This Lich Requests More Remuneration
Chapter 419 - 391 Airel’s Growth

Chapter 419: Chapter 391 Airel’s Growth

If Amberser were here, he’d certainly have a new level of respect for Airel.

In just this short time, Airel learned to haggle? Before, she was nothing but a barbarian who only knew how to swing a hammer.

Indeed, only experience can foster growth.

Hasting, unfazed, maintained a smile and said to Airel, "The Fury Tide Kingdom is unbeatable at sea, of course, you don’t need these things, but others do, don’t they? Like those Laine People, I believe they would have great need for such an airship."

Airel stared at Hasting, her hand resting on the hammer, as the jumping sparks of lightning began to spread to her arm.

"Are you saying you want to sell your equipment to my enemies?" Airel threatened, "Do you know what that would lead to?"

Hasting retorted without showing weakness, "Her Royal Highness the Princess, my master is a businessman and sees no reason to turn down money. I am but a servant he created, and your anger directed at me is meaningless. Perhaps your hammer could smash me to pieces and destroy the Black Tide. But if you do, you will face my master’s wrath.

"I believe you have seen the fate of the Githyanki, Your Royal Highness. Have you thought this through? Do you want to make an enemy of my master on behalf of the Fury Tide Kingdom?"

While Amberser fought the Githyanki, Hasting was visiting the Fury Tide Kingdom; he brought out the magic mirror and put on quite a show for all the high-ranking officials of the Fury Tide Kingdom.

When those meteors fell from the sky, the Fury Tide people who claimed to be the Children of the Storm all changed their expressions.

If such a meteor shower were to fall upon the fleet of the Fury Tide Kingdom, they probably wouldn’t be able to withstand it.

As that terrifying meteor shower sounded, the lightning around Airel rapidly withdrew, and a faint smile appeared on her frosty face.

"Heh, just a joke. Only a warrior can seize a chance of survival amidst fierce storms, and your courage deserves my respect. I reckon the Lord of the Storm would recognize your bravery as well. With that being said, let’s go back and talk slowly. This is a big deal, after all; we need someone who manages wealth to have a word with you."

Hasting let out a sigh of relief and hurriedly replied with a forced smile, "Of course, Your Royal Highness’s recognition is my greatest honor. It’s a shame my brother isn’t here; he’s better at cracking jokes to lighten the mood.

"My rough way with words is also lacking in politeness, I ask Your Royal Highness not to mind. I spoke inappropriately just now, I’ll dip into my personal funds and offer you a ’buy ten, get one free’ promotion. And regardless of whether the deal goes through or not, I’ll gift you two magic mirrors for free. How does that sound?"

It’s no wonder Hasting was submissive, the princess before him was Legendary, and when he had first arrived in the Fury Tide Kingdom, he saw Airel leading a team to hunt sea monsters at sea.

The lightning that erupted from her hammer was enough to blow up the Black Tide.

If Airel had been any more impulsive, Hasting would have been done for. He didn’t have a Life Casket for resurrection.

But while Hasting’s own power may be lacking, his backing is solid. The name of that Lich lord carried far more weight than the Black Tide, forcing Princess Raging Tide to relent.

Hasting of course made immediate peace, since he’d already planned to give away magic mirrors for free, and the lowest price Amberser gave him was 70% of the sale price. When Hasting quoted the price, he had asked for double.

Now offering a ’buy ten, get one free’ deal, he could still fulfill his master’s order.

Airel seemed pleased with Hasting’s attitude, smiling as she said, "Then I thank you."

The Black Tide flew toward the Royal Palace of the Fury Tide Kingdom, and Airel reverted to her indifferent demeanor, like a statue carved from a mountain of ice.

Only Airel herself knew how hard she was trying to contain herself.

Given Airel’s temperament, she would have smashed her hammer on his head the moment Hasting threatened her.

Airel never excelled at verbal disputes; she preferred to reason with her hammer.

But now, she was the only one in the Fury Tide Kingdom who could do this; if she couldn’t control her own rage, the kingdom was beyond saving.

Airel pulled out a necklace, a rough iron wire with a tiny crystal pendant hanging from it, containing a pile of ashes, the remains of the man who died a dusty death after offering everything for the kingdom.

In her heart, Airel cursed furiously, "Damn you Monger! You said you’d come back! Come back already! Only you can deal with this; I’m about to lose my mind! If you don’t return soon, I swear I’ll smash your head!"

After venting vehemently, Airel was careful to put the ashes away close to her body.

The world is about to fall into great chaos, and the Fury Tide Kingdom must be prepared; she, Airel, must prepare her kingdom.

The Black Tide slowly landed in front of the Royal Palace, the sight of the great behemoth always amazed the people of the Fury Tide Kingdom.

Airel successfully returned to the Royal Palace, while Hasting waited on the Black Tide for the Fury Tide Kingdom’s negotiation experts to come over and talk business with him.

