Merchant From Earth in the Magical World

Yan Xing was startled. My current altitude is at least 800 meters, maybe even 1,000, he thought. And that arrow was clearly shot from within Nuta City. Even an ordinary gun probably couldn't shoot that high, and even if it could, it wouldn't have such power!

The two turbocharged jet engines roared, propelling the Battle Griffin rapidly higher as it let out a series of mournful cries.

Hibel, too, was startled by the sudden attack. I shouldn't have taken Yan Xing out on a Griffon, she blamed herself. Anyone could see this is his first time riding a flying creature. He doesn't know how to perform evasive maneuvers, making him an easy target. It's the perfect time for an assassination.

Just then, another arrow shot up from below. It possessed tremendous momentum, climbing hundreds of meters without losing much velocity. The long trail of light it left in the air made it obvious it was imbued with Magic. The arrow chased after the rapidly ascending Yan Xing. Hibel quickly drew her sword and swept it horizontally. A bright blue, crescent-shaped beam of light shot from the blade, slicing the arrow aimed at Yan Xing in two.

She then urged her Royal Griffon to chase after the climbing Yan Xing. I don't know if there are other assassins besides the archer in Nuta City, she thought. I must stay close to Yan Xing to protect him from any hidden threats.

Hibel vigilantly surveyed the surrounding airspace, then took a whistle from her chest and blew it. The distant Griffon patrol heard the whistle, immediately turned, and headed their way to provide support.

The Royal Griffon used wind Magic to accelerate, bringing Hibel to Yan Xing's side.

"Are you hurt?" Hibel asked with great concern, adding with self-reproach, "I'm sorry, this was my negligence."

The power of the two turbocharged jet engines decreased. The Battle Griffin finally stopped its mournful cries and gradually stabilized its flight.

Yan Xing looked down at Nuta City and said to the approaching Hibel, "I'm fine, but it seems there really are people in Nuta City who want me dead."

"Father warned me. I shouldn't have taken you to ride a Griffon at a time like this," Hibel said, gripping her sword as she circled Yan Xing on her Royal Griffon. She cautiously observed the surrounding airspace. Upon seeing the supporting Griffon patrol team nearing, she said to Yan Xing, "I'll protect you and take you back to the Lord's Mansion right now."

But Yan Xing said, "Wait a second. Let me see if I can find the assassin."

How could that be possible? Hibel thought, looking down at Nuta City. From this high vantage point, the dense array of buildings makes the city look incredibly bloated. I can only roughly determine the direction the assassin's arrows came from. Finding the exact firing location is practically impossible. Besides, after missing twice, the assassin isn't likely to stay in the same place waiting to be captured.

However, Hibel had seen Yan Xing's assortment of strange alchemical items and his peculiar Magic.

Perhaps he really can find the assassin, she mused.

Hibel observed the long, tube-shaped magical constructs on the flanks of Yan Xing's Battle Griffin but didn't disturb him. Yan Xing sat steadily on the Griffon's back, his attention turned to his inner consciousness space.

There, Chui Chui, dressed in a military uniform with large headphones and a beret, was typing seriously on a keyboard, continuously reporting to Yan Xing.

"Master, I've traced the attack's origin by triangulating the flight trajectories of the two arrows. It's right here!"

A large aerial map of Nuta City appeared in Yan Xing's consciousness space—a photograph Chui Chui had taken the moment Yan Xing came under attack. The image zoomed in, pixels adjusting and repairing layer by layer until it became clear. Eventually, the image pinpointed the top of a small stone building. A figure in a green cloak with a hood was visible, just completing the motion of shooting an arrow into the sky.

Chui Chui said excitedly, "That's her! Target feature analysis..."

"Height: 1.7 meters."

"Weight: approximately 50 kilograms."

"Female."

"Carrying a longbow."

"A Short Sword hung on her left hip, approximately 60 centimeters long."

Chui Chui continued, "Eye of the Air, switch to dynamic search."

The previously static image began to move. This was Eye of the Air, a high-altitude reconnaissance Magic developed by Chui Chui. Its principle involved using high-definition video capture technology to collect direct and scattered light from the air, then reassembling it into high-definition dynamic aerial surveillance imagery. The diligent Chui Chui had developed Eye of the Air to serve as an early warning system for Yan Xing when he first mounted the Griffon to ascend. The image he had just seen was a snapshot from it.

Now that Eye of the Air had switched to dynamic mode, the archer assassin who had shot at Yan Xing was, naturally, no longer at the original spot. Chui Chui used the recently collected physical characteristics of the target to conduct a wide search of the area where the assassin had been. All detected individuals were identified one by one and compared against the target's characteristics. In just over 10 seconds, Chui Chui locked onto a person matching the profile.

Green cloak, height, weight, and gender all matched. A Short Sword hung at her waist.

But where did she discard the bow and arrows she used to shoot at me? Yan Xing wondered. On the large screen within his consciousness, Chui Chui kept a firm lock on the rapidly moving target.

The assassin expertly navigated streets and alleys, using various intersections to evade any potential trackers. Very professional anti-tracking skills, Yan Xing noted.

As she passed through a market, someone quietly handed her a grey robe and took the green cloak she removed. A few steps later, another person handed her a bamboo basket. The bamboo basket contained long, bar-shaped loaves of dry bread and several round vegetables.

Accomplices! Yan Xing realized.

He watched the assassin's disguise and observed her accomplices, who clearly thought they were well-hidden. Then he asked Chui Chui, "Can you lock onto her accomplices and track them too?"

"Yes, Master. Chui Chui's functions are very powerful!" Chui Chui declared, tapping away at the keyboard. Two highlighted frames promptly encircled the assassin's accomplices.

They were vendors in the market. After helping the assassin with her disguise, they returned to hawking their wares.

Meanwhile, the assassin, now dressed in the grey robe and holding the food-filled bamboo basket, walked slowly. She looked just like an ordinary Nuta City citizen out shopping for food. Eventually, she reached the entrance of a residential house. She cautiously looked left and right, even glancing up at the airspace where Yan Xing was.

In the image within Yan Xing's consciousness, their eyes met briefly. However, the assassin clearly couldn't imagine that Yan Xing was watching her every move with perfect clarity. She likely believed Yan Xing was hiding at high altitude, fearing a second assassination attempt and waiting for support from the City Defense Force.

Under Yan Xing's watchful gaze, the assassin, convinced she wasn't being followed, pushed open the door and entered the house. Chui Chui immediately highlighted the building in bright red on the display.