The streets around were silent.
The townsfolk didn't dare to speak.
Someone showed an indignant expression: "How can they do this? How can they treat a hero who saved lives like this?"
Wanting to stand up for Andrew, but was firmly held back by a companion.
In Wildfire Town, Grand Mage Humboldt was high and mighty, extremely honorable, but ordinary townsfolk could just avoid offending him.
Raymond, on the other hand, was different. Avoiding offense wasn't enough; you had to hide from him!
Seeing Raymond's bear-like hand about to touch Andrew's shoulder—
Andrew, expressionless, finally spoke: "Grand Mage Humboldt said I can live for a week. Before then, no one can touch me. Besides, it seems the Sheriff forgot, I am still Grand Mage Humboldt's apprentice."
The moment he finished speaking, Raymond's hand stopped abruptly in front of Andrew, daring not to actually touch him.
The core meaning of Andrew's words was: Humboldt said I'd die in seven days, so before that deadline, try touching me? Go ahead, touch! Just see if Humboldt won't trouble you.
This might not work for others, but for Raymond, it was more effective than the Water Spirit Technique on pulmonary burns!
Because Raymond really cared about Humboldt, he really wanted to please the old Mage.
Raymond's face looked rather spectacular at this moment.
He was used to bullying others and enjoying their pleas or futile resistance.
But he never expected: This kid in front of him, would use the old Mage to press on him!? Seriously?
He didn't know who last night retorted to Grand Mage Humboldt with "I have no obligation to answer your question"?
Rationality was saying: Damn it, the kid is bluffing, beat him up!
But his hand wouldn't go down.
Mainly because Andrew's attitude was simply too composed and calm! It made Raymond a bit uncertain.
His expression shifted rapidly, and finally, Raymond looked up and laughed heartily, saying, "Just joking, just joking, no need to be so serious."
His large hand finally came down, patting Andrew on the shoulder, and then he turned and left.
Only after Raymond's figure vanished did the suppressed breathing of the townsfolk start up again.
"Raymond, huh..."
Andrew watched his back disappear around the corner, letting out a cold snort.
Pulling Humboldt out to suppress Raymond wasn't something he really wanted to do.
But no choice, the timing wasn't right.
Not to mention, he currently had only a non-combat magic skill like "Water Spirit Technique", even if he had unlocked combat-type Water Magic from the "Tear of the Water God", he couldn't truly fight in that situation.
Just scaring him off was enough.
"However, Raymond should soon realize that I was bluffing, right..."
Andrew gritted his teeth slightly, thinking to himself, "Looks like the preparation plan needs to be accelerated."
He resumed his steps, moving with quicker and more steadfast strides towards the direction of the "Living People Cemetery".
...
...
Humboldt had been a bit uneasy these past two days.
Thinking back now, last night's failed experiment which caused an explosion wasn't due to a calculation error.
Instead, he had been distracted during the experiment, made a mistake in one step, which led to a big fire.
"Sigh, is it ultimately because of that 'mission'?"
Humboldt sighed, "I, an old man, just wanted to retire in peace in this remote town, why does the Guild still assign me such troublesome tasks..."
The butler's knock interrupted the old Mage's thoughts: "Master, Miss Barbara from the 'Warm Fire Commerce Association' has arrived in town."
She's here?
Humboldt nodded: "Alright, I'll go out to greet her."
In this world, the power of the Magic Guild far surpasses secular authority.
Humboldt was nominally just a Fire Mage, but the true authority in Wildfire Town was him, not Sheriff Raymond, nor the seemingly crude but actually very cunning mayor.
Therefore, the arrival of the third Miss of the Warm Fire Commerce Association was a major event to be handled by Humboldt, not the mayor or the sheriff.
"Should I inform Mr. Mayor?" asked the butler.
"No need," the old Mage said, "You may leave now."
"Yes, Master."
After the butler left, the old Mage, expressionless, lifted a corner of the curtain.
Looking out the window, he saw at the end of the road leading out of town, a convoy slowly coming to a stop.
The Warm Fire Commerce Association's convoy.
Humboldt's aged face revealed a slightly unpleasant smile.
"It's not my wish, but I can't refuse a Guild task."
The old Mage looked at the spirited young girl leading the convoy and smiled, sighed lightly, "You have no idea that this Wildfire Town is your place of death... Miss Barbara!"
...
...
At the same time, Andrew had arrived at the gate of the Living People Cemetery.
He expected a lifeless atmosphere, but the actual situation was entirely different!
In the lobby on the first floor of the inn, people gathered lively, drinking bad wine, eating snacks, playing a card game that seemed somewhat similar to mahjong.
"Have I come to the wrong place? But it does have the 'Living People Cemetery' sign."
Andrew was a bit puzzled.
Unlike the Desert Hunter Ivan who hid alone to await his death after his lung injury, the residents of the Living People Cemetery huddled together, facing the impending death with laughter!
"I was just wondering when you'd come to our place."
A somewhat husky yet very alluring female voice sounded from beside him.
Andrew turned his head and his eyes couldn't help but light up.
Simply put, she was the first beauty Andrew had seen since crossing into this world.
She was a woman of exceptionally seductive demeanor, appearing to be twenty-seven or eight, her features weren't perfectly flawless, but she had a pair of expressive eyes.
Her body was incredibly alluring, even in the most ordinary style of clothing in this otherworld, her curves were undeniable.
"Feels even prettier than the campus beauty I was hitting on before crossing over, key is this figure is a bit illegal, right?"
Andrew coughed once and asked, "May I ask who you are?"
"I am An Ya, the proprietor here."
The woman smiled with narrowed eyes, extending her hand graciously, "Andrew, right? Welcome to the Living People Cemetery!"
Andrew lightly shook An Ya's small hand and quickly withdrew.
An Ya's beautiful eyes flickered with a slight unusual color, smiled and said, "Your heroic act last night has already reached us here..."
At that moment, a little boy came out of the inn, bouncing around: "Sister An Ya, can I go out to play for a while? Cough, cough."
An Ya showed a soft expression, ruffled the boy's sparse hair: "Go ahead, stay safe, and don't play for too long."
After the little boy ran off, An Ya turned back to face him, "So? Considering staying here with us? As you can see, our conditions are nothing special, but the advantage is that the rent is almost negligible. And since everyone is facing similar circumstances, if death is inevitable, at least you can face it shoulder to shoulder with others."
Andrew thought for a bit and asked, "Can I take a look around first?"
An Ya's eyes flashed with that unusual color again, seemingly surprised that Andrew could maintain such calm composure with less than a week left.
But she didn't ask further, nodding, "Of course, please follow me."