As soon as Airel returned, the old King eagerly greeted her, asking, "How did it go? Did those Laine People really set out to sea?"

Airel nodded and handed the Memory Crystals over to the old King.

After watching the scenes in the Memory Crystals, the old man burst into laughter and said, "By Talos’s blessing, these landlubbers dare to set sail? Airel, the time for revenge has come, and the Lord of the Storm will be very pleased with this sacrifice."

The ships might be slow, but their tactics are even more laughable.

Only because the pirates are no good, could the Laine People bully them. Facing the naval fleet of the Fury Tide Kingdom, those Laine People would surely suffer heavy losses.

However, Airel shook her head and said, "No, Father, we should not attack directly. Didn’t you notice? They have too many Legendaries."

"Legendaries?" The old King hadn’t really noticed this detail.

Airel listed off as if it were common knowledge: "Glorious General Cyril Rolan, the Shield of Honor Lucas, Tarik, the Hammer of Justice. These three are well-known Paladins of Laine, and just the alliance of these three would overpower us."

The old King excitedly said, "This is at sea! The storm and Tide Fury are our allies, and no matter how strong these landlubbers are, once they fall into the water, they’re nothing but capsized fish!"

Airel continued to explain, "But how will you make them fall into the water? Father, did you not look closely? The ships are full of Laine soldiers, the numbers already fill the cabins, which means their supplies are being transported daily using Teleportation Circles. Guess what will happen when they’re in danger? Will the Teleportation Circles not send them back to land?

"How many of our forces will we have to spend to push them into danger? And in that process, how many of our Fury Tide Kingdom soldiers will these Legendary Holy Warriors kill? Father, the result of them escaping back to land in exchange for our lives is totally not worth it!"

"Using Teleportation Circles to transport supplies?" The old King widened his eyes, that cost must be terrifying.

Any Teleportation Circle requires a large amount of Magic Gemstones and various materials to construct, and each use results in some wear and tear, requiring mages to maintain them and constant resources for repairs.

Using this method for logistics, of course, is convenient, but that cost could crush the entire Fury Tide Kingdom.

The Laine People, they’re really rich.

He had been preoccupied with looking at the Laine People’s embarrassing state that he had not noticed these details. It was his daughter’s keen eye that caught this.

"Then what do you suggest we do? We can’t just watch our enemies strut around."

Airel shook her head and said, "Meaningless impulsiveness will only lead to equally meaningless sacrifices, Father. My advice is to drive those pirates to bother the Laine People, trying to wear them out as much as possible. At the same time, try to draw them into the Thunderous Sea Area and let the monsters there deal with the Laine People."

The Thunderous Sea Area is a region perennially engulfed by storms, inhabited by a large number of mutated sea monsters, among them Legendary Rank behemoths, enough to give the Laine People a significant setback.

The old King still wanted to argue that such revenge seemed rather mild; if the Laine People did not enter the Thunderous Sea Area, how much impact could mere pirates have on them?

Yet observing his daughter’s somewhat haggard face, the old King could only sigh and say, "Alright, we’ll do as you say. Airel, take some time to rest when you can, you’ve been too tired recently."

Airel shook her head and said, "Things have been too busy lately. The envoy of the Lich is still waiting for our response. I’ve already seen the power of the Black Tide, far surpassing all our warships—it’s a powerful weapon that will change the form of war. We must find a way to seize this opportunity, even if we cannot afford the price, we must find a way."

Airel, weary, left the Royal Palace; she still had to talk with the Minister of Finance to see how much Gold Coin the Fury Tide Kingdom could actually put forth.

The old King watched Airel’s retreating figure and shook his head in a sigh.

Since Airel’s trip to the Emerald Dream Forest, she had come back a changed person. The Airel of before was like thunder, boisterous but happy every day. Now, Airel had become reserved, her thoughts much more intricate.

Many of the kingdom’s chaotic issues began to be uncovered by Airel. Although not all of them could be resolved immediately, exposing them provided the kingdom with the chance to improve.

And in an unprecedented act, the Lord of the Storm, Talos, had blessed her; the Hammer that hung at her waist was a Divine Artifact.

Receiving the Deity’s blessing was certainly great, but the old King thought his daughter was working too hard, and unfortunately, there was no one in the Fury Tide Kingdom who could share her burden. If Monger Greyriver were still alive, he would have instantly been considered a suitable husband for his daughter.

If there was someone clever to assist Airel with these trivial matters, all Airel would need to do was maintain her Thunderous presence, how blessed that life would be.

"Or perhaps, find her another husband? I refuse to believe that Monger Greyriver is the only clever person in this world.

The old King hurriedly knelt before the statue of the Lord of the Storm, praying devoutly, "Blessed by Talos, let your Lightning act as a messenger, let your storms serve as a ferry to guide that suitable clever person to Airel!"