Chapter 1, The Cold Small Town

The sporadic snowflakes drifting from the sky bring a subtle chill to the passersby. As he walks slowly along the road, Ah Dai thinks to himself, when will another old woman appear to take him away as well? He would be content if he could just eat enough steamed buns. What about the girl? She left with that old woman; does she have steamed buns to eat every day?

Other thieves were eating the leftover soup and scraps from an unknown restaurant, laughing and chatting about their day's experiences. When Ah Dai remembered that he hadn't eaten anything all day, there was already nothing left. It felt as if something was weighing heavily on his heart, and his longing for the girl grew stronger. She was right; living truly was painful!

The girl was taken in by Uncle Li a year ago from the streets. According to her own account, she had been living with an elderly woman since she could remember. Although life was tough, she was adequately fed and clothed. Over a year ago, the elderly woman fell ill and passed away, leaving the girl without a means of support, forcing her to rely on begging to survive. Uncle Li took her in because he was interested in her, no, it was the dilapidated house left to her by the elderly woman that caught his attention. In the cold city of Nino, what could be better than a shelter from the wind and snow? The girl was the complete opposite of A-Dai; she learned everything very quickly, mastering all of Uncle Li's 'skills' in less than a month. However, she was also the only child who had never caught a fish. It was not due to a lack of skill, but rather because her heart was simply too kind. On several occasions, she had already secured her catch, but upon seeing the anxious expression of the owner, she couldn't help but return it. For this, she had no idea how many times she had been beaten, and each time, A-Dai took the blame for her. This clever and foolish pair of children naturally became good friends. They stood out among the group of thieves because they were the only ones of Asian descent. Perhaps it was this reason that fostered a deep friendship between A-Dai and the girl. Today, once again, the girl was scolded by Uncle Li for returning something she had just acquired to an anxious woman.

"Alright, here you go." Ah Dai tried to present himself as humble, holding the money bag with both hands and offering it to the old man. Perhaps by appearing a bit weaker, the other party would strike lighter when the time came. Ah Dai had never considered resisting; with his "weathered" body, how could he possibly fight back? Even if the other party was an old man. Ah Dai had never considered resisting; with his "weathered" body, how could he possibly fight back? Even if the other party was an old man

Uncle Li snorted softly, looking at the boy with black hair and black eyes, who had a blank expression. His voice softened a bit as he said, "Ah Dai, every time you plead for her, do you think those few fish you catch can feed everyone? Here, no one can gain without effort. Girl, today, considering Ah Dai, I will let you off this time. But if there’s a next time, hmph. Let’s go." As he spoke, he led a few other young children out. Before they reached the end of the alley, Uncle Li turned back and, with a friendly expression, said to Ah Dai, "Don’t forget what you just said. It’s best to catch a few big fish, understand?"

"Pa—" Uncle Li swatted away several small money bags from A-Dai's hands, scolding, "Are you stupid? You just watched the girl walk away with someone? Damn it, wasting so much of my food, and this dead girl dares to run away without repaying me. It infuriates me, truly infuriates me." Uncle Li kicked A-Dai to the ground and paced back and forth in the small wooden house.

Early the next morning, Uncle Li generously tossed a steamed bun to A-Dai. After he devoured it hungrily, he was sent out to begin a day of fishing activities.

When Ah Dui took out all the coins from his money pouch, he was astonished and stood there in disbelief. For within the pouch, not only were there the "drumsticks" he had long fantasized about, but also dozens of rose gold coins, and even a shimmering blue coin that he had never seen before. Looking at the small pile of purple coins, it was enough for at least ten "drumsticks"! "I can finally eat my fill, I can finally eat my fill!" Ah Dui shouted excitedly. Looking at the small pile of purple coins, it was enough for at least ten "drumsticks"! "I can finally eat my fill, I can finally eat my fill!" Ah Dui shouted excitedly.

