69novels Page 70
Page 70
"The border of the United Nations in Yanium, the capital of Darkseid, Detmouth." Slinger's gaze was filled with curiosity as she looked at the magnificent teleportation platform, shook her head, and then looked at the timid catgirl behind you, asking with a strange look:
"Sir, you've abducted civilians from the Kingdom of Andora?"
"Wait, what?" You glanced back at Mianmi Silk, couldn't help but lift her up, grab her in front of you, and shout, "You weren't like this just now!"
[“Hehe (=?ω?=)…” Mianmi chuckled foolishly, rubbing her face with her cat paws.]
[You were furious and about to explain to Slinger when you saw her wave helplessly and follow the delegation downstairs.]
You stared blankly at her for a while, holding the silken veil, before muttering, "Is this what they mean by 'five minutes of pretense for fifteen years of wealth and glory'...?"
"Hmph." Mianmi jumped off your hand, elegantly dusted off her clothes, and said, "I'm just out here to see the world, I don't need to rely on you! When you're about to go back, I'll just borrow your shadow for a bit, meow!"
[As you watch the fine, silky threads vanish in an instant, for a fleeting moment you feel an itch on your head.]
That noon, the mission began its first round of negotiations with Janium's diplomats. You confidently walked into the meeting room, intending to impress these outsiders, only to be told that you could only stand behind them and could not speak.
"From a trade perspective, the amount of goods exported from Norard to Janium is undoubtedly greater, which inevitably increases the difficulty of trade and thus the cost..." "If the exchange rate of gold remains high in the private sector, even if we increase our returns to you, the final result will be..." "If you lower the tax rate for exporters, we can consider expanding imports..."
[That year, you were eighteen. In the negotiation hall, standing there like a lackey... You listened blankly to the fierce verbal battle interspersed with shouts of "order," and began to question your existence.]
[Someone like you, even if you swagger out, no one would notice, right? That's what you thought, and that's what you did.]
You drifted through the midst of their argument like a floating ghost. They tossed their heads, adaptively ignoring you, their gazes locked on the person opposite them. Your heart sank. You sighed and walked out the door.
You walk listlessly down the empty street, watching the crowds flowing against the current around you, feeling as if the wind, though strong, has somehow bypassed your soul...
"Huh? Wait a minute..." You scratch your head, looking at the growing crowd rushing towards you, and turn to face the crowded city gate.
They carried various farm tools or weapons, gazing up at the busy figures on the city wall. Curious, you sneaked up the wall with a few quick leaps and peered out.
A group of humanoid insectoids emanating a dark, eerie glow were engaged in battle with the Dirtmouth Guard. Although the insectoids were few in number, they could occasionally fly at low altitudes, and their hard, exoskeleton-like armor quickly caused casualties among the Guard.
[You squinted and observed for a while, discovering that the combat composition of Janium was exactly as you remembered from traditional Western fantasy: knights and warriors as tanks, rogues for close-range burst damage, ranged physical archers, priests and mages for healing and buffing, a small number of mages, and some other unconventional classes.]
Compared to Norard, where the class ecosystem is dominated by mages and warriors, this place seems to have a more diverse and vibrant landscape.
[Just as you were still pondering, the Self-Defense Forces suddenly began to falter. Seeing the insectoid monsters about to crush the civilians, you had no time to think, roared, and leaped into the battlefield.]
Although the magic network connection here is intermittent, you are not afraid. With your skillful use of the grimoire, you can cast spells while using combat techniques. Although your grimoire is almost smoking from flipping through it, the fire effect when you throw a punch is really cool.
However, you underestimated the enemy's numbers. More and more dark energy attached itself to you, and you suddenly felt your body growing heavier and heavier. The magic network, lacking the key, could not provide you with the instructions for the corresponding spell. Left with no other choice, you activated your bloodline.
"Drink! Empower Heaven and Earth!" A surge of immense power erupts from your body, a wave of scalding heat coursing through you with each heartbeat. Your vision sharpens as you gaze at the insect-like monsters, now truly resembling tiny worms. You smile coldly, and with a casual wave of your hand, you slap them to death.
