Jonah, who had inexplicably learned a useless language, was lying on the haystack with complicated emotions. He couldn't fall asleep for a long time. Under the opposite wall, an oriental man named Asai was lying on his side. His breathing was calm and long. He must have fallen asleep. The astrologer's apprentice carefully stood up and observed his companion in the room, making sure that the other party had fallen asleep. Then he took out the remaining pages of the unknown book from his arms, and then looked at the stars.
To be honest, Jonah is now deeply afraid of the prophecy of the betrayer Segres. Every scene in the prophecy that he has personally experienced is a disaster. No matter how hard he tries, he cannot prevent a disaster from happening. But he knew in his heart that it was the mysterious prophet who brought him here with a series of events. Regardless of whether he was prepared or not, the next prophecy would definitely come true somewhere at some time.
"At the top of the Blue Castle. Ayala and Gamaliel heard the call of the messenger from heaven. The mountain peak opened. The rain stopped. A thorn bird appeared on the road singing."
Prophecy. Jonah collected several scraps of paper. He turned over and thought about the meaning of this sentence. There was also no date. The location was the top of the 'Blue Castle'. Is there a blue castle in the southern continent? It seems necessary to ask Asai tomorrow. Although he doesn’t know much about Easterners, he seems to be a trustworthy person... It would be nice if his swordsmanship could be stronger. Ayala and Gamaliel are referring to Himself and the descendant. It seems that the devil will appear again. Who is the messenger of heaven? Is it the main god Sheila hidden in Sheila Fina, the engraved mark of the gods? The road with the singing of thorn birds leads to where.
The astrologer's apprentice was thinking wildly. He didn't know when he felt sleepy. He couldn't help but fell into a deep sleep. When he opened his eyes again, the sun was already shining in through the window. The Eastern man was standing in front of the window looking at the sky. He noticed that his companion had woken up. . turned around and said with a smile: "Good morning. It seems like the weather is good for traveling."
Jonah rubbed his eyes. It took him a few minutes to remember where he was and who was next to him. "Asai, what time is it now? Have the herdsmen come?"
Hearing this, Asai took out the creaking tattered pocket watch from his pocket and started playing with it. The hands of the watch spun around with the sound of steam, and finally pointed to eight o'clock. "It's just after eight o'clock. They should come quickly." Breakfast is served."
While they were talking, footsteps sounded outside the door. Two plates of food and two basins of soup were stuffed into the crack of the door. Jonah quickly shouted: "Tell them my identity quickly. Let them open the door."
The Easterner walked to the door and repeated the words he said last night. The two herdsmen outside the door seemed a little confused after listening. They stood there, neither opening the door nor walking away. Jonah had an idea and took out the Astrologer's Apprentice. The badge was slipped through the crack of the door. "Let them see for themselves."
There was no need for Asai to translate. People outside suddenly exclaimed. Footsteps ran away. A few minutes later, the sound of chaotic running and shouting rang out. The Oriental man straightened his clothes and said with a smile: "This is going downhill."
The door was opened from the outside. The dazzling sunlight suddenly filled the small stone house. Jonah couldn't help but squint his eyes. After getting used to the strong sunlight, he was surprised to find a man in a white robe kneeling in the darkness outside the door. He had one leg. The one who knelt down at the front was the middle-aged uncle who knocked him unconscious with a barrel yesterday. He didn't look powerful at all now. He held up the dark blue Astrologer Association badge with his palms high and lowered it deeply. He lowered his head and his shoulders couldn't help but tremble.
The astrologer apprentice had no idea that these local residents took their status so seriously. He had lived in St. Bollen for many years. No one had ever taken the initiative to kneel down to him. Even senior astrologers like Mr. Keshava could only get passers-by at most. He just bowed and saluted. He turned to look at Asai in surprise. The Easterner smiled and said: "I know why. The war is about to begin. Emperor Isaibaink is vigorously recruiting strong men from all walks of life to join the Tocharian army. The five major guilds Members are even more of a top priority. Facing big shots like you, he must have issued more perverted regulations than the "Joint Amnesty Act."
"Then you attacked me yesterday..." Yona took the badge angrily and pinned it on his lapel.
"I also know why. As soon as the new regulations came out, there must have been more people cheating on food and drink in the name of guild members. The border town of Maracanda must have suffered a lot. There are no badges. They I won't let my guard down." Asai nodded understandingly. "What do you want me to translate now?"
"Oh. Tell them that I forgive them. After breakfast, I want to find the fastest transportation to Bactria." Yona sighed. "By the way. Of course, forgive me. New friend. He can compensate for all the losses of the dead livestock... You can afford it." After saying this, he looked at Asai with a guilty look.
The Easterner replied in embarrassment: "I am very poor...at least I am poor now..."
