Celia smiled and said, "I trust Lord Punil's decision. If my design is adopted, I will make a special trip to the city wall tomorrow to inspect it and make some modifications to the details and the areas where the magic array works. If I encounter any illegal tunnels, I will also block them up for you."
Punil always felt that Celia's words had a hidden meaning.
Did those 'rats' who dig tunnels offend her?
He didn't speak, but looked at the array masters who were examining the array formations.
He saw that the two array masters from the Southern City, who were initially unconvinced, became increasingly shocked and incredulous as they realized what was happening.
Celia smiled and said, "If there's anything you don't understand, feel free to ask."
"Really?" a formation master asked in surprise.
Celia smiled and nodded.
"I don't quite understand this place. Using the plaza as a base, a disguised magic array core is constructed... Can the core be disguised?"
"of course can."
"And here..."
……
Punil watched them discuss, and although he couldn't understand it, he could tell that this magic array seemed to be very powerful.
He quietly asked a formation master, "How does it compare to the previous formations?"
The array master replied quietly, "I can't tell, but it's definitely no worse than the previous one."
Punil nodded without saying anything.
After a long while, the four array masters exchanged design drawings and continued reading.
It took them about two hours to finally understand.
The array master from the Ishtar royal family exclaimed, "This blueprint not only takes into account the current size of the city, but also future expansion. It also has self-inspection and self-repair capabilities. The materials used are not too precious, and it lacks many commonly used rune patterns, but the effect is just as good. It is very concise. Miss Celia is truly a master of large-scale arrays, no less than a legendary array master."
Celia said shyly, "You flatter me. Actually, these are all blessings from the gods. Without their guidance, I would not have been able to accomplish them."
Everyone exchanged glances and then laughed. "Miss Celia's devotion to the gods is something we can't compare to."
Celia smiled and secretly glanced at Ross in her mind.
I'm not just being polite, I really did receive divine guidance!
This magic circle can be considered as compensation for what the Heart of the Puppet has given me.
Lord Ross said that the Heart of the Puppet was very precious, and since it was given to him unconditionally, it was only right to help him rebuild the magic circle—especially since the magic circle was destroyed because of him.
……
Beside the southern city wall, in an unremarkable courtyard.
Dak sat leisurely in the courtyard, drinking the expensive Word Spirit Secret Brew, living a very comfortable life.
"Dark, what do you think of what happened in Southern Border City these past two days?"
The uncle who had been guarding the other side of the tunnel sat down next to him and asked.
“Ete, that’s not our concern. We should be concerned about when another fat rat will come.”
“You’re charging too much, 4 gold coins for one pass,” Ete sighed. “Logically speaking, even if it’s extortion, 1 gold coin is already a lot, after all, we’re just ‘defenders of morality’.”
“In an emergency, even a bounty hunter capable of capturing the Elven royal family wouldn’t care about a few gold coins,” Dark smiled slightly.
Aren't you afraid of retaliation?
"What's there to be afraid of? She's only a second-tier mage, while we're all third-tier mages, with fourth-tier mages above us. Even the city lord won't easily deal with us. Besides, it's only four gold coins. The bounty hunter organization won't easily offend the local tyrant for such a small amount of money."
As Dak was speaking, he suddenly thought of something and chuckled, "Speaking of which, you probably don't know what I heard. That bounty hunter actually said she was going to report us to the city lord. It seems that the bounty hunter is a newbie, or rather, just an ordinary bandit, not even a bounty hunter."
"But I still think you went too far."
"Haha, only in this way can I earn enough gold coins to retire behind the scenes. I've already decided that I'll work for two more years, then retire behind the scenes and let others take over."
Ete said, "The guild leader sent word that the Southern City magic array was destroyed and is currently being rebuilt, so we are not allowed to operate for the next two days."
"Let's lay low for a few days? Consider it a vacation." Dark nodded. "Let's give Punil some face; he wouldn't deliberately make things difficult for us over something so small..."
Before he could finish speaking, there was a knock on the courtyard gate.