On the continent, there exists a unified currency, which is a coin minted by the Holy See, engraved with the emblem of the Holy See. The currency adopts a decimal exchange system: 1 diamond coin = 10 amethyst coins = 100 gold coins = 1,000 silver coins = 10,000 copper coins. The annual income of an ordinary family is generally around 50 gold coins, while maintaining a household for a year requires approximately 30 gold coins.

The fool curled up in the corner, his whole body aching. He could not understand why Uncle Li would hit him when it clearly had nothing to do with him. The girl's words before she left lingered in his mind, refusing to fade away.

The girl's big eyes lit up as she turned her head to look at A-Dai, who appeared somewhat anxious, standing frozen in place.

"Go away, go away, go away, where did this little beggar come from, just stay there." The doorman of the restaurant kicked A-Dai and looked at him with disdain as he spoke

The most esteemed profession on the continent is that of the clergy. In addition to the clergy, there are several other professions in various countries that surpass ordinary laborers. These professions have each formed their own unions, becoming distinct forces on the continent.

The girl gazed at Ah Dui's simple and honest face, momentarily entranced. With both hands, she exerted force, splitting the half piece of steamed bun into two, and handed a piece to Ah Dui.

The old man fell beside the money bag. He slowly bent down, picked up the money bag from the ground, and sighed, "I haven't used this spell in a long time; I've really become quite unskilled at it!"

"Little girl, is that really you?" The woman revealed a surprised smile on her face. The door of the carriage was lifted, and with the help of a servant, the elderly woman stepped down from the carriage. Her attire was luxurious, made from fabrics that Ah Dai and the maid had never dared to imagine, and she was draped in a mink fur shawl.

With a loud slap, the middle-aged man knocked the little girl to the ground and angrily shouted, "You worthless girl, you might as well be dead for all the good you are. You can't even complete such a simple task from m.hetushu.com. If it weren't for Ah Dai bringing you back, you would still be apologizing to that old lady. I was truly blind to take in a useless person like you, who only knows how to eat and can't do anything else all day long"

The girl knew that it was futile to explain herself to this foolish fellow, so she chose to remain silent. She took Ah Dui by the hand and led him out of the alley, both heading towards the most bustling area of Nino City. Only there would they find suitable targets. The girl secretly resolved that no matter what, she would help Ah Dui catch several fish today to repay his kindness towards her

The old woman furrowed her brow and sighed, saying: "A good child like you should not be suffering here. Come, come over, let Grandma take a look at you." As she spoke, she waved her hand to the maid.

The Mage Guild is a prestigious organization, as mages are a profession second only to clergy on the continent. The practice of magic demands exceptionally high standards of personal qualities, resulting in a very limited number of mages. Among them, those who specialize in light magic are almost entirely absorbed by the Holy See, further underscoring the rarity of mages. They are often employed by armies at high salaries, and nearly all mages of intermediate rank and above are ennobled by their respective kingdoms. Consequently, the profession of mage is highly coveted among ordinary citizens, symbolizing honor and power. Mages are categorized into several ranks: junior mage, intermediate mage, senior mage, archmage, magus, and mage tutor. Since government subsidies are their primary source of income, mages typically obtain badges corresponding to their rank from the Mage Guild to receive appropriate compensation. Of course, acquiring a badge requires passing an assessment by the Mage Guild. The Mage Guild is also the only guild that provides financial compensation without requiring any contributions in return.

The money bag that fell not far away emitted a faint glow, and the beautiful golden hexagram shimmered with a dreamlike golden light. Under the terrified gaze of Ah Dai, the golden light suddenly intensified, and a vague figure appeared above the money bag. The figure gradually became clearer, revealing the elderly man in the large cloak from earlier.

The dark clouds in the sky drift slowly, seemingly heralding another snowstorm. In a dim alley of Nino City, several individuals dressed in tattered cotton jackets huddle together. Among them, a middle-aged man with a scar on his forehead glares angrily at a thin, poorly dressed girl of about twelve or thirteen years, with black hair and dark eyes. The girl is very slender, her face a waxy yellow, and her shoulder-length hair hangs down, obscuring her features above the nose. She trembles all over, her bright, large eyes peering through her hair, filled with fear as she looks at the middle-aged man.

