CHAPTER 100: CHAPTER 99: THE BIG SHOT

"Captain Hagrid?"

"Mmm, I heard he volunteered for the job."

Teacher Cat licked his lips at Ethan, "Well, isn’t this valuable information? I can help you watch the shop tonight. Go have a drink with him; you might not get another chance."

The hint was clear enough.

If they didn’t intervene, Captain Hagrid would die in this operation.

In fact, this matter was bizarre to the extreme at first hearing. Ethan had heard that the Haywood Mine was the most important mining site on the Imperial border, and the mineral resources produced were directly provided to the Imperial Military Industry for armament production. Such an important resource site was usually guarded by the Firearms Corps of the Imperial Military Industry, and there was even a chance a third-level or higher Transcendent would be stationed there personally. How could a bunch of unarmed miners kill the guards and occupy the mine?

Even more strangely, even if the mine was occupied by the miners, logically, it wouldn’t be under the jurisdiction of Baron Gledin’s Guard Team.

If even the Firearms Team was killed, those people Hagrid brought would essentially be walking into their deaths.

"Thank you, Teacher. This news is important."

Teacher Cat suddenly reached out his paw and covered Ethan’s mouth with his soft pad, "You should head back to town first."

Ethan took a leave from Ave, leaving the others at the temporary mountain base to discuss the research plan for the Giant Divine Soldier’s remains, as he went straight down the path to Ximu Town.

After returning to town, he went to the Hunter’s Guild, where he learned from the hunters that Captain Hagrid had been busy since dawn. First, he visited the miners’ families based on the list of miners and didn’t even have time for lunch before he barged into the Back Street Bar.

His stormy demeanor made it seem like a fight was about to break out, causing the hunters to be alarmed.

Hagrid had been inside for quite a while by this point; the gang had "escorted" away the diners and drinkers and sealed off the street around the Back Street Bar completely.

The gangs at the Empire’s border didn’t even regard the Baron, let alone a mere Guard Team captain under him.

There’s also a rumor that due to the visit from Rowena and her Knight Order, a big figure from the gang has also arrived in town. As for what this big figure’s status in the gang was, or what their title was, the hunters were clueless.

It was a sensitive time, and everyone could see it. They certainly didn’t want to cross paths with the gang at this critical moment.

Ethan had left a good impression on the hunters during his time as a scribe, so they all advised him not to get involved in the muddy waters.

As an investigator for the Reception Bureau, he had a promising future, and working well could one day lead to a transfer to work in a big city, so there was no need to get on the wrong side of the gang.

Ethan thanked the hunters and then hurriedly made his way to the back street after leaving.

As the hunters had said, the atmosphere on the street was very tense. Looking from afar, there were lots of gang members with knives and swords guarding the street, not allowing anyone near the bar. Though these gang members weren’t Transcendents, they somehow managed to get their hands on firearms. If they really provoked them, those green Transcendents would likely end up riddled with bullets.

Ethan certainly wasn’t there to enact some violent street scene. He found a spot across the street to sit and summoned the wandering Ice Elemental Elf.

Help him see just what Hagrid was up to in the bar for so long.

The Ice Elemental Elf was highly efficient, and seemingly influenced by the recent visit of the Lindong Witch to Ximu Town, it had become fond of sneaky behavior.

Once Ethan requested the spying task, the Ice Elemental Elf got excited.

He realized that the Elemental Elves’ personalities varied subtly. Compared to the sublime and majestic Fire Element, the Ice Element felt mischievously sly.

In less than a minute, the Ice Elemental scout returned to report—Captain Hagrid was drinking!

Sounded like useless information.

Compared to humans, Elemental Elves always seemed somewhat unintelligent, often requiring Elemental Shapers to request assistance or directly use spells to command them.

Ethan further inquired, "Explain, what’s the drinking like?"

He couldn’t quite believe Hagrid suddenly had a craving to drink and went to the Back Street Bar for a spree. Upon his questioning, the Ice Elemental Elf finally revealed the trick.

Drinking with Hagrid was an old man, who looked frail and with white beard, though it was said they were drinking, mostly it was Hagrid doing the drinking, one cup after another, even as his eyelids drooped with drunkenness, he kept pouring it down his throat.

The old man watched Hagrid drink silently, expressionless, exuding a very authoritative aura.

The Ice Elemental Elf also seemed infected by the dense gang atmosphere in the back street. After reporting, it asked Ethan, the big brother, if they should take out the old man. Just a command from him and they would turn the old man’s drink into an ice spike, piercing his throat, ensuring he could never get any deader.

Ethan quickly dissuaded the Ice Elemental Elf inclined towards becoming a gang member, educating them with some knowledge of the underworld.

"That old gentleman should have a lot of influence in the border gang. Hagrid is asking him for help, drinking to show sincerity."

As for what exactly was being arranged, he was late to the scene; the parties seemed to have already completed their discussions, and the Ice Elemental Elf couldn’t manage to gather any useful information.

During the explanation, the door of the bar opened, and a drunken Hagrid staggered out.

The gang members on the street did not give him any hard time, voluntarily making way for him.

Hagrid couldn’t hold on for long, collapsing to the ground after just a few steps.

It was then that Ethan stepped forward, stating his friendship with Hagrid, and put in all his strength to drag him out a few meters; a few kind-hearted gang members couldn’t stand it anymore, put away their knives and swords, and helped Ethan lift him, finally getting him to an inn on the street.

Hagrid remained unconscious until the afternoon, during which Ave and others finished their meeting and brought Miss Keroy to visit. Miss Keroy brought him hard bread and guava jam, leftovers from the bloody scene Rowena created. With a mindset to avoid waste, Ethan had her guavas, of which he didn’t know the source, made into juice and jam lasting two families a long time.

The beautiful golden bird left a profound impression on the inn’s people, who surrounded Miss Keroy with praises for a good half the day, making her bashfully bury her head in her wings.

Fortunately, under Teacher Cat’s guidance, Ethan gradually mastered the use of spiritual linkage, hiding Miss Keroy’s golden glow. Otherwise, should the residents of Ximu Town see her shining appearance, before long, the church might send people to take Miss Keroy back to the imperial capital as a divine bird to be worshipped.

"Ethan, my brother...?"

Hagrid slowly regained consciousness, only feeling parched. He stared at the ceiling for a long time before asking in confusion, "Where is this? How did I end up here?"

"You passed out after leaving the Back Street Bar, and they brought you to the inn."

Hagrid chuckled, "Ha, it was just getting drunk, wasn’t it? It happens often. Surely, you’re not worried about your old brother’s drinking capacity, are you?"

"It’s not your drinking capacity I’m worried about; it’s that they might eliminate you."

Ethan said, "The Guild’s hunters said a big figure came to town, why were you in such a rush to drink with him?"

"It’s a private affair, private affair."

Hagrid dodged the topic.

"The Reception Bureau sent me to investigate."

Upon hearing this, Hagrid’s face changed immediately, "Reception Bureau? Are you guys now monitoring people’s drinking too?"

"It’s about the Haywood Mine matter."