are the rare breed.

If the signal form can be obtained successfully and various interference possibilities are eliminated, and the demonstration is basically ready for application, then it is best to conduct another round of blind testing.

After the blind test, we need to check the accuracy rate. We need to have at least a passable accuracy rate before we can discuss the next steps with the association.

Jia Xiu's expectation was that the accuracy rate had to be at least 70% or 80% to be acceptable, and it had to be the kind of case where it's better to make a mistake than to let one go. He could accept the result of mistakenly identifying something that was only slightly related to the demon race as a demon, but he could not accept the result of letting a real demon escape.

However, he estimated that if the accuracy rate was around 20% to 30%, the association could probably promote and implement it.

Based on his understanding of the Spellcasters' Association, their approach of directly persuading all the conservative spellcasters who opposed them with reason in order to promote the open sharing of magical research was acceptable, even with a 20-30% accuracy rate.

If the test reveals they are demons, we'll destroy them all. Those that turn into pus and ash after being killed are demons; those that are truly dead are just a misunderstanding.

Then we can just correct the misunderstanding later.

Generally speaking, it's not too difficult to revive someone immediately after death, and you can even design a lethal spell that makes it easier to revive to attack.

If we're talking about humanitarian principles, then we should give some compensation after the person is resurrected, but there's also a high chance that there won't be any compensation at all.

It's just a resurrection.

As for the pain of being destroyed, it will probably be considered a necessary injury in the key operation of eliminating the demon spy.

For the plan to truly succeed, a considerable number of demons who can cooperate with the experiment are necessary.

Where can you find so many demons to cooperate with?

The most "simple" method, of course, is to stand on the street, put up an advertisement, and pay someone to hire you.

The problem with this approach is that we don't know if doing it directly will cause any trouble in the chaotic world of Goward.

As the saying goes, even a powerful dragon can't suppress a local snake. First of all, it's inconvenient for Jia Xiu's strongest dragon to come over, and secondly, there are local snakes everywhere here.

Hiring someone, in the eyes of the local bullies, seems like a slightly provocative business transaction.

Even if they are stronger than the average local bullies, it's best not to make a move in the demon's territory if possible.

To avoid causing even bigger trouble.

Therefore, Jia Xiu's better idea was to directly cooperate with local powerful figures.

After just a short visit to Goward, it's easy to see that although the area is large and has a significant population, the quality of life is likely not high.

It's not as big as the smaller towns to the south, so profitable partnerships should be easier to negotiate here.

Jashu already knew that Gowald could also be traded directly using crowns.

After all, many merchants come here to make money and don't stay long, making up a significant portion of the population.

So, for convenience, the demons also started using it.

However, the demons don't prefer crowns; they prefer purer, more demonic trading methods.

Bartering.

For this reason, Jia Xiu also prepared a considerable amount of gold and magic crystals. These two items are absolute hard currency anywhere on the continent and will never have trouble being sold.

What Jia Xiu hadn't expected was that when he inquired about the situation before arriving, he received what he considered to be very incredible information.

The demons here have a great fondness for the artworks of other races.

It's quite "refined".

It is said that this is because although the demon race is powerful, they are quite lacking in artistic creation.

Basically, it's like being completely clueless in this area.

If one is not good at music, art, or literature, one simply cannot create decent works.

Perhaps in order to become stronger, they completely gave up these "skill points" during evolution.

However, this does not prevent them from "pretending to be cultured".

The demon race is very enthusiastic about collecting art. They can't make it themselves, but they can roughly tell which one is better, and they have a great desire to possess the better works.

The more you lack something, the more you want it.

This is also why the architecture of the demon race is so chaotic; they simply copy the architectural styles of various races and piece them together, without caring whether the styles are consistent or not.

They moved the buildings over without even understanding why they were built the way they were.

As Jia Xiu walked along the road, he unexpectedly saw stone houses in the style of Drow elves.

Drow elves are indeed very talented in architecture. Their stone carving skills are exquisite, and the houses they build are dreamlike, unique in aesthetics, and ingenious.

While possessing extremely high aesthetic value, it also lacks practicality, with a highly reasonable structure. It excels at adapting to local conditions, directly transforming natural stalactites and stalagmites into an integral part of the building.

However, the biggest problem is...

Drow elves primarily live in the Underdark, where their buildings are completely underground and lack any natural light.

The demons of Gowald actually moved the underground buildings directly to the surface.

On the sun-drenched land, houses were built where sunlight couldn't penetrate, and you couldn't see anything inside without dark vision.

To make matters worse, their carving skills are not even as good as those of the Drow elves.

It lacks practicality and also falls short in terms of aesthetic appeal.

Jia Xiu even made a special inquiry about who lived in the rough, domed building on the roadside that everyone believed was Patrick Star's house.

The reply was that a wealthy local devilish businessman had "specially" commissioned a custom-made luxury villa in the style of a drow elf.

Just like a low-budget imitation of a drow elf-style building, it's a luxury villa that only wealthy devilish merchants can live in.

Collecting artworks from various races is a high-end hobby that only wealthy demons can afford.

It serves as proof of their identity, status, and taste.

Therefore, artworks are quite popular in the barter system of the demon race, as they are both valuable and prestigious.

After figuring this out, in addition to gold and magic crystals, Jashu prepared a large number of antiques and paintings that he had cheaply acquired in Larvin for the local demons.

Oh, no, to be precise, there are no "words".

The languages ​​most commonly spoken on the mainland are composed of alphabets and have artistic lettering systems, but none are particularly popular. Calligraphy is a separate art form.

The treasure chest monster, Big Yellow, is currently stuffed with second-rate handicrafts, sculptures, oil paintings, watercolors, and magical paintings that Larvin's Art Shop has been hoarding for a long time and can't sell...

