Badge in Azure

There was an underground passageway at the port’s warehouse which could lead straight to the temple. Saleen still could not trust Nicholas though. He was afraid that Fycro had planted some skill into Nicholas’ body, but he could not detect it yet given his grade. He brought Nicholas to the surface level and passed through the commercial district.

Even though the expeditionary army had only been decimated for less than half a month, the atmosphere of business within the city was already starkly different. The people’s faces were filled with smiles as they were occupied. Other than the workers in the shops, there were small mercenary groups around too.

Most of the mercenaries had gone to the borders between Qin and Loulan, causing the mercenaries in Metatrin City to appear more valuable. The big families had large numbers of private soldiers and guards to protect their merchant convoys, so they rarely used mercenaries. The small business families usually traveled on other people’s ships, so they needed the protection of mercenaries.

The mercenaries in Metatrin City had to re-register at town hall. After one battle there were large amounts of deposits in Saleen’s possession that acted as security deposits for the mercenaries. Now that the mercenaries’ credit was high more people were hiring them.

The four dukes in the city did not have many shops, but they possessed substantial merchandise. Goods could be ordered, so their business flourished. A number of businessmen had ordered weapons and armor there before reselling it to northern Qin. The nobles in Qin were amassing materials in preparation for a death match with an invasion by the Tanggulasi people. If Holy Rock City’s army invaded Loulan they could still tag along at the back and penetrate the flanks to prevent Laiyin Duchy from joining the battle abruptly.

Other than purchasing some grain from Phoenix it was the only other way was for Saleen to travel to Cloudflow. Halfway through, he still had to pass by Lianyun City and Alchemy City, it was a must to pay taxes.

Cloudflow people loved extravagance. In Metatrin City the businessmen who wore silk and satin had come from Cloudflow. These people thought that they had lost their investments, unexpectedly, Metatrin City gained victory. That caused their grain to be acquired at three times the original price. They could bring back large quantities of ores and the price of magic nuclei was forty percent cheaper as compared to other places.

Nicholas followed beside Saleen, he could not help but ask, “Sir, I realize that there are too many professionals in this city, wouldn’t it be quite risky for you to walk around without any guards?”

Saleen was ecstatic and said, “You are a grade-9 professional, with you around, what else is there to be afraid of?”

Noticing an awkward expression on Nicholas’ face, Saleen slapped his shoulder and said, “Before you arrived, I always brought along at least forty people.”

Seeing that Saleen had a look of seriousness, Nicholas laughed and said, “Sir, I have followed you because I have no other way out, but I will try my best. Speaking of which, even though I am a fallen holy master, my treatment abilities cannot be rivalled by your mages.”

“Nicholas, using divine spell treatments will do more harm than good! Unless the battle is at a dead end, I would rather use magic to heal people slowly.”

“Ha ha, Sir, a holy master isn’t confined to the same methods the pope used. Once I craft special equipment, I will not have to stimulate the wounded’s vitality for treatment anymore. It will have a higher consumption of magic nuclei though.”

“How much higher?”

“The consumption will surely be two to three times that of a mage.”

“What about the speed?”

“It is roughly the same as normal divine spells.”

“I heard that the holy masters in Holy See charge a fee when they treat the believers.”

“Most cases are like that, but I have never charged a single cent. I know what it is like to be poor. The almighty nobles will never understand the feeling of despair when a man is at his wits’ end.”

Saleen hummed in response, he did not rebut, “No matter how terrific a noble is, they will also never let a civilian enjoy the same privileges as them. Aren’t mages like this too? This world will never be fair. Nicholas’ way is actually abnormal, no wonder… no wonder Pope Theisio wanted to sacrifice him.”

“Nicholas, do you have dreams?” Saleen suddenly asked a strange question.

“I had dreams in the past, but now I don’t.” A flash of pain appeared in Nicholas’ eyes. When he came to the northern wilderness and allowed the soldiers to act as cannon fodder, he truly believed that the souls of the soldiers would enter heaven at that moment. After discovering the truth, he still accepted Fycro’s gift of one Soul Bead. The souls inside it would never attain relief.

There was no more room for dreams, he had really fallen.

“You don’t have to obtain redemption.” Saleen’s words caused Nicholas’ eyelids to jump, “Can such words be spoken here?”

“Sir, let’s talk when we go back.” Nicholas guessed that Saleen would utter some astounding words.

“There is nothing to conceal. If Fycro didn’t know about my ability, he wouldn’t have worked with me.” Saleen extended his left hand, waving it before Nicholas, then said, “I am also under the protection of a god, but this god is not the Lord of Glory. Tell me, if you side with a new god, will your previous deeds still be considered as sins?”

“No.”

“That’s great. Nicholas, I am no believer either. I am just telling you, if a day ever comes when you have nowhere else to go and you have to make a choice, you can still follow me. I will apply my god’s protection on you and your sins will vanish.”