You've always been curious about one thing: why don't the Hulk's pants tear?
After the battle, you clutch your chilly groin, silently contemplating life.
[“Um…” After confirming you were human, the Self-Defense Force member, forced to withdraw from the battlefield, approached you with a look of awe. You took the cloak from his hand, casually wrapped it around your neck, and waited for him to express his reverence for you.]
"Excuse me... are you Master Malo?"
You can't help but doubt your ears. You admit that you do look a tiny bit like a gibbon after transforming, but surely not so much like a macaque in people's eyes?
[You were about to deny it when you saw the flyer he was clutching in his hand. Your heart skipped a beat, and you quickly snatched the flyer away, glancing at it nervously.]
"Even a monkey can advance to the sixth ring..." You stared at the grinning face beneath the conspicuous bright red lettering and blurted out, "Holy crap, isn't that me?"
"It really is you, Master Malo!" The self-defense soldier's face lit up with ecstasy. He waved his arms and shouted to the crowd gathered at the city gate, "It's him! It's him! Master Malo!"
To your horror, you watch as a swarm of onlookers rushes to your side, shouting "Master Maluo is invincible!" They lift you up and carry you back into the city.
Your chaotic mind was overwhelmed by the shouts of the crowd, leaving only one thought: "That damn old man, Jerry, tricked me again... Photographing is truly the most disgusting invention in history!"
The delegation, having worked tirelessly all day without making any progress, only discovered your disappearance as they were leaving in frustration. They were stunned for a moment, and just as they were about to ask the representative of Janium if they had seen you, they saw a group of enthusiastic citizens carrying a large, muscular man wearing only a cloak through the streets.
You vaguely hear the delegation members talking, but after struggling, you can't get down. Helpless, you can only continue to look up at the sky, lost in thought, "That cloud looks like a monkey..."
[Late at night, you wander the streets dejectedly, your face covered, feeling that your dream of making a name for yourself in history has been shattered. Even if you do make a name for yourself in the future, it will only be in history...]
Suddenly, you see a similarly dejected catgirl at the end of the street. Seeing you, she excitedly runs towards you, crying out sadly, "Mianmise is so hungry! Mianmise is starving!"
[It turns out that Mianmi, who was used to not using money in the Kingdom of Andora, didn't have a single penny. She wanted to go out and hunt some monsters to sell, but found that all the monsters within a radius of several miles had been wiped out. Disappointed, she returned to the edge of the city, only to be blocked by an attack of insect monsters. And so she has been starving ever since...]
You chuckled to yourself, then called Slinger, and the three of you went out to find something to eat, eventually choosing a kebab shop.
[Having never eaten flour before, Mianmi's eyes widened at the sight of the meat roll she was trying for the first time. She stuffed it into her mouth, swallowing the twenty-centimeter-long roll in one gulp. Seeing this, Slingk frowned slightly and began chewing at lightning speed, like a hamster moving at five times the speed.]
Standing between the two women, you looked left and right, sighed, pressed down hard on both ends of the meat roll, and then easily ate the compressed meat patty.
[Sling told you that she had heard that south of the United Nations of Yanium, and east of the Kingdom of Norard, there stood another country. No, rather than a country, it was more like a gathering place for the traitors, teeming with dangerous individuals such as wizards and escaped criminals.]
You recall the insect-like monsters you saw during the day, and guess that they came from that mysterious country in the southeastern corner of the continent.
The next day, to your surprise, when you arrived at the conference hall, both parties were already close to signing the agreement. Looking at the nearly 5% increase in profit margins and the newly initiated technical exchange contract, you were filled with bewilderment.
Is negotiation really that simple? But you haven't done anything! Is the Queen sending you money?
With that in mind, at the delegation's request, you introduced the technical exchange and cooperation matters to the local people. Although most of the people came to pay homage to Master Malou, they listened to your words, and word spread quickly, until most of Yanium knew that Lundia was opening up enrollment to them.