When buying, some were sold by the piece, by the sheet, or by the square foot.

A significant portion is sold by weight.

He even went directly to art academies to collect many students' works.

A discipline that combines magic and art is a legitimate major. Buying student work from an unknown student is incredibly cheap.

Some didn't even spend any money; they simply exchanged a box of ultra-thin mage armor for a small sketch.

In Larvin, these kinds of student assignments can be ignored.

What should we call them now in Gowad?
Anyway, Jia Xiu plans to release his works as a "young artist" at the age when he is "in his prime, with the strongest creative desire and unmoved by external things."

They must have completely bewitched those local demon tyrants, making them eager to cooperate.

We have a plan to find test subjects and leverage to negotiate cooperation; now there's only one problem left.

Where can I find the local demon lord?

Since Gowald was unfamiliar with the area, he couldn't have Margaret take Jash directly to the black market like she had in Larvin before.

We still need to find a way to get in touch with the demons.

As for where to find this connection...

"Let's go to the tavern!"

Jia Xiu said this.

"Why? Oh, I get it. It must be because any tavern that can stay open here must have a demon gang leader backing it up to keep it running smoothly. So, by going to the tavern, you can make contact with those demons."

Margaret analyzed it with great seriousness.

"Am I right?"

"Uh...right."

Jia Xiu gave an affirmative answer.

"That's what I thought."

Actually, he hadn't thought it was that complicated at all.

It was simply because, in the stories he had heard, taverns were always a frequent trigger point for side quests.

Anyway, whatever information you need, just ask the tavern owner.

Similarly, the hotel owner occupies the same ecological niche.

Although Jia Xiu hadn't tried it here, he figured it should be similar.

Running a tavern and listening to customers of all kinds of backgrounds get drunk and brag all day long would surely yield a lot of information.

Margaret was very satisfied with her analysis.

"Why don't you become my student?"

What exactly is the logical relationship between these points?

Jia Xiu and his group walked along the most bustling street in Goward, where grand taverns were usually located.

Soon, they discovered a rather grand-looking, two-story tavern.

The sign didn't have a name written on it; it depicted a devil's horn on the front and a wine glass on the back.

Many people were going in and out of the doorway.

Jia Xiu also saw the traveling merchants he had met while queuing to cross the border earlier. To gain the approval of traveling merchants, this must be a pretty good tavern in the area.

Moreover, if more traveling merchants come, the sources of information should be more abundant.

"This is it."

As Jia Xiu spoke, he pushed open the door and entered.

The cacophony of sounds felt almost tangible, as if it were hitting you directly.

The level of chaos was even more exaggerated than the taverns in Larvin that only dwarves frequented.

The interior was quite crowded, and there wasn't a single seat in sight.

There were shouting, gambling, people drunk to the point of unconsciousness, people fighting until their heads bled, and even succubi openly operating their businesses.

The people of Gowad are truly "simple and honest".

Margaret blushed instantly when she saw the busy succubuses.

He tried to avoid eye contact, but couldn't help glancing back a couple of times.

Her face turned even redder after glancing at it.

So he raised his hand and punched Jia Xiu again.

"What are you looking at? Your eyes are practically popping out of your head! Aren't you afraid of getting an eye disease?"

"what?"

Jia Xiu was speechless.

Putting aside whether he saw "eyes about to pop out," he simply didn't want to see the succubus's promotional video.

It hurts the eyes.

Too rough.

His tastes were too extreme; he should be compensated for some emotional distress from the unexpected sighting.

He still prefers stories with plots...

Jia Xiu looked around but couldn't tell which one was the boss. Every staff member was so busy they were practically spinning tops, they probably wouldn't have the energy to answer his questions.

Jia Xiu thought for a moment and walked over to the bard performing in the tavern.

Logically speaking, the bards who regularly work in the tavern should be just as well-informed as the owner.

The bard was a tefling, with dark red skin, snake-like eyes, and an air of both malevolence and eeriness.

He held a uniquely shaped piano in his hand and played simple and repetitive chords.

For most bards, musicality and singing ability are not the main focus of their performances.

Drunken patrons in pubs are unlikely to appreciate music.

What you're singing is more important.

She began to sing.

There's a hole in Jenny's backyard.
"Dark, deep, and hollow"

She tried to fill the hole herself.
"My hands are sore but I still can't fill it up."

Jia Xiu listened to the lyrics.

What is this?

Even if bards are supposed to sing something popular in taverns, this is way too popular.

She asked a friend to fill the hole.

"Even my friends don't have enough fingers."

A friend recommended Martin.
"Martin's tools are big and hard."

Jia Xiu frowned slightly, realizing that the lyrics were not simple.

She used a metaphor!
Martin came and filled the hole.

The tool filled the hole completely.
"The hole was filled in repeatedly"

Jenny was shaking with joy.

I don’t even want to act anymore!
I knew this place wouldn't sing anything serious.

As the lyrics reached their climax, the audience in the tavern began to stir.

"Who would have thought that Martin would suffer misfortune upon returning home?"
His tools hurt and itched.

"After much thought, I finally found the reason."
"So the problem was with the hole in Jenny's house!"

At this point, he took a solo, and then changed the instrumental arrangement.

"Red spots covered his body,"
"They've begged every pastor imaginable, they're so anxious."

"Please remember this carefully."

"Don't forget the protective measures."

Jia Xiu was shocked; this was actually a rather educational song!
The bard has been misunderstood.

I thought it was just something erotic.

However, what shocked him even more was yet to come.

"So, what kind of protective measures are the most effective?"

Jia Xiu had a bad feeling.

"Of course, it's the Juan Jashwag Mage Armor..."

(End of this chapter)