Unfortunately, there were too few samples to find any commonalities.
Luo Wei massaged her temples, feeling a headache coming on from overthinking.
She put away the turtle shell and looked up at the sea.
While she had been "fishing" - or rather, examining the turtle shell while drifting - Troy had been rowing single-handedly for several miles.
The oars were practically generating sparks from his vigorous rowing.
Luo Wei felt a slight twinge of guilt about using a Magic Swordsman like a beast of burden. It seemed somewhat unethical.
But then again!
She was the employer after all. If he didn't do it, who would? She certainly couldn't be expected to row herself!
Having successfully dismissed her guilty conscience, Luo Wei lay back in the small boat, lazily dangling her feet while emptying her mind to enjoy the blue sky and white clouds.
Troy continued rowing with rhythmic grunts, head down as he focused on his laborious task. Soon they had rowed out of the Demon Sea.
The surrounding waters gradually changed from black to blue, the smell of volcanic ash faded, and the air became much fresher.
Luo Wei had Troy blow the bone whistle to summon the griffin to pick them up.
They were now outside the Demon Sea territory, so the griffin should no longer be afraid to approach.
After a while, a shadow fell from the sky as the griffin descended with flapping wings.
"Chirp chirp chirp—"
The griffin made several cries toward Luo Wei, its golden eyes flashing with grievance.
It hadn't expected them to be gone for four or five days, leaving it alone waiting in the coastal forest.
The Northern Sea forest was covered in heavy snow, ice and frost everywhere. There was barely any prey to catch. It had gone hungry for four days, its stomach practically caving in from starvation!
"Chirp chirp..."
The griffin looked at Luo Wei - it would need to eat at least three fat sheep when they got back!
Luo Wei climbed onto the griffin's back and stroked its sleek neck fur. "Poor thing, you must be starving. When we get back, I'll buy you some plump lambs - eat as many as you want."
"Chirp!" The griffin called out happily.
Troy's expression was already numb - he had long accepted the griffin's betrayal. Seeing this scene now didn't stir even a ripple in his heart.
Whatever, he thought, such a materialistic griffin.
The two humans and one griffin flew toward the coast, quickly reaching Narcisse Bay and landing not far from the port dock.
There were still eight horses that the mercenaries had left at the dock. These were carefully selected steeds worth at least three gold coins each - Luo Wei couldn't let others take advantage of them.
"Come on, let's go get the horses and keep them safe until the mercenaries return from the island," Luo Wei said with a righteous expression.
Troy nodded in agreement: "Yes, we should collect them."
If the owners didn't return soon, the stable keepers might secretly sell the horses.
The two of them managed to claim the eight fine horses just by showing their faces, then rode back to Sisda Town.
Luo Wei planned to buy some land here to raise horses, as well as purchase a courtyard and hire some brave servants to regularly deliver supplies to Demon Island.
Demon Island was her first foothold - it needed to be properly managed.
Since neither Luo Wei nor Troy were familiar with Sisda Town, they went into McAuley's Malt Tavern to ask the owner to help them find a suitable courtyard.
The tavern owner McAuley Grey, with a dejected face, introduced them to an empty house belonging to his wife's aunt's son-in-law's uncle.
While showing them the distant cousin's house, McAuley kept trembling, terrified that these two masked figures in black robes might suddenly run him through with a sword and dump his corpse in the cellar to seize the house.
After all, those eight strong men had disappeared after going out with them, their bodies probably dumped in the sea somewhere.
McAuley saw clearly that the eight horses they brought back belonged to those mercenaries.
The horses returned but their owners didn't - what else could that mean except death!
How terrifying! How did these two slim figures manage to take down eight burly men?
McAuley was scared witless, bowing and scraping the whole way, not daring to say a wrong word.
He even watched to see which foot they stepped with first, trying to match their stride exactly, lest stepping wrong would displease these two masters and get his throat slit.
Luo Wei and Troy were quite satisfied with the house after viewing it. Although it was somewhat remote, located about three miles from Sisda Town, and rather old with many areas in disrepair, the house had large slopes both front and back, a small river nearby, and few neighbors - perfect for conducting some clandestine activities.
Luo Wei immediately closed the deal, completing the transaction with five gold coins.
The house's owner was delighted - the house built in this remote area was quite inconvenient and wasn't worth this price. Five gold coins was enough to buy a large house in town for his family.
McAuley was even more pleased - these two masters had liked the place at first sight, so he wouldn't need to show them around anymore. He could escape from them soon.
"Mr. Grey, please wait a moment."
Luo Wei suddenly called out to him.
"Would you be interested in helping us manage this house, and also assist with monthly food purchases and deliveries to a designated location? The pay is negotiable."
Luo Wei quite liked McAuley's personality - this tavern owner had low curiosity, didn't talk much, worked efficiently, was perceptive, had a good attitude, and was a local of Sisda. He was very suitable to develop as her subordinate.
McAuley's legs were shaking: "I-I can..." Refuse?
"You can? That's wonderful," Luo Wei showed what she believed to be a kind smile. "Why don't we find a quieter place to sit down and discuss the details?"
McAuley nearly fainted.
Was that a threat? It must be a threat!
Look at her sinister smile - she was clearly implying that if he didn't agree, she would kill him in some quiet place!
"I..." McAuley swallowed his refusal, smiling more wretchedly than if he were crying, "My lord, no need for discussion. Please just give your orders, this humble one will surely comply."
Luo Wei was surprised - he wouldn't even discuss salary and benefits?
This owner was truly straightforward, just to her liking.
Since that was the case, she couldn't treat him poorly.
"Well then, Mr. Grey, I'll hire you as my butler. Whatever your monthly income is from the tavern, I'll pay you ten times that amount."
"Help me find some workers to repair the house, preferably build a few more rooms, and hire a servant to feed the horses."
"Of course, you can continue running your tavern." The tavern could be developed into her intelligence department in the future.
"Just come by daily to check and supervise them, that's all."
"Y-yes, of course." McAuley breathed a sigh of relief - as long as it wasn't murder and robbery, he was fine with it.
He had run the tavern for over ten years and seen all sorts of things. Being a part-time butler for ten times his current income - he'd even be willing to bury bodies daily for that!
"My... Master," McAuley immediately changed his form of address, "Is there anything else you need me to do?"
He had to show his capability - what if she got angry thinking he was just taking money without doing much work, and decided to finish him off?
McAuley suppressed his fear and looked at Luo Wei with an obsequious bow.
"Yes, there is one more thing - what I mentioned earlier about delivering supplies to a location monthly."
Luo Wei tried to explain in her gentlest tone: "I have eight friends practicing cultivation on Demon Island. You just need to purchase food, clothes, tools like nails, axes and sickles, and deliver them to the island regularly."
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