186: Chapter 184 The Magician Who Abandoned His Business

Zhang Mu stepped through the gates of the City Lord's mansion and returned to his study. Upon learning that the City Lord had returned, Soren pushed the door open within a few minutes.

To Zhang Mu, the most profound impression Soren left was that of being "steady."

He always wore a calm expression, as if he wouldn't panic even if the sky were falling.

Even if his house were on fire, he would still maintain his steady, rhythmic pace.

Upon realizing that the City Lord who had survived the disaster was an imposter, he didn't fear being silenced and exposed it on the spot.

Now, seeing that Soren's pace was noticeably faster than usual, Zhang Mu became interested.

Resting his hands on the desk, he said with a tone of curiosity, "Yo, what's up with you?"

"Did your wife run off with someone?"

"No, wait, I reckon you wouldn't even be in a rush if your wife ran off with someone."

Soren, having walked to the desk, asked curiously, "What is a wife?"

"Uh, it's just a Madam."

"I am not married yet."

Waving his hand to dismiss the topic, Zhang Mu leaned back loosely in his chair and asked, "Speak, what is it?"

"The construction project has encountered trouble."

Zhang Mu, who had initially been watching with amusement, straightened his back instantly. "What happened?"

"The mages assigned by the City Lord to assist with the construction have all gone on strike."

"Strike?"

"Yes." Soren was silent for a few seconds before explaining, "Although the workload does not cause physical fatigue for the mages, they seem to be very resistant to staying in an environment filled with floating dust for long periods."

"Do they think I'm not paying them enough?"

Tapping his index finger on the desk rhythmically, Zhang Mu pondered. The wages he provided for the mages were all herbs.

Furthermore, it was based on work done; for any work exceeding the scheduled amount, more herbs would be issued.

"They're still causing trouble for me? Are they itching for a beating?"

Soren shook his head, then nodded. "Besides what I just mentioned, there is also the reason that they find the remuneration too low."

"In addition, the mages are very dissatisfied with dining in the same cafeteria as the commoners."

"Based on these points, after the two Vice City Lords casually persuaded them behind the scenes for a few days, all the mages went on strike."

Zhang Mu didn't speak, lowering his head in thought.

The construction progress was so fast because the power of the mages was indispensable.

Like that narrow river in Hogwarts; without mages working day and night to provide river water using water magic, how long would it take if they relied on commoners pulling carts?

He had to get the mages back.

"Vice City Lord..." Zhang Mu thought of the main instigators of the mages' strike. "Soren, why would the two of them incite the mages to leave the construction site? What benefit is there for them in doing this?"

"The City Lord's discomfort is their greatest benefit."

Zhang Mu: "?"

"Just because I chopped off two of their priests?"

"To the City Lord, chopping two priests is a small matter, so likewise, to the Vice City Lords, inducing the mages to stop working is not a big deal either."

No, this is a very big deal.

Zhang Mu narrowed his eyes dangerously. "I am not in the mood to engage in a convoluted battle of wits with them right now."

"The Vice City Lords will never leave the city."

"I certainly know that."

Zhang Mu indeed did not intend to deal with the two Vice City Lords immediately.

The two of them were a Magister and a Great Knight.

Even if he used Shadow Technique and thermal weapons to ambush them, there was a high probability he still couldn't end the battle quickly.

There were only two outcomes afterward: either he used the resurrection function to wear them down to death, or he retreated.

The former was very dangerous; once caught in a protracted tug-of-war, the Church could arrive at the scene within ten minutes.

As for the latter, why waste time if he couldn't kill them?

It would instead alert the enemy, making them vigilant and increasing the difficulty of future assassinations.

First, settle the matter of the mages' strike.

This was actually not difficult.

Zhang Mu thought for a moment and asked Soren, "I remember this batch of mages are mostly intermediate level, right?"

"Intermediate level makes up the vast majority."

"Then that's easy to handle." Zhang Mu smiled. "Do you know about intermediate magic potion?"

"I've heard of it. It accelerates the speed of absorbing magic power during meditation. It is suitable for intermediate mages; lower levels cannot use it, and for higher levels, the effect is poor."

Hmm? The books distributed by the Church for practicing magic power are also called meditation?

Raising an eyebrow, the slightly puzzled Zhang Mu didn't ask him.

He was also a mage; asking this question would be too abnormal.

Putting this matter in the back of his mind, Zhang Mu said, "Go tell them that from now on, their wages will be changed to intermediate magic potion."

Soren was uncharacteristically stunned for a moment, then asked in surprise, "Use intermediate magic potion as remuneration?"

"Is there a problem?"

"City Lord, generosity might not be exchanged for gratitude; insatiable greed is more likely."

"Furthermore, the massive amount of wheat you brought in proves your financial strength, but when it comes to items related to magic, not a single one is cheap."

"As for me, I know that intermediate magic potion..."

"I understand the meaning of 'give an inch and take a mile.' If they dare, heh... do as I say."

"As you command, City Lord." Soren didn't say anything more, saluted, turned, and left.

"The main ingredient for intermediate magic potion is pomelo pine nuts..." As the appearance of the herb appeared in his mind, Zhang Mu pursed his lips. "And Angelica."

"Hurry up." Thinking that he still had to brew the potion, he stood up, prepared to visit Leah, and then return to Blue Star to buy Angelica.

"Creak——" The sound of the door hinge turning interrupted his steps.

Zhang Mu turned his head to look.

Carrying a wooden basin in both hands and pushing the door open with her voluptuous buttocks, Second Madam Palina didn't notice anyone in the study, still humming a tune.

At this moment, Palina didn't look like the dignified and elegant Second Madam of the City Lord.

She wasn't wearing luxurious noble attire; instead, she wore loose long sleeves and pants that were convenient for movement, looking more like a young, carefree girl who hadn't seen much of the world.

Perhaps because she was in a good mood, or perhaps because it was truly inconvenient to carry the basin with both hands, the tune in her mouth didn't stop as she twisted her body, lifted her foot, and kicked the door shut with her heel.

"I know I know, it's been a while. I want to know where you are, if you have thought of me. Sometimes you are always in my mind, You know it's hard for me to forget... City Lord!"

Just as she turned around and caught sight of Zhang Mu, who was staring at her silently, her whole body shuddered noticeably, and the wooden basin in her hands almost tipped over.

"I'm sorry, City Lord." Realizing what happened, she hurriedly squatted down to place the basin at her feet, grabbed a rag, and wiped the puddle of water that had splashed onto the floor from the basin.

Zhang Mu didn't stop her and sat back in his wooden chair. "Didn't I say, you are not allowed to enter..."

Remembering that his order was directed at servants, he stopped halfway and asked after a while, "How is Leah?"

"The symptoms of lethargy are basically gone."

Palina stood up with the basin, walked to the bookshelf against the wall with her head lowered, soaked the rag in the basin, and wrung it dry with both hands.

His gaze followed her; even in loose casual clothes, it couldn't hide her curvaceous body. "Do you come every day?"

"I don't have anything else to do."

"Is it meaningful?"

Her hand wiping the bookshelf shelf paused for a few seconds. "You were away for so long, yet the study didn't accumulate a speck of dust."

"A study covered in dust and a study without a speck of dust make no difference to me."

This time, her arm stiffened; her back to Zhang Mu, she looked somewhat dejected.

Silence for a long time.

"Please don't always bully me."

She turned around, burying her head into her chest, her hands rubbing the rag in front of her lower abdomen. "I will be sad."