6kv Chapter 162 A Kiss for the King
Chapter 162 A Kiss for the King
Chapter 162 A Kiss for the King
Geb reconsidered his words. The short message technique had a 25-character limit, so there was no room for unnecessary words.
"Thornton is dead, and the lion's stinger is in my hands."
Ten words to explain the current situation. Gebu thought for a moment and removed the words "manticore"—"tail stinger" would suffice.
"I can make you a 'Kiss of the King'."
Nine words to state your proposal. Mentioning the name "Kiss of the King" adds credibility. The words "for you" can also be removed; "I can make the Kiss of the King" conveys the same message: since you've brought it up, it must be for making poison for the Golden Mask.
But would that expose him? — Gebu wondered, should he change it to "poison" instead, without revealing the specific name?
No, I still have to say it, that way I can pique his interest.
"Soton is dead, the thorn is with me, I can forge the 'Kingslayer's Kiss.'"
The key information was conveyed within fifteen characters. Ten characters remained, which could be used to express one's attitude.
Yes, I'm not blackmailing you, Gold Mask, but I want to work for you.
"Allow me to serve you, sir wizard."
No, I am not your servant. Geb rejected this statement—their relationship should not be that of servant and master, nor should it be an employment relationship.
If you lower yourself so much from the start, even if you establish a cooperative relationship, you will be in a very passive position.
"Hey, Gold Mask, wanna be friends?"
No, no, no, that sounds like something a stalker would do. I'm not some blondie!
"Please allow me to be your friend, Golden Mask."
Geb read the entire message over and over again, and felt very satisfied.
However, he exceeded the word limit. He deleted the last three words, "golden mask," leaving a complete 25-word message.
"Soton is dead, the thorn is with me, I can forge the 'King-Slaying Kiss.' Please allow me to be your friend."
After preparations were complete, Gebu took out the communication stone. The black ear hole carved on the stone was connected to someone's ear, unfathomable and a little frightening.
"Cough cough————"
Gebu cleared his throat and held the communication stone to his lips. He imagined the golden mask in his mind: a strange, thin, hunched figure with bandages wrapped around his hands, wearing a long black robe. He/she wore a dark gold mask with an expression that was neither a smile nor a frown.
A moment later, Geb felt the ether flowing within the communication stone, traversing magical planes and establishing a brief and unstable connection with some distant being.
It's connected.
"Thorton is dead—"
The halfling recited the prepared message word by word, and the sound seemed to be sucked into a black hole the moment it left his throat, spinning and disappearing into the communication stone's ear.
As the last word was read aloud, Gebu didn't know if his message had been heard on the other end—he nervously held the mouth of the communication stone to his ear, waiting for the golden mask's reply.
one second.
two seconds.
There was no reply.
There was still no reply.
After waiting for a while, there was silence inside the communication stone. Gebu's heart, which had been in his throat, sank, and a trace of disappointment crept into the corner of his eyes.
So it's not that simple after all?
A communication stone can only communicate with another communication stone (a tongue twister??), but the golden mask is a wizard, so perhaps he communicates purely through his own magic and doesn't have a communication stone.
Well, fine—I have to give it a try, right? This investment in the communication stone isn't a waste; I can use it later.
Geb tried to comfort himself, but he was still feeling down.
He didn't give up. He picked up the stone and read the text message to it again.
"Soton has—"
"
Gebu had barely uttered a few words when the communication stone suddenly rang, startling half of him. He scrambled to his feet, nearly dropping the stone from his grasp.
A letter has arrived!
The lips on the stone moved in a nauseating way, and said in a low, eerie voice devoid of any emotion, "I was wondering when you would reappear in my sight."
"A goblin with magic."
Gebu was as if struck by lightning; all his muscles froze!
Just now I was saying that this golden mask wasn't as powerful as I'd imagined, but in an instant, it revealed my true identity.
Gebu looked around in panic, as if he had been seen naked, and lost all sense of security.
Is it magic? Some kind of spell that allows one to see into the distance?
Gebu didn't doubt the existence of this magic, but the question was, why hadn't the golden mask been discovered before, but had it now?
The halfling stared at the communication stone in his hand, anxiously waiting for it to speak again—but the stone fell into a long silence.
Gebu didn't count how many words Shi Tou said, but judging from the looks of it, there probably wasn't any more information.
Don't panic — don't panic.
Gebu quickly stepped out of the tent and splashed a basin of cold water on his face.
Today, the caravan officially set off. Early in the morning, the owners of each tent began packing their luggage and making preparations for departure, making the campsite quite lively.
Gebu had no interest in dealing with these people. The words from the communication stone were still echoing in his ears.
A goblin with magic.
Goblin.
After washing his face, Gebu's mind cleared up a bit. Looking at the still-shaken half-man's reflection in the well water, Gebu suddenly noticed a loophole in the man's words.