The girl shook her head and said, "There is no need for you to thank me; your purse was originally stolen by me."

After a while, the girl finally finished making her steamed bun and suddenly said to A-Dai: "A-Dai, when I grow up, will you marry me?"

"Do you think the gods will bless a thief?" The aged voice echoed once more, and this time Ah Dui heard it clearly; the voice seemed to emanate from that exquisite purse.

Indeed, your hands are very beautiful, with long fingers and a broad palm. No wonder I didn't even notice that something was stolen. You still haven't answered my question from earlier, have you

I am sorry, I am sorry, I did not mean to. Ah Dai hurriedly accompanied without falling behind

The girl shot him a glance, falling into speechlessness

The old woman did not command her servant to beat the maid as Ah Dai had imagined; instead, she smiled and said, "Then why did you return the purse to me?"

The girl did not heed Ah Dai's advice; she had a faint feeling that perhaps the old woman before her would change the course of her life. She lowered her head and walked in front of the old woman, standing there somewhat trembling.

The girl turned around to look at the old woman’s splendid and glamorous attire, and tentatively asked, "Grandmother, can you take this brother of mine along with you?"

Uncle Li was in a fit of anger, and upon hearing A-Dai's words, his rage intensified. He kicked A-Dai several times with force and shouted angrily, "If she wants to leave, then let her go! You might as well be dead for all I care. You fool, you fool!" Continuous cries of pain escaped from A-Dai's mouth, while the nearby thieves looked on with glee, showing no intention of intervening.

The girl timidly asked, "Do you have any business with me?"

Taking out the heavy money pouch, Ah Dai was filled with joy. The pouch was exquisite, made of leather, with a hexagram outlined in gold thread. Ah Dai had never seen such a beautiful money pouch before; he hurriedly opened the drawstring and reached inside, imagining how wonderful it would be if there were a rose amethyst coin within. In over a year of work, he had only stolen an amethyst coin once, and he remembered that Uncle Li had excitedly rewarded him with a large chicken leg, making the other companions envious. He had never tasted such delicious food before, and in the end, he shared it with the girl, even eating the bones. The delightful flavor still lingered in his memory.

Just a short distance away, a voice suddenly called out from behind them, "Little girl, stop right there"

The carriage disappeared into the dust, leaving A-Dai standing there in a daze, watching the departing carriage. A sense of subtle loss arose within A-Dai. For him, in his heart, the girl was the only thing more important than steamed buns.

A fool let out a sound, ravenously swallowing that quarter piece of steamed bun. Due to eating too quickly, he couldn't help but choke, "Ah, ugh"

The girl sighed softly and said, "To marry means I want to be your wife and take care of you for a lifetime! I will take it as your agreement, and you must not go back on your word. From now on, I, the girl, am your fiancée, A-Dai. You must treat me well from now on."

Walking down the street, no one would pay attention to a child with an unremarkable appearance and a vacant gaze. However, often in the blink of an eye, they would find themselves in possession of a bag of money from the picture book. When Uncle Li first saw the bulging bag of money in Ah Dai's hands, he was so astonished that he couldn't close his mouth. From that moment on, Ah Dai became the most "favored" among this group of children, as he could at least have one or two cold, hard buns every day, making the other companions envious. Although Ah Dai was somewhat foolish, he was very kind-hearted, often sharing part of his meager meals with others when he himself was not full. However, those companions did not appreciate his kindness; instead, they frequently teased him and even snatched his food.

A fool was taken aback, and he and the girl turned around simultaneously. Before them stood a magnificent carriage, from the small window of which appeared the face of an elderly woman. The girl recognized her; she was the very person to whom she had returned the money pouch today.

The fool nodded and said, "Fiancée? Oh, alright, then I will give you a little more steamed bun each day."

