Starting with the sentries on the frontier

Chapter 29 The Shadow Coveting the Cow

After taking Rosa home, Zag did not return to the outpost immediately, but instead took Snowball to a small farm north of town.

"It's the middle of the night anyway, let's go see what's eyeing the cow—I don't believe magical creatures can infiltrate a town so easily!"

He was preoccupied with the level 0 commission application he had received yesterday!

A full 10 shillings!

That's a third of his week's salary! Enough to buy five baskets of dried fish! If he used it to buy potatoes, he could buy 60 pounds!

Of course, the reason Zag was so proactive was that he wanted to save money as soon as possible and move away from Cabbage Town.

In just over a week, he had already witnessed so many outrageous things. If the "Blessing of the Sea God" that had flowed into Mrs. Weyland's aromatherapy shop was indeed problematic, then even worse incidents were likely to occur in the town.

He had absolutely no interest in participating.

If he can successfully steal the bounty from this commission, and add his previous savings and this week's salary, he'll have over fifty gold pounds in total.

This amount is far less than the 500 gold pounds required for becoming an apprentice of the Golden Palace Mage, but it is barely enough as start-up capital and travel expenses to leave Cabbage Town.

At least settling in Dongchui Port shouldn't be a problem.

Once we reach Dongchui Port, we can find some work, save some money, and then take a boat to the north. At that time, we will be far away from Dongchui Port and will not encounter danger as often as we do now.

"That's not necessarily true. In the stories sung by bards, the protagonists always encounter endless trouble!"

Snowball was saying some unpleasant things from the side.

Zag retorted, "I'm not some kind of hero or protagonist!"

"Hmph, you say it's not, then it's not!"

Snowball made a strange, mocking hum, but Zag habitually ignored it.

Who would argue with a harpy!

Fortunately, Zag was very lucky. He had just arrived near the farm when a dark shadow rushed towards him.

From afar, one could hear the farmer, the one who had entrusted the matter, shouting angrily, "Don't run! You wretched little thief!"

Zag was stunned for a moment, and subconsciously tried to stop the dark figure, but the figure was incredibly fast. It leaped over his head in a flash and disappeared into the thicket of thorns in the blink of an eye.

Under the dim moonlight, Zag could only vaguely make out that the dark figure seemed to be a dog, or a similar creature.

"Another werewolf!"

However, Snowball immediately provided its answer. Having just been nearly hit by the shadowy figure and startled, it grumbled, "How bizarre! Does Dirichlet just let his minions run rampant? Or is that damned alchemist simply someone he sent to stir up trouble? He's just as stupid, boring, and disgusting as his minions!"

Who is Dirichlet?

Zag asked instinctively, but then, instead of catching up with the shadowy figure, the farmer, carrying a kerosene lamp in one hand and a pitchfork in the other, blocked Zag's path.

"Who's there!?"

Zhag replied, "It's me, Zhag from the association's sentry post, here to handle your request."

"Yes, sir. I'm so sorry, it's so late, I didn't see clearly. I apologize for the intrusion." The farmer's attitude immediately became polite, but he was also somewhat puzzled: "Are you handling this personally?"

"Someone went after me; I just happened to be passing by and had other business to attend to."

Zag lied without batting an eye: "If nothing's wrong, you can get a good night's sleep. Maybe this matter can be resolved by tomorrow morning."

Hearing this, the farmer was overjoyed: "Thank you so much! And thank you to that tune-up man too! I wonder what his name is; I must bring him a basket of the best cabbages to thank him!"

Zag had no choice but to decline: "No, it's alright. He... uh, he has a bad temper and doesn't like to talk to people. You know, those people are always a bit arrogant. It's better not to bother him."

"Alright, alright, since you put it that way, I'll listen to you."

Seeing that the farmer did not insist, Zag breathed a sigh of relief and said politely, "Then I'll go back. Sweet dreams."

Sweet dreams to you too!

After saying goodbye to the farmer, Zag hurriedly chased after the snowball in the distance, following the tracks left by the werewolf.

The trail was clear; the bushes had been pressed into a "path," and Snowball trailed behind the werewolf. Zag just needed to keep up.

However, the werewolf was indeed very strong. He ran for several miles until he crashed into the redcurrant forest. The tree spirits that Snowball had called for help tied him up with vines, and he collapsed to the ground in frustration, panting with his tongue hanging out.

"Hey bro, are you serious?! I just wanted some beef! Did you have to chase me this far? I only make a few dozen shillings a week, what are you doing?! And you even let the goblins and tree spirits catch me! Are you crazy? When did the goblins and tree spirits get so close to the Northrends?!"

Surprisingly, this werewolf was actually able to communicate with Zag.

"Mind your own business, you stupid dog!"

Taking advantage of the werewolf being tied up, Snowball charged at it like a giant bullet. However, the werewolf's muscles were too developed, and Snowball cried out in pain from the impact.

"Meow—you dead dog!"

"Take it easy, little kitty! I have no grudge against you!"

Zag, standing to the side, was also taken aback by the werewolf's words, and after a long pause, he managed to retort, "You're committing theft, intentionally damaging someone else's property!"

The werewolf adopted a roguish demeanor and said, "I'm not a citizen of the kingdom anymore, so the kingdom's laws don't apply to me!"

Zag threatened fiercely, "Yes, according to the kingdom's laws, you should be executed. I'll take you to the association's headquarters in town and hand you over to the association's investigators!"

"Then I'll shout—'Your association's sentinel not only keeps a fairy as a pet, but also consorts with a bunch of tree spirits!' Hmph! I'm afraid the advisor at the resident institute will turn around and snatch this little thing you're keeping and hand it over to the Golden Palace Research Institute!"

"Then I can kill you right now!"

As Zag spoke, he cast Fireball.

"Flame, burning, destruction—"

As he uttered those three words, a blazing fireball coalesced in his palm, poised to strike the werewolf.

"Wait! Don't do it! Aren't you Modo? How come you can use magic?"

The werewolf was stunned by Zag's fireball and immediately begged for mercy: "I admit my mistake, okay? I'll just stop eating beef, and pretend I never saw you, alright?"

"Do you think that's possible, you stupid dog?" Zag sneered. "Would I let a dangerous werewolf roam the town? Or would I let someone who knows my secrets and could reveal them at any moment live?"

Snowball, standing by, frantically fanned the flames: "Yes, yes, that's right! Kill this stupid dog!"

This time, the werewolf was finally frightened. Its voice trembled with fear, and it spoke at double speed: "No, no, it can't be! It really can't be! I've never hurt anyone! Really! I used to be human! I've never hurt anyone! You have to believe me!"

Snowball yelled, "Nonsense! Which werewolf wasn't human before?!"

————————————Divider Line————————————

Dirik Venathor Cruorex, the god of hunting and gladiators, who governs hunting, gladiators, arenas, bloodshed and violence, is also known as the Bloodfang Hunter and the Father of Cheers.

Werewolves are considered His servants, while vampires are seen as His prey.

The native gods are not among the nine holy spirits.

The format of the ritual incantation is as follows:

【I call upon you, God of Hunting and Bloodshed, Master of Arenas and Gladiators, Dirich Venato Croolex.】

[This section contains the request itself, which has no fixed format but must adhere to the principles related to the area it pertains to.]

[This section is the oath of allegiance, and its content is fixed: "I will always follow your guidance, and if not offer up my blood, then my own heart—beating on the sand—until my blood runs dry."]