I'm supposed to be beheaded right at the start, but I'm immortal!

Chapter 13. The Magic Lamp and the Puppet Princess, The Good Dog Grinning

One quiet night.

An adventurer carefully held the custom-made puppet he had just bought from the mafia.

Fortunately, no one around saw it.

Although the Mafia's puppets were somewhat popular among adventurers in St. Petersburg, they were ultimately shared items and could never be openly displayed.

Custom-made puppets are different. Not only are their models more detailed than shared puppets, but they can also respond with more lines. They are like a true friend or confidante, offering comfort and solace.

For example, right now, the adventurer asked:

"Puppet Princess, do you think I'll become a truly powerful figure in Terera, ruling over all corners of the land?"

A sweet smile appeared on the Puppet Princess's exquisite face, and her voice was pleasant to hear.

"Honey, I think you're overthinking this. An adventurer as generous and insightful as you is bound to become a big shot in the future!"

The adventurer, who was often looked down upon, felt his heart melt after hearing this, and was immediately filled with wonderful hopes for the future.

As expected of the treasure he bought with half of his savings and a three-year installment loan, with the Puppet Princess around, he felt even more energetic when he went to the docks to move things.

The adventurer carefully carried the Puppet Princess towards his small home outside the city, afraid that someone would steal her away.

I heard from the Mafia that the current custom-made puppets are still the basic version, and in the future they will release more intelligent puppets that can write their own memories.

Although it will definitely cost more money and blood essence to buy this.

But adventurers aren't afraid; adventurers can endure hardship!

"Ah! My Magic Puppet Princess!"

The adventurer walked cautiously, and as if by magic, his foot slipped as he passed a riverbank, and the Puppet Princess fell into the river with a "plop".

This...this!

Will it ruin my new Kiki's doll? The Mafia didn't say Kiki's doll was waterproof!

Desperate to save the princess, the adventurer was about to jump into the river to pull his beloved puppet princess ashore.

"Wh...what is that?"

But to his horror, he discovered that bubbles were constantly rising from the river, as if some kind of creature was below.

Under the adventurer's gaze, a translucent figure, shimmering with golden light and exuding a mysterious aura, floated on the river.

"You, you're the Puppet Princess? Why has my Puppet Princess become so ugly?!" the adventurer shouted in terror.

The figure's lips twitched, and he smiled mercifully:

"I am not the Puppet Princess, I am the... Genie of this river."

As he spoke, the genie raised his hands, and a golden, glittering puppet and a mithril-cast puppet floated up from the river.

The genie asked mercifully:

"Young adventurer, did you drop this golden magic puppet or this silver magic puppet?"

"Or perhaps," the genie's tone shifted, as the puppet princess who had just fallen into the water floated in the air, "is this just an ordinary puppet princess?"

"I...I...My Puppet Princess isn't as ugly as you! What kind of monster are you? How dare you impersonate my Puppet Princess!" the adventurer roared.

The genie's face darkened: "I've already told you I'm not a witch! Don't you know how to follow the script? I'm asking which one of these—the golden one, the silver one, or the regular one—is yours?"

The adventurer rubbed his eyes, leaned closer to take a look, and said apologetically, "Sorry, sorry, my nearsightedness is quite severe. I dropped this ordinary witch princess."

The genie nodded and said kindly:

"What an honest adventurer! Here, you can have the gold and silver ones, as well as the regular puppet princesses."

"Really? That's so embarrassing." The adventurer hugged the three princesses and laughed.

The genie chuckled, "Of course, this is a reward for the honest. And that's not all I can give you... I can also help you fulfill your wish to become a great man and rule over a region."

The genie patiently guided:

"It only requires paying a tiny, insignificant price."

The adventurer pondered, "I've only told my wish to my witch, so..."

He shouted:

"Genius, you still say you're not the Puppet Princess?"

Genie: "..."

……

the other side.

Inside the Raven Doctor's clinic.

Because Green and the old wizard were still wanted, and the inner city was different from the chaotic situation on Diva's Avenue, the security was very strong to protect the safety of the wealthy people, and they needed to have their documents checked to enter and exit.

So it's no longer possible to openly go to the Diva Avenue like before.

Mabel is applying makeup to Green.

He explained as he worked:

"Ever since the Fourth Hero developed the cosmetics and makeup techniques we have today, what used to require special skills to achieve the effect of 'changing one's appearance' can now be accomplished with just a small box of cosmetics. No wonder it was called an evil art by the Hero."

"Asian sorcery?" Green asked hesitantly.