The two exchanged a glance, got up and went to open the door. They saw a security squad outside, and in front of them stood a very beautiful young woman.
“Sir Sheriff, is there anything I can help you with?” Dark asked.
Celia said calmly, "Southern City is preparing to rebuild the magic array. We are investigating whether there are any unreported tunnels. To avoid being attacked by the magic array, please cooperate with the investigation."
Dak and Ett exchanged a glance and made way for each other. Dak smiled and said, "We don't have such a thing at home. Please feel free to investigate."
Celia waved and led the security team inside.
Not long after, in that small house that resembled an outhouse, the entrance to a tunnel was opened.
Celia gave a half-smile. "What is this? Could it be an illegal tunnel leading out of the city?"
The expressions on Dak and Ett's faces were quite interesting.
Wait a minute, this isn't what the president said.
Celia smiled slightly, "For digging a tunnel without authorization, I, on behalf of the sheriff, hereby impose a fine of 40 gold coins on you and order you to fill in the tunnel immediately."
Dark's eyes widened: "Sir, this fine isn't right. Digging a tunnel without permission should only cost 10 gold coins at most..."
“I said 40, so it’s 40.” Celia’s expression was cool, giving the two no room for bargaining: “This is punishment for the 4 gold coins you charged my…friend 'toll' the other day.”
Dark and Ete: "???"
So they came for revenge.
No, does the city lord know that you, the sheriff, are so casual and willful?
and many more!
Dark narrowed his eyes: "We don't think we've seen you before. Are you really the sheriff?"
It's been a long time since I finished writing this quickly~
Chapter 212 You guys are amazing, extorting money from the Holy Maiden!
"I thought you were going to crack down on the human smuggling industry in Southern Border City, but it turns out you're just going to impose a fine."
Ross, who was watching Celia's actions, said disappointedly.
Celia said, "I... don't know how to manage it. Most of the people outside are human. They may have lost their identities for various reasons, or they may have fled from other empires. Without identities or money to buy passes to enter, they can only live in temporary camps outside the city walls."
"A pass costs 5 silver coins and is valid for one day. You have to buy one every day. There's also a 2 silver coin for lodging at an inn. They can't afford these prices, so they have no choice but to smuggle themselves in through tunnels, work in the city, and then smuggle themselves back at night."
“That night, I happened to see a man who quickly closed the door after seeing me. When I came back yesterday, I saw him outside selling snacks with a piece of cloth. There were many people like that there, dressed in tattered clothes, selling things that could be bought for a copper coin or two. I realized that these tunnels might be necessary to exist.”
“If I were to crack down on the smuggling industry, I would be driving them to the brink of despair. They would be unable to enter the city to sell goods or find work. Since they are not sorcerers, they would be unable to hunt or collect magical materials in the forest. In the end, they would only starve to death outside the city. I cannot just see the prosperity inside the city and ignore the poverty outside.”
Ross asked with interest, "Then why did you include the detection of secret passages in the design of the magic circle? Isn't that also cutting off their lives?"
"I only realized it yesterday after I came out of the conference room... Those people who had ill intentions that night left a very bad impression on me, making me forget that such a place couldn't possibly only have gang thugs."
"Luckily, when I designed the magic array, I included those temporary camps outside within the protection zone. Besides, I still have the blueprints, so I can make some minor modifications. Except for the tunnels of these two old men, let the other tunnels remain. As for these two old men..."
After speaking with Ross, Celia looked at Dark and Ete, who didn't believe she was the sheriff, smiled, and took out the search warrant personally issued by the city lord.
"Do you know this?"
The two were silent.
Celia snorted and said, "I'll give you half an hour. If you can't come up with 40 gold coins in half an hour, I'll arrest you."
Having done this before, Celia was already quite adept at it.
The two looked at each other, and Ett tentatively asked, "Could we contact someone to bring the money?"
Celia nodded: "Of course, feel free to contact me."
Celia left the small house and went outside to the spot where the two of them had been sitting. There was a rocking chair there, so Celia sat down and rocked herself while waiting for them to rock her.
