Chapter 304: A Conversation with the City Lord of Ninglan New City
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 304: A Conversation with the City Lord of Ninglan New City
When we set foot in Ninglan Township Castle, the first thing that caught my eye was a massive gate crafted from an unknown wood. It was carved with intricate patterns and decorations—designs that seemed to represent a specific heritage, perhaps the crest of the Ninglan family?
I spotted the simplest of runes within the carvings, the most primitive of composite runes. They had applied these patterns to the gate as if they were mere ornaments. To a layman, they might look impressive, but I could tell at a glance that these particular rune combinations were utterly meaningless.
The doors swung open to reveal a vast interior. It wasn't the gilded, magnificent hall I had imagined a castle to be; instead, it was filled with ancient portraits and carpets so worn they had begun to lose their color and pile.
A grand chandelier hung from the ceiling, powered by transcendent energy. After a few glances, I recognized that its structure shared a similar logic with the Light Illumination spell from the Minor Spell Tree.
The light provided ample illumination for the otherwise dim interior. The space within Ninglan Township Castle seemed to be divided into many sectors, but the area I assumed was the living room had been converted into a massive office. A gargantuan desk dominated the field of vision, flanked by mountains of documents.
Several assistants were bustling about, and the man sitting behind that desk was presumably the City Lord of Ninglan New City.
With his rugged, robust physique, he looked more like a gym coach than a man who should be holding a pen and processing government affairs.
As we approached, the assistants and other officials merely spared me a fleeting glance before returning to their work. Even the City Lord only seemed to notice our arrival at the last moment, looking up with an expression of feigned surprise.
"Hmm? Welcome, you two. Mo Le, are these two ladies the guests who have come to our Ninglan New City?"
"Yes, City Lord," Mo Le replied with a respectful bow.
"Ladies, allow me to introduce myself. I am Ninglan Qiuyun, the City Lord of Ninglan New City. I took the liberty of inviting you here because I wish to learn more about you. Of course, if there is anything you wish to know about me or this place, I will do my best to answer."
"Hello. My name is Yang Yuehan, and this is Bai Yu. My arrival in Ninglan New City was something of an accident. I hope we aren't intruding?"
"Not at all. I've just about finished the tasks at hand. Why don't we move to the reception room? We can talk more freely there," Ninglan Qiuyun said, rising from his seat.
He spoke with great politeness, which formed a stark contrast to his hulking frame.
The reception room he led us to was decorated with the same simplicity, yet it possessed a certain refined quality—fitting for a place meant to receive foreign guests.
Once tea had been served, Ninglan Qiuyun sat across from us and began the meeting.
"May I ask where you two ladies hail from?" Ninglan Qiuyun asked me directly.
"I'm not entirely sure myself. I heard that you have received other outsiders before, City Lord. I imagine you must have gathered some useful information from them?"
"I didn't expect you to know that. However, it wasn't particularly useful information. Since you put it that way, does it mean you come from the same place as those people?"
"Theoretically, yes, we are from the same place, though we don't necessarily know each other. I'm curious how you've settled those fellows. I hope they haven't caused you too much trouble? I wouldn't want that to interfere with our communication."
"For those willing to stay, I have generally arranged accommodations for them at the hotel. As for trouble... there have indeed been some lawless individuals who have committed quite a few sordid deeds."
"My apologies. There will always be an irreconcilable gap between different types of people. But... City Lord, your Ninglan New City must have run into some trouble recently, hasn't it?" I asked.
I had no intention of taking the fall for others. It was better to distance myself from those people early on to prevent any misunderstandings between me and the City Lord.
"Oh?" Hearing me shift the topic, Ninglan Qiuyun’s expression turned solemn. It seemed they were indeed facing significant trouble.
It made sense. After all, our consciousnesses had been pulled in by the Nightmare. Ninglan New City couldn't have only encountered us; they must have encountered Nightmares as well, or perhaps even... Dream Demons!
Dream Demons weren't like us; they weren't just bystanders. Their ability to travel between reality and the Dreamscape was a complete violation of the rules.
