Lu Mingfei, become the King of Elden!

Chapter 131: The Shady Merchant!

Lu Mingfei led Elena along the main road. Because of their experiences with the mad fire and the corpses, they dared not walk fast and it took them almost a day to reach the blessing point in front of Moen City.

Fortunately, they encountered no hybrids or other enemies along the way; the only other person they encountered was...
Lu Mingfei sat by the campfire, staring at the strange man in the pointed hat on the other side.

"Why are you guys everywhere?"

Lu Mingfei stared wide-eyed at the wandering merchant in front of him and asked.

"Yohohoho."

The wandering merchant said cheerfully:

"You flatter me, sir. Without us, who would sell you things? We, the nomadic people, are absolutely your most loyal companions."

"They're more like unscrupulous merchants."

Lu Mingfei muttered:

"Speaking of which, wasn't there a major rebellion in Moen City? It's unbelievable that you're doing business here; aren't you afraid of getting chopped up by some random bastard passing by?"

The wandering merchant rubbed his hands together, still speaking in his signature tone:

"Sir, you're mistaken. The more chaotic the times, the more we need businessmen."

"Come on."

Lu Mingfei curled his lip:

"I know perfectly well where your goods come from."

He leaned closer and lowered his voice:

"Tell me, what's the situation in Moen City right now? Is it still possible to get in?"

The merchant winked slyly and held up three fingers.

"three hundred?!!"

Lu Mingfei almost jumped up:

Why don't you just rob it?

The businessman's eyes narrowed into slits with laughter.

"Hey ho ho, robbery can't earn as much as doing business!"

Lu Mingfei gritted his teeth, conjured three hundred runes, and slammed them onto his stall with a loud thud.

"Can you speak now?"

The wandering merchant reached out and slowly tucked the rune into his robes, then said casually:
"do not know."

"What?!!"

Lu Mingfei stood up abruptly in anger, and with a "whoosh," the Greatsword of the Lost Knight was drawn from its sheath behind him, its cold gleam gleaming.

"Hey, I'm telling you, you take the money but don't do the job."

"You're too impatient, sir."

The wandering merchant said slowly and deliberately:
"As for intelligence about the city, of course, I don't have any. After all, I'm a merchant and I need to make a living too. But I do have some intelligence about entering the city."

Lu Mingfei stared at him suspiciously.

The wandering merchant pointed ahead on the main road, where the outline of Moen City could be vaguely seen.

"Guest, you've probably never been to Moen City before, have you?"

Lu Mingfei shook his head.

"Moen City is also a city with a long history, and it has produced figures like the 'hero of vengeance'."

The businessman said calmly:
"Therefore, there is a golem guarding Moen City that was left over from long ago. It was activated by the city lord when the rebellion began and it will shoot giant arrows at the invaders. It's not easy for you to enter the city with such a companion, sir."

After speaking, he tilted his head slightly and turned his gaze toward Elena.

Lu Mingfei instinctively stepped aside to block Elena, his brows furrowed.

"You mean, that golem shoots at everyone? Even its own people?"

"Yohoho~" the merchant chuckled, rubbing his hands together. "To be precise, it's about attacking all creatures that get close to the city walls. I'm afraid only the city lord knows how to control it."

Lu Mingfei lowered his head and fell into deep thought.

Given this situation, taking Elena with him is unrealistic. Moen City is already in chaos; even Lu Mingfei himself can't guarantee his own safe return from entering now, let alone protect Elena.
Moreover, he hadn't yet figured out the mechanism behind his resurrection after death.

If Elena were to die like those powerful, unique monsters, and her death would be permanent, then Lu Mingfei would be truly devastated.

But what can we do?

Or, how about we ask one of our good buddies for help?
After thinking about it, he finally decided to send a group message to the three Japanese people to ask them a question.

Just do it!

He took out a small golden statue, mentally located the coordinates of several worlds, and then wrote on the ground:

"Sobbing Peninsula, Moen City, in front of the city walls, is there any space?"

Subaru Natsuki was the first to respond:
"That's too far! Why did you go there! The Blessing Point on the Weeping Peninsula isn't open yet; it takes half a month to get there from Galid."

Then there's Kaneki Ken:

"Sorry, something came up in real life."

Finally, it's Emiya Shirou:

"I'm so sorry to be trapped in the Crystal Cave, unable to teleport, and unable to find a way out!"

Lu Mingfei scratched his head.
Well, it seems the brothers all have their own things to do.

He sighed.

It seems that I can only rely on myself.

“I can take her to the round table hall.”

A clear, ethereal female voice rang in my ears.

Lu Mingfei was slightly taken aback.

It's Melina's voice.

The round table hall? Isn't that a place only for the faded?
"As long as the leaders in the round table have no objections."

Melina's voice continued to ring in my ears.

"Opinion? That treacherous, cunning, hundred-eared man who keeps talking about 'comrade'?"

Lu Mingfei thought for a moment:

"He probably won't have any objections. But the round table hall is always bustling with people, and she, a little girl who can't see, is stuck among that group of killers. Well, it seems we'll have to trouble Uncle Xiugu and Rodrika again."

Melina's figure slowly solidified beside Elena, quietly watching Lu Mingfei, as if to say:

when are we leaving?

Lu Mingfei sighed softly.

Given the current situation, bringing Elena back to the Round Table Hall is probably the best option, even though the waters there are murky, at least the "no fighting" order is maintained there.

He explained the whole story to Elena and promised to pick her up as soon as he found her father in Moen City.

Irene lowered her head, a hint of melancholy on her face. Lu Mingfei initially thought this arrangement made her feel abandoned, but to his surprise, she said softly:

"I'm sorry, Lord Lu Mingfei, I've dragged you down."

She reached out her hand towards Lu Mingfei, hovering it in the air as if she were groping for something.

After hesitating for a long time, Lu Mingfei gently took her hand, letting her feel his presence.

Irene's heart instantly calmed down. She hesitated for a long time, seemingly considering something, before finally speaking again:
"If...if the city is really dangerous, please don't take the risk."

She whispered:
"You must come back alive."

Lu Mingfei paused for a moment, then grinned.

“Don’t worry,” he chuckled, trying to sound casual. “I’m a professional. A few crazy bastards aren’t even enough to warm me up.”

Melina remained silent.

She gently took Elena's hand and whispered:
"Don't be afraid, we'll be there soon."

Seeing this, Lu Mingfei also raised his hand in the golden light above the blessing: he needed to chat with the Hundred-Eared Man for a bit, and also meet the old blacksmith and Little Red Riding Hood.

(End of this chapter)