Chapter 173: Idle Chat and Methods to Enhance the Source

The old gentleman Humbert sat on the brown leather sofa beside Rod.

"Fried Argyle's transformation into a demon has struck a nerve with the new management in Windstorm City. Although he was a marginal scion of the Argyle family, they feared provoking those who hold power within the Argyle clan. As the acting administrators of Windstorm City, they decided to handle it as soon as possible."

Witch Dimia: "And the rebel Lucius from Coral Bay, a Tiefling mage colluding with the Inferno, is naturally considered involved in this matter."

Rod picked a crystal grape from the fruit bowl beside him.

It was soft and limp.

It is said to be grown by farmers in Shi Ying Town; it seems it is not a very good variety.

North of Coral Bay lies a place called Golden Sun Highlands, an area where agriculture is highly developed.

In previous years at this time, various crops would travel along the trade route before Coral Bay, pass through the Twilight Hills, and arrive at Shi Ying Town to export fresh fruits.

But this year, the Ruin Brotherhood has been appearing and disappearing mysteriously in the Twilight Hills, occasionally committing highway robberies, so there is not as much traffic.

Rod: "With such an open-and-shut case, is there any need for negotiation on the Windstorm City side?"

Dimia: "It is still due to the internal strife. The situation within the city is worse than imagined. Even at this stage, they can only dispatch two high-tier Sixth-Rank experts."

"Two high-tier Sixth-Rank experts?"

Rod shook his head.

They are good for nothing.

Old gentleman Humbert: "Mainly to probe the opponent's military strength. The blockade within Coral Bay is too tight, and the news from the bards cannot be trusted. They might exaggerate the situation for their reputation. By joining forces with Shi Ying Town to investigate, on one hand, they aim to involve the Land Naga who have done nothing until now, and on the other hand, they presumably want to ride on the fame of Mr. Rod."

Rod chuckled softly twice and made no reply.

As for the matters of Shi Ying Town and the forest, let them be; he has lived here for many years and has developed feelings, so defending his home is understandable.

But if you ask a Forest Warden to help you recover lost territories, the gains and losses must be carefully weighed.

Humbert obviously saw through his meaning and did not continue on this topic.

Instead, he brought up a recent joke:

"Speaking of which, that group of Naga made a scene at the city hall entrance early this morning, claiming that a precious gem merchant claiming to be official from Shi Ying Town scammed them out of their weapons and equipment."

Dimia smiled: "Where would Shi Ying Town get an official precious gem merchant?"

"Exactly, I knew immediately they had been scammed, hehe. Last night, Mr. Rod's treant friend scared them a bit, and when they met again this morning, they had completely lost their arrogant demeanor from that day; during the commotion, they only dared to utter some trash talk."

This matter is related to Rod.

The items are still in his magical bag, so he offered no opinion.

Dimia: "No wonder I saw several reporters from the newspaper office on the road just now. I suppose there will be a new fraud case in the Snow Hill Evening News soon."

They chatted for quite a while.

Seeing that the sky had grown dark.

Rod and Dimia simply had a meal at a small restaurant beside the city hall.

As for why it was two people, and not Rod, Dimia, and Humbert together?

Because the old turtle-man Humbert wanted to spend some sweet time alone with his stepdaughter before her husband arrived in Shi Ying Town.

This old thing's lustful heart has not died; anyone can feel that his vitality is a few degrees weaker than before.

Rod had absolutely no interest in such an unhealthy emotional life.

Wind Wall Forest.

Bai Yu District.

A newer and larger magic treehouse has already risen here.

Serving as a temporary hospital for the orc Amy, the zombie Selena, and Tally.

When Rod entered carrying pastries, desserts, and dinner staples, the aroma instantly filled the room.

The pony girl acting as a temporary nurse poked her head out from the partition and ran out excitedly.

The elf Kali and the half-deer Miss Xiao Ke also temporarily put down their healing spells and left the patients' partitions.

The four of them came outside the treehouse and sat around a table.

They lit the 【Light Spell】, listening to the night insects while enjoying their food.

Compared to the others, Tally was injured the least, and seeing her master, she naturally wanted to stick close.

But after some potent healing spells, a strong drowsiness sets in, so she simply made her succubus form small and sat in Rod's lap, half-asleep.

The horns on her forehead were a bit soft when relaxed, resting against his shoulder, causing no discomfort.

Rod gently patted her back, like coaxing a child.

【Tally's obedience to you +3, current obedience: 78】

Kali frowned: "A Seventh-Rank Hellfire injury is difficult to handle, even with her good fire resistance. Before she is fully healed, do not be too vigorous when eating."

Rod had not yet reacted, but Miss Xiao Ke's face turned red instantly, and she hurriedly said: "Kali, Little Little Bangde is still here!"

However, Little Little Bangde buried his head in his meal, blocking out all external sounds.

He simply ignored them.

"Is this a secret? No creature can survive without consuming the corresponding food. For a succubus, that is just appetite. Little Little Bangde, sit up straight and eat!"

The elf remained expressionless.

Miss Xiao Ke paused for a moment, murmuring: "Just appetite?"

Having said that, she secretly glanced at Rod.

Sensing her gaze, the Forest Warden, who was secretly pinching the succubus's little butt, smiled gently at her.

"There is fern mushroom soup; didn't you say you liked eating this before? And here, honey soufflé, oh."

The half-deer couldn't help but smile secretly: "You... you still remember what I like to eat?"

"Of course, I remember the dishes everyone in the forest likes. Look, this is the wild vegetable-flavored beef roll that Little Little Bangde likes, and that is the moonlight grass stewed silver trout and emerald salad that Kali likes."

The elf, who was elegantly placing a piece of silver trout into her mouth, froze for a moment.

The half-deer person instantly flared up: "Disgusting! Stalker!"

Little Little Bangde corrected him instead