The girl looked at Ah Dui, whose face was flushed red, and couldn't help but chuckle softly. While patting his back, she grabbed a handful of the snow that had accumulated on the ground since the day before and stuffed it into Ah Dui's mouth

The Alchemist Guild, though not numerous, is highly respected across various nations. Often, guilds in different countries are susceptible to being bought off by the state, as the weapons forged by alchemists are far superior to those crafted by blacksmiths, making them the best choice for equipping elite armies. The Tianjin Empire derives its name from possessing the largest Alchemist Guild among the four nations. Alchemists are actually a branch of magicians, predominantly skilled in fire magic. Their strength lies in their extensive knowledge of various minerals and potions, allowing powerful alchemists to forge advanced divine weapons. The value of these divine weapons is nearly incalculable, making them highly favored by royal families and even the Holy See. Alchemists are also among the wealthiest groups in all professions, second only to assassins. They are categorized into apprentice, junior, intermediate, senior, special, and master levels. Although alchemists possess universally recognized rank badges corresponding to their levels, high-ranking alchemists often disdain the act of receiving them.

The old man took the money bag, neither making a move nor showing any intention to let go of A-Dai, still standing in front of him, gazing at the small-framed child before him

"Yes, it is." Adai cautiously grasped the money pouch in his hand, gazing deeply at the hexagram formed by golden threads on the pouch. He could not comprehend how one could 'emerge' from a money pouch. His entire body trembled as he carefully placed a handful of coins back into the pouch, a process that took quite some time. Strangely, the old man did not urge him; a pair of gleaming eyes beneath the cloak continuously scrutinized Adai. He trembled all over, carefully putting a handful of coins back into the pouch, a process that took quite some time. Strangely, the old man did not urge him; a pair of gleaming eyes beneath the cloak continuously scrutinized Adai.

The fool worked hard to turn the snow into water, and after half a day's effort, he finally swallowed the dry bun stuck in his throat. He let out a sigh, patted his chest, and said: "Thank you!"

The fool clearly did not understand the girl's meaning. He took out half of a bun that had hardened like a stone from his bosom and handed it over, saying blankly: "Girl, here, eat this. If you eat enough, you won't suffer anymore"

Ah Dou swallowed and said, "I, I am not hungry, you eat by yourself."

The old man threw the money bag in front of A-Dai and said lightly, "Pick it up and put it back."

The old woman looked at A-Dai, just as A-Dai wiped the two streams of yellow snot flowing down his face with his hand, appearing quite foolish. A flash of disdain crossed the old woman's eyes as she shook her head and said, "No, he just tried to deceive me; he is not an honest child. I can only take you with me. Make your decision quickly; it is really cold here."

The elderly woman smiled with satisfaction and said, "Yes, this is a well-behaved good child. Now, let us get into the carriage and find a place to help you change into some proper clothes. Wearing so little, you might catch a cold."

Following closely behind, the person in the cloak entered a luxurious restaurant. The restaurant appeared resplendent from the outside, with its roof covered in glazed tiles. A'dai thought to himself that if someone could afford to dine here, their purse must contain a considerable amount of money. With this thought, he couldn't help but feel secretly pleased; if he could catch more fish to take back, perhaps Uncle Li would treat him to a hearty meal of steamed buns. He squatted in a corner beside the entrance of the restaurant, patiently waiting.

A fool said: "Girl, are you really going to leave? Uncle Li will be angry if he finds out and will punish you"

The girl hesitated for a moment, glanced at the cart in front of her and the old woman, then looked at the shabby Ah Dui, and resolutely nodded, saying: "Alright, I will go with you"

The old woman smiled faintly and said, "Indeed, you are truly an honest and kind child. I know that you must not have wanted to steal, right? What about your parents?"

