Ago led the way, and the group, with plenty of food and water, spurred their horses and galloped off into the distance.
Following the trail Ago had previously discovered, the group headed southeast. Fortunately, both the centaur and Lu Xuan were top-notch trackers. After intermittent pursuit, they finally spotted a city on the twentieth day.
This is Qarth, one of the world's largest ports.
Qarth has three thick walls, a marvel of engineering that symbolizes the city's power. The outer wall, thirty feet high, is made of red sandstone and is carved with various animals; the middle wall, forty feet high, is made of gray granite and is carved with lifelike battle scenes; the inner wall, fifty feet high, is made of black marble and is covered with erotic carvings (???).
After paying some fees and completing various registrations, Lu Xuan and his group successfully entered the city. Qarth had no shortage of centaurs. The people here merely glanced at their strange group and then paid them no further attention. There were far more bizarre groups in this city.
After passing through the thick city walls, the group finally entered the city.
In this city of bones, everything that is lacking can be found. Endless food and water. A vast port where merchant ships from the Free Cities, the Summer Isles, and Westeros dock. This makes the city a hub of unimaginable wealth. It is truly a city of commerce.
Lu Xuan took out some gold and handed it to Jora.
"Take them to buy what we need. It would be best to buy some slaves, otherwise we won't be able to transport much. Make sure you get these things first, and we'll meet up here before dark."
"OK."
After parting ways with Jorah and the others, Lu Xuan walked alone into the depths of the city.
To the northwest of Qarth lies a desolate red wasteland. Aridity and hunger pervade that land. But here, fountains, gardens, and greenery abound. Even the square's surface is etched with exquisite patterns. It's a world of luxury, like hell and heaven.
Lu Xuan was alone, and soon people approached him. They were the kind of brokers who specifically guided newcomers like them or a group of guys who specifically swindled outsiders.
After gesturing for a while, the two finally decided to communicate in Westeros Common. Since there were many Westeros caravans around, many brokers spoke Westeros Common. Lu Xuan had also learned some Dothraki, but it didn't seem to be widely spoken here. As for Valyrian, he was still learning it and hadn't yet reached a practical level.
The broker was a middle-aged man dressed in a cheap silk robe. He also wore imitation jewelry on his nose. He was dressed in typical Qarthian attire.
Lu Xuan casually took out a small gold bar, tossed it in his hand, and said to the broker beside him.
"I need a new image. Understand?"
"Of course, please follow me."
Before long, Lu Xuan emerged wearing a magnificent silk robe. This was the standard attire for men in Quills. To be honest, it looked incredibly tacky. However, to blend in with local customs, Lu Xuan reluctantly put it on.
"Find me a restaurant that matches my outfit. Then tell me about the city."
Qarth has an ancient history. The nominal rulers are the royal family, but in reality, several powerful merchant guilds, the Thirteen Giants, the Tourmaline Brotherhood, and the Spice Guild hold actual power in the city.
In its early days, the city was ruled by sorcerers, but as magic faded, their influence waned to that of just one of the thirteen great sorcerers.
However, Lu Xuan knew that with the hatching of Dani's three baby dragons, the wizards of Qarth had quietly recovered some of their magic power. These guys, though they didn't seem particularly powerful, were full of underhanded tricks and were troublesome. Moreover, they were probably the ones most eyeing Dani's baby dragons.
"If I want to hire a group of reliable soldiers, what should I do?"
"It's simple. There are specialized mercenary agencies in the city. You can hire them there to find anyone you want. But it will take a while because they will verify your background and financial resources. If you want it to be faster, you can go directly to the port."
Hundreds, even thousands, of mercenaries come to the port every day, waiting to be hired by passing caravans. Of course, sometimes they're not just mercenaries. You know…”
“I understand. I need fifty people, the best kind. I don’t want a fully-fledged mercenary group. Ideally, it would be a combination of several small mercenary groups of a dozen or so people each, or lone wolves would also be fine. Also, I need to purchase some weapons and equipment. I wonder if you have any connections in that area.”
"This is Qarth, a commercial city. Weapons are regulated, but not impossible. The prerequisite is having enough money."
Lu Xuan reached out and took out a small leather bag. Upon opening it, a dazzling array of colors caught the broker's eye. He had been in this business for many years; he naturally had a discerning eye. The moment he saw Lu Xuan, he knew this man was definitely not an ordinary mercenary or merchant.
Although his clothes were somewhat tattered, his demeanor was unlike anything he had ever seen before. He perfectly embodied the image of a scion of a once-powerful noble family that had fallen on hard times. These people often held the last vestiges of their family's wealth and were eager to revive their lineage, willing to spend money. Now it seemed he had been right.
Lu Xuan said as he put away the small leather bag.
"Although my family has fallen on hard times, I still have a little pocket money..."
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Chapter 237 The Male Wizard
When Jorah met Lu Xuan at the agreed location, he saw Lu Xuan dressed in a gorgeous silk robe and wearing expensive jewelry, looking like a wealthy merchant from Qarth.
"What's this?" Jorah asked, completely bewildered.
"Come with me, I've already found you accommodations. Let Ago and the others rest for the night, and we'll set off tomorrow with the supplies back to the City of Bones. You stay here with me for a few more days."
"I know, but why...?"
Just as Jorah was about to ask why Lu Xuan was dressed like that, he saw Lu Xuan casually toss a brand new suit of armor over.
"Try it on, it should fit your body type. Put it on, then come with me, we're going to a party tonight."
"A banquet? We've only been here for one day, how could we possibly have a banquet invitation?"
"Of course there was no invitation. I paid for this. Jorah, this is a commercial city, not Westeros where chivalry is prevalent, but rather where the exchange of favors is. Although, as far as I know, Westeros's chivalrous culture..."
Jorah: "...Okay. But why are we attending a banquet? Shouldn't we be out gathering information?"
"That's why we're going to the banquet. It's a high-society banquet in Quills. All the big merchants in Quills are there, and there might even be the Thirteen Masters. If you don't know what the Thirteen Masters are, just go out and ask anyone."
Jorah roughly understood what Lu Xuan meant. He planned to directly probe the city's top levels to gather information and even test their attitude towards Dani.
He had actually planned to gather information himself. For example, he intended to go to a bar or brothel for a drink that night. But after seeing Lu Xuan's actions, he ultimately remained silent. He couldn't help it; he could even imagine Lu Xuan's reaction upon hearing his thoughts.
"What? You intend to find out the city's ruling class's attitude towards Dani from taverns and brothels? Do you think those drunkards in taverns and brothels could possibly know the Thirteen's decisions?"
Thinking of this, Jorah shook his head, swallowing back his urge to speak. He couldn't help it; he now also felt it was a bit unreliable.
However, he suddenly remembered a crucial question.