Chapter 107: The Fortune Teller

Zhao Xu raised his hand and pressed down on the restless Maple Leaf, signaling him to release the thief’s collar first.

With the combined strength of the three of them, they were more than capable of handling this group of thieves in a single clash.

However, this was not the wilderness. Any commotion would quickly attract the nearby guards. By then, even if they were in the right, their position would become untenable.

If these thieves dared to operate so close to the city gates without prior arrangements, then Zhao Xu’s years of experience as a security officer in his past life were worthless.

“So, you’re saying this wallet belongs to you?” Zhao Xu asked with a broad smile, his gaze fixed on the young thief—no more than eighteen or nineteen—who had already learned how to be fierce and ruthless.

“That’s right. You outsiders better just go back to your own nests,” the thief, Chuck, sneered, mistaking Zhao Xu’s calm demeanor for submission as he hissed threateningly in his ear.

Zhao Xu’s scholarly appearance clearly marked him as someone from a different social stratum.

Yet, the key figures of Crescent Moon Town had undergone training from day one and knew the situation inside out.

These transient outsiders had always been the easiest prey.

“Young man, some things aren’t yours to hold; they’ll burn your hands,” Zhao Xu said, as if slipping back into the role he once played in his past life.

Chuck, suddenly feeling as if he were facing the town’s law enforcement officer, momentarily hesitated before regaining his composure, his resentment growing. “Don’t think we’re scared just because you’re playing the big shot. The Morin Brotherhood has never backed down from anyone.”

He then turned to his companions. “Brothers, someone’s messed up my clothes. What do you say we teach him a lesson?”

Chuck shook his collar, indicating that Maple Leaf’s grip had already wrinkled his clothes.

“Compensation, of course. I have to say, this gentleman’s outfit looks pretty good. Chuck, you’d look like a proper man in that, haha,” another of Chuck’s comrades chimed in as he stepped forward.

Zhao Xu glanced into the distance, noting that the person he sought was drawing near. He thought to himself, “Perfect timing. If I resort to fighting now, it would be beneath my dignity.”

“You let go of that wallet first. I can prove it belongs to us. If I can’t, I’ll compensate you for the damage to your clothes,” Zhao Xu said with a hint of slyness.

Chuck’s eyes lit up with delight at the prospect. If he got to keep this outfit as a trophy, he could already imagine how imposing he’d look dressed as a scholar.

Chuck opened his palm.

Having been through full training, they knew exactly how to trap Zhao Xu with their next words, no matter what he said.

Chuck sneered inwardly. This foolish man was so naive—did he really think the previous owner hadn’t confronted them or tried to prove his ownership?

The temple of the goddess of justice hadn’t yet extended its reach to Crescent Moon Town!

Only a mix of all walks of life could make this place truly thrive.

“Have you ever heard an old Arthurian saying? ‘Everything chooses its own master,’” Zhao Xu began, then quietly muttered a simple incantation—“Mage’s Hand.”

With a flick of his wrist, the wallet lying quietly in Chuck’s palm suddenly rose into the air and flew toward him.

“You’re playing tricks,” Chuck blustered, clearly flustered to see the wallet back in Zhao Xu’s hands, but inside he sneered. Now, not only would he get the wallet and the clothes, but he could also take a swing at this man.

Zhao Xu remained serene and unruffled.

Maple Leaf and Rainbow immediately placed their hands on their weapons, disregarding whether a fight could even break out or if they could survive after.

Chuck raised his fist, ready to strike forward, but a thin, hawk-like hand slammed heavily onto his shoulder, forcibly deflecting his blow.

That familiar sensation instantly cooled the fire burning inside Chuck.

He turned in surprise to see it was Iron Flow, the second-in-command of their brotherhood and the master who taught them their craft.

Before Chuck could speak, Iron Flow’s hand slid down his arm, finally grasping Chuck’s right index finger. “Sir, my apologies for my man’s disrespect just now. I will now punish him accordingly.”