Months later, you embarked on your journey home, feeling lost and confused. After her first solo trip ended in failure, Mianmis also returned to Andora, looking dejected.
You successfully returned to Siyuanhua Castle. Upon entering the capital, Slingk was immediately taken away by the arriving royal guards.
Before leaving, she gave you a complicated look and said softly, "Sir, thank you for your company. The lamb offal soup was delicious, and the kebab rolls were also very tasty. I won't forget them."
You scratched your head, watching Slink's retreating figure as he was about to be taken away, and suddenly felt that the palace was a giant net.
You originally intended to return home after receiving your reward. However, numerous nobles, seemingly appearing out of nowhere, invited you to various banquets.
You initially intended to decline, citing your busy schedule, but they exposed your lie by saying the Queen was urgently discussing rewards with noble representatives. They further claimed that it was the princes and princesses who wanted you to participate in noble social events.
You had no choice but to agree, after all, you completed your studies with Slink's financial support, and it wouldn't be good to go back on your word.
This entanglement lasted for several months, and just when you felt utterly exhausted, good news finally arrived from the palace: the Queen, overcoming all opposition, insisted on approving the rewards that were due to you in the contract.
Chapter 85 Taupite's Zoo (Part 2)
When you emerge from the palace, you are a newly minted nobleman earning over a thousand a month. Herod is now a legitimate noble surname registered in the annals of Norard.
[You initially considered using Titania, the surname of your ancestor, but then you thought of that old scoundrel who thought "only the Titans are the real deal," and you felt a wave of disdain. In the end, you decided to plan for your little elf's future.]
You didn't see Slinky in the palace, and you haven't seen the Queen's other children in the past few months either. You don't know why, but looking back at the magnificent palace, a chill runs through you.
[I heard that Zerris stepped down as principal a few months ago and is now enjoying his retirement by the sea in Siyuanhua Castle. You're planning to visit Old Deng and ask him why he doesn't take some handsome photos of himself.]
Zerris, shirtless, lay leisurely on a beach chair. The sand along the entire western coastline of Norard was finest, especially near the Fortress of St. John, and the few acres of land Zerris owned as his estate were among the finest of the finest.
You struggled through the thigh-deep sand, grumbling as you asked, "Are you crazy? Installing a magic-blocking array in your own house?"
[Zeris took off his sunglasses and chuckled, saying, "I'm afraid you might secretly use some kind of fattening or sheep-tail spell on me as revenge."]
You were about to retort when you suddenly realized he seemed to have a point, but to save face, you stubbornly insisted, "Am I really that worthless in your eyes?"
[Zeris stroked his chin, watching you struggle to climb onto the beach chair next to him, before saying, "It's not that, it's mainly because you're such a genius, I was afraid you wouldn't have the proper respect for magic."]
"Respect for magic?" you asked hesitantly, picking up a coconut-like fruit from the table, crushing it with one hand, and precisely catching the spilled juice with your mouth.
"You should have heard of the so-called hawks and doves." A faint smile appeared on Zerris's slightly aged face. He also picked up a coconut, gently poked it with his finger, and then inserted a straw into the hole.
"Whether you're a hawk or a dove, our goal has never been merely commercial or cultural export, much less armed conflict." He mumbled, sipping his juice from one side of his mouth.
"Our goal is to bring magic to other parts of this world."
"Huh?" After not using your brain for so long, you feel like your IQ has regressed to the level of a monkey.
"Fine, you're not needed here anymore." Zerris stood up, tossed the coconut into the sea like a bowling ball, gazed into the distance, sighed sincerely, and said:
"When are you going to advance to Legendary rank? After that, you should focus on your own path and stop getting involved in these royal family squabbles."
You stumbled out of the manor, glanced back at the deserted "Tauber" sign at the entrance, thought for a moment, added "Maluo Zoo" after his surname, and then ran off.
