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Chapter 244
Chapter 222: The Command Class Talent, Pluton Ainzach's Regret
In a room at the inn.
From time to time, Enri’s gaze drifted to the nearby tabletop. The gleam of shining Gold Coins and a small pile of Copper Coins made it hard to look away.
Ten Gold Coins for a single bottle of Healing Potion. She had originally thought they would never sell, as the price was far too steep. She never expected them to be the first things to go.
"I heard from the customers that the Lord Captain is a genius alchemist. How amazing," Enri thought to herself, forcing her eyes away from the Gold Coins. No wonder the Lord had casually tossed her twenty Gold Coins yesterday to purchase supplies.
She might just be following an incredible figure.
"The potions sold out so quickly. A little faster than I expected."
Tang Zheng looked at the coins on the table, speaking with a light chuckle, though a flicker of light flashed in the depths of his eyes.
His "Regeneration Potion" had only ever appeared in the Imperial Capital of the Baharuth Empire, yet it had sold out here in such a short time.
Evidently, information about him had already spread within the Kingdom's borders. At the very least, quite a few people in the city of E-Rantel must know about him.
For Tang Zheng, this was not a bad thing at all.
He needed a public-facing identity to begin with, and naturally, the greater the reputation of this identity, the better. Often, first impressions are crucial.
It was just like those Adamantite-rank adventurers, who could use the influence of their reputation to do things conveniently within human territories.
Even if the Great Tomb of Nazarick were to descend in the future and investigate him, the information they would find would only be what Tang Zheng had intentionally revealed.
This could be considered learning from the Bone King's strategy: letting the adventurer Momon and the King of the Sorcerer Kingdom exist as two separate, independent individuals.
However!
This alone was still not enough.
The thought flashed through Tang Zheng's mind. His expression unchanging, he picked up a coin pouch, grabbed a handful of Copper Coins, and put them inside. After stuffing it full, he took two coins from the adjacent pile of Gold Coins and placed them in the pouch as well.
*Swoosh!*
He tossed the coin pouch.
The weight in Enri's hands made her stumble forward. She quickly hugged the coin pouch to keep from falling, looking at Tang Zheng in a slight panic. "Lord Captain."
"I'm not a stingy person. That's your share," Tang Zheng said with a light laugh.
"But, but, this is too much."
Enri clutched the heavy coin pouch, her voice stuttering. She could feel her heart pounding violently.
This was completely different from when Tang Zheng had tossed her twenty Gold Coins to buy supplies.
Although she didn't know exactly how much was in the pouch, the two Gold Coins alone were more than her family earned in an entire year.
"Is it really that much?"
Tang Zheng gestured to the small pile of Gold Coins on the table, then pointed to the coin pouch in Enri's hands.
Of course, Enri knew there was a lot of money on the table, and she also understood that none of it had anything to do with her. It was all money the Lord Captain had earned by making the alchemy potions himself.
She had only sold them, a task anyone else could have easily done.
Before Enri could speak, Tang Zheng continued.
"Enri, don't confine yourself to Carne Village. You've left the village, and this world is much bigger than you imagine."
"Be it money or anything else, as long as you can put your Talent to use, it's not nearly as out of reach as you might think."
Tang Zheng spoke again to Enri, who was wearing a faded, light-pink cloth dress on the inside, a black cotton coat on the outside, and blue cloth boots.
Her attire could hardly be called "pretty." The difference was stark when compared to the exquisitely dressed Green Leaf Witch beside her.
The black cotton coat was something Tang Zheng had asked Enri to buy yesterday. It was also very cheap, costing only two silver coins.
It was warm enough, but certainly not refined. She was clearly trying to save money for him.
Enri didn't quite understand, but she had heard the sentence that piqued her curiosity the most. She quickly asked him, "Lord Captain, I want to know, what exactly is this 'Talent' you spoke of?"
At the side.
The Green Leaf Witch's eyelids fluttered open, her eyes revealing a similar curiosity. She, too, was a bit puzzled.
During her observation over the past few days, the Green Leaf Witch was certain that this little girl named Enri was indeed just an ordinary human.