Nino City, located at the northernmost end of the Birno Province in the Tianjin Empire, lies within the extreme northern region of the Tianyuan Continent. Here, the days are short and the nights are long, with a cold climate prevailing throughout the year. Most of the inhabitants rely on fishing in the icy sea adjacent to the small city for their livelihood. The icy sea is perpetually dotted with drifting icebergs, and the abundant seal and sea lion pelts from this area are highly favored by the nobility

Seeing his fishing target appear in such a bizarre situation, Ah Dai, no matter how foolish he was, understood that he was in serious trouble. He never expected that after four months of success, he would be caught by the financier while successfully reeling in a big fish. He curled up on the ground, his body trembling uncontrollably. In his mind, what awaited him would undoubtedly be a violent beating akin to a storm, a situation he had encountered before. The last time he was caught, that burly man nearly broke his hand; if it weren't for Uncle Li's timely appearance to scare the man away, he would have long lost the ability to fish, let alone enjoy his favorite steamed buns.

Four countries each have their own common languages, while in some major cities and among the aristocracy of these countries, the Papal language is generally used. Our story begins in the small town of Nino, located in the northernmost province of Bilno in the Heavenly Gold Empire on the northern side of the continent

After a long while, with the help of the cotton-padded jacket, the girl had warmed up considerably. She draped the jacket back over Ah Dui's shoulders and said to him: "Ah Dui, hurry and catch the fish, or Uncle Li will scold you again. I, I will go with you."

The foolishly dazed individual nodded, and only then did Uncle Li leave with satisfaction

The girl stuffed the steamed bun into A-Dai's hands and said, "I have a small appetite and can't eat that much; let's share it together." As she spoke, she held her quarter of the bun with both hands and took a hearty bite.

Seeing that the other party did not make things difficult for him, Ah Dai excitedly ran forward. In a moment of carelessness, he slipped on the snow on the ground and fell flat on his back, causing the injuries from being beaten by Uncle Li yesterday to spasm continuously. Yet, even so, it could not conceal the excitement in Ah Dai's heart. When he got hold of the money bag, he noticed it was unusually heavy; even though it was filled entirely with copper coins, it was enough to settle today's affairs. Shakily getting up, he quickly ran into a small alley. Looking back, he saw that no one was pursuing him, and he couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief, patting his chest as he sat down. However, what Ah Dai did not know was that his target was engaged in a special profession on the continent—an alchemist.

Uncle Li's figure finally disappeared at the end of the alley, and the girl suddenly threw herself into A-Dai's arms, crying out loud. A-Dai stared blankly at the small body in his embrace, wiped his nose with the back of his hand, and gently patted the girl's shoulder, saying: "Girl, don't, don't cry. It hurts, doesn't it?"

Ah Dou shook his head and said, "But if we don't catch any fish, we will go hungry!"

Two lines of tears slid down the girl's cheeks as she choked out, "Ah Dui Ge, don't worry, he will no longer have the chance to hit me. I am leaving, remember what we just said. If you have the opportunity, you should also leave Uncle Li, he is not a good person. Don't steal anymore." After saying this, before Ah Dui could ask how one could eat steamed buns without stealing, the girl had already turned and run towards the old woman. The old woman boarded the carriage first, and with the help of the servants, the girl also sat in that seemingly warm and luxurious carriage. Before the curtain was drawn down, the girl took a deep look at Ah Dui, as if trying to remember his appearance.

Ah Dou pulled the girl to sit in the corner, took off his tattered cotton-padded jacket, draped it over their shoulders, and nestled close to her, saying foolishly: "Am I good to you? Hurry and eat the steamed bun; once you eat it, you won't feel cold. I still have to go catch fish later." As he spoke, he looked at the half-cold, hard bun in the girl's hand with drooling anticipation.

... ...

Ah Dui's body trembled, and the coins in his hand scattered all over the ground. The sound, where did it come from? He looked around, but there was no one nearby. "May the gods bless, may the gods bless." Ah Dui pressed his palms together in front of his chest, continuously murmuring.

"What is it, child? Do you not wish to come with me? My husband is the governor of the province of Yunmu, where the Empire and the Holy See meet, and the climate is like spring all year round. Here, it is truly too cold."

