“...
“I hope all the residents of Windmill Town and all the travelers who have come from afar can thoroughly enjoy this Windmill Festival, and I hope you can make unforgettable memories here.
“Finally, I declare the Fish King Grand Prix officially begun!!!”
“Ohhh!!!”
Following the mayor's passionate speech, the crowd below erupted into enthusiastic applause.
It was fiery and full of passion!
The gathered crowd began to disperse in small groups, heading in various directions.
But they all had one thing in common.
Eagerness was written all over their faces. Quite a few people rubbed their hands together, confident that they would catch this year's Fish King and earn the title of “Wind Harvester.”
“I'm really looking forward to it. I wonder how Peishan will react when she sees me win the championship.”
Walking beside Xia De, Finn looked up at the sky slightly and began to fantasize.
Seeing him so sure of victory, Xia De asked a question.
“Are you really that confident?”
Finn brushed back his bangs with one hand again and spoke with absolute confidence.
“Of course. I'm a genius, and a genius is destined to take first place.
“Besides, I went out early this morning to prepare a secret weapon just for this!”
Feigning surprise, Xia De clapped his hands.
“How thoroughly prepared.”
“You bet. I've been waiting for this day for a very long time.”
A look of reminiscence flashed in Finn's eyes. Then, he patted Xia De on the shoulder and spoke.
“Since you already know what the special event is, I won't say any more.
“From now on, we are rivals. Good luck.”
With that, Finn waved to Xia De and walked away with a confident smile.
Watching him walk away with such confidence, and recalling the look of reminiscence that had flashed in his eyes earlier, Xia De couldn't help but chuckle. He shrugged helplessly and muttered to himself.
“It seems he has some important memory or promise, probably related to his childhood friend.
“But I'm really sorry, reality won't go the way you want.
“I'll be taking the championship.
“You can let your dear childhood friend comfort you afterward.”
Xia De was no blockhead. Having sensed Finn's reminiscent mood and being well-read in all kinds of stories, he easily deduced that Finn must have some important memory or promise regarding the Windmill Festival.
Considering his background as an orphan, it was highly likely a classic promise made with his childhood friend, Miss Peishan.
It was a classic trope, but Xia De had encountered far too many classic tropes on his journey.
Unfortunately, Xia De was here this time.
This destined Finn's plans to fall through.
Walking to an empty spot, Xia De's figure flickered, and he arrived at the edge of Bezerlati Lake.
“Bezerlati Lake, here I come.”
With a smile on his face, Xia De looked enthusiastically at the calm and vast lake.
Then, he once again witnessed the passion of the people of Windmill Town for this Fish King Grand Prix.
The competition had only just been announced, yet a crowd had already gathered by the lakeside.
They were scattered in small groups along the shore, either organizing their tools or searching for the perfect spot.
For a moment, the quiet lakeside was filled with a bustling, lively atmosphere.
Xia De's empty-handed appearance stood in stark contrast to them.
But he didn't need any preparation. If he wanted to, he could easily catch an enormous fish right now.
But ending the competition so quickly would be boring.
He planned to do something big.
At the very last moment, just when the second-place contestant thought they were about to win, he would swoop in like a god from heaven.
That expression would surely be delicious to witness.
Right, Finn?
Your dear childhood friend will definitely comfort you well afterward, so you'll have to thank me then.
“I'll just thoroughly enjoy today. Tomorrow, I'll have to go back and get busy.”
With a fishing rod appearing in his hand, Xia De materialized in the center of Bezerlati Lake, where he quickly fashioned a small boat from nearby materials.
Sitting down on the boat, he began to fish in peace.
Bezerlati Lake truly lived up to its reputation as the largest lake in the area, which was clearly visible when looking down from above.
On the vast surface of the lake, a solitary small boat floated in the center. In the water beneath the boat, several massive shadows swam continuously.
And even the weakest of these shadows was at Tier Four, Rank Seven!
Meanwhile, as Xia De was enjoying himself, a group of over twenty oddly dressed individuals was about a few kilometers away from Windmill Town.
These people wore bizarre attire, each sporting a pair of head-mounted goggles and a pilot-like cap, with wing-shaped capes draped over their backs.
Printed on the back of each person's cape was a strange wind element symbol.
A lackey standing beside the bearded leader pointed at the visible tip of a windmill and reported to him.
“Boss, Windmill Town is just ahead!”
The bearded leader stared at the great windmill, a look of absolute determination on his face. He addressed his crew.
“The wind magic left behind by the legendary mage... How can such a treasure be left in the hands of a bunch of lowly country bumpkins?
“Something like this belongs to our Wind Demon Bandit Group.
“Move faster, brothers! Let's reclaim what's ours as soon as possible!
“It belongs to our Wind Demon Bandit Group!”
“Wind Demon Bandit Group! Wind Demon Bandit Group!”
Hearing his lackeys shout in unison, the bearded man nodded in satisfaction and turned his gaze back to the great windmill.
“I hope that mayor knows what's good for him. Otherwise, a great disaster is about to befall them.”
The Wind Demon Bandit Group was comprised entirely of wind magic users. They possessed an extraordinary obsession with wind magic and were determined to collect every wind magic spell in the world.
To achieve this, they would employ any means necessary. If they encountered cooperative targets, they would let them off; but if they met uncooperative ones, they would resort to pillaging and slaughtering without mercy.
He paused here, a confident look on his face as he released his aura without reservation.
He was a powerhouse who had just entered Tier Five, Rank Three.
According to their prior investigation, the strongest person in Windmill Town was only at Tier Four, Rank Seven.
That was on par with one of his subordinates, and he had several other Tier Four subordinates under his command.
It was no exaggeration to say that with his strength, their bandit group was considered upper-middle tier even around the Royal Capital.
Let alone in this countryside, where their presence was nothing short of a calamity to the locals.
Just as the bearded man was imagining how he would threaten the mayor of Windmill Town into handing over the wind magic, the surroundings suddenly grew dead silent.
It was as if the world had stopped moving. Despite the bright, sunny weather, the temperature around them plummeted as if they were in a snowstorm.
The light around them seemed to dim, and an inexplicable pressure weighed heavily on the heart of every member of the bandit group.
Then, a pitch-black figure slowly stepped out from the shadows of the thicket, carrying a massive black sword on his shoulder. His crimson gaze left a faint, illusory red trail of light in the air.
Rate on N.U.