At least, she hadn't noticed anything worthy of attention.
"It's still too early for you now. You'll find out in the future," Tang Zheng said softly, showing no intention of explaining. He continued, "Go to the courtyard behind the inn and get Xiao Hei to bring the carriage out. We're preparing to leave."
The reason Tang Zheng recruited Enri wasn't for some illusory Talent involving an affinity for creatures like goblins.
What he valued was Enri's true Talent for the Command Class!
In just one or two years, she would rely on her own ability to obtain advanced Jobs in the Command Class system: Sergeant, Commander, and General.
This was far more tangible than some so-called "goblin affinity."
Of course!
Tang Zheng was not without his own motives. Besides valuing Enri's Command Class Talent, he wanted to use this aspect of her Talent to acquire the ability to use Message, a type of communication Magic.
As far as Tang Zheng knew, the Command Class Job system included a perpetual Message ability that allowed constant communication with one's members.
This perpetual communication likely had restrictions based on Class and distance.
Tang Zheng's interest in that was not particularly great, but the Message Magic itself, a means of long-distance communication, was something he needed to master.
Even in the Great Tomb, this was an ability possessed by only a select few, like the Bone King. The other Floor Guardians could only use it by activating a Message Magic scroll.
"Okay."
Enri was a little disappointed, but she bowed immediately, clutching the coin pouch tightly, unable to hide the look of happiness in her eyes.
Watching Enri's briskly departing figure, Tang Zheng let out a soft laugh.
The ghoul dog had a rather foul temper, but it was unusually friendly toward Enri, likely because it had been in contact with her since it was young.
Tang Zheng raised his hand and waved it over the coins on the table, storing them in his item box. He had no intention of giving any to the Green Leaf Witch.
She had no need for them.
"How is your mastery of the 'Wild Transformation' ability coming along?" Tang Zheng asked, looking at the Green Leaf Witch.
"I haven't learned it yet. I need a little more time, Master."
The Green Leaf Witch lowered her head and spoke in a small voice.
Despite how gentle Tang Zheng had just been with Enri, the Twin Witches were well aware of how terrifying he could be.
"Master, my sister is already trying very hard." The White Mist Witch's head emerged from the Green Leaf Witch's chest, her voice sweet and delicate.
Tang Zheng shot a glance at the White Mist Witch, aware that she possessed the ability to change her own voice.
"As soon as possible."
"If you can master it, perhaps I can help you increase your Power," Tang Zheng said flatly.
The Green Leaf Witch and the White Mist Witch were both taken aback.
"Let's go. It's time to leave." Tang Zheng stood up and walked toward the exit of the inn.
The White Mist Witch retreated back into the Green Leaf Witch's body, and the Twin Witches hurried to follow.
Outside the inn.
The ghoul dog, hitched to the carriage, and Enri were already waiting at the entrance.
Tang Zheng sat at the front of the carriage, his calm gaze sweeping over the surrounding crowd. He smiled faintly, then raised his hand and patted the ghoul dog. "Let's go."
"Awooo."
The ghoul dog shook its head and easily pulled the carriage, laden with supplies, toward the city gate.
On the bustling street, several figures immediately vanished from sight.
On the top floor of the Adventurer's Guild.
Inside a room decorated with various kinds of weaponry.
Guild Master Pluton Ainzach toyed with the refrigeration magic container in his hand and waved dismissively, a thoughtful look on his face. "I understand."
"Yes, Guild Master." The man standing beside him, a pocket watch hanging on his chest and a monocle over his eye, turned respectfully.
"By the way, Adaba, you were the one who received him, correct?" Pluton Ainzach suddenly looked up at the middle-aged man who was about to leave.
"Yes, Guild Master," Adaba stopped and replied quickly.
This meticulous-looking man with the monocle was the same one who had appraised the "Bone Chain" that Tang Zheng had sold.
"What was your impression of him?" Pluton Ainzach turned his head, a slight smile appearing on his stern face as he asked curiously.
