Since there was nothing much to do in Middlesburg, Xia De bid farewell to the nun and returned to Tobesk, leaving his longsword, which he couldn't carry with him, at home, and had lunch with Mia.
In the afternoon, he first went to the Prophet Association to inform Luvia of the whereabouts of that blood money, and then went to Coldwater Port to meet Mr. Edmund, the old tower keeper, spending money to ask him to help find some information about the guardian of the Library, the Old God 【Grey-Robed Sage】.
Although the current key didn't seem to require Xia De to search for important quest items in the current timeline, he still had to be prepared for anything. He believed that the task given by Tree Father shouldn't be so easy for him to complete.
Buying daily necessities for the Witches would be too unchallenging.
The steam airship carrying Iluna was expected to arrive in Middlesburg around four o'clock this afternoon. So, after leaving Coldwater Port, Xia De transformed the clothes he planned to wear to the banquet tonight into toys and put them away, arranged dinner cat food for Mia, and then headed to the City of Mountains again.
Middlesburg had a landing site for steam airships, but Xia De didn't know its exact location. Even if he did, he couldn't join the local church in welcoming the group from Tobesk.
Therefore, he chose to wait at the entrance of the local Sun Church. He waited until half past four in the afternoon before he saw the convoy slowly approaching from the other side of the street.
Xia De, who was reading the evening newspaper under a low wall, immediately put down the newspaper, took off his hat, and observed the central carriage in the convoy. However, when that carriage passed in front of Xia De, its window did not open.
Just as Xia De was a little disappointed, the clatter of hooves came from behind the convoy. A seventeen-year-old girl, riding a horse, dressed in hunting attire, looked valiant and spirited. In the autumn afternoon sun, she smiled brightly, as if all the light in the world was converging on her.
Smiling and nodding to Xia De, and mouthing "Good afternoon," Iluna, still on horseback, caught up with the convoy ahead.
"Good afternoon, Iluna."
Xia De also said in his heart, smiling as he folded the newspaper, then walked away along the low wall by the street.
Seeing Iluna in Middlesburg meant he had a completely trustworthy companion, and the upcoming adventure would likely become even more interesting.
Having met Iluna, the only important thing left for today was to attend tonight's charity banquet. Since the banquet would provide food, Xia De didn't eat in advance. He simply rented a room at the Sicar Inn, changed into a presentable formal suit, and then stayed at the inn until half past six in the evening before setting out.
Before leaving, Xia De also didn't forget to inquire about the Vampire uncle and nephew, Bernhart, who used to live on the fourth floor of the inn. They had indeed moved out, on the very day Xia De got the briefcase last week.
The Fire Worship Festival is a traditional local festival in Middlesburg. The origin of the festival is no longer traceable, but the local and surrounding areas still celebrate it every autumn under various pretexts.
Therefore, since it was a charity banquet held on the first day of the week-long Fire Worship Festival, the venue's setup naturally had to be related to fire.
When the sun had completely set and the three moons were fully visible in the night sky, Xia De walked into the Mi Fort Mechanical College. He immediately saw bonfires burning in the courtyard between the rectangular castle buildings.
The weather today was quite good, and the temperature was suitable, so this grand banquet, attended by local nobles and wealthy merchants, would be held both indoors and outdoors. This was also a tradition of the Fire Worship Festival: around the bonfires, long tables were already laden with food. In a few hours, men and women would also dance around the bonfires under the moonlight, and at the end of the banquet, they would gather together for a collective dance.
Because it is an autumn festival, the Fire Worship Festival also carries the meaning of celebrating the harvest. In recent centuries, before the tide of the steam industry began to surge, this festival further integrated the "Moon Dance Festival" tradition from Carson Rick on the other side of the mountains. This moonlight bonfire dance also carried the meaning of courtship and praying for peace.
All of the above was Knowledge Xia De gained when conducting his "Middlesburg Folklore Study." This diversified City, while retaining some traditions, has integrated exotic customs brought by foreign merchants and adapted to this era of change, thus forming its current traditional festivals with localized characteristics.
Of course, Mi Fort's customs had little to do with Xia De. He was attending this banquet purely to meet Miss Hivi Aurora, who had just arrived in Middlesburg.
Miss Aurora, as a heavyweight guest, shouldn't arrive too early. Therefore, although the bonfires were already lit and well-dressed guests were chatting and greeting each other around the long tables when Xia De arrived at Mi Fort Mechanical College at seven o'clock, the banquet had not yet officially begun.
Xia De, who came without eating, first presented his invitation at the outer edge of the venue. After learning that this invitation, given by Grandma Cassandra, was a special invitation, he curiously asked what a special invitation meant.
"You get a ten percent discount when paying at the auction, and you can access any area of the banquet."
The waiter in a white shirt and black waistcoat replied very politely, which somewhat disappointed Xia De, who had expected special treatment.
He came alone and had no intention of finding companions, so he walked by himself towards the long table by the bonfire, planning to get a little something to eat.
Unlike the Western cuisine of Delarion, known for its "elegance" and "refinement," the mountain cuisine represented by Mi Fort has a higher meat content. Because his face was smeared with Miss Jialinna's eyeshadow, the people here didn't recognize him. As Xia De stood by the bonfire in the southeast corner with his plate, observing the increasing number of people, no one knew who this young man standing alone by the bonfire truly was.
Not knowing who Xia De was, however, didn't stop the enthusiastic local girls from coming to strike up a conversation. After devouring the flesh of desire, Xia De's appearance had already become more handsome. Later, with another divine cleansing of his Ling Rune to advance to the third ring, his appearance could be described as rarely handsome—at least, that's what Luvia in bed and Tifa, who taught Xia De how to ride a horse, said.
But Xia De thought he had already attracted enough girls, so after the shy flaxen-haired girl gave him a silk scarf, he left the bonfire and thought about finding the rhode cards playing area at the banquet.
Even if he didn't play himself, he could watch how the local players played cards. Compared to commoners, more nobles and wealthy merchants possessed special cards.
However, before Xia De could find the rhode cards area, he actually saw an acquaintance in the courtyard.
It was Captain Rades. Compared to the men and women in formal wear and evening gowns, he stood out significantly in his military uniform. And Captain Rades was not alone; beside him stood another man also in a Royal Army uniform. Looking at the medals on his shoulder, this was actually a Brigadier General. This should be the highest military officer of the Red Water Camp, whom Captain Rades had mentioned before.
The two were currently conversing with a slightly overweight man wearing a wig, who was dressed in a dark red formal suit. Xia De thought for a long time before realizing that it was the Mayor of Middlesburg. He had seen this person in the newspaper before.
As Xia De noticed Captain Rades, the Captain also noticed him. The effect of the eyeshadow only ensured that unfamiliar people would absolutely not recognize him, but familiar people could still distinguish Xia De's appearance.
So, after the Captain blinked at Xia De, he whispered a few words into Carter Brigadier General's ear and then walked over:
"Mr. Watson, I thought you had already left the City."
Captain Rades still remembered Xia De's disguised identity and greeted him quite warmly.
"There's still a little something to deal with, but I think the end of this matter isn't far off."
Xia De said with a smile. The two stood by a bonfire in the courtyard, and by this bonfire was also a ginkgo tree. The shadow of the tree trunk looked particularly strange under the flickering firelight.
