Chapter 125: Your Majesty, Please Don’t—This Puts Your Old Witch Doctor in a Difficult Spot

Soon, the group arrived at a grand hall. Its layout resembled an opera house, yet inside were various devices, mechanical parts, and even arrays of crystals.

Louis detected a faint salty, damp scent—this place must be near the sea.

He glanced toward the large door at the far end; beyond it lay a seaside cliff.

Before the door hung a massive curtain, concealing a colossal object that looked like a five- or six-story building.

Surrounding the curtain were numerous workstations, mechanical parts, and huge robotic arms.

A cold and elegant woman dressed in a high-collared black robe stood before the gigantic curtain, appraising the concealed structure with a frosty gaze.

You felt that her aura somewhat resembled the Evil Queen from a Disney tale—perhaps this beautiful woman had once asked the magic mirror who was the fairest in the land.

Curious as you were, she seemed to be in a sour mood. You decided to...

a. Intervene in the matter between Archie and her, and learn her identity from Archie—who would introduce you, though it was unnecessary since she overheard your conversation with the king and already knew who you were.

Reward: Woman’s hostility towards you +10, random attribute +1.

b. Bow respectfully with Sakura and the others, wearing a flattering smile (she knew you had Lord Ig’s permission and dared not trouble you).

Reward: Woman’s hostility towards you +10.

c. Ignore her completely.

Reward: None.

At that moment, when Sakura spotted the woman, she nearly fainted, dropping her cigarette.

Louis walked beside the woman and looked up at the massive curtain.

With Louis present, Archie was brimming with confidence. He briskly ran over in three strides, leapt onto a robotic arm at a workstation near Louis, pulled out a cigar, and lit it for him. Then, Archie slightly bowed to the woman, took two puffs, and smiled.

“What a coincidence. You needn’t worry about the pilot anymore—I’ve found the perfect ace pilot. His Majesty Ig has approved.”

The woman glanced coldly at Louis and then turned away.

(Woman’s hostility towards you +10)

Seeing her pass by, Sakura quickly pulled Lilith down and bowed deeply. Louis took the cigar from Archie, inhaled, glanced at the woman’s retreating figure, and asked, “Who’s this striking young lady?”

(Woman’s hostility towards you + maximum)

You noticed the woman’s back stiffen slightly, but her steps never faltered; she maintained her aloof demeanor.

This was the second time she had shown hostility toward you—she was present during your previous evaluation.

A mere magical ant barely worthy of a mere card, yet daring to stir up trouble here? Foolhardy!

But she admired audacity; the bolder and more arrogant you were, the more entertaining it was to torment you in the end...

“That’s Her Majesty Delphinia,” Archie exhaled smoke.

(Agility +1)

Louis suddenly realized—he hadn’t recognized her without her usual attire.

He stroked his chin, his expression peculiar.

How did Ig and Delphinia have a child together?

That child looked so much like Ig—and also so much like Osiris. It was definitely Ig’s biological son, and absolutely Osiris’s younger brother.

As for the dragon horns, Ig probably had them when he was a child.

Osiris likely had them as well.

So, it was certain this child was Ig’s true son.

Could it be that Her Majesty Delphinia was once married to Ig for a time, only to be replaced by the old mother-in-law?

But...

Louis couldn’t help but glance again at the departing “Her Majesty Delphinia.”

As an old healer, Louis had some confidence in his judgment.

This Delphinia did not appear as though she had borne children—rather, she looked like a young maiden!

Still, he might be mistaken.

After all, a healer’s methods differed from those of Western or Chinese medicine.

One must observe, inquire, listen, and feel.

Observation alone would not suffice; asking questions—like whether the child was born of Ig and another Ig, or if the deceased husband was hers and the child his posthumous son—would only invite accusations of insanity.

Asking if she married her stepmother would garner similar reactions.

Thus, observing and questioning were both off the table.

Only touching and smelling remained.

Though it felt somewhat rude to examine one’s elder mother-in-law this way, as a sorcerer, it was Louis’s duty to transform the unknown into the known through constant exploration.

He sighed, feeling somewhat troubled.

...

Perhaps because the king had come to inspect today, the area outside was cleared. That explained why no one was here earlier.

While chatting, Louis stood before a large table, staring at a world map, suddenly stunned.

Was this a map of the Warcraft world?

Louis pointed to the northern continent and asked, “Is there a Lich King here?”

Archie and Sakura exchanged confused glances and shook their heads.

Louis looked at Sakura’s and Lilith’s small pointed ears and sighed in relief. Then he examined the map beneath, realizing it only resembled, but was not, the Warcraft continents.

Archie suddenly recalled something, jumped onto the table, and pointed to a mysterious sea between two continents.

“Remember, Louis, you come from the ‘Panda Continent, Cloud Kingdom.’ The wizards there are special, planes are special, and outsiders are special—it seems everyone can cast spells... It’s very mysterious. Few venture there, so I prepared a résumé for you from the Cloud Kingdom.”

“Just remember you’re amazing—talk less, keep the mystery.”

Before long, after Archie finished a cigar, Yordles and goblin engineers returned. Alongside them were humans and Yordles in tight suits with glass helmets—likely the ace pilots.

The scene buzzed with excitement.

To Louis’s surprise, many engineers were actually wizards, and everyone knew each other’s identities.

Archie explained that many veteran engineers were once part of the Warhammer faction and had studied at various wizard academies. Much of the Sons of Lant’s technology derived from magic.

If any wizard heard this, they’d be baffled—how come we never knew we had technology?

Clearly, these Yordle and goblin engineers applied their magical knowledge to engineering.

Soon, Louis met Mr. Lant, who wore large goggles and dressed like a little punk. Upon meeting Louis, he excitedly brandished a stack of documents and spoke rapidly.

“Did you really fly planes for over twenty years in that mysterious ‘Cloud Kingdom’?”

“...”

“You must be my ace pilot!”

It seemed Archie had not only praised Louis lavishly but also fabricated an impressive résumé—an ace pilot.

This résumé was the stack of documents in Lant’s hand, complete with Louis’s photo, claims he was a prince, had participated in various wars, all bearing official seals, making it seem genuine.

Louis glanced at it and then at Archie.

Archie blinked, silently admitting he had made it all up.

Louis was speechless.

“These goblins’ skill at forging documents is truly extraordinary.”

Lant was excited, but many other candidates for the Sons of Lant pilot positions looked resentful. Hearing Archie’s boasting, one ace pilot spat on the ground, saying, “What’s so special? We’ve been flying planes over twenty years too!”