Man on the ark, forced to become king

If they could win Lin Lu over to Babel's side, they might be able to get closer to that distant ideal. Even if it came at a price, she would keep Lin Lu in Kazdel!

"No danger? Are you sure?"

Wei Yanwu glanced at her indifferently and chuckled, "As far as I know, you haven't gotten any benefits from that regent. You haven't even solved your own problems. What makes you think you can guarantee that Lin Lu won't encounter any danger here?"

"Of course, Mr. Lin. If you stay, I can arrange to transfer the village area of ​​Ramtu to you. How about that?"

Seeing that Wei Yanwu was determined to snatch the person, Kal'tsit was not to be outdone and directly offered a price.

The golden tree is currently located here and is unlikely to be moved easily. Therefore, Lin Lu is very likely not to give up this place. Otherwise, there would be no need for her to fight the Tower of Babel head-on. What would be the benefit of that?

Therefore, giving this area to the other party has a high chance of getting him to stay. It's just a piece of land, with no population and no minerals. Kazdel has plenty of land like this right now. As long as we can achieve our goal, it doesn't matter if it's a bit bigger.

“Nephew Lin, as long as you come back to Longmen with me, Longmen can also carve out a piece of land for you.”

Wei Yanwu raised an eyebrow, offering the same conditions while glancing at Kal'tsit, his meaning clear: How can your wasteland of Kazdel compare to my Lungmen, where every inch of land is precious?

Of course, they can't be compared—that's true for ordinary people.

However, for Lin Lu, it was actually a place like Kazdel, a place rife with war, that was more suitable for the growth of the Golden Tree.

But... only children make choices; he wants them all!

"Miss Kal'tsit, Lord Wei, please don't argue. I think we can cooperate. Peace brings wealth, after all. I think Lord Wei has already taken the sapling I left in Lungmen back, right?"

"That's...indeed."

Wei Yanwu nodded, readily admitting it without feeling embarrassed. He had a perfectly valid reason for doing so, and there was no reason he couldn't explain.

"That tree should be the same species as this one?"

“That’s right, they are essentially the same thing. It has a function that I think Lord Wei will be interested in.”

"Oh? What function?"

"This is it."

Lin Lu smiled slightly, opened her palm, and a crystal-clear drop of dew fell from the tree crown, hovering in her palm. As it trembled, it seemed as if a faint golden light was floating in it.

"Golden Tree Dew is a treasure that can heal injuries. Even if someone is seriously injured and on the verge of death, it can be used to forcefully keep them alive. I don't need to say more about its value, do I?"

"...What are your conditions?"

Such a treasure is practically a second life; it would be extremely valuable no matter where it is placed. There's no such thing as a free lunch, and Wei Yanwu didn't think he could obtain it easily.

"It's very simple. This tree has the function of spatial teleportation, as you have seen, Lord Wei. My request is to obtain a piece of land in Longmen to plant the Golden Tree there. If you need it, Lord Wei only needs to bring your own supplies to obtain the dewdrops. We will not interfere. At the same time, we can accept Longmen's commission. How about it?"

What is needed for such dewdrops to condense?

Wei Yanwu did not immediately agree, but asked a question cautiously.

"Not much, just a drop of dew. It only takes the Golden Tree absorbing thirty pure source stones to condense it."

"...Okay, we can discuss the specifics after we return to Lungmen."

After a moment's thought, Wei Yanwu made a decision.

Thirty pure source stones would be quite expensive for an ordinary person, but it's nothing to a powerful official like him who controls a city. If the effects of the dewdrop are indeed remarkable, then this deal is not a loss.

"Well then, it's a pleasure to work with you."

"It's a pleasure to work together, and I hope this will be a win-win collaboration."

The two smiled at each other, their hands touching briefly before parting.

"Win-win, of course it's a win-win situation."

Lin Lu verbally agreed, but secretly chuckled to herself.

These dewdrops are nothing more than simple condensation of life force. They can't even be used to make half a pure source stone. For every drop that Lao Wei takes, he earns a net profit of 29 stones. The more he takes, the more he earns. And then Longmen will give him a piece of land for free.

It is indeed a win-win situation. He won twice, isn't that great?

Chapter Seventy-Six: The Tree Guardian - Fiameta

"Then, shall I speak with Miss Kal'tsit next?"

Lin Lu smiled faintly as she looked at Kal'tsit, who was watching coldly. Wei Yanwu, being sensible, immediately stopped lingering and walked over to Chen, who was holding his sword and seemingly lost in thought.

He knew, of course, that Lin Lu would definitely make a profit here; it was a seller's market, that was inevitable. However, his original purpose was to win Lin Lu over. A few pure source stones were nothing, not even a drop in the ocean compared to what the Dragon Gate needed for its daily operations. He would just consider it a favor.

Living in a bustling commercial metropolis, he lacked everything except money!

“Miss Kal’tsit, let’s be frank, I do need this place. You can name your terms now, provided that you can truly represent the Tower of Babel.”

Deep blue magic emanated from the tip of the staff, forming a thin barrier around it. This was a variant of night magic, capable of blocking sound from spreading outwards.

Unlike Lungmen, Kazdel requires special attention. Wei Yanwu is far away in Lungmen, so he can't reach us and won't have a significant impact. However, Babel is stationed here, so we have to be wary. That's why we're implanting the Golden Tree's blessing into all of Babel's operators.

After setting up the barrier, Lin Lu crossed her arms and stared at Kal'tsit, who had removed her Radiant Stone shield, waiting for her to state her terms.

Since there is a possibility of negotiation, it would be best to resolve the issue peacefully. After all, it is a powerful force that rules over half a country. Although he is not afraid, he would prefer to avoid trouble as much as possible.