After a while, Uncle Li's anger subsided significantly. It occurred to him that A-Dai was, after all, his main source of income. If he ruined that, where would he find such a obedient and compliant subordinate? Grumbling, he picked up the money pouch from the ground and said to A-Dai, "From now on, be a bit more clever." He then walked out, and the thieves all knew he was going to drink.

The old woman said with a smile: "Children and books, do not be afraid, little girl, you just returned the money pouch to me, and I have not yet thanked you! On such a cold day, why are you dressed so lightly?"

The inhabitants of the Tianjin Empire are predominantly Caucasian, characterized by tall statures and blonde hair with blue eyes. In contrast, both the Setting Sun Empire and the Washington Empire are composed of Mongoloid individuals, possessing black hair and dark eyes. The only federal system on the continent, the Suyu Federation, has a more complex demographic, including Caucasians, Mongoloids, and robust individuals of African descent, along with many other ethnic groups coexisting within the federation. In terms of overall strength, the Suyu Federation, composed of six distinct ethnic groups, is the most powerful, while the other three nations possess similar military capabilities.

The girl sighed and said, "A-Dai, do you not know that stealing from others is wrong?"

The girl said, "Grandma, please wait for me a moment." Saying this, she turned and quickly ran in front of A-Dai, "A-Dai, I am leaving now. Please don't blame me, okay? I really don't want to live this life of scarcity anymore. A-Dai, you must remember what we talked about earlier. When I grow up, I will definitely come back to find you."

A boy, slightly taller than the girl, stepped forward beside the middle-aged man to help the trembling girl up. He carefully wiped away the blood trickling from the corner of her mouth and said to the middle-aged man in a daze: "Uncle Li, please forgive the girl just this once. I... I will go catch a few fish later."

A fool, in a daze, struggled to understand the meaning of the word "marry" and after a long while hesitantly asked: "What does it mean to marry?"

The girl looked at the silly yet sincere boy in front of her, took the steamed bun from him, sobbed a few times, and said: "Brother A-Dai, why are you so good to me?"

Ah Dou nodded, helped the girl to stand up, and asked, "Girl, why is your skill better than mine, yet you always return the fish to them?"

This group of individuals lives at the bottom of society in Nino City, and they cannot be called thieves, as they can only rely on petty thefts to make a living. The term "fishing" refers to stealing, and Uncle Li is their leader. He has more than a dozen children under his command, with only one girl among them, all of whom are orphans he picked up from the streets. Among these children, the boy named A-Dai is the most capable. Uncle Li took A-Dai in because he noticed the boy had nimble hands. A-Dai has always appeared somewhat dull-witted, sometimes struggling to articulate his words, and he does not even know his own name. He learns the skills of stealing very slowly, as if his mind is not very sharp, which is why everyone calls him A-Dai. However, despite his dullness, A-Dai is very persistent. After several months of guidance from Uncle Li and his own diligent practice, he finally mastered the technique of "picking pockets" and has refined it to an exceptional level. To practice his speed, he even poked at the snowflakes on the cold streets with his fingers, aiming to touch as few as possible, which would demonstrate his keen eyesight. Although this method seems foolish, it proved to be very effective. After months of practice, A-Dai finally established a foundation for fishing. What excites Uncle Li the most is that A-Dai is so naive that he does not understand what fear is, nor does he comprehend that fishing is a bad thing. As long as he is given steamed buns to eat, he will certainly follow orders.

Ah Dou was taken aback. Although he was foolish, he was very aware of the consequences if the person being fished was caught. He hurriedly covered the girl's mouth and said anxiously, "Girl, don't speak recklessly"

A strange and deep voice continuously emanated from the cloak. If Uncle Li were present, he would certainly realize that this old man was chanting a magical incantation. Finally, his body fully materialized, and with a gentle float, he landed on the ground

After a while, the girl's cries ceased. She lifted her frozen, red little face and looked at the boy in front of her, her tear-filled eyes hazily saying: "Brother A-Dai, living is truly so painful!"