"You little brat, not only do you not bow, but you also pissed on my head?!" You heard the hoarse roar behind you, couldn't help but chuckle, and immediately took off running as fast as you could.
[Zeris lay back on the beach chair, staring at your grinning face in the photo, held it in place for a long time, and finally couldn't help but burst into laughter.]
[The familiar spatial turbulence drifted past you, and you instinctively closed your eyes to meet the light at the end. The golden hall, which you hadn't seen for over a year, appeared before you.]
You glanced around at the holy knights guarding the teleportation array, waited a while, but Jennifer didn't appear.
"She's probably still out there on a mission. I hope she doesn't get lost again." You chuckled and strode confidently out of the Golden Hall.
The bright sunlight made you squint, and suddenly, a thought struck you, causing you to look directly at the tallest spire in your field of vision.
Looking at the classical tower top covered in lush vegetation, your heart finally settles down, and a proud smile appears on your face. You murmur to yourself, "Arte, you did it... Is that our home? It looks beautiful. Thank you for your hard work."
You started walking towards the outer city, but for some reason, the closer you got to the mage's tower, the more nervous you became. Was this the feeling of being apprehensive about returning home? Thinking this, you subconsciously bought some bread and vegetables by the roadside.
When you came to your senses, you had already arrived at the foot of the mage tower. Looking at the spire, which complemented the ancient trees, you glanced at the food and daily necessities you were carrying and couldn't help but shake your head awkwardly, muttering, "Latis, Latis, what if Art had already prepared all this? You're just making things worse..."
You took a deep breath for about ten seconds, then gently knocked on the heavy door.
Although there was no response, the door opened gently. You saw a plant guardian slowly retract its curled arms, then close its eyes slightly and crouch back inside the vase.
You carried the paper bag, walked through the door, and glanced around the mage tower.
As the half-elf had previously stated, she intended to utilize the mage tower's management to earn enough gold coins; indeed, the entire first floor of the mage tower resembled a magical goods shop.
Aside from the vines that almost completely covered the walls, the space was mostly filled with wooden shelves displaying props and scrolls. Near the spiral staircase, in what appeared to be the shopkeeper's usual seating area, there was a writing table and a magic spotlight.
You touched the deep marks covering the workbench, then suddenly heard a noise on the stairs.
["Ate..." You were about to surprise the newcomer, but the next second, you froze, not even realizing that the paper bag in your hand had fallen to the ground.]
"Hello, sir, what would you like to buy..." A soft, childlike voice reached your ears. You watched as the little girl, with her short legs and the help of the plant guardians, descended the stairs one step at a time, and you could hardly believe your eyes.
The connection of blood seemed to surge within you, and as you looked at the silver hair and large, azure eyes that were so similar to those of a half-elf, you quickly knelt down and asked, "Little girl, what's your name? How old are you?"
The little girl scratched her head. Although your attitude was strange, a strange sense of familiarity made her hesitate before answering your question:
“Hello sir, my name is Laphs Titania, and I am a little over six months old…”
[Damn, no wonder she's Latis's daughter! At only six months old, she can already talk, walk, and control plant guardians!]
You hugged her tightly, crying out excitedly, "Lavas, my dear daughter, it's me, it's your father!"
Laphs froze, then angrily pulled a hammer from his waist and slammed it into your shoulder, yelling, "You bastard, shameless thing! I'm your father!"
[You were about to explain when you glanced at the somewhat familiar little hammer and suddenly gasped in horror—it was the Black Swamp Hammer! A high-risk item! Ideal for attacking bulls!]
The little hammer slammed into your arm, and you howled, clutching your groin as you did a Thomas Flair. Looking at Lavras, who was grinning coldly with the hammer in her hand, you were filled with rage and vowed to catch her today and give her a good spanking!
When Ateliers returned to the mage tower, she was greeted by a sight of you, pale-faced and covered in sweat, giving Raphs a good spanking amidst a pile of collapsed shelves.
"Sigh." You looked at the distant sunset and couldn't help but sigh again.