Jonah helplessly took out his deerskin bag and took out a gold coin. This was accidentally brought out when he was excavating the legacy of the King of Sand Thieves in the Backworm Spine. Several gold coins and two gems were part of this fantastic treasure hunt. All souvenirs of the experience.
Asai repeated Jonah's words to the herdsmen. The leading uncle kissed the astrologer's apprentice's feet with gratitude. He dared not accept a gold coin as compensation. A few minutes later, they were invited to the largest house in the town. The table was filled with all kinds of delicious food. He was accompanied by the oldest elder in the town. According to the Eastern translation, this elder was Uncle Bucket’s grandfather, the most knowledgeable person in Marakanda. .The honorary mayor of the town.
"Honorary mayor. Who is the mayor?" Jonah couldn't help but ask.
The elder with a white beard that reaches to his waist wears a colorful turban. He looks a level higher than the herdsmen with white turbans on their heads. The old man can actually speak the common language of the Western Continent. Jonah can't help but be impressed. "The mayor. Your Excellency is an aristocratic gentleman appointed by His Majesty the Emperor to manage Marakanda. He does not live here. He comes to the town from the provincial capital to inspect the town once every Tuesday. Today happens to be Tuesday, May 7th. The gentleman will arrive at about ten o'clock in the morning. ." the honorary mayor introduced.
"Please have a meal. Please have a meal." Uncle Bucket, who was standing beside him, said with a smile on his face and in extremely non-standard Western Continental dialect.
The two men were eating a sumptuous breakfast while listening to the old man's introduction to the situation in Marakanda. As Asay said, there have been so many scammers taking advantage of Emperor Isaibaink's recruitment order in recent months. Just last Tuesday, a few were arrested and escorted by the mayor to the provincial capital for trial. After repeatedly expressing his apology, the elder said: "Master Astrologer, you and your fellow swordsmen can take the ride today. The steam carriage goes to Bactria. There is a steam carriage to the southeast from Malakanda every day. The carriage passes through Isfahan, the capital of the northwest province. It passes through the vast territory of the Tocharian Empire and reaches the Golden Land. It takes anywhere from five to seven days, but only today. Every Tuesday, on a fixed schedule, there will be a steam carriage specially prepared for VIPs to set sail. That is the 'Midnight Star' aboard the mayor. 'Steam carriage. The fastest land transportation in the entire southern continent."
Jonah's eyes lit up. "'Midnight Star'. Is it fast? How fast."
The honorary mayor proudly said: "Ordinary steam carriages can only drive from Maracanda to the City of Gold in one week. But the 'Midnight Star' can make a round trip in one week."
"It only takes three days. That's great. Then I can definitely meet the May 15th deadline and join my friends." Yona waved his fist excitedly.
"Please have a meal. Please have a meal." Uncle Bucket thought that the big man had some dissatisfaction, so he was chattering beside him in a low voice.
"Well. That's great. Then I can complete the task before the period of weakness..." The Easterner stroked the end of his braid thoughtfully.
Jonah picked up the wine glass and took a sip of the fragrant sparkling wine. "By the way. I know that there is a very large ship in the Endless Sand Sea called the 'Racing Star'. Does it have anything to do with the 'Midnight Star'?"
"Yes, yes. Astrologer, wait a moment." The old man took out a pair of crystal eyes from somewhere and placed it on the bridge of his nose. He took out a dusty book from under the table and opened it to a certain Page began to recite: "A long time ago, the Southern Continent was a harmonious pure land. There were no wars and no disasters. People were scattered everywhere and traveling was inconvenient. So the Tantuha people created the sand-eating worm building 'Racing Star'. The Lores built the steam carriage 'Midnight Star'. The Vedic people built the moving castle 'Royal Star'. The three stars illuminated the transportation civilization of the entire continent."
Jonah thought for a while. "The Tantuha people are the indigenous people of the endless sand sea. I know that the Vedic people are the residents of the Buddhist country. Later, the rebels took over the power and renamed the Vedic country, right? Flo Who are the Les people?"
"The natives of the southern Tocharian Empire. The inventors of steam puppet technology. The dwarf race." Asai explained in a low voice.
"What. Steam Puppetry was not invented by us humans." The astrologer's apprentice banged the table in surprise. "Are there any dwarfs in the Steam Puppet Warlock Association? Where did steam puppet warlocks like Lame Henry learn it? to technical ones.”
"Please have a meal. Please have a meal." Uncle Bucket said with sweat on his face.
At this moment, the pepper shaker on the table, the soup basin, the wine in the wine glass and the fork all started to vibrate together. A rumble like a thunderous sound echoed through the sky. The entire ground began to shake. The honorary mayor looked happy. . Jumped off the chair: "Master Astrologer. Master Swordsman. The 'Midnight Star' has arrived early again. Can we go out together to meet the mayor? A real astrologer. He will be happy to see you." "