The fool thought that the old woman was going to cause trouble for the girl, so he hurriedly shielded her behind himself and watched the old woman in front of him with vigilance

On the continent of Tianyuan, there are five countries: the Northern Tianjin Empire, the Southern Huasheng Empire, the Western Setting Sun Empire, and the Eastern Suoyu Federation. At the center of these four great nations lies a small hexagonal land, which is the most renowned Holy See on the Tianyuan continent, bordering all four countries. Among the four great kingdoms, except for the poor relations between the Setting Sun Empire and the Huasheng Empire, the other nations can coexist peacefully. Every year, each country must pay a certain amount of "protection fee" to the Holy See to cover its expenses. Among the four great kingdoms, except for the poor relations between the Setting Sun Empire and the Huasheng Empire, the other nations can coexist peacefully. Every year, each country must pay a certain amount of "protection fee" to the Holy See to cover its expenses

The fool lowered his head and squatted down, his frozen red hands protecting his head, his whole body curling up as much as possible, waiting for the storm to arrive

In addition to the predominantly human population on the continent, there exist several lesser-known races, such as the benevolent Elves, the irritable Dwarves, the melodious Winged People, the scarce Half-Orcs who survive solely in dense forests, as well as the most enigmatic Dark Demons and the legendary Dragons. These races, which are fewer in number compared to humans, are dispersed across various nations and have coexisted peacefully with humans for centuries. However, due to differing lifestyles, these alien races generally inhabit remote valleys or forests, rarely coming into contact with humans. These races, which are fewer in number compared to humans, are dispersed across various nations and have coexisted peacefully with humans for centuries. However, due to differing lifestyles, these alien races generally inhabit remote valleys or forests, rarely coming into contact with humans

The girl with red-rimmed eyes said, "I have no parents; I am an orphan"

... ... ... ...

A fool curled up on the ground in pain, sobbing, said: "No, it wasn't me who let her go; it was her own decision to leave"

An entire hour had passed, and finally, the person in the large cloak walked out. To A-Dai's excitement, that person was walking directly towards him. Facing him was the best opportunity to act. He hurriedly stood up, steadied his mind, and walked towards the person. The individual was very tall, reaching only to A-Dai's midsection. The distance between them continued to close. A-Dai scratched his hair with a hand that had a blade hidden in it. Just as they were one meter apart, A-Dai stumbled and collided with the person.

The Thieves' Guild, in essence, is a collective of high-level thieves. Some nobles, in their pursuit of valuable items, hire thieves from the guild to steal for them. Not every thief can join the Thieves' Guild; although the membership requirements are not as stringent as those of the Assassins' Guild, candidates must still undergo various assessments, only accepting those with exceptional qualities and professional skills. The ranks of thieves are categorized from low to high as Thief, Advanced Thief, and Acquirer. Generally, only those who have successfully stolen priceless treasures multiple times can attain the status of Acquirer, making them the most feared group among the majority of nobles. The Thieves' Guild has one strict rule: killing is absolutely prohibited. It is precisely for this reason that they have not been eradicated by the armies of various nations. To better fulfill the tasks assigned by their employers, the Thieves' Guild possesses the most up-to-date information. Like the Assassins' Guild, the Thieves' Guild also belongs to the dark forces of the continent

Ado suddenly felt as if he had collided with an iron plate, an indescribable pain coursing through his entire body. He inadvertently lifted his head and happened to catch a glimpse of that person's face. It was an aged visage, marked by countless fine wrinkles, appearing to be around seventy or eighty years old.

As he was thinking, he suddenly spotted a strangely dressed individual ahead. What struck him as odd was that the person's tall figure was completely shrouded in a large cloak, making it impossible to discern their features from the outside. Beneath the cloak, there seemed to be a bulging pouch swaying back and forth. A-Dai decided that this would be his first target for the day. While contemplating this, A-Dai quietly followed behind, drawing out his sharp little knife from his belt, waiting for the right moment to strike. The bulging pouch beneath the cloak continued to sway, reinforcing A-Dai's decision to make this person his first target. As he thought this, A-Dai stealthily trailed the individual, knife in hand, ready to seize the opportunity. A-Dai's frequent success in catching his prey was closely related to his tenacity; whenever he set his sights on a target, he would follow closely until he succeeded.