Mabel nodded in surprise, "Yes, yes, yes, that's what the Fourth Hero said, how did you know that?"

I just don't know where this Asia is. There's no country in Terreira called Asia, otherwise I'd really like to go and see it.

Listening to Mabel's words, Green fell into thought.

Damn it, it's not just me and Alice who can't time travel, right?

Was the fourth hero also a time traveler?

Green shook his head. Even if the heroes of Tera were all time travelers, it had nothing to do with him. He just wanted to find Alice.

Mabel's makeup skills were quite good. Green in the mirror was transformed, with sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, a dignified appearance, and softer facial features. He looked less heroic and more noble.

Of course, the main reason is that Green has a good foundation.

As for the old wizard, Mabel said she didn't want to do his makeup because he was too ugly. The old wizard had to do his own makeup, resulting in a transformation from the real deal to a fake, which was passable.

Early in the morning, the two men and the witch arrived at the checkpoint outside the inner city.

A high stone wall divides St. Petersburg into the interior and exterior.

Every laborer who entered the inner city from the outer city to work for the rich had to be searched by the prosecutors at the checkpoint.

Generally speaking, it is very difficult for people from the outer city to enter the inner city unless they work there or have relatives or friends there.

If you absolutely have to get in, the only way is to bribe someone to do it; that works everywhere.

However, Green and his two companions obviously didn't need to go through that trouble.

With Earl Mabel around, what's there to fear from a mere investigator?

Upon seeing Mabel and her two companions arrive, one of the investigators quickly approached them and tried to ingratiate himself:

"Miss Mabel, you're back again? Please, please come in. This gentleman beside you is the one who skipped class with you..."

"Hmm?" Mabel looked up at him.

The investigator immediately changed his tune, saying, "Uh, I mean, this is the friend you went out sightseeing with, enjoying a leisurely and carefree life?"

Mabel nodded.

The investigator noticed that Green looked very wealthy. Although he was wearing an ordinary white shirt and suit pants, it was obviously a disguise for skipping class and going out to play, pretending to be an ordinary person!

However, he looked unfamiliar. Was he someone's son, or even an illegitimate child? I dared not think about it, and naturally, I dared not search his resident documents.

Green and his companion passed through smoothly, but the old wizard was stopped.

After all, he looked fierce, not like a good person.

Mabel said calmly:

"This is a hyena monster that my friend kept, which transformed into human form."

The investigator suddenly realized, "Oh, it's just a pet. Oh, then it's alright."

The old wizard passed through the checkpoint without incident.

The investigator cast a look of subtle envy his way. How wonderful! If he had the chance to be Miss Mabel's dog, he would be willing to incur a century-long debt of exorbitant interest.

Of course, it wouldn't be unacceptable to replace Miss Mabel with this young master.

The old wizard's lips twitched: "..."

Are you envious of your mom?

"Can't you just say I'm your friend too?"

Green: "That doesn't seem very believable."

Mabel also said, "It's not that we ruined you, it's that this appearance-obsessed world ruined you."

The old wizard said, "...Then at least next time, don't assign my identity to a dog."

Green surveyed the inner city; the ground was spacious and clean, and every building exuded an air of luxury. In fact, the air seemed sweeter than in the outer city.

The thing the bull-slaughtering knight asked them to find was called Aladdin's lamp, which is said to be a creature from fairy tales that feeds on desire and treasure.

Legend has it that the spirit of the magic lamp will grant three wishes to the person who opens it.

However, fulfilling a wish comes at a price. Once the genie grants the wisher's wish, the wisher will become the genie's slave or have their life essence drained by the genie.

The bull-slayer warned them to be extremely careful, lest they be tempted by the magic lamp and make a wish if they found it.

The three were walking down the street when Green was about to ask Mabel if there were any places in the inner city where they could gather intelligence, when he heard a voice behind him.

"Huh? Mabel?"

Mabel turned her head, and the person who called out to her was a young man in a suit with dark circles under his eyes, the kind who often indulged in a life of debauchery.

"Huh? It's you!" Mabel exclaimed in surprise.

The man in the suit said, "Yes, it's me. What a coincidence to run into you here!"

Mabel scratched her head: "Who...who was it again?"

"..."

You son of a bitch!

I don't know what's surprising about you.

Last said, "We met before when I was studying in Nienia. I am Last from the Knights Academy."

Mabel shook her head in disgust. "Don't talk nonsense. How could I possibly have any connection with those lowly beasts from the Knights Academy who can only do menial civil engineering after graduation? You must have mistaken me for someone else."

