I Ascend to the Divine Throne through Arcane Means

Ding-a-ling~

The brass-colored, worn doorbell jingled as the creaky wooden door of the tavern was pushed open from the outside, with the piercing cold wind howling as it followed Lis inside.

Dressed like a typical mercenary, Lis swiftly closed the door behind him and surveyed the somewhat cramped tavern.

Perhaps because the winters here were so harsh, the windows of the tavern were small circular holes carved out of the thick brick walls, which were now firmly sealed with rough planks and cotton fabric. A black fireplace on the side burned with fiery flames, providing ample warmth to this little tavern in the midst of winter.

Even though the fireplace and several Magic Stone Lamps weren't enough to completely dispel the gloom inside, they did nothing to dampen the high-spirited shouts and yells of the mercenaries.

By the wall, a drunken minstrel strummed and sung of heroic ballads.

This was the Mercenary Tavern of Snow Ridge Town, and just like mercenary taverns elsewhere, it was the favorite haunt of mercenaries in their leisure time.

A tankard of aromatic barley wine, a plate of cured ham, and a few willing friends to listen were enough to while away an entire day. One could drunkenly head home for a good night's sleep, fully relaxing the tense nerves strained from days of fulfilling commissions. Continue your adventure at empire

However, Lis noted something different about this tavern.

Many of the mercenaries were comparatively burlier, with high noses and pale complexions, bearing some traits of the Dillon Kingdom's northern race. Lis even spotted several dwarves and two Half-beast individuals of the Cat Race among the mercenaries.

Looking at the Half-beast's furry ears and happily wagging tails, Lis couldn't help feeling somewhat sentimental.

As Lis gradually left the heartland of the Human Kingdom, he saw more adventurers of miscellaneous races appearing in the Mercenary Guild.

In his past life, many players had vehemently complained to game companies, lamenting why they could only pick Humans and not other races.

This was Snow Ridge Town, where, after parting ways with the Feis caravan, Lis embarked on his journey alone.

The Luoxue Mountain Range, marking the border between Feis Kingdom and Dillon Kingdom, was a region where neither kingdom exerted strong control. Snow Ridge Town, situated at the foot of the Luoxue Mountains within the Feis Kingdom, thrived on the abundance of specialty goods and precious ores found in the mountains.

The majority of mercenaries arriving here were preparing to venture into the mountains to hunt Magic Beasts and obtain valuable materials.

Traveling alone, Lis was much faster than the caravan. Still, it took him half a month to reach this destination.

This was Lis's intended destination for his journey, the location of the ruins left by the Legendary Arcanist.

Though Lis had received a lot of useful information from his teacher, they were only fragmented clues. To find the actual location of the ruins, he still needed to put in more effort.

First and foremost, collecting information!

Lis made his way straight to the tavern's bar and took a seat, saying to the servant,

"A large mug of Cold Barley Wine and a serving of honey-cured fish, please."

Cold Barley Wine was brewed using a special variety of Cold Land Wheat produced in the Northern Territory. This new kind of wheat was cultivated by the Druids of the Oak Sage organization, capable of surviving the harsh cold of the north, though the yield was lower compared to regular wheat.

The Cold Barley Wine made from this wheat had a crisp taste and a unique, lingering fragrance that many found irresistible. Of course, that also meant it was considerably more expensive.

Honey-cured fish was a local specialty dish where small river-caught fish were smoked and then marinated in honey. It could be preserved for long periods, providing a unique flavor during the lengthy winters.

In his past life, Lis had been quite fond of this Northern delicacy, with its sweet taste that left one longing for more.

"Sure, just a moment,"

The tavern's servant was a mature and elegant beauty with a charismatic presence.

She responded with a smile, her attire simple and her bosom generous.

Dong~

She gently placed a plate containing several black-red fish in front of Lis and then, with some effort, brought over a wooden beer mug filled with deep golden barley wine.

The tavern was quite clean. Despite its unimpressive exterior, the cups and plates appeared well-washed, and the bar was free from the usual black grease stains.

After everything was served, Lis did not rush to taste it but took out a Feis Gold Coin.

Ting... Ting...

This brand-new gold coin, embossed with the longsword emblem of the Feis Royal Family and the Dawn Holy Emblem of the Dawn Church, was held between the fingers of Lis's right hand, lightly tapping on the dark grey wooden bar counter.

"It's my first time here at Snow Ridge Town, and there are a few things I'd like to inquire about. I wonder who would be the right person to ask?"

The female servant didn't fixate on the gold coin in Lis's hand but threw him a charming glance and said with a smile:

"Unless it's some hidden information, I think I can be of assistance."

"Good."

Lis said with a smile, after all, he was only looking for some basic information right now.

With a flick of his finger, the coin made a crisp sound, tracing a beautiful arc through the air before landing in the deep valley of the servant's chest.

The servant laughed lightly, nonchalantly picking the coin from her clothing, gave it a kiss with her red lips, and then contentedly tucked it away.

"My name is Julia. Is there something you wish to ask, sir?"

Julia brushed a few strands of her brown hair behind her ear, leaned in lazily over the bar, her eyes twinkling with seduction, allure, and mischief as she looked at Lis, completely unconcerned that her chest was nearly completely exposed.

Lis was utterly unfazed by Julia's charm. Ha, using this to test me, a veteran of countless battles?

"I heard that a purple fog appears here in Snow Ridge Town?"

"Indeed, that does happen."

Julia gave Lis a bewitching glance and nodded in confirmation.

This was actually the first time someone had asked her about it; could it be that this young man was here to admire the scenery as a tourist?

"That's somewhat of a unique weather pattern for Snow Ridge Town. Each year during autumn and winter, this purple fog appears from time to time."

"At first, it seemed quite beautiful and dreamy, but after a while, it's just more of the same."

"Do you know the extent of the area affected by the fog each time it appears?"

Lis picked up a piece of fish and placed it in his mouth, savoring its sweet taste, then continued to inquire.

"...I'm not really sure about that, it's probably just around Snow Ridge Town and a small part of the nearby Luoxue Mountain Range. I haven't heard of it appearing anywhere else."

Julia said after a moment of silence, her curiosity about Lis growing.

"Is that so?"

Lis thought for a moment and took a big gulp of his Cold Barley Wine.

"Are there any ruins around Snow Ridge Town?"

Julia did not hesitate this time; she was quite familiar with this subject, having worked at the Mercenary Tavern for a long time.

"No, I've never heard of any mercenaries discovering ruins around the Luoxue Mountain Range."

Lis nodded; this matched the situation from his previous life. He was mentally prepared.

"By the way, are there any legends or stories about Snow Ridge Town? I'm quite curious about that."

Julia thought for a moment and then said with a smile:

"There are, but as far as stories related to Snow Ridge Town go, there's just that one."