Alien world

Chapter 1830, Section 463: Wilhelm Merchants Never Lose Out
The Wilhelm merchant remained frozen, still holding the open pocket in his hand.

"Two portions? Isn't it 1000 portions?"

"What would I do with so much of this stuff? I can't drink it like water, can I?" The words that were about to come out of his mouth disappeared when he saw the dangerous glint in the Wilhelm merchant's eyes. He quickly changed his words to, "I'll buy two portions to try it out..."

"Two portions..."

The Wilhelm merchant tugged at his clothes, which were sticking to his chest with sweat from his emotional outburst, and was on the verge of exploding in anger.

Which customer who does business with them isn't trembling with fear, afraid of offending them? Who would haggle back and forth like they would when buying vegetables at a market, and ask if there are any free gifts!

Shameful! Absolutely fucking shameful!
“Then 10…100 portions! With a major battle imminent, we need to use the money for city defense construction.” Annan relented a bit to avoid incurring the wrath of the Wilhelmian merchants. “We can buy the rest slowly…”

The Wilhelm merchant's vertical pupils faded. Having failed to earn the expected money from Annan, the merchant turned to other ideas: "The war in the North is escalating, and we also serve as protectors of lords' property. Would Mr. Annan be interested?"

"You still accept employment?"

"Only customers of Iron rank or above can enjoy protection services, with Epic, Legendary, and Demigod-level security options to choose from."

Annan asked thoughtfully, "Do you accept assassination requests?"

"Sorry, we businessmen are peace-loving."

Annan didn't believe it; he thought that if there was enough profit, a merchant would even be willing to sell the noose that hanged himself.

He guessed that Wilhelm merchants only sold shields and not spears, in order to profit from both sides... One of the two enemies hired Wilhelm merchants for protection, and the other had no choice but to hire them for safety as well, while also ensuring the safety of their clients and that they could continue to buy things in the future.

Isn't this just treating customers like cash cows?

“You guys really know how to make money,” Annan said sincerely.

Otherwise, how could they have grown so big? Fifty million gold nars is only enough for a bronze client. Fifty million... even the Church of Wealth didn't give them that much money!

Just as he was planning to go to the Church of Wealth and pretend to be poor and pitiful, the merchant's voice rang in his ears: "Annan, which type do you plan to hire?"

Seeing that the Wilhelm merchants were like obnoxious salespeople, trying to squeeze through the crack in the door as soon as it opened, Annan quickly closed the door without even asking the price: "I am an ally of the Blue Dragonflight and do not need your protection for the time being."

"That's a real shame..."

The Wilhelm merchants had also heard of that blue dragon clan, which was one of the larger dragon clans overseas, and included ancient dragons.

100 portions of essence, 50,000 gold coins, cash on delivery.

The merchant effortlessly lifted the money box, slipped into the pocket-like teleportation portal, and disappeared.

……

Wilhelm, Longshan.

The merchant leaped out of the void and landed on a busy mountaintop platform resembling a dock.

In the distance, the giant dragons coiled around the mountain range, appearing as small as a flock of birds, surrounding the magnificent dragon sacred mountain in the center of the mountain range, which was almost level with the World Tree.

"A good haul?" asked its companion, who was wearing the same merchant cloak and preparing to set off.

The Wilhelm merchant shook his head: "Just making a little pocket money."

"You haven't been this happy in a while."

"Haha, I sold all that pile of jade essence you were planning to throw away."

"Where did this fool come from..."

At this moment, the "fool" who had obtained the essence of the jade was eager to try out his conjecture.

At that time, those believers in Annan should have been praying in the Pantheon.

Annan's statue was placed at the very back of the Pantheon. There was no deity there, and Annan forbade them to call him anything, such as God of Magical Images, God of Machines, God of Steam, God of Newspapers, etc. He simply called him Annan Reeves.

Many people pray to Annan every day, and quite a few are sincerely grateful for everything Annan has brought them, but none of them have developed faith—after all, Annan's followers are a two-way street: first, they must be heard by him in the gray fog space, and then their prayers must be fulfilled before they can become followers.

Annan summoned the most devout siblings, Jimmy and his sister. They divided each day into three parts: sleeping, working, and praying. Jimmy, in particular, consistently produced a wisp of faith power every day, making him practically Annan's high priest.

"Jimmy, I called you here to conduct an experiment."

Annan took out a bottle of Emerald Essence, the viscous magic potion inside looking like a dream: "This is Emerald Essence. You probably haven't heard of it. Its use is to turn an ordinary person with no talent into a priest."

"However, in these turbulent years, it can no longer grant extraordinary powers. You might become a priest after taking it, or it might have no effect at all, or cause unknown side effects. Are you willing to give it a try?"

Jimmy lowered his head: "I am willing to give my life, my soul, and everything I have to you, Your Majesty Annan Reeves."

Annan handed over the jade essence: "Drink it."

Without a moment's hesitation, Jimmy unscrewed the cap, poured the contents into his mouth, and waited for the change to occur.

Annan retreated to the sofa and carefully sensed the divinity within the magical vortex.

Dozens of strands of faith continued to surround the divinity, which slowly emitted a faint light, like a star.

Nothing new changed, and just as Annan was about to give up in meditation in disappointment, he heard Jimmy's excited exclamation.

"Your Majesty Annam, I feel I have some kind of connection with you!"

Annan opened his eyes and saw Jimmy looking incredulous, the bottle that should have been in his hand floating up.

“The Mage’s Hand…” Annan murmured.

What kind of situation is it that one's own followers have mastered a magic trick that one could never learn?

"Your Majesty Annam, I can feel your presence in my heart..."

Jimmy's description was like a pastor's spiritual experience, which meant that he did indeed become a pastor.

The priest's power comes from the gods, but Annan, as the "god," has no power to bestow upon Jimmy... He can't even control the divinity of the magic vortex, so that apart from comprehending a talent called Mage's Hand, Jimmy knows nothing else.

Are there any other changes?

Jimmy shook his head and said he didn't know; his power was yet to be developed.

Annan took Jimmy to the Mage Tower, leaving him to the Skeleton King as a hands-off manager, while he himself went to the Church of Wealth, which was under construction but whose main structure was already completed.

A golden statue of Lady Wealth has been erected in front of the church gate.

As the church began to fulfill some of its responsibilities, believers lined up in droves, creating a bustling scene amidst the smoke and dust and the sounds of construction work behind them.

Annan's arrival delighted many believers, who watched as His Highness touched the lady's toes with obvious affection, even wanting to kiss them.

This devotion brought tears to the eyes of the believers. Who could doubt the identity of the Holy Son after seeing this? They all prostrated themselves in reverence to this woman, their representative on earth.

(End of this chapter)