Am I a halfling now?
This Thousand-Face Mask is a treasure bestowed by the God of Chaos. Except for one time when it accidentally appeared, it has never been seen through by anyone when it is in effect.
Yes, I have no doubt that magic can allow one to see into the distance.
There is also magic that can see through disguises.
But is it possible to do both at the same time?
Geb pondered the words of the golden mask again; the use of the word "again" indicated that he had heard of him before.
But very few people know Gebu's true identity. Who revealed this secret?
Stabbing, the swordswoman, the hostage, Dulin—and a catwoman. They knew Geb was a goblin wizard.
Lady Stoneheart only knew that Geb was a wizard, not that he was a goblin.
These people had no reason to reveal their secrets, and they had absolutely no connection with the Golden Mask.
Oh, and there are also peacocks and vultures, and the mischievous uncle.
It wasn't a vulture; this old witch hunter couldn't possibly be in cahoots with the sorcerers.
Could it be the elf-like uncle? Wait, could he be the Golden Mask?
This terrifying possibility flashed through Gebu's mind—no, no, if it were the elf monster uncle, he would probably just pop out of the communication stone and greet him.
This guy never treats himself like an outsider.
Therefore, the only possible source of the leak is the peacock.
A goblin with magic. A goblin with magic. Geb thought and thought, trying to make sense of the golden mask's thoughts.
From his perspective, the only chance he might have heard of a "magical goblin" was during the time his basement was ransacked.
1. Peacock used the gold mask to make poison.
2. The peacock's basement was ransacked by magic goblins.
3. The peacock's "poison recipe" was hidden in the basement.
Combining 1, 2, and 3, only the Peacock and the "Magic Goblin" have seen that recipe.
Therefore, only a "magical goblin" can utter the name "King-Slaying Kiss".
That's how the golden mask discovered its true identity!
That makes sense for solving the case!
Having figured out the logic, Gebu was not complacent, but instead filled with regret: he had forgotten that the man in the golden mask was a clever man who had guessed his identity just from the name of a poison.
After figuring it out, Geb wasn't so scared anymore. So what if you guessed it? Yeah, I'm a goblin with magic. Want to make a deal?
That's what they say. However, the communication stone can only be used once a day, and today's supply is used up. Now, Gebu can only wait for the Golden Mask to contact him.
The other party neither agreed nor disagreed—in fact, receiving a reply at all indicates that Gebu has at least piqued the interest of the Golden Mask.
There is a play.
Last night, Gebu looked up the recipe for the Peacock in the Book of Sand:
【Kiss of the King】
Scorpion stinger, thousand-eyed spider egg case, troll hardened liver, throat-sealing Ganoderma lucidum —
The preparation process is complex and the craftsmanship is precise, making it far more difficult than any of the herbs that Gebu has ever produced.
This is no ordinary poison, Geb exclaimed. This is the key to Geb entering the wizarding world.
Thinking of this, the goblin wizard couldn't contain his excitement. He rubbed his hands together and muttered expectantly:
Golden mask, oh golden mask—
Write to me quickly—look at me, Gebu, I'll definitely get it for you!
The following day, while waiting for the message from the communication stone, Gebu directed the laborers to load their tents and equipment onto the wagons. Including the packed goods and containers, there were now four wagons belonging to Gebu's company.
Adding Dulin's wagon, there were a total of five wagons and eleven horses (one of which belonged to the Sword Maiden). Gebu's team was beginning to take shape—not the largest among caravans, but not small either.
The carriage was draped in a crimson cloak, emblazoned with the emblem of the Holy Rose, the red silk and gold thread shimmering in the sunlight.
The caravan left Chifang Town in a grand procession. Finally able to leave this place, everyone's morale soared, and the dwarves sang their hometown tunes one after another—even Dulin was infected by the emotions and roared a few lines in his loud, hoarse voice.
Perhaps because the manticores had been rampaging for so long, the caravan encountered no bandits or jackals on their way out of Chifang and traveled safely.
As day drew to a close and dusk fell, the caravan arrived at an open space by a stream. Lady Stoneheart directed the caravan to enclose the wagons into a temporary fortress, set up sentry posts, establish camp, fetch water and firewood, and start cooking.
Under the glow of the campfire, Gebu, the Swordswoman, Dulin, and the hostage enjoyed a quiet dinner. After they had eaten and drunk their fill, Dulin brewed a pot of dwarven tea. Everyone held their teacups, using the campfire and hot tea to dispel the lingering chill of late autumn.
Gebu looked at the communication stone in the pocket, but there was still no response.
"Dulin, could you help me contact the herb merchants in the caravan and get me some medicinal herbs? I'll give you a list."
Dulin nodded. "No problem. As long as it's not particularly rare, the caravan has one. Even if it is rare, the merchant guild has channels throughout the kingdom, and you can buy it in the next big town."
