When they heard the Witch of the Tower's title, everyone couldn't help but gasp. They stole glances at her—the pointed hat, the flying broom—she was the textbook archetype of a witch, missing only a black cat.
They were terrified that she might turn them into frogs or something.
Don't think of it as a joke.
If such words were used to scare children back on Blue Star, then in this world where magic actually existed, it was far more than a simple childhood threat.
Moreover, it was common knowledge that this 'Witch of the Tower' seemed to be an alchemist who loved research.
Was Susie fanning the flames?
You could say that.
As the person in charge of the Adventurers' Guild in the Golden Plains—even if she was only a temporary 'acting president'—these people had infringed upon her jurisdiction.
Who they were, where they came from, what they were doing, and where they were going were all irrelevant to her.
But entering the Golden Plains so silently without so much as a greeting was something she could not tolerate.
Again, her responsibility was to look after the Golden Plains for the Adventurers' Guild.
If these people had just reported to the witches guarding the border, she wouldn't have been so angry.
After all... this was goddamn smuggling!
No administrator could tolerate such a thing appearing in their territory.
Some might think Susie was being a bit overbearing, considering the Golden Plains didn't actually belong to the Adventurers' Guild.
But in reality, the Supreme Council's current plan was to use the Adventurers' Guild as a wedge to gradually roll out their administrative apparatus.
Therefore, any place with an Adventurers' Guild was viewed by the Supreme Council as being under their management—or at least within their sphere of influence.
Otherwise, Susie wouldn't be currently employed by both the Adventurers' Guild and the Supreme Council.
As a branch president of the Adventurers' Guild, Susie naturally had the 'duty to defend the territory,' or in other words, law enforcement rights.
“Hmm... let's set the matter of your identities aside for a moment. I just want to ask: who are you?”
Seeing that she wasn't going to get any answers from Huang Xingming, Lan Qingyou turned her gaze toward the others.
As for Huang Wei... he was just the spoiled, dimwitted son of a wealthy man. Asking someone like him felt like it would pollute her own IQ.
“We're just traveling merchants. We saw on the world channel that the land here in the Golden Plains is very suitable for growing crops, so we came to take a look and do some research.”
A middle-aged, balding man with three frozen fingers missing put on a smile unique to businessmen and grinned at Lan Qingyou.
“Hehe, just ordinary traveling merchants, here for research.”
Lan Qingyou looked at him, tilting her head slightly with a cute, innocent smile.
“Yes, yes, yes. Our chairman wanted to invest in the planting industry here.”
The balding man nodded repeatedly, as if trying to solidify his story.
“I see. Then you must have been asking for directions in front of Huang Xingming’s shelter.”
Lan Qingyou followed his lead.
“Exactly, we were just asking for directions.”
Biu!
In an instant, a hole emitting faint blue smoke was blasted through the balding man's forehead. He collapsed immediately, dead on the spot.
“This...”
The sudden turn of events made everyone stare at Lan Qingyou in shock. They then saw two iron cones floating beside her, glinting coldly under the sunlight.
The tip of one of the iron cones was still emitting wisps of smoke, identical to the hole in the balding man's head.
Anyone with half a brain could see that this was a summary execution.
“You... surely you don't think I have a lot of free time?”
Lan Qingyou scanned the remaining 'merchants' with a frigid gaze.
They all lowered their heads like frightened quails, terrified that Lan Qingyou would call on them next.
“You. Yes, you. Continue. Who are you, and how did you get here?”
Did they think they could avoid being called on just by being afraid?
Obviously not.
A fellow who had been praying in his heart just a second ago was pointed out by Lan Qingyou.
“Ah! Me? I...”
Biu!
Before the man could even finish his sentence, he was gunned down.
“That was more than three sentences. I hope the next person pays better attention.”
“...”
Why the sudden change in tactics... You didn't even mention that rule just now!
Seeing Lan Qingyou’s unpredictable behavior, everyone trembled with fear. This was no longer a question of who would be called on, but a reality that no one would escape.
They could tell Lan Qingyou was subjecting them to extreme psychological pressure.
But even if they realized it, what could they do?
They couldn't resist even a little bit.
Setting aside the fact that they were all missing fingers and toes, they didn't even know when she had pulled out those two floating cannons hovering beside her.
Most importantly—and most lethally—they didn't know how many more of those things Lan Qingyou had.
They were well aware of the existence of Adventurer Cards.
As the number one person on the Kalim continent, it was impossible for Lan Qingyou not to have them.
A card's limit was ten slots, and items of the same type could stack up to 99 per slot.
So the question was: how many did Lan Qingyou have, and was there enough to go around for everyone present?
“We are the liaison team under Formation 505!”
“We were ordered to come here to negotiate with Huang Xingming about joining Formation 505!”
This time, no one had to be called on, because they had all learned to jump at the answer!
“Bastards! You guys—”
Biu.
Another person on the Golden Plains entered a state of 'permanent sleep.'
Lan Qingyou didn't even look at the idiot who had tried to stop the others from answering, acting as if nothing had happened.
Her behavior perfectly embodied the phrase: 'To destroy you has nothing to do with you.'
This cold indifference toward life made even Susie, a fellow witch, feel a chill rise from the bottom of her heart—especially after seeing Lan Qingyou’s smiling face.
“Then let's talk about what Formation 505 is. By the way, how did you get here? A teleportation circle?”
Lan Qingyou smiled as she looked down from about three meters in the air at the two who had raced to answer. The duo looked up at her, their gazes fixed on the witch.
Combined with the man-made ruins surrounding them and the sunlight scattering in the distance...
The composition of the scene actually had a hint of 'salvation' to it.
I must be going crazy.
To actually have such an unrealistic hallucination.
Susie, watching the drama, rubbed her eyes and then the bridge of her nose before screaming internally.
“Oh, right.”
Lan Qingyou clapped her hands and leaned forward with an excited expression.
“Let's do this. If anyone's answer satisfies me, I'll give them a Witch potion as a reward!”
“Huh?!”
“What?”
Not just the two answering, but everyone else—the Huang father and son, and even the spectator Susie—were completely stunned.
Rate on N.U.