Adaba was silent for a moment before shaking his head. "I cannot give an evaluation, Guild Master. At the very least, he must be a formidable person."
"How could someone who has a bounty from the Empire and managed to escape it safely be a weakling?" Hearing Adaba's reply, Pluton Ainzach looked away and sighed with feeling.
"The Gold-rank adventurer, Tang of 'Free Will'... he's been in E-Rantel for two days but hasn't come to the Adventurer's Guild."
"You seem very interested in him, Guild Master. Why not meet him?" Adaba pushed up his monocle, his tone thoughtful.
"Haha, I just didn't expect him to leave so soon. But it makes sense. E-Rantel is a border city, after all. With so many uncertainties, it's far less safe."
"Selling alchemy potions in the Central Plaza was likely to gather supplies and money."
Pluton Ainzach continued to play with the refrigeration container, muttering to himself, before suddenly shaking his head again.
"It's better not to meet. The Adventurer's Guild is a neutral organization, after all. We don't get involved in the affairs between countries."
This time, Adaba did not speak, but remained silent, because both he and the Guild Master knew perfectly well.
Although the Adventurer's Guild was indeed a neutral organization, it did not mean its members would obediently refrain from getting involved.
A bounty of 50,000 Gold Coins was a temptation not just anyone could resist.
Outside the city gate.
Just as Tang Zheng's party passed through the city gate of E-Rantel, an armored soldier quickly chased after them.
At this sudden movement, the Green Leaf Witch grew wary. A ripple of Magic Power emanated from her body, as if she were ready to cast a spell at any moment.
Tang Zheng raised a hand to stop the Green Leaf Witch, a curious expression on his face as he looked at the approaching soldier.
"Are you Lord Tang of 'Free Will'?" the soldier asked, panting as he ran up to the carriage.
"And you are?" Tang Zheng's posture on the carriage didn't change; he simply looked at the soldier with curiosity.
"I am a guard under the command of Lord Panasolay. I am here on his behalf to deliver a gift to you." The soldier placed a hand on his chest and bowed slightly, then took out a wooden box and offered it.
(end of chapter)
In a room at the inn.
From time to time, Enri’s gaze drifted to the nearby tabletop. The gleam of shining Gold Coins and a small pile of Copper Coins made it hard to look away.
Ten Gold Coins for a single bottle of Healing Potion. She had originally thought they would never sell, as the price was far too steep. She never expected them to be the first things to go.
"I heard from the customers that the Lord Captain is a genius alchemist. How amazing," Enri thought to herself, forcing her eyes away from the Gold Coins. No wonder the Lord had casually tossed her twenty Gold Coins yesterday to purchase supplies.
She might just be following an incredible figure.
"The potions sold out so quickly. A little faster than I expected."
Tang Zheng looked at the coins on the table, speaking with a light chuckle, though a flicker of light flashed in the depths of his eyes.
His "Regeneration Potion" had only ever appeared in the Imperial Capital of the Baharuth Empire, yet it had sold out here in such a short time.
Evidently, information about him had already spread within the Kingdom's borders. At the very least, quite a few people in the city of E-Rantel must know about him.
For Tang Zheng, this was not a bad thing at all.
He needed a public-facing identity to begin with, and naturally, the greater the reputation of this identity, the better. Often, first impressions are crucial.
It was just like those Adamantite-rank adventurers, who could use the influence of their reputation to do things conveniently within human territories.
Even if the Great Tomb of Nazarick were to descend in the future and investigate him, the information they would find would only be what Tang Zheng had intentionally revealed.
This could be considered learning from the Bone King's strategy: letting the adventurer Momon and the King of the Sorcerer Kingdom exist as two separate, independent individuals.
However!
This alone was still not enough.
The thought flashed through Tang Zheng's mind. His expression unchanging, he picked up a coin pouch, grabbed a handful of Copper Coins, and put them inside. After stuffing it full, he took two coins from the adjacent pile of Gold Coins and placed them in the pouch as well.
*Swoosh!*
He tossed the coin pouch.