The dwarf had just made the promise when he looked at the list of items for Gebu and paused for a moment.
"This...it's incredibly poisonous?! Herbalism isn't my specialty, but looking at these things of yours..."
"Don't worry, it's not meant to harm anyone," Gebu laughed. "Every medicine has its side effects, and these are potion ingredients. I've almost run out of my own stock."
"Since you've asked me to do this, I'll do my best," the dwarf hesitated for a moment before agreeing.
"What are you planning to do next?" The swordswoman asked, holding her teacup and gazing at the flickering fireflies with a somewhat dreamy look in her eyes.
"What do we do? Go to Shanhaiguan," Gebu said. "Regardless of whether there's any follow-up to this golden mask, we still have to get through to the Golden Sun Red Earth Empire."
"and then?"
"Making money and cultivating," Gebu replied.
"And then?" the woman with the sword continued, the campfire flickering in her eyes. Geb looked at the woman; was she asking me, or herself?
"I've heard there's a magic academy in the Empire—I'd like to visit it if I have the chance," Geb replied after a moment's thought. "And you, Swordswoman? I remember when Lady Stoneheart hired you, you said you didn't care where you went."
"Yes, it doesn't matter," the woman murmured, seemingly lost in thought.
"Do you have family? Do you have family?" the dwarf Dulin asked, his eyes filled with kind curiosity.
"————" The swordswoman did not answer.
The dwarf, feeling awkward after being rebuffed, scratched his beard.
"And you, Dulin?" Geb asked.
"The Jinkla family is a large one, and I am one of the older members of my generation. After this assignment is completed, I will return to Stone Foot Mountain to help support the family business passed down through generations."
"The commission, is it that crossbow?" Geb asked, pointing to the weapon on the dwarf's back. This guy has been inseparable from the crossbow since he came back; he practically sleeps with it.
"Hey, this is it." The dwarf nodded in agreement, but did not explain further.
He probably didn't want the female knight and the little hostage to know about the golem.
Well, everyone was keeping their own thoughts to themselves, and no one was willing to say anything. For the first time, Gebu really took a good look at his companions.
The Swordswoman is a poor female mercenary who talks about gold coins all the time. She is violent and capable of fighting, and is suspiciously familiar with aristocratic etiquette and church rhetoric.
Dulin, the cheerful dwarf jeweler, inexplicably accepted a commission to make weapons for golems. When it came to anything related to this commission, the dwarf became secretive, as if he had some hidden agenda.
Little Meat Ticket, a clever little girl, wants to go to Silverwater City to find her grandmother. Gebu thinks that if he has time, he can teach her some goblin scout skills so she can come in handy.
Oh, right, there's one more guy we need to deal with.
Gebu turned his gaze to the calico catwoman chained to one side. Gebu hadn't yet figured out how to deal with her. She was relatively well-behaved during the day, locked in the carriage, but as soon as it got dark, she became energetic, angrily scratching at the iron collar around her neck with her hind legs.
Seeing that the catwoman hadn't eaten, the hostage secretly hid a piece of dried cheese in his sleeve and slipped over when no one was looking, crouching at the edge of the catwoman's activity area.
Geb saw everything but remained silent.
The catwoman struggled for a long time, only to find that her paws were no match for the iron collar. Her efforts were in vain, and she lay down on the ground in annoyance, her fluffy tail swaying irritably from side to side, slapping the ground repeatedly.
The hostage cautiously approached, and seeing that the catwoman didn't react, he took out the cheese and handed it to her.
The catwoman's nose twitched, her ears perked up, and she looked at the little girl with a hint of wariness.
The little girl made a shushing gesture, placed the cheese on a leaf on the ground, and took a step back. The catwoman walked over, took the cheese in her hand, licked it, and then chewed it into pieces without any manners, leaving cheese curds scattered all over the ground.
Seeing that the catwoman's attention was entirely on the food, the hostage sneaked over.
Then I started petting the cat with my little hands.
Seeing this, Gebu snorted and sneered.
Tani, you really think of her as a cat? When this thing goes berserk, one scratch can kill you.
Humans are really stupid—the woman and the dwarf are pretty stupid too, actually trusting a goblin. If I wanted to, I could sneak up in the middle of the night and stab them all to death—hehehe.
The dwarf tea in Geb's hands exuded the aroma of licorice, and its heat warmed the halfling's palms through the thick cup walls.
"Of course I won't do that," Geb thought to himself. "At least not now. They're still useful to me."
That's probably it. I'm not being soft-hearted.
Night quietly fell, and the swordswoman, Dulin, and the hostage returned to their tents one after another. Gebu was lost in thought and sat by the campfire for a while longer. Just as he was about to get up to meditate, the communication stone beeped.