Twenty minutes later, three people rushed in from outside.
Celia looked at them and thought, "Great, I don't recognize any of them."
That would be easy.
"Has the 40 gold coins arrived?"
Of the three, the one who seemed to be the leader sized up Celia, frowned and thought for a moment, then smiled and said, "So you are the legendary Miss Celia. Hello, I am Edwin, the president of the Southern Eastern Hunting Association."
Celia was taken aback. "You know me?"
Edwin nodded: "You are the one who led the reconstruction of the magic array in Southern Border City. Who in Southern Border City does not know your reputation?"
Dark and Ete, who had initially breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing Edwin enter, felt their hearts tighten again upon hearing Edwin's words.
They couldn't help but look at Celia, somewhat doubting their ears.
Are you sure you didn't hear that wrong?
This girl only appears to be at the second level.
So young.
The result is the magic array in Southern Border City... controlled by who?
The two were stunned.
"You know me? That makes things easier."
Celia stood up, looked at Dark and Et, and said:
"Are they from your Eastern Hunting Society?"
Edwin nodded.
"Alright, let me reiterate the mistake they made. They dug a tunnel without permission to connect to the outside of the city, which I discovered during my inspection. I have decided to punish them with 40 gold coins. If it was built under the leadership of your Eastern Hunting Guild, then you can accept this punishment."
“I learned from my friend that these two people helped her return to Southland City when she was in a hurry, but they took 4 gold coins from her. My friend told me about this, and this kind of extortion should not be let off lightly. In addition to the 40 gold coin fine, I also need to get back my friend’s 4 gold coins and impose an additional 6 gold coin penalty, for a total of 50 gold coins.”
Celia held out her hand matter-of-factly, "Give me the money, Mr. Edwin."
Edwin glanced at Fuck and Ete in surprise, while Fuck lowered his head.
He immediately understood.
At the same time, he had doubts.
The friend Celia mentioned... could it be herself?
Otherwise, why would they deliberately make things difficult for them?
When he arrived, he inquired and learned that the security search team had actually searched many houses containing secret passages, but they had not 'discovered' any of them.
In fact, most of the houses along the city wall operate secret passages leading out of the city, a gray industry that the city lord has long tacitly approved.
Lord Punil knew that those people outside needed to enter the city to survive, but he couldn't change the order to allow them to enter the city with passes, nor could he bear to part with the 5 silver coins for the passes, so he simply turned a blind eye to the smuggling activities.
Now that he has met Celia, and combined with the information he received from the city lord, Edwin roughly guessed that the other party was probably pretending not to know about these secret passages, but in reality, she was recording them to adjust the reconstruction of the magic array and avoid blocking them all.
But it just so happens that at this time, one of their own people had made things difficult for the other party a couple of days ago.
It's like running straight into the line of fire.
Edwin glared at Fak, then said with a forced smile, "Miss Celia, please forgive me. The Eastern Hunting Guild will ensure that you receive every single one of the 50 gold coins as punishment."
As he spoke, he looked at the person on his left and gestured. The other person took out a money bag, counted out 50 gold coins, and handed them to Edwin.
Edwin took it and presented it to Celia.
Celia took it, cushioned it, nodded and said, "President Edwin, you can handle this secret passage yourselves. I won't ask any more questions. We still need to check other places. Goodbye."
After saying that, he led the security team away.
In the courtyard, after they left, Edwin said calmly, "Dark, you know what to do, right?"
Dark lowered his head. "I understand, Chairman. I will find a way to make up for the East Hunting Association's losses."
Edwin snorted, "I put you in charge of guarding the secret passage, not so you could use your positions to extort money, and even extort money from the Holy Maiden of the Holy Court. Impressive. You managed to collect 4 gold coins out of the 20 copper coins for the passage. It's a miracle you weren't arrested; the Holy Maiden is merciful."
Dark shuddered and dared not speak.
Ete, standing next to him, didn't dare utter a single word.
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