Badge in Azure

The pan turtle alchemical boat sped up, advancing north. In the great hall Fellett and Lanny were educating Saleen.

“I know you are wealthy, Aini told me that your business rakes in huge profits. By purchasing picture charts of sea magic beasts from Alchemy City, you must consider that Alchemy City will have some reservations. If you want to make a fortune from the ocean, you have to rely on your own abilities to verify every single information.”

“Uncle, I don’t have so much time.” Saleen smiled bitterly. He did not want to give huge amounts of magic nuclei and gold coins to Alchemy City, “There are three tribes within Alchemy City and Sregl Island’s power is the weakest. It will be better off giving these magic nuclei to Teacher.” Nevertheless, the creatures in the sea were so complicated. Saleen would have to spend a lot of time identifying and studying those creatures and he did not have the luxury of time.

Even though Joey surely had his ways to deal with Fycro, Saleen could not possibly place all his bets on Joey.

“If I want to rely on one of them, I can only rely on Sregl Island.”

“Don’t you have a long-term plan?” Fellett asked in dissatisfaction.

“Uncle, please give me guidance.” Saleen was in fact very modest. From Aini’s narrative, Saleen could infer that Fellett and his wife had an extremely high status in the Clyde family in the past. They also had very vast knowledge and a mage like Saleen could not be compared to them.

“I heard that you have plundered rations from Phoenix, is that true?”

Beads of sweat appeared on Saleen’s face due to embarrassment, then he quickly clarified, “Bandits had attacked while the city owner abandoned the city. When I arrived, the city had almost zero resistance left. After chasing away the bandits, I didn’t have the power to defend the city, so I took the rations.”

“Humph, you put it in such a nice way. Let me tell you, Holy Rock City chose to ignore this matter. If they want to pursue it, they can even accuse you of being in cahoots with the bandits. You won’t even have an avenue to lodge an appeal.”

“I am prepared for such a situation.” Saleen smiled, not fearful at all. When Saleen was in Cexing City he had set a fire to burn all the warehouses before leaving. Logically, since Saleen was not a sorcerer, he could not have carried so much grain. If Holy Rock City wanted to mete out punishments, then they could only make someone the scapegoat, like Fellett said.

Saleen was least afraid of such a method. If that really happened, then he would have no more concerns, he would not need to think about Lex anymore. As a mage, he only needed to think about achieving a balance.

If Holy Rock City reasoned with Saleen, then Saleen would be reasonable. Likewise, if Holy Rock City was despicable, Saleen would do tit for tat. Metatrin City was more than fifteen-thousand miles from Holy Rock City, it was impossible for Qin to deploy troops there for the time being. Saleen had signed a contract with the Goddess of Myers, it was only a matter of time before he would need to battle Holy Rock City. He need not be afraid of falling out with them.

Lex would be in somewhat of a dilemma though. In Holy Rock City, Safilos had left a bit of leeway, while her brother Ojarvis had utmost trust in her. In such a situation, Lex could only cooperate with Saleen to tamper with Phoenix, they would not be able to touch Qin’s land. Once the Qin nobles got disappointed it would be difficult for them to recruit followers otherwise.

“Of course you aren’t afraid, you are eyeing all of Phoenix.” Fellett’s words startled Saleen. “If Fellett knows about my intention, then Safilos would definitely be able to guess it as well.”

“The probing technique was pretty good. Phoenix’s nobles have hatred towards Holy Rock City. Despite you stealing so many rations no one sought advice from Holy Rock City. Do you know something? County Queen Lex’s army arrived after your departure and they seized Cexing City and Huoxing City.”

“What?” Saleen had been busy all this while, he never had a chance to contact Lex. He never thought that Lex had already conquered these cities thoroughly. She did not hire any mercenaries, which was not per the initial agreement.

“You want Phoenix, but Lex also wants it!” Fellett sighed.

Saleen laughed out loud, then said, “Uncle, you are reading too much into it. Lex occupied these cities so as to divert Holy Rock City’s attention away from me.”

“Perhaps you two have an even larger agenda, but Lex is the pedigree descendant of the Grukos family. She has the right to inherit the throne, she will never allow your men to occupy Phoenix,” Fellett declared sternly.

Saleen felt astounded, “Oh right, I missed this point, Lex is a Grukos! Lex might not be harboring this intention when she supported me to establish a county, but once I build a county, I cannot seize Qin’s lands anymore.” When he thought about this point, Saleen felt a sense of loss, but he immediately adjusted his mentality.

No matter how close Saleen was to Lex, he could not request her to make such a huge contribution. If Lex wanted Sregl Island, Saleen would never accede to her request either.

Saleen fell silent, awaiting Fellett’s lesson. It was good fortune to have someone with such wisdom. Fellett was willing to enlighten Saleen, which made Saleen experience an unexplainable emotion. Of course, Fellett and his wife were undoubtedly looking out for Aini. Back then when Saleen was not so rich this couple had already treated him well and that could not be faked.

The incident where Fellett and his wife fought with the Holy See over their son made Saleen recall the time when his teacher went to create trouble for Earl Sufonso. A mage’s temperament could not be disguised, Saleen would never cast doubts on the character of Fellett and his wife.