The weight in Enri's hands made her stumble forward. She quickly hugged the coin pouch to keep from falling, looking at Tang Zheng in a slight panic. "Lord Captain."
"I'm not a stingy person. That's your share," Tang Zheng said with a light laugh.
"But, but, this is too much."
Enri clutched the heavy coin pouch, her voice stuttering. She could feel her heart pounding violently.
This was completely different from when Tang Zheng had tossed her twenty Gold Coins to buy supplies.
Although she didn't know exactly how much was in the pouch, the two Gold Coins alone were more than her family earned in an entire year.
"Is it really that much?"
Tang Zheng gestured to the small pile of Gold Coins on the table, then pointed to the coin pouch in Enri's hands.
Of course, Enri knew there was a lot of money on the table, and she also understood that none of it had anything to do with her. It was all money the Lord Captain had earned by making the alchemy potions himself.
She had only sold them, a task anyone else could have easily done.
Before Enri could speak, Tang Zheng continued.
"Enri, don't confine yourself to Carne Village. You've left the village, and this world is much bigger than you imagine."
"Be it money or anything else, as long as you can put your Talent to use, it's not nearly as out of reach as you might think."
Tang Zheng spoke again to Enri, who was wearing a faded, light-pink cloth dress on the inside, a black cotton coat on the outside, and blue cloth boots.
Her attire could hardly be called "pretty." The difference was stark when compared to the exquisitely dressed Green Leaf Witch beside her.
The black cotton coat was something Tang Zheng had asked Enri to buy yesterday. It was also very cheap, costing only two silver coins.
It was warm enough, but certainly not refined. She was clearly trying to save money for him.
Enri didn't quite understand, but she had heard the sentence that piqued her curiosity the most. She quickly asked him, "Lord Captain, I want to know, what exactly is this 'Talent' you spoke of?"
At the side.
The Green Leaf Witch's eyelids fluttered open, her eyes revealing a similar curiosity. She, too, was a bit puzzled.
During her observation over the past few days, the Green Leaf Witch was certain that this little girl named Enri was indeed just an ordinary human.
At least, she hadn't noticed anything worthy of attention.
"It's still too early for you now. You'll find out in the future," Tang Zheng said softly, showing no intention of explaining. He continued, "Go to the courtyard behind the inn and get Xiao Hei to bring the carriage out. We're preparing to leave."
The reason Tang Zheng recruited Enri wasn't for some illusory Talent involving an affinity for creatures like goblins.
What he valued was Enri's true Talent for the Command Class!
In just one or two years, she would rely on her own ability to obtain advanced Jobs in the Command Class system: Sergeant, Commander, and General.
This was far more tangible than some so-called "goblin affinity."
Of course!
Tang Zheng was not without his own motives. Besides valuing Enri's Command Class Talent, he wanted to use this aspect of her Talent to acquire the ability to use Message, a type of communication Magic.
As far as Tang Zheng knew, the Command Class Job system included a perpetual Message ability that allowed constant communication with one's members.
This perpetual communication likely had restrictions based on Class and distance.
Tang Zheng's interest in that was not particularly great, but the Message Magic itself, a means of long-distance communication, was something he needed to master.
Even in the Great Tomb, this was an ability possessed by only a select few, like the Bone King. The other Floor Guardians could only use it by activating a Message Magic scroll.
"Okay."
Enri was a little disappointed, but she bowed immediately, clutching the coin pouch tightly, unable to hide the look of happiness in her eyes.
Watching Enri's briskly departing figure, Tang Zheng let out a soft laugh.
The ghoul dog had a rather foul temper, but it was unusually friendly toward Enri, likely because it had been in contact with her since it was young.
Tang Zheng raised his hand and waved it over the coins on the table, storing them in his item box. He had no intention of giving any to the Green Leaf Witch.
She had no need for them.
"How is your mastery of the 'Wild Transformation' ability coming along?" Tang Zheng asked, looking at the Green Leaf Witch.
"I haven't learned it yet. I need a little more time, Master."
The Green Leaf Witch lowered her head and spoke in a small voice.