If Ninglan Qiuyun wanted to gather intelligence through us, he couldn't avoid the topic of the Nightmares.
"It seems you know something, don't you?"
"I do know a few things, but not everything. However... before we discuss that, may I ask how much you currently know about us?"
I wasn't following the usual script. I didn't use any diplomatic fluff or roundabout phrasing. The most effective way to get high-level intelligence was to ask directly.
Ninglan Qiuyun couldn't help but chuckle at my question. However, this also meant the topic was out in the open. If he shared his information, he could expect information in return—though that depended on whether the other party played fair.
"As far as I know, you are also victims of an accident, correct? I believe there is a basis for cooperation between us. You two are slightly different from the outsiders I've encountered before. Allow me to make a bold guess... you are the type who handles these incidents and resolves the trouble, aren't you?"
"That is a bold guess. But how should I put it? I'm not exactly the type who 'handles' the trouble, but I am an active participant. As for cooperation... that will have to wait until I've cleared up the situation and figured out my own needs. Solving your troubles isn't something I'm particularly worried about."
"Fair enough, perhaps I was being too forward. But would you be willing to share the intelligence you have? We can provide you with assistance in return." Ninglan Qiuyun shook his head, his small scheme having failed, and shifted to a standard inquiry.
"I could, but... you understand the nature of our existence. What kind of help can you actually provide us?" I asked with a smile.
"While it's true we don't exist in the same world and cannot form any physical connection, if you provide us with valuable intelligence, we will fully cooperate with your actions. This is Ninglan New City's territory, after all. With our cooperation, whatever you intend to do will be much more convenient, wouldn't you agree?"
"That's a fair point." I nodded, inwardly marveling at his attempt to get something for nothing. In a single sentence, he was trying to trade "legality" for our movements and investigations—something he couldn't really stop anyway—in exchange for hard intel.
Logically, I didn't need to do this. They couldn't stop us from doing whatever we wanted. But doing so would mean making an enemy of them, destroying any foundation for cooperation.
As natives, they knew far more than we did. As newcomers, we desperately needed that information. Moreover, I had developed a great interest in this Ninglan New City.
I wanted to know the history of this place—the ruins, the former civilization. Did it have any connection to my world? Why did the Academy Dean arrange for us to be here? Was there a specific purpose, or was this development beyond the Dean's original plan?
"So, what is your decision?"
"To a happy cooperation, then," I said with a smile. Given the choice between friendship and enmity, I naturally chose the former. I had no major conflict of interest with this world, and hoarding this information was pointless. The goodwill shown by Ninglan New City exceeded my expectations; the fact that they didn't view all outsiders as enemies spoke volumes about the City Lord's character.
"Happy cooperation. Well said." Hearing my response, Ninglan Qiuyun didn't hide his joy.
The troubles he had faced these past few days had been more of a headache than the reports of mutant beast tides during past energy surges. He hadn't even figured out what was going on. His order to contact the more approachable outsiders had been a risky move, intended to gather information from the source of the trouble, but the results had been lackluster.
Now that there was progress, he was naturally overjoyed. However, intelligence was one thing; handling the situation was another. He didn't want to cause unnecessary complications; he only wanted to fulfill the Ninglan family's mission of guarding the city and ensuring its survival. If the outsiders were merely untouchable ghosts, he wouldn't be this anxious.
But those clearly harmful entities that caused widespread nightmares among the residents were a real problem. They were a massive threat to the stability of Ninglan New City.
And then there was that other unknown monster. That creature could actually harm them, yet their own attacks passed right through it. That was a grave issue. It meant that the beautiful monster could kill them as easily as turning over a hand!
It was safe to say Ninglan Qiuyun hadn't slept well in days. Ninglan New City had stood upon these ruins for a thousand years, yet its fortifications were useless against such an enemy. How could he rest?
"So, can we talk about the exchange of intelligence now?"
"Of course. But you can't expect me to just give a lecture. We are strangers, and we don't know the depths of each other's knowledge. Instead of me guessing what's valuable, it would be better if you asked questions. That way, I won't overlook information you might desperately need."