Nicholas’ face appeared increasingly intrigued, then he said, “Sir, aren’t you afraid that Fycro might hear what you have said?”

“There is nothing to be worried about. He better know this, otherwise, he will suspect that I might harm him.” Saleen revealed a very simple reasoning. If he concealed his thoughts, Fycro would surely be suspicious of him because Fycro could not monitor him all the time. In fact, fully subduing Nicholas was an honest thing to do.

“Sir, you are really confident…” Nicholas was kind of speechless.

Saleen laughed, “Didn’t you say that I can ensure the peacefulness of this place if I build six magical towers? In at most two years’ time, I will have thirty-six sorcerers and thirty-six magical towers, so I am very confident.”

“This is the truth?”

“Of course, why would I lie to you? Fycro will also be able to guess who my backers are, otherwise why would he have peace of mind cooperating with me?” As Saleen spoke, he raised his head and stared into the sky. He was not sure whether Fycro had left a divine spell in the city to surveil him, but he really was not fearful.

“Fycro might be very powerful, but Joey is about to go look for him. My teacher Jason is rushing over with the mages from Sregl Island. I will open the planar passageway and travel to the hell of god’s punishment, where I will enter the Six Elements’ Space. Once thirty-six grade-9 sorcerers appear, who will have the ability to destroy this city?Of course, Fycro isn’t worried whether I will be powerful or not, he is worried about me being too weak. If I am too weak, then Fycro will look for another person to take my place, to vie for the world with the Holy See and Qin.”

On the road ahead, two businessmen from Cloudflow walked over. They were clad in snow-white silk clothing. They wore hats which were mosaicked with jade, while their shoes were sewn from glittering silk. The two youthful businessmen were engaged in a conversation as they walked towards Saleen.

From behind Saleen, a hand slapped the calabash hanging around his waist, causing a green water flow to spurt out. It then encircled the two Cloudflow businessmen.

“Nicholas, your reaction is too slow.” Nailisi controlled the water flow, subduing the two Cloudflow people effortlessly.

The men’s long robes were cut into shreds by the water flow, revealing soft armor beneath.

“What are you trying to do?!” One of the young businessmen shrieked in alarm.

Nailisi walked past Saleen towards the businessmen. Extending her fair and tender fingers, she ruffled the hair around one’s forehead. Then, she stabbed her fingers into the man’s brain.

The crisp sound of a bone being fractured could be heard. When Nailisi retracted her fingers, her fingers were drenched in blood and brain matter. Nailisi wriggled her fingers, then approached the other young merchant, and said, “I wanted to ask him for the identity of the person who has sent him to kill my master. I was too agitated at that point in time, so I killed him directly, can you let me calm down first?”

Nailisi’s fingers reached out for the other young Cloudflow man.

“I am not an assassin!”

Paa…

Nailisi simply dug out his person’s heart, tossing it on the ground.

“Guards!” Nailisi called out, then dozens of troops charged out from both sides of the road.

“Sir!” The guards stared at Nailisi ingratiatingly.

“Bury these two people, their belongings will go to you. Remember to distribute the items equally, if anyone dares to take more…”

“Sir, you must be joking, every member of our team will be entitled to a share. Please tell us what else you require of us.” This group of soldiers was observant. The two Cloudflow men who were disguised as merchants wore belts and hats which were mosaicked with jade. If these items were removed, they could fetch a sum of money when sold to an equipment shop.

“That’s all, you can go now,” Nailisi berated.

“Thank you Sir.” As the soldiers dragged the bodies away, there were people afar who were pointing fingers at the scene. The moment Nailisi’s gaze fell on them, they immediately fell silent.

“Don’t you feel puzzled, Nicholas?” Saleen noticed that Nicholas remained silent the whole time, he did not even bat an eyelid.

“No, the assassins from Cloudflow are renowned. There is so much space on this twenty yard wide road, but they chose to walk towards you. They are basically seeking death.”

“Then why didn’t you take any action?” Saleen probed, as he retracted the water flow at the same time.

“Because there was still time, I can release the Shield of Holy Light anytime. Unless these assassins are at the grade of a Golden Grand Swordmaster, they cannot break my shield in one hit.”

“What if they were wielding purple-gold thorns?” Nailisi said in displeasure. These two men were surely assassins, but she was not sure whether their target was Saleen or not. She did not want to take any risks, so she decided to kill them right away.

Nicholas smiled, he did not want to argue with a little girl.

Nailisi also smiled, then she told Nicholas, “You better not provoke me because your Shield of Holy Light has no effect against me.”

Nicholas replied in shock, “We are all serving our lord, why must you behave like this?!”

“Saleen is your lord, while he is my master, it is different. I will forever be more loyal than you.” Nailisi sneered, as she took out a handkerchief and wiped the bloodstains from her hand. Her Lightning Guardian not only increased her defensive power, at close range, her body would totally ignore the enemy’s defensive spells or divine spells.