Last said embarrassedly, "That's true, but I got beaten up by you when I was pursuing a senior from the Magic Academy."

Mabel then remembered: "Oh, so it was you who was relentlessly pursuing Senior Karen back then. No wonder I felt so itchy to touch you."

With a smug look on her face, she sneered, "Heh heh heh, don't you know that Senior Karen has been mine for a long time?"

"I know, I know, I learned that after you beat me up." Last said with a wry smile, "We've become friends through a fight, I didn't expect to run into you here, and I happen to have something I want to ask you."

Mabel shook her head. "I refuse. I have other things to do. I'm leaving now."

"Hey, wait a minute," Last caught up with the three and said, "Let me finish, I promise I'll pay you right away!"

Mabel stopped and said, "That's more like it."

Green wanted to offer a word of caution, "We're here to find the magic lamp, so let's try to avoid any unnecessary complications."

Mabel: "It's okay, let him tell me what it is first. If it's too troublesome, I won't bother with it."

“That’s right,” Rust said. “My brother recently joined an organization called the Genie’s Lamp Society.”

"The Aladdin Society?" The three of them focused their attention and listened intently.

Last continued:

"My brother hasn't been home for several days since he joined the Genie's Lamp Society, so I was worried about his safety. I sent two second-tier lantern-bearing adventurers to the Genie's Lamp Society to check on him..."

He said with a solemn expression:

"At first, I didn't take it to heart. I just thought there were some beautiful girls there and my brother was having too much fun. Then, after a few more days, the two adventurers I sent to find my brother still hadn't returned. When I went to the Adventurers' Guild to inquire, I found out that the two of them had actually disappeared!"

That's when I realized something was wrong. There might be something wrong with that magic lamp, and my brother was probably in danger.

I was just about to go to the Adventurers' Guild in the inner city to find someone to rescue my brother when I ran into you on the way.

The three of them, Green, exchanged glances.

Mabel: "Go on."

Rast pleaded:

"Miss Mabel, I was beaten by you before, and I know that your strength is no less than that of some people who have just entered the Destiny Path. You are among the strongest of the first-year students in the academy."

They're much more reliable than the Adventurers' Guild, so I'd like to ask you for help in rescuing my brother from the Genie's Lamp Society.

This coincided with the purpose of Green and his two companions' trip.

Logically, there shouldn't be any problem, but Green noticed that Rust was looking around nervously while he was speaking, and he didn't dare to meet Mabel's gaze. He seemed a little guilty.

"So, are you going to say yes?" Mabel asked Green in a low voice.

The old wizard said, "Anyway, we don't have any other information about the magic lamp right now. I think we can give it a try."

Mabel clicked her tongue impatiently. "Why is your pet being so nosy when adults are talking?"

Green nodded: "We can give it a try."

Last could tell that the three of them were centered around the handsome guy in the middle.

Mabel, who was so arrogant in the academy, was actually asking this handsome guy for his opinion?

I have no idea who this person is.

"Let me introduce myself. My name is Antusheng, and I'm a friend of Mabel. My strength is... First level of Destiny. We can try, but I can't guarantee we can save your brother."

Because both of their names were wanted, Green used an alias, An Tusheng, after entering the inner city.

Last said respectfully, "Young Master Antusheng, it's a pleasure to meet you. I didn't expect you to have passed the Destiny Certificate at such a young age. You are truly one of the best in our Nienia Academy. With you and Miss Mabel here, I feel at ease."

Green pointed to the old wizard and introduced him, "This is...."

"I know!" Last raised his hand enthusiastically.

"Is this young master Antusheng's humanoid magical pet? I wonder what breed it is, a hyena? This kind of creature, whether humanoid or monster girl, is extremely protective of its master."

The old wizard glared at Rust with a hostile expression, revealing his gleaming white teeth and burning with rage.

Rust chuckled and said, "Oh, showing its teeth, what a good dog."

After saying this, Last turned to Green and the other man and said:

"Since you two have agreed to this, let's find a place to discuss the Aladdin Society and the matter of rescuing my brother in detail. I know a pretty good coffee shop; please come with me."

Last led the way.

Mabel noticed Green's slightly narrowed eyes and asked in a low voice:

"What's wrong?"

Green shook his head. "I have a feeling that he was hiding something from us when he just told us."

……

……

…………

The outbound traffic test failed, and after the outbound traffic was released, the smart push notification also cut off some traffic. The follow-up reading that was supposed to be enough for the test didn't get any new additions and will probably be gone by next Tuesday.

I'm still outmatched in skill, so I can only continue to endure it.

Bitter!