“Phoenix might be important, but it is inferior to Loulan. Loulan is facing enemies on three fronts, it is the crux of the war. Since the Tanggulasi people want to fully conquer Loulan, they have to maintain a good relationship with Sikeqinyans for the time being. Saleen, the moment anything happens you can go forth and obtain Laiyin Duchy!”

“Laiyin Duchy?” Saleen got a little frustrated. Laiyin Duchy was much stronger than Phoenix, there was a grade-9 mercenary group in its borders and there was also another grade-9 mercenary group near Sikeqinya’s borders.

“There are four grade-9 experts in these two grade-9 mercenary groups. Especially the Dragons and Roses Regiment located at Didypus’ border, its leader is a Golden Grand Swordmaster. With this Golden Grand Swordmaster around, all efforts will also be futile no matter how many soldiers I have unless I can gather a dozen sorcerers to surround that Golden Grand Swordmaster.”

“You can purchase that grade-9 mercenary group,” Fellett gently reminded Saleen.

“I cannot afford it.” Saleen smiled bitterly, “Even though that mercenary group isn’t as mighty as the Dragons and Roses Regiment there are also two grade-9 sorcerers helming it. I want to let two grade-9 sorcerers work for me?” Saleen did not feel that this plan would be plausible.

“You have to buy them even if you cannot afford it, you just have to bribe two grade-9 mages. Think about it, who isn’t jealous of your fortune in Metatrin City? Only a mage can be trusted. Give them money and they will work for you. You are also a mage, so they will not feel any embarrassment or shame.” Fellett hit the bullseye with one comment.

Given Saleen’s current wealth, people would have plotted against him long ago if it was not for Qin’s internal turmoil. Would he still have been able to develop a city?

“As long as those two grade-9 mages can be bribed, the whole mercenary group will follow suit too. Without these two mages the mercenary group will immediately be divided into four grade-8 mercenary groups. They will not be able to dominate Laiyin Duchy by themselves.”

“Uncle Fellett, you know everything.”

“But of course, even though we are imprisoned the family still has to send intelligence to us for analysis. These years, we have been observing the affairs of the four duchies. Other than being a little surprised by the incident in Phoenix, the whole situation in Loulan turned out like what we had analyzed.”

“So I guess you will know a suitable candidate to bribe the two grade-9 sorcerers, right?” Saleen was overjoyed, the disguise put on by Fellett and his wife was totally unexpected by Saleen. Aini’s parents wielded more power than Saleen could imagine.

“Of course, the leader of the grade-9 mercenary group in Laiyin’s borders is a Silver Grand Swordmaster, he is forty-eight years old. His son is twenty-six years old and is also a Silver Grand Swordmaster. The father and son did everything they could to construct a nine-story magical tower for the two sorcerers. Tell me, what should you use to lure those two sorcerers to leave?”

Saleen did not even ponder and replied, “I will present a ten story magical tower to them.”

“Saleen you are indeed smart, those two grade-9 sorcerers are too arrogant, and that’s why they didn’t enter Alchemy City. If you dare build a ten story magical tower, you will surely move them. Once you complete the drawing, I will send someone to persuade them.” Fellett was jubilant, “Saleen is smart and observant, he picked up the crux of the problem in just a short while.”

These two grade-9 sorcerers were like biological brothers training together. If they went to Alchemy City, their status would not be too low either. They were willing to endure in Laiyin Duchy, not even stepping into Qin once. They surely felt dissatisfied, indignant, and furious.

When Qin was established it made an agreement with the Holy See to never build a magical tower with more than ten stories.

Saleen thought to himself, “At the moment, a grade-9 sorcerer is still out of reach for me. Once the mages from Sregl Island arrive and enter the Six Elements’ Space to train, these two grade-9 sorcerers will be nothing.”

“Saleen, once the two grade-9 sorcerers leave you can bribe the Red Tiger Mercenary Group. You will receive the manpower from the other mercenary group, while the people from the Red Tiger Mercenary Group can enter your state and become a regular army. Just remember to confer a title to them. After that you can send your own men to take over the base of Red Tiger Mercenary Group. That way, you will rightfully own a piece of land in Laiyin Duchy already.”

Saleen was in utter admiration, Fellett’s plan was extremely shrewd. “The problem will be solved from the root up. Without the two grade-9 sorcerers, Red Tiger Mercenary Group will be easily bribed. Those two Silver Grand Swordmasters will not be able to resist the temptation of a noble title. In Laiyin, the status of a mercenary wasn’t high and there was no inheritance either. Once a mercenary dies they cannot leave behind much for their family. By turning the Red Tiger Mercenary Group into a regular army I will have an extra ten-thousand men and they can be stationed in Laiyin Duchy. These people from big families are indeed ruthless and decisive. The moment I enter Laiyin in this manner, coupled with Lex’s help, I will be able to take over the other mercenary group in Laiyin swiftly and thus stand independently. Luckily, because of Aini, I went to build a good relationship with Fellett.”

“Uncle Fellett…”

“Saleen, am I very powerful?” Fellett laughed boisterously, looking very innocent.

“Fancy you being so smug!” Lanny used her fingers to smack her husband’s forehead, then said, “This matter isn’t settled yet, we don’t even know if Aini can handle it or not.”