At the moment of his great excitement, the golden hexagram on the money pouch suddenly glimmered, and immediately after, an ancient voice echoed in his ear, "Have you ever been truly full?"

The old man merely grunted and did not speak, continuing to walk forward, seemingly oblivious to the fact that a slit had been cut in his cloak and that the money pouch at his waist was already missing

The Assassin Guild, with a minimum membership, is the most mysterious guild on the continent. They are also referred to as the Assassin Group. Although the number of members in the Assassin Guild is not large, each possesses high capabilities. They accept assassination tasks through various underground channels and charge exorbitant commissions. The organization of the guild is extremely tight-knit, and there are only two ways to join: first, by undergoing various arduous trials; second, each year the Assassin Guild announces a particularly difficult task, and anyone who can complete this task will be accepted as a member. Of course, the difficulty of completing that task is far greater than that of the arduous trials, and it is highly likely that one may pay with their life for attempting it. Due to the intrigues and power struggles among humans, this guild, which ordinary people fear, has managed to survive on the continent. Assassins are also distinctly categorized into levels, ranging from low to high: Assassin, Eliminator, Stealth Killer, and Annihilator. These assassins are uniformly managed by the Assassin Guild, and their identities are highly secretive, unknown to outsiders. They do not belong to any nation, and their numbers have never exceeded one hundred; however, they represent a formidable force. There are very few mages among the assassins.

The old woman lifted the dirty little face of the girl, arranging her disheveled hair behind her head. She took out a clean white handkerchief from her bosom and gently wiped her face, nodding and saying: "Yes, child, you must have suffered a lot. Would you like to go with your grandmother? Grandmother can provide you with a good life and allow you to receive a proper education"

Holding the sharp blade in his hand, Ah Dai patiently waited, showing no signs of urgency. After all, when it comes to eating, one must eventually come out after finishing.

The girl pulled away A-Dai's hand and, gathering her courage, said: "I can see that you seem very anxious, so I will return it to you. Please do not make things difficult for him; if you want to hit someone, hit me instead"

Ah Dou had long since grown accustomed to the snobbish doorman, so he hurriedly nodded and bowed, moving a bit farther away. He then squatted down again in a dark corner that could shield him from the wind and snow.

The fool, fearing that the girl would suffer, hurriedly said: "Don't go, girl, let's leave quickly"

The Mercenary Guild, the largest guild in terms of membership, consists of mercenaries who undertake various tasks, both simple and complex, at the request of their employers. They receive varying levels of compensation based on the difficulty of the tasks. The branches of the Mercenary Guild, scattered across different regions, serve as the ideal places for them to accept assignments. Naturally, the Mercenary Guild does not provide services to mercenaries for free; they charge a fee that varies according to the difficulty of the tasks. Teams composed of mercenaries are referred to as mercenary groups. For particularly challenging tasks, employers prefer to hire powerful mercenary groups, willing to pay a high price without hesitation. Mercenaries and mercenary groups are classified into six levels, with the lowest being Level 4 mercenaries or mercenary groups, followed by Level 3, Level 2, Level 1, Special Level, and the highest rank, Super Mercenaries. Due to the large number of mercenaries and mercenary groups, it is quite difficult to advance in rank. Different levels of mercenaries are awarded different badges by the Mercenary Guild. Within the mercenary organization, higher-ranked mercenaries or mercenary groups are highly respected by their lower-ranked peers.

Ah—" A-Dai exclaimed, throwing the money pouch away, his whole body involuntarily trembling slightly. This was the first time he had encountered such a bizarre situation; after all, he was still a child, and fear was evident in his eyes. The sparse snowflakes continued to fall, and the sky remained dark. At that moment, the tattered cotton jacket on A-Dai's body seemed unable to provide him with warmth, as a wave of cold surged rapidly from his heart.