“No need to break any fingers. I’m not interested in crippling others,” Zhao Xu said impatiently, having seen enough of these theatrics.

“Very well,” Iron Flow replied sincerely.

A swift whip-like kick followed.

Chuck immediately dropped to his knees, nearly vomiting bile.

Iron Flow’s men behind him felt their hearts skip a beat.

Chuck gritted his teeth, sweat beading on his forehead, yet dared not utter a sound.

“Is this satisfactory, sir?” Iron Flow bowed respectfully.

“That’ll do,” Zhao Xu replied, internally disgusted but expecting nothing else.

“Let’s go,” Zhao Xu said, tossing the wallet to Maple Leaf and walking away without a glance back.

Maple Leaf and Rainbow trailed behind him through several crowds until the group of thieves disappeared around a corner. Only then did Maple Leaf ask, “Mr. Midsummer, what exactly is going on? Why did that man end up punished instead?”

“It’s simple—I was bluffing with borrowed authority,” Zhao Xu explained calmly. “I just came out of the Mage’s Association and used a zero-level spell, ‘Mage’s Hand.’ The leader of those thieves—the old man—naturally assumed I was connected to the Association and didn’t dare provoke me.”

Maple Leaf understood and bowed his head in self-reproach. “I acted rashly. We have a mission, and the wallet contained little money. Losing it wouldn’t have mattered, but we almost jeopardized everything. Still, that old man was ruthless. If he’d broken even one finger of his men, they’d be out of commission for at least half a month.”

Zhao Xu smiled but said nothing further.

The old man hadn’t punished Chuck immediately, and since he accepted Zhao Xu’s explanation, matters were more complicated than they appeared.

Back home, that kid would suffer the consequences for picking the wrong target.

Mage’s zero-level spells are called tricks for a reason—they look too much like rural magicians’ sleight of hand.

So the thief’s first reaction upon seeing the spell wasn’t fear, but anger, thinking he was being fooled.

But Zhao Xu knew well that from the moment he entered to when he left the Association, the old man stood nearby, using the openness and vantage of the Association to observe the market.

And when Zhao Xu stepped in to stop the conflict, the old man followed and watched from a distance.

Therefore, once Zhao Xu successfully cast the spell, even the foolhardy old man should have realized he was a true mage.

To provoke a mage near the Association was tantamount to spitting on the statue of death and daring it to strike.

Had the old man not been present, Zhao Xu would have cast a first-level spell instead, one that would have made the thieves understand exactly whom they’d crossed.

Zhao Xu had to cast a spell—it was the only way to scare off the Morin Brotherhood and keep them from tailing them further.

Otherwise, losing the wallet wouldn’t have been the worst; the entire mission could have been compromised. These underground forces were far more sensitive to danger than ordinary people.

As Zhao Xu pondered this, they followed Roya’s instructions, wandering around Crescent Moon Town for a while to ensure no one was following before finally entering a deep, shadowy fortune-telling shop that looked as if it never had customers.

Pulling aside the grimy, dust-covered curtain at the door, Rainbow looked around the interior with distaste.

A simple crystal ball rested on soft velvet, and numerous divination cards hung on the walls.

An incense burner in the corner continuously burned mugwort.

“Is anyone here?” Maple Leaf asked curiously.

Yesterday, Es had confirmed that their contact would be waiting here today.

“Is anyone there?” Rainbow couldn’t help but call out loudly.

The air was thick and oppressive, like the calm before a storm, but no response echoed back.

Driven by his wanderer’s instincts, Rainbow cautiously stepped toward the back room to look for any signs of life.

But after only a few steps, he froze, his voice trembling. “Brother Maple, Mr. Midsummer, come quickly.”

Zhao Xu rushed over.

The back room was a mess, thoroughly ransacked.

But what caught their eyes most painfully was the sight of a dead man dressed in the fortune-teller’s clothes—matching their contact’s description—lying slumped on a stool with a longsword plunged through his heart.

Suddenly, Zhao Xu’s mind cleared completely.

He understood: this mission was over.

His adventure had come to an end.