The Vastness of Magical Destiny
Chapter 376: Volume 7: The Awakening Spring Thunder, - 8: Ambition

Chapter 376: Volume 7: The Awakening Spring Thunder, Chapter 8: Ambition

Footsteps finally resonated, and emerging from behind the sturdy man with whiskers was a slightly hunched elder. His complexion, white but flush with a healthy red, revealed that his physical condition was no less than that of the strong man walking ahead of him. Eyes that opened and shut intermittently seemed to lack spirit, yet if you took a closer look, you could perceive the occasional glint of cold light deep within the elder’s pupils. His visage, marked by the ravages of time, was enough to confirm his identity.

"Mr. Gote? I have long admired your renowned name." Facing this pirate king who had roamed the Nether Sea for decades, Komer suddenly felt an odd sensation, as if this man was his own reflection several decades later. The world-weary look in his eyes seemed to record the storms and struggles he had experienced over the years. Taking a deep breath and standing up, Komer approached and said, "Meeting you today has indeed stirred an endless array of emotions within me."

"Oh? Lord, for Mr. Gote to be held in such esteem by you is somewhat baffling." The twinkling gaze that swept over Komer was like the sea itself, enveloping his entire being. The impression that the aged, weakening pirate leader left on Komer was unfathomable, an aura that Komer found difficult to accept.

"Mr. Gote, your ability to lead the Gray Skull from an inconspicuous band of marauders to its present standing is something I deeply admire. Though our paths differ, excellence in any field is never a matter of luck, and perhaps only those involved can fully appreciate the trials and tribulations along the way. However, I did not expect that you, as a one-legged man, could achieve what you have today. It is indeed a remarkable feat." The sincerity on Komer’s face did not contain the slightest hint of hypocrisy, which surprised the elder while also stirring a sense of pride and self-satisfaction within him.

"I hadn’t expected that Mr. Gote’s few secrets would be known to you, Sir. It seems the power of the Mirror of Thousand Miles truly exceeds my expectations," said the old pirate, his witty remark instantly narrowing the distance between them, and even Komer felt the atmosphere relax considerably.

After the whiskered man saw the elder into the room, he discreetly took his leave, aware that their leader’s unprecedented visit to the Continent today was naturally in relation to the Mirror of Thousand Miles that had been sent back to them. Before its delivery, Kudan had already tried it out; that sense of having the world at one’s glance was indescribable to ordinary people. As an elite among pirates, he understood all too well the military significance of such a device, especially at sea. Discovering an enemy or target just a few minutes ahead of time was already miraculous; with the device in hand, they could be alerted to enemy forces and targets at least half an hour in advance. In some special cases, even several hours earlier—and oh, what couldn’t be accomplished in those few hours, with preparation against the unprepared? Such comfort was equatable to extending a lookout’s range by countless folds. He could even imagine the elation their leader must have felt upon receiving this precious item; no wonder their leader had broken twenty years of precedent to come onto the Continent to meet the marvelous individual capable of recreating the Mirror of Thousand Miles.

However, along with receiving the Mirror of Thousand Miles, Kudan was also presented with a bill demanding payment, where just the cost of materials was as high as 30,000 gold shields, and the processing fee even greater at 50,000 gold shields. Although Gray Skull was not short on funds, the hefty price was still a shock. Yet, it seemed there was little room for negotiation with the asking price. Fortunately, Kudan understood that such treasures could not be valued in mere money, so he graciously accepted the terms set forth. He even immediately offered to order ten more on behalf of the organization, only to be politely refused due to a lack of materials and time.

"Lord, I must confess that I am quite satisfied with your work; however, for our entire organization, one such item is but a drop in the bucket, insufficient for our needs. If you can spare the time and effort to make more than ten, Mr. Gote is willing to pay any price to purchase them."

Of course, Mr. Gote was aware that such magic equipment could not be crafted by just anyone; although not versed in magic, he had long dealt with all sorts of people and seen many rare treasures. The strong aura of magic breath within the Mirror of Thousand Miles did not escape him, and the overt craftsmanship allowed Mr. Gote to easily discern that the mirror he received was genuinely new.

The clarity was so profound that after testing it, Mr. Gote became incessantly eager, wishing he could even sleep with it at his side. By daytime, a simple glance out of the window allowed him to see clearly the sentries performing their duties at their posts. Mr. Gote had even spied his own chef, supposed to be chaste, and a maid from the back street engaged in pleasure behind the sandwich wall. The normally respectable maid’s voluptuous chest tantalizingly heaved before his very eyes, stirring even him—a man long disinterested in women—with a sense of thirst and an unsettled heart.

However, he was also aware that such treasures could likely only be produced by the boastful craftsman himself, otherwise, if others could make them, the last time Kudan had come back with a bargain request to build docks in Mattdam, it would have been brought up as a condition. Nevertheless, ensuring that the Lord himself crafted ten was not something Mr. Gote could be certain of.

"Mr. Gote, you must know that it took me two months to complete this piece. The blood, sweat, and tears I poured into it are seemingly beyond your understanding. Ten pieces? Do you expect me to work another two years continuously for your needs? Oh, that would be a nightmare; I cannot commit to your request," said Komer firmly, decisively rejecting the other’s demand.