"I can."

Kal'tsit's cat ears twitched, and she said solemnly, "I am fully qualified to speak to you on behalf of Babel. The Ramtu region can be used by you, and Babel's operators will not approach this area. In exchange, we need permission to study this tree and its related derivatives."

"You want to study the Golden Tree? This price isn't enough."

Lin Lu was not surprised by her request. After what happened, a normal person would at least be furious, if not furious. Since she was able to sit down and talk, she must have something to ask for. There was nothing in this wasteland now. The only thing that deserved to be treated this way by the high-ranking officials of Babel Tower was the Golden Tree and himself.

However, to study the Golden Tree, one plot of land is not enough; you need more.

Of course, all of this is negotiable; you can ask for an exorbitant price, but you can also try to bargain.

"In this way, I can allow Babel Tower operators like you, who have received the blessing of the Golden Tree, to enter here for sampling and research. However, in exchange, each person entering will be charged one hundred Originium Stones, and those stationed here will receive five Originium Stones per day."

Don't you think it's too expensive?

Kal'tsit retorted expressionlessly, her gaze indifferent.

Longmen is a large and powerful commercial city, renowned throughout the continent. Dozens or hundreds of pure source stones are nothing to them. However, Babel Tower is facing a severe shortage of funds, barely able to maintain its daily operations. Moreover, they are now suffering repeated defeats under the Regent's offensive, making their finances even more strained.

They weren't unable to produce the pure source stones, but the total amount they had, calculated daily and per use, was simply too much.

How much are you planning to offer?

"Fifty pure source stones every month, and we also need to exchange them for permission to use those dewdrops. You have to understand that research can't be completed in a day or two."

"That's your business, what does it have to do with me?"

Lin Lu glanced at him, sighing inwardly that people are just different. Look how straightforward Old Wei is, he didn't even haggle. Babel Tower is said to rule half of Kazdel, yet he's so stingy, unwilling to spend even a few hundred stones. He's so petty, really petty.

"Since you think it's too expensive, we can also offer a monthly subscription service. It costs 500 Pure Origin Stones per month, and you can freely enter and exit this place and collect samples at will. If you subscribe for ten months or more, you will receive a free Dewdrop. How about that?"

"Five hundred? You're far too greedy."

Kal'tsit's cat ears twitched, her chest heaved, she took a deep breath and said, "Two hundred per month, plus one drop of dew. That's our bottom line. This is Kazdel, after all."

"Tsk, stingy. Three hundred coins, no dew drops included. That's my bottom line. Besides, I also want to know what's inside the underground ruins."

"……make a deal!"

Three hundred coins a month... Babel Tower could afford this price. After all, if it were charged by the number of times or by the day, the accumulated price would probably be several times higher. Kal'tsit agreed after a little thought.

As for the information about the underground ruins... after such a long delay, they've already gotten almost everything they wanted. There's nothing wrong with revealing the empty shell.

"The underground ruins here preserve an item made by the ancient witchcraft of Kazdel, used for the fusion of bloodlines between different races. It is the key item for creating 'Chimera'. There is nothing else. After we leave, you can explore this area, including that ruin, on your own. If you don't believe me, you can send someone to check it out yourself."

Chimera?

Lin Lu wasn't very familiar with this term. What he was mainly concerned about was whether there were any creatures like the Originium Bug from before that could pose a threat to the Golden Tree in the ruins. However, it seemed that Babel Tower had probably already emptied the ruins, so there shouldn't be any left.

"That's settled then, Miss Kal'tsit, you may go now."

With her goal achieved and blessed by the Golden Tree, Lin Lu wasn't afraid of any tricks Kal'tsit might pull. She simply waved her hand and let Kal'tsit leave. Whether she walked back or had some other way out was up to her.

"..."

Kal'tsit gave him a deep look, said nothing, and silently turned to walk towards the cracked earth.

"...Lin Lu, I...can I receive that kind of blessing?"

She had barely left when Fiameta walked over hesitantly, looking conflicted and asking a question.

"You want the blessing of the Golden Tree? Of course you can! What's our relationship?"

Lin Lu, who was still pondering the issue of the ruins, was overjoyed to hear this. He had been waiting for Fiameta to say these words!

Perhaps Mostima said something to her?

Lin Lu glanced furtively at Mostima, who was smiling at them from a distance, and without hesitation, took a golden leaf and handed it to Fiameta. After thinking for a moment, she patted Fiameta's shoulder and said solemnly, "You will definitely love this power, Fiameta! From today onwards, you are a member of the Golden Tree, codename... codename Tree Guardian! Guardian of the Golden Tree! How about that, isn't it awesome?"

"I don't need these weird nicknames!"

Chapter Seventy-Seven: A Student Worth One Hundred Origin Stones

Fiameta showed great resistance to the codename 'Guardian of the Great Tree', while Mostima was extremely enthusiastic about it, constantly nagging about it, which almost made the Liberian girl lose her temper.

Perhaps due to their different races, she did not undergo the same obvious changes as Mostima after receiving the blessing of the Golden Tree. Only her crimson eyes were tinged with a golden light, and she felt that she had become stronger.

Generally speaking, there is no obvious feeling after receiving a blessing. For example, the Sarkaz soldiers, Dasmi, and Scout, the moment the blessing merges into their bodies, the rich life force of the golden tree can heal their wounds. That is the limit of the external manifestation of the blessing, and there will be no more.

However, the blessings on Mostima and Fiameta are different. As one of their own, Lin Lu would never give them such a low-quality, inferior gift. The Golden Tree blessing they received is a completely enhanced version that can directly improve various physical skills, and at the same time, the connection with the Golden Tree is much closer.