Exploring Technology in a Wizard World
Chapter 464 - 463 The Starting Point

Chapter 464: Chapter 463 The Starting Point

"These, then, are the truths my father told me. Now do you understand?" Princess Rose said with a hint of smugness to Richard.

Richard spread his hands and had to admit that the same matter, viewed from different standpoints, could indeed appear drastically different.

According to Princess Rose, the Black Holy Mountain Kingdom had indeed been clever in a way, its strategy akin to "conquering without fighting." However, such tactics were likely born out of compulsion rather than intention.

Yes, out of compulsion.

Conquering without fighting?

It was precisely because their army was in shambles and incapable of fighting that they thought of conquering without engaging in battle.

If their army had been formidable, at the onset of Luobu Kingdom’s attack, they would have crushed the enemy’s vanguard with decisive means, and none of these complexities would have been necessary.

Perhaps the Black Holy Mountain Kingdom also intended to hide its true strength?

Thinking this, Richard looked at Rose, "Since you are so sure that your Black Holy Mountain Kingdom can win, then what exactly are you asking me to help you win?"

"A duel," Rose said. "This duel does relate to the war but it involves wizards, not soldiers."

"Wizards’ duel?"

"Yes, a wizards’ duel, or rather, a duel of wizard apprentices," Rose explained. "You should know, both our Black Holy Mountain Kingdom and Luobu Kingdom are lands of wizards. Although neither has any powerful wizards—just inheritance-lacking wandering wizards, who couldn’t possibly be as impressive as those from the White Stone Tower—we do have some wizard power.

Now, Luobu Kingdom, having fought us until now, has realized the situation and is thinking they might not gain much; they’ve started considering negotiation. Of course, they won’t show this directly but under the guise of exchange, they have organized an embassy that is expected to arrive in Williams City—our capital—in two days.

What they call exchange is really a showcase of wizard power. They have a young, very formidable Third-Level Wizard Apprentice whom they’ve newly trained up in their country. They plan to use him to intimidate us. If our Black Holy Mountain Kingdom cannot produce a young wizard of equal power to defeat theirs, we will inevitably lose face, and they will be able to propose terms from a position of superiority.

Naturally, we don’t want them to succeed, but the issue is, all the wizard power in our Black Holy Mountain Kingdom belongs to much older Official Wizards. As for wizard apprentices, probably the strongest in the country is myself.

Having an Official Wizard compete against their candidate, whether we win or lose, would be embarrassing. And me, as a princess, stepping in personally would look bad."

"So, you think you can’t beat them, right?" Richard pointed out sharply.

"Uh—" Princess Rose choked up, turned to glance at Richard, and after staring at him for a full half-minute, snapped indignantly, "So what if I am! I’m afraid of losing, is that not allowed?

I’m just a Level One Wizard Apprentice, how could I possibly beat that freakish Third-Level Wizard Apprentice? Besides, in the duel, we can’t use any other means. If we could, it wouldn’t matter what level wizard apprentice they are—I could simply crush them with ten thousand cavalry!

Anyway, I’ve been worried about this matter the whole time. But now that you’re here, good, you’re so capable, here’s your chance to show off your strength! If you’re so great, don’t bully me—go bully that freakishly strong Third-Level Wizard Apprentice from Luobu Kingdom instead!"

"Third-Level Wizard Apprentice? Freakishly strong?" Richard thought to himself, his mind quickly flashing through faces: Suo Men, Mu Konni, Ji Burlen, and many unidentified members of the mysterious organization underground...

If a Third-Level Wizard Apprentice could be described as freakishly strong, then what about Suo Men and his group?

Uh, this challenge seems a bit too easy.

Richard couldn’t help but touch his nose.

Third-Level Wizard Apprentice? Yes, a Third-Level Wizard Apprentice, not a Third-Level Wizard.

Tsk!

"So, what do you say, are you going to accept?" Princess Rose looked over, asking loudly.

Richard blinked.

Agree?

He could agree, of course, as it posed no difficulty for him.

But then again, why should he agree? He detested trouble, and there was no benefit at the moment. Why invite trouble upon himself?

Even though a Third-level Wizard Apprentice might be somewhat weak, he was still stronger than any Thief. Rather than wasting two days dealing with such a person, it would be better to leave the Black Holy Mountain Kingdom and head north to Mo’er to explore the true secrets of the Black Spirit King.

Hmm, wait a second!

Richard narrowed his eyes.

The true secrets of the Black Spirit King?

Ah, right, aside from his research, the main thing he did was to explore and understand the true secrets of the Black Spirit King, which was why he went to Mo’er. After discovering the Black Spirit King’s Island Treasure on Undead Island, his belief in this pursuit had only solidified.

Thus, after the sea route was blocked, he traveled overland to this place, to the Black Holy Mountain Kingdom.

The Black Holy Mountain Kingdom!

What was the Black Holy Mountain Kingdom? A remarkably wealthy country on the East Coast.

Why was it so wealthy? Because it had inherited numerous legacies from the former Black Spirit Empire!

If there was one place where one could find extensive knowledge about the Black Spirit Empire and help sketch out the Black Spirit King’s secrets in advance, perhaps it was right here.

Speaking of which, when he was previously in White Stone City, if it weren’t for Princess Rose, born in the Black Holy Mountain Kingdom, remembering the folk songs left by the Black Spirit Empire, he wouldn’t have unraveled the riddle of the Black Spirit King’s secrets and confirmed that Alex’s ancestor’s grave was the location of the treasure.

It could be said that the end of the Black Spirit King’s secrets might be in Mo’er, but the beginning was right here—in the Black Holy Mountain Kingdom!

Now that he was here, should he really leave quickly?

"Sigh—"

Richard took a deep breath, looked up at Princess Rose with a serious expression, and said, "I can agree to help you."

"Really?" Princess Rose appeared moderately surprised, feeling that procuring someone’s service over a meal was clearly a win.

"But don’t be hasty in your joy," Richard saw through Princess Rose’s psychology and cautioned, "I have a condition."

"A condition? What condition?"

"My condition is that after I complete the help for you, I must have the right to access any library in your country and view any book until I am sure I have found something useful."

"Fine, I’ll satisfy your request," Princess Rose said dismissively, as though she were casually throwing a few copper coins to a beggar.

"Are you sure?" Richard looked at Princess Rose earnestly, "I don’t want our transaction to result in any undesirable outcomes, so I need to make sure you truly understand my words and can fulfill them."

"I understand, I understand, and I assure you I can do it. Really, it’s just reading. I’ll open up the Royal Library for you, let you read to your heart’s content. Also, my father seems to have a special private library; I’ll have him open that for you too, okay?" Princess Rose said impatiently, "It’s just reading and it doesn’t even cost any money. What could there be to refuse?"

"Well then—okay, a pleasure doing business," Richard said.

"A pleasure doing business," Princess Rose responded.