Hate me, Miss Witch!
Chapter 68 - 56 Shiayar’s Value

Chapter 68: Chapter 56 Shiayar’s Value

"More money?"

Isadella repeated the term.

This is the third time this evening I’ve experienced such astonishment, she thought. The first was while watching that little film of mine in the dream, and the second was when faced with such a direct confession.

Before making the invitation, I had envisioned many possibilities in my mind. Perhaps an outright rejection, or a request for some time to consider, or even him making various demands.

But in my view, even if demands were made, Shiayar’s demands should not be so superficial—Removing the enrollment restrictions at the Extraordinary Academy, popularizing enlightening books, eliminating class barriers, achieving a great unified human civilization... Proposals like those would be more fitting for the master of such a grand dream.

Yet Shiayar managed to surprise her again and again.

"You want money?" Isadella asked, a trace of uncertainty in her voice.

"As far as I know, if we’re talking about wealth alone—" Shiayar began, his words still calm, with a touch of nonchalance, "the Supreme Black Tower, as an ancient organization with a thousand-year legacy, has a treasury that is no less than the hoard of a Pureblood Ancient Dragon."

"It’s unexpected that Your Highness has even investigated my mentorship so thoroughly. It seems the Empire’s intelligence network is stronger than I imagined."

"However, a teacher is a teacher, and the Black Tower is the Black Tower," Shiayar continued. "It’s true that I am a disciple of Teacher Hathaway, but I am not a member of the Black Tower. The name Shiayar Egutt is not on its roster."

"Moreover, my teacher is the type to discipline but not support. She’s likely traveling in some Sub-space or Dimensional Void right now..."

"All the Pet Beasts I have were raised bit by bit by myself; I have never been one to freeload."

The light in Isadella’s eyes flickered subtly. The "1st Page Eternity" had never invested resources in Shiayar? This was a detail her intelligence network hadn’t gathered.

No wonder the records show Shiayar and Enola had invested considerable effort in the Jurisdiction Bureau, the Military Department, and commercial activities in the Empire Capital.

I had initially thought it was more out of interest and self-improvement. But now it seems it was completely driven by the necessities of life.

The conclusion drawn from this is becoming even more intriguing.

A disciple meticulously trained by a Legendary Beastmaster, attaining near 4-Ring combat power at the mere age of seventeen—impressive, but not shockingly brilliant. But if his achievements were entirely self-made, that’s an entirely different story.

...

"Of course, be it money or Rhine gold coins, they are merely general equivalents used for trade," Shiayar spoke again. "What I need is the purchasing power that money represents. Her Royal Highness should understand my meaning."

This solicitation from the Second Princess was within my expectations, or rather, it was something I actively worked to bring about, he thought.

The reason, of course, isn’t because she’s a silver-haired, red-eyed beauty—although silver hair and red eyes do indeed fit my XP.

As a transmigrator, Shiayar did have some sense of belonging to this country. After all, he had lived here for over a decade, which made it feel closer to him than any countries he had merely heard of.

But to say that I have some grand vision of "sweeping away the traitors and making the Empire great again" is pure nonsense.

He acted entirely for his own reasons.

Apart from the "Knell of the Saint" level intelligence about Ceylon from the Dark Shadow Council, which caused me some pressure, the main reason is that I truly need resources now...

My novice task, the Echo of History of the Ancient Dukedom Azure Garden, has already progressed to the final act. And intelligence on my opponents has also been revealed.

On the borders of the Azure Garden Dukedom, three Titled Rank members of a secret organization would be dispatched. However, their target was to surround and kill the Duke of Azure Garden, so they shouldn’t be able to affect the situation within the Royal Capital in the short term.

Within the Royal Capital itself, apart from the evil followers responsible for causing the uprising, there should also be 4-Ring experts in action.

The biggest threat, however, was Elder Norton himself.

Although the strength he displayed was only that of a peak 4-Ring Master Rank Beastmaster, anyone could figure out with their toes that such an old schemer staging major events in the dark wouldn’t possibly expose all his strength publicly.

According to my guess, Elder Norton shouldn’t have reached the Titled Rank of 6-Ring. Entering 6-Ring would mean his Pet Beasts had reached Emperor Rank, and the powerful aura of every Emperor Rank Pet Beast during its breakthrough is almost impossible to conceal.

However, regardless of the method, the fact that Elder Norton possesses combat power equivalent to a Beastmaster above 5-Ring, a Grandmaster Rank, is almost an absolute certainty.

Shiayar assessed his current overall combat power to be around the middle phase of 4-Ring, with an insurmountable gap to bridge.

Therefore, if I want to become the variable in the final act of the Echo of History of the Ancient Dukedom Azure Garden, obtain the best novice task reward, and also achieve the most perfect conclusion, then I can only resort to some unconventional methods. Such as—in-game monetization.

...

"Tell me what you want," the Princess spoke.

After all, if I can win Shiayar over to my side using material offerings, it would undoubtedly be the most cost-effective deal, Isadella considered.

Shiayar, too, did not beat around the bush and stated directly, "A pair of military-grade two-way teleportation arrays, the small kind; one that accommodates a single person will suffice."

His first statement plunged the atmosphere into silence.

The major powers of the Western Continent were able to stand tall and unyielding because each had its own unique trump cards. These were sacred foundations that secured the nation’s destiny and represented the real foundation of each country.

For example, the "Gustav Cannon" of the Princes’ Alliance, the "Holy Spirit’s Descent" of the Holy Creed Kingdom, the "Void Zeroth Protection" of the advanced Elf island, and the "Marrow Explosion" of the gnome kingdom.

Once such highly secret national foundation technologies were leaked, the one responsible would have to be ready to face the pursuit of more than one Legendary.

As for two-way long-range teleportation arrays, although not exclusive to any single power, their strategic impact on the battlefield was almost unanswerable. In any nation’s Royal Institute of Magictech, the development and optimization of teleportation arrays was a top-secret matter of the highest priority.

And within the Dark Shadow Council, any technical details related to teleportation arrays were classified as "Knell of the Saint" level intelligence or higher.

The value of a pair of small teleportation arrays was secondary. However, the leakage of the magictech know-how contained within would lead to a loss for the Empire far more severe than losing a Titled Rank powerful pro.

After a long while, Isadella gave a slight nod.

"Agreed."

This also meant that in her mind, the worth of Shiayar Egutt had surpassed that of an already established Titled Rank Beastmaster.