"Good, how straightforward. Then I won't stand on ceremony. I want to know: in your world, was this event caused by your people?"
"There's no sincerity in that question. We are also ordinary people caught in the crossfire. Perhaps it was caused by someone from our side, but none of the people affected have the power to do such a thing."
"My apologies, that was abrupt. What I meant to ask is: what is this event called in your world? I've asked this before, but many outsiders said they didn't know. I suspect you do."
"I see... I do know. We aren't the first victims, after all. This event is called the 'Sleep Curse.' Those affected fall into a deep slumber and cannot be woken. It seems the consciousnesses of those sleeping have been brought here."
"The Sleep Curse..." Ninglan Qiuyun pondered the answer for a moment. "Then, have you found a way to break this curse?"
"Not yet," I said, shaking my head.
"Then do you know the cause or the source of this so-called Sleep Curse?"
"The source is the Nightmares. Those things that look like formless black mist."
"Nightmares? So that's what they're called? The things that invade people's dreams while they sleep and create demons?"
"Exactly. It looks like you've already been 'visited' by them," I said, looking at Ninglan Qiuyun with a smile.
"Indeed. We've been driven to the brink of nervous breakdowns by those things lately. Do you have a way to deal with them?" Ninglan Qiuyun shook his head with a bitter smile, then looked at me expectantly.
"I suppose... Before we found Ninglan New City, we encountered these Nightmares. Our attacks have the potential to kill them."
"Only a potential?"
"Yes. I haven't actually killed one yet; it managed to escape."
"That is a pity," Ninglan Qiuyun sighed.
"Since you can kill these Nightmares, may I commission you to help us exterminate them the next time they appear in Ninglan New City? After all, they are your enemies as well. Helping us is helping yourselves, isn't it?"
"Actually, you don't necessarily need to commission us. Other outsiders should be able to do it too. We have a reason why we currently cannot engage with the Nightmares or anything related to them."
"Is that so? What a shame. But thank you for telling me. If it's convenient, could you tell me why you have such a reason?"
"It's roughly the same logic as not wanting to get your hands dirty while handling trash. Does that make sense?" I explained. If we handled the Nightmares, we would be stained with Luck. For others, Luck was negligible, but for us, it was a different story. Ignorance was bliss for the others.
"I see. I understand. By the way, we recently encountered beings similar to you. Like you, we cannot touch them, but they can kill our people. Such existences are far too dangerous. Are they also people from your world?"
"Those aren't people, and they aren't from our world. You could say they are also our enemies. That creature is called a Dream Demon. How should I describe it to you..."
"It's fine, I'm in no hurry. Take your time," Ninglan Qiuyun said. This was vital intelligence, and he was willing to spend the time to get it.
"You know our presence here is caused by the Sleep Curse. That is to say, we are currently appearing in the Dreamscape in the form of consciousness. What follows is my theory: I suspect the Dreamscape we are in has intersected with your reality. That's why we cannot touch each other. The key evidence is the nature of the Dream Demon. It is a monster that can travel between dreams and reality. As long as her reactions are fast enough, neither you in reality nor we in the Dreamscape can kill her."
"This... according to what you're saying, if we were to attack simultaneously from both reality and the Dreamscape, that monster would have nowhere to hide?"
"Theoretically, yes. You're very sharp, City Lord, to come up with a countermeasure so quickly. In truth, as long as you catch her off guard, even a sneak attack could succeed."
"You flatter me... it's just simple logic. But since you mentioned the Dream Demon, I assume there must be many other enemies like that? I've seen many outsiders whose forms are certainly not pure human."
"Well, theoretically, our only true enemies are the Nightmares and the Dream Demons. The others you've seen are also our people; their forms are simply the price they paid for mastering certain transcendent powers. Of course, there may be some friction or a pecking order of prejudice among them. I hope you won't be misled by what I just said."
"Is that so? Then this matter is even more complicated than I thought... Let's talk about something else for now."
"Alright."