Mythical Creatures Strategy Guide

Chapter 108 Technology Tree

Arthur suddenly spoke up from the side: "However, my lord, you should still be more careful in the future. Although this succubus is dead, no one knows if there might be a second one."

Lady Mira said seriously, "Miss Knight is right. I have already ordered a thorough investigation of all servants and guards in the lord's manor. From now on, all outsiders must undergo a strict background check."

Amber put down her teacup at the opportune moment and clapped her hands lightly: "Now that the misunderstanding has been cleared up, let's let this matter pass."

She looked at Chu Sheng, her eyes gentle: "Chu Sheng, you've had a long night too. Does your ankle hurt?"

Chu Sheng glanced down at his swollen ankle: "It's alright, I should be fine after applying an ice pack when I get back."

"7

"Let me take a look for you." Amber walked over to him, squatted down, and gently lifted his right foot.

Her fingers pressed against his swollen ankle, and the emerald green power of the sacred tree seeped from her fingertips. Chu Sheng felt a cool sensation in his ankle, and the pain quickly subsided by more than half.

Amber looked up at him and said, "Don't look at the scenery from the sky next time. The scenery on the ground is quite beautiful too."

Chu Shengqian chuckled, unsure if she was implying something: "Next time, I'll chase someone by running."

Mrs. Mira watched this scene, picked up her teacup, took a sip silently, and seemed to be lost in thought.

Arthur stood up: "Now that the matter is resolved, I'll go back and write a letter to the Knights. The succubus and the Gorgon affair isn't that simple; there must be someone pulling the strings behind the scenes."

"No need." Lady Mira put down her teacup. "Regarding the auction house and the lord's manor matters tonight, I will issue a formal announcement at noon today. The official line will be that it was a retaliatory action by the monsters, and all the monsters involved have been killed. As for the Zhishou Empire, I have already recorded the true situation of the succubus and the Gorgon. The winged messenger will depart shortly."

Arthur nodded: "This is a good way to handle it."

Just then, Chu Sheng suddenly remembered something: "By the way, what's the auction house's final item? What made these demons go to such lengths to steal it?"

Lady Mira paused for a moment: "The items being auctioned off may just be a smokescreen; the real target is you all. As for the final item, it's an ancient spirit staff, said to have been crafted by an elven queen during the ancient elven empire era, but it's more of a collector's item than a practical one."

Chu Sheng immediately understood. No wonder Amber had lingered at the preview for so long. The Ancient Spirit Staff was probably more than just a handy weapon to her; it was more like a spiritual sustenance.

"Where is that staff now?" Chu Sheng asked.

"They're still in the auction house's underground warehouse," Mrs. Mira said. "Although tonight's attack was repelled, the auction house's outer walls were severely damaged. The city guards have sealed off the entire main street, and the auction has been postponed to three days later."

Chu Sheng glanced at Amber. Amber was looking down, adjusting his trouser leg, and didn't look up.

The starting bid for the Ancient Spirit Staff is 100,000 gold coins. Even if he wanted to help Amber win the bid, he couldn't afford that amount.

The initial investment for the Sacred Tree Free Trade Market is only a few thousand gold coins, most of which needs to be reserved for building bridges and roads.

but----

Chu Sheng glanced at Mrs. Mira discreetly.

I wonder if my appearance fee is worth 100,000 gold coins?

Just then, as if she could read Chu Sheng's mind, Mrs. Mira suddenly put down her teacup.

"Gentlemen," she raised her head, her gaze sweeping over Amber and Arthur before finally settling on Chu Sheng, "I would like to make a request of you all while you are all here. The reward will be generous if it is done."

"At the Sacred Tree Free Trade Market, Tianma Territory can unconditionally invest and attract merchants; you can also freely choose an item from the underground warehouse for auction, and regardless of the final transaction price, the Lord's Mansion will bid for it on your behalf and give it to you."

Amber set down her teacup: "Please speak, my lord."

"I would like to ask for your assistance in exploring the cave."

Chu Sheng was taken aback: "Explore what cave? The Secret Garden?"

"There is an ancient mine in the northern part of Pegasus Territory that has been abandoned for many years, located in the Tunguska Mountains." Lady Mira took out a small piece of parchment and unfolded it on the stone table.

The parchment had a simple map drawn on it, with a winding ridgeline in the center. A red dot marked the north side of the ridgeline, with the words "Ancient Mine Cave" written on it.

"The history of this mine dates back to before the founding of the empire." Mrs. Mira pointed to the red dot with her finger. "This mine was once one of the largest silver mines at the time, but later the veins dried up, and due to the harsh winter and glaciers, it was gradually abandoned."

"Then why does the lord still want to explore this abandoned mine?" Arthur asked, frowning.

Mrs. Mira paused for a moment: "Because I received some information."

"What news?"

"The dwarf kingdom has recently invented something," Lady Mira said seriously, "a metal monster that can move on its own."

A metal monster that moves on its own?

Chu Sheng blinked: "Explain in detail."

"The information we have so far is very limited, and the specifics are probably only known to the higher-ups of the Dwarf Kingdom," Lady Mira shook her head. "But what is certain is that this metal monster does not require magic to operate and its interior can accommodate Dwarf soldiers for control. According to the descriptions of our scouts, it can easily lift objects heavier than its own body weight."

Chu Sheng frowned.

At first, he thought it was a steam engine or some kind of mechanical structure, but it sounded like an exoskeleton mecha.

In this world dominated by extraordinary means, how did the dwarves manage to develop a technology tree?

"What stage of development has this metal monster reached?" Chu Sheng asked curiously. "Is it already in mass production?"

"Currently, only a small number are being tested, but the higher-ups in the Dwarf Kingdom have shown great interest in this invention and it is very likely that it will be deployed to the army within a few years," Lady Mira said. "However, this has not been confirmed yet and is purely my personal speculation."

"What does the new equipment the Dwarven Kingdom's army has to do with Pegasus Territory?" Arthur asked with some doubt. "The Dwarven Kingdom is in the southern border of the Empire, half a continent away from us. Not to mention that humans and dwarves have maintained peace for thousands of years, geographically speaking, it's impossible for the dwarves to cross the Empire to attack Pegasus Territory."

"It's not a military threat," Mrs. Mira shook her head. "It's an economic threat."

"The economic pillars of Pegasus Territory are animal husbandry, agriculture, and commerce," Lady Mira said slowly. "Our wool, leather, milk, and meat products are sold throughout the Empire, contributing over 60% of Pegasus Territory's total tax revenue annually. And what is the core of animal husbandry?"

"It's animal power!" Arthur understood, yet it seemed he didn't quite.