Despite how gentle Tang Zheng had just been with Enri, the Twin Witches were well aware of how terrifying he could be.
"Master, my sister is already trying very hard." The White Mist Witch's head emerged from the Green Leaf Witch's chest, her voice sweet and delicate.
Tang Zheng shot a glance at the White Mist Witch, aware that she possessed the ability to change her own voice.
"As soon as possible."
"If you can master it, perhaps I can help you increase your Power," Tang Zheng said flatly.
The Green Leaf Witch and the White Mist Witch were both taken aback.
"Let's go. It's time to leave." Tang Zheng stood up and walked toward the exit of the inn.
The White Mist Witch retreated back into the Green Leaf Witch's body, and the Twin Witches hurried to follow.
Outside the inn.
The ghoul dog, hitched to the carriage, and Enri were already waiting at the entrance.
Tang Zheng sat at the front of the carriage, his calm gaze sweeping over the surrounding crowd. He smiled faintly, then raised his hand and patted the ghoul dog. "Let's go."
"Awooo."
The ghoul dog shook its head and easily pulled the carriage, laden with supplies, toward the city gate.
On the bustling street, several figures immediately vanished from sight.
On the top floor of the Adventurer's Guild.
Inside a room decorated with various kinds of weaponry.
Guild Master Pluton Ainzach toyed with the refrigeration magic container in his hand and waved dismissively, a thoughtful look on his face. "I understand."
"Yes, Guild Master." The man standing beside him, a pocket watch hanging on his chest and a monocle over his eye, turned respectfully.
"By the way, Adaba, you were the one who received him, correct?" Pluton Ainzach suddenly looked up at the middle-aged man who was about to leave.
"Yes, Guild Master," Adaba stopped and replied quickly.
This meticulous-looking man with the monocle was the same one who had appraised the "Bone Chain" that Tang Zheng had sold.
"What was your impression of him?" Pluton Ainzach turned his head, a slight smile appearing on his stern face as he asked curiously.
Adaba was silent for a moment before shaking his head. "I cannot give an evaluation, Guild Master. At the very least, he must be a formidable person."
"How could someone who has a bounty from the Empire and managed to escape it safely be a weakling?" Hearing Adaba's reply, Pluton Ainzach looked away and sighed with feeling.
"The Gold-rank adventurer, Tang of 'Free Will'... he's been in E-Rantel for two days but hasn't come to the Adventurer's Guild."
"You seem very interested in him, Guild Master. Why not meet him?" Adaba pushed up his monocle, his tone thoughtful.
"Haha, I just didn't expect him to leave so soon. But it makes sense. E-Rantel is a border city, after all. With so many uncertainties, it's far less safe."
"Selling alchemy potions in the Central Plaza was likely to gather supplies and money."
Pluton Ainzach continued to play with the refrigeration container, muttering to himself, before suddenly shaking his head again.
"It's better not to meet. The Adventurer's Guild is a neutral organization, after all. We don't get involved in the affairs between countries."
This time, Adaba did not speak, but remained silent, because both he and the Guild Master knew perfectly well.
Although the Adventurer's Guild was indeed a neutral organization, it did not mean its members would obediently refrain from getting involved.
A bounty of 50,000 Gold Coins was a temptation not just anyone could resist.
Outside the city gate.
Just as Tang Zheng's party passed through the city gate of E-Rantel, an armored soldier quickly chased after them.
At this sudden movement, the Green Leaf Witch grew wary. A ripple of Magic Power emanated from her body, as if she were ready to cast a spell at any moment.
Tang Zheng raised a hand to stop the Green Leaf Witch, a curious expression on his face as he looked at the approaching soldier.
"Are you Lord Tang of 'Free Will'?" the soldier asked, panting as he ran up to the carriage.
"And you are?" Tang Zheng's posture on the carriage didn't change; he simply looked at the soldier with curiosity.
"I am a guard under the command of Lord Panasolay. I am here on his behalf to deliver a gift to you." The soldier placed a hand on his chest and bowed slightly, then took out a wooden box and offered it.
(end of chapter)
