NOVEL WEB Chapter 201: Thief_1
The leader of the Farsight Mercenary Corps, surrounded by a throng of elite mercenaries, walked up to Yan Xing.
He first glanced at the Short Sword at Yan Xing's waist, then smiled and said, "I apologize for my men's offense. If they had recognized that your Short Sword came from a Goblin Alchemy Shop, they certainly wouldn't have dared to block your way. My name is Donald, leader of the Farsight Mercenary Corps. May I have the honor of knowing your name? Please don't misunderstand; I merely wish to make your acquaintance."
Donald's demeanor and tone were gentle and graceful, exuding a strong aristocratic air. It was clear that even if he wasn't from a primary noble line, he was at least a descendant of a noble family, albeit one without an inherited title.
Yan Xing, who was reviewing screenshots with Chui Chui, hadn't expected the leader of the Farsight Mercenary Corps to seek him out. When Donald had appeared, Chui Chui had immediately provided his information for Yan Xing. The Eternal Domain's intelligence gathering on Nuta City and the Wildwind Highlands was proving somewhat effective. After all, the Farsight Mercenary Corps was one of the top mercenary groups active in the Wildwind Highlands, often receiving missions directly from the military due to their strength and background.
Donald was indeed the leader of the Farsight Mercenary Corps. A noble scion fallen on hard times, he had joined the mercenary profession out of necessity. However, using the military knowledge he had once studied, he quickly made the Farsight Mercenary Corps successful. Leveraging his family's influence, he ensured the Farsight Mercenary Corps operated smoothly in the Wildwind Highlands.
This time, with war erupting in the Wildwind Highlands, Donald had concentrated the main forces of the Farsight Mercenary Corps in Nuta City. Thanks to the corps' reputation and strength, he was able to obtain many assignments escorting goods from Count Theodore.
Keeping his head lowered, Yan Xing observed Donald through the perspective provided by Chui Chui's Eye of Air. He didn't know what role this mercenary leader played in Nuta City, but this wasn't the time to reveal his own identity.
Yan Xing kept one hand on the Short Sword at his waist and had Chui Chui prepare Magic. He then replied, "My name is Terence. I'm just an unknown, and I thank you, Leader Donald, for your help. If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave. May the gods protect you!"
Yan Xing didn't give Donald a chance to detain him further. Accelerated by Air Magic, he deftly stepped back and then leaped. An updraft conveniently lifted him onto the adjacent rooftop.
Yan Xing then used the lightness skill Chui Chui had custom-developed for him. Moving like a martial arts master, his body as graceful as a leaf, he leaped across the ridgelines. He quickly vanished from Donald's line of sight.
"What an impudent thief!" Yan Xing's agile movements made those watching assume he was a thief. An infuriated subordinate behind Donald exclaimed, "Our Leader was willing to befriend him—that's his honor! Yet he just left like that? How utterly disrespectful!"
Donald watched the direction in which Yan Xing disappeared. He couldn't help but marvel at the proficiency with which this "Terence" used Air Magic. That meticulous application of Magic Power could be described as incredibly stingy. The word "stingy" Donald used in his thoughts was not pejorative; it was a comment on the use of Magic Power. In that series of dizzying applications of Air Magic, there was no detectable spillover of Magic Power. All Magic Power was focused on casting and controlling the spells.
Air Magic is inherently the most challenging to control among the Four System Magic. Because air is ubiquitous, releasing Air Magic inevitably affects air currents. These changes in air currents, in turn, would inevitably affect the casting of Air Magic. Since changes in air currents are elusive and unpredictable, casting Air Magic often results in varying degrees of dispersion. If a Mage casts low-level Air Magic and it results in fierce winds, one can generally conclude that this Mage's mastery of Air Magic isn't particularly high.
However, when that thief used Air Magic to escape just now, the air currents around him, unrelated to his direction of movement, remained unchanged at the moment of casting. That was impressive. It meant that if other Air Mages needed full Magic Power to achieve a 50% effect, he only needed 50% of the Magic Power to achieve the same. With full Magic Power, the effect could double.
Leader Donald had initially intended to make a bit of a show, but to his surprise, he'd encountered a true expert.
"No, he has the right to be impolite to me." The more Donald considered the subtleties of it, the more admiration shone in his eyes.
Thieves! Assassins! Skulking in the shadows, using their skills to achieve great results with little effort, they could often accomplish astonishing feats. But it was precisely because of the characteristics of Thieves and Assassins that most of them died before reaching their full potential. Therefore, while many in this world took up thieving or assassination as professions, very few became truly strong.
This chance encounter with such a skilled thief naturally sparked the desire in Donald to recruit him.
Donald ordered his subordinates, "Deploy all our people and contacts. Find this thief named Terence!"
"Yes, Captain!"
Meanwhile, Yan Xing was parkouring across the rooftops. Chui Chui was an absolute master of micromanipulation. She could control more than a dozen air currents attached to Yan Xing's body. These included spiral currents for stability, jet currents for thrust, expanding currents for bursts of speed, and compressing currents for gliding.
Armed with modern aerodynamic knowledge, Chui Chui could confidently declare: No one in this world understands air better than I do!
Yan Xing only needed to run and jump, communicating his desired outcome to Chui Chui through fleeting conscious exchanges. Chui Chui was responsible for making it a reality.
So, whether it's flying over eaves and scaling walls, the Eight-Step Cicada Catch, the Rippling Water Stride, or the Cloud-Ladder Leap... I can do it all, and with flair!
After practicing for a while, Yan Xing, now more familiar with using the lightness skills, returned to his starting position. He carefully lay on the rooftop, peering down.
The Farsight Mercenary Corps had already left. At this time of day, city residents didn't dare to go out without good reason, aside from a few loiterers roaming the streets. A few mercenaries were gathered around a stone block, betting on a spinning dagger. The bookie was a thin mercenary, his left hand somewhat crippled, his face marked with three deep claw scars.
The betting tool was a specially crafted dagger. A line drawn on the stone block divided it into left and right sides. Gamblers placed their bets on either side. The bookie would spin the dagger, and whichever side the blade pointed to when it stopped, won. It seemed very fair, and the mercenaries were engrossed in their betting.
The stone block was covered in copper coins and various items used as stakes. The mercenaries clamored for the bookie to spin the dagger faster.
Just then, a Gold Coin clattered onto the stone block.
A voice came from behind them, "Take the money and leave, but the bookie stays!"