Chapter 126: Phantoms of the Starry Night (Bonus chapter for reaching 6,500 recommendations)

The Star Tree Coffee House was rather quiet tonight; most regular patrons were hunkering down in their homes or inns, avoiding the streets. On his way over, Chu Yun had already learned the news that the King was on the verge of death.

Many other nations found themselves in a situation similar to the Kingdom of Elno. These monarchs had previously offered many sacrifices to the Goddess of Life and granted her church favorable policies, earning them her divine blessing. Even those who were decrepit and long past their natural time of death had managed to linger on, relying on the vitality bestowed by the Goddess. Among them were many who, like the King of Elno, refused to abdicate, clinging to power for so long that their own descendants grew old and died waiting for the throne.

Now, with the fall of the Goddess of Life, her once-bestowed favors had vanished. Unless they could offer up fragments of divinity soon, many of the kings who had benefited from her life force would gradually perish. The King of Elno was the first to face this crisis; upon learning that the Goddess of Life had returned to the mortal realm, he had already dispatched envoys to the church’s headquarters. Unfortunately, before a deal could be struck, the King of Elno was already failing.

Chu Yun walked to a window seat on the second floor. A waiter with pointed ears—likely a half-elf—approached.

"Good evening, sir. What can I get for you?" the waiter asked respectfully.

Chu Yun scanned the menu and ordered the most expensive fruit wine he had never tried before.

"'Starry Night Illusion'? Exclusively for those Tier 2 and above? Sounds interesting," Chu Yun said with a smile.

The waiter glanced at the mage badge Chu Yun was wearing and explained, "Sir, Starry Night Illusion is a magical fruit wine crafted from enchanted flora. It causes minor harm to the body upon consumption, so please drink with caution. However, some guests have reported that after drinking it, they could see the future and foresee events that would happen to them. It is a one-time occurrence, though; no matter how much those guests drank afterward, the vision never appeared again."

Intrigued, Chu Yun asked, "Did those prophecies come true? Or were they merely hallucinations, scenes conjured by the drinker's own subconscious memories and inner desires?"

The waiter stuck out her tongue playfully. "I couldn't say. You are a mage, sir; you know more about these things than I do. If you want to know more, you might ask our boss."

Chu Yun’s purpose in coming was to find the leader of the Four-Leaf Clover, the owner of the Star Tree House, Belsirena.

"Is she in today? I have some business with her," Chu Yun said, while ordering a few other snacks.

"The boss was just here, but she has likely returned to the Four-Leaf Clover headquarters now. You can find her there."

Generally, larger adventuring parties purchased or rented a building in the city to use as a base. Chu Yun knew where the Four-Leaf Clover was stationed; it was in the high-end residential district near Viscount Carl's mansion.

The preparation of the Starry Night Illusion required a professional bartender to craft it on the spot. A short-haired blonde elf "maiden" came to Chu Yun’s table. She used spells to extract juices from various exquisite fruits, mixing them in strict proportions and sequence. Then, like an alchemist, she performed heating, cooling, evaporation, and liquefaction. Though the process was complex, it was aesthetically pleasing, as if she were creating a work of art.

After about ten minutes, the expensive glass of Starry Night Illusion was finished. The wine was a pale blue, with layers of gradient color that looked less like a starry sky and more like the deep ocean.

The "Starry Night Illusion" could only be experienced after drinking it. Chu Yun lifted the glass with some anticipation and tasted the magical brew. The wine had a faint, refreshing fragrance; as it entered his mouth, it felt like a clear spring, cleansing his body and mind from within. He couldn't help but close his eyes, savoring the marvelous sensation.

His body seemed to be released from the shackles of the earth, and tiny stars began to appear in his mental world. An endless galaxy emerged in his mind, with powerful forces connecting different stars into constellations. Each constellation gave him a different feeling, yet when he tried to find his own destiny, it felt incredibly distant. Vaguely, a dim blue dot floating in the dark universe seemed to be calling to him.

This sensation quickly faded, replaced by a black-and-white vision made of countless stars appearing before his eyes. However... the vision was somewhat inappropriate for minors, and it was so stimulating that the sudden surge of emotion jolted him right out of his reverie.

"Sir, did you see the future?" the half-elf waiter asked curiously.

"The image quality was blurry, and there was too much pixelation. Sigh, I'm hungry. Hurry up with the food," Chu Yun said, feeling somewhat disappointed.

"Oh? Very well, the dishes are ready. I will bring them to you right away." The waiter, looking puzzled by Chu Yun's words, hurried to serve the other delicacies.

After finishing his meal, Chu Yun left the Star Tree House feeling somewhat dazed. He didn't know if what he had seen was the future or merely a figment of his imagination. If it were just a fantasy, it wouldn't be a big deal, but if it were a prophecy, then it was truly beyond his expectations.

Lost in thought, Chu Yun arrived at the gate of the Four-Leaf Clover mansion in the noble district. It was an exquisite little villa, with walls and windows covered in lush greenery and flowers, perfectly suited to the elven team’s style. The Four-Leaf Clover party followed an elite path; they were few in number, but each was powerful and skilled. Composed entirely of female elves, they were the dream team that countless male adventurers longed to join.

Although the sun had set, it wasn't time for sleep yet, and most people had just finished their dinner. Chu Yun checked the distribution of the magic crystal lights on the floors and knocked on the large wooden gate. A small fairy attached to the gate was startled awake. It blinked at Chu Yun, and his likeness was instantly recorded on its tiny wings before it fluttered off toward the building.

Before long, Belsirena, the leader of the Four-Leaf Clover, came to the gate herself to welcome Chu Yun. Following behind her was a young elven girl in a bathrobe, clutching a three-tailed cat. It was Keli, who had been gravely ill. It was unclear why she was here instead of at the Count's mansion.

"Big brother! I heard you saved Keli! Thank you, big brother!"

"It’s windy out here, and Keli has just recovered. Let’s head inside," Belsirena said with a smile.

Chu Yun followed her into the house. The interior was minimalist yet carried an artistic flair that was very comfortable. Seemingly aware of Chu Yun’s visit, the elven girls, who had already returned to their rooms, came out to the main hall one after another. Seeing so many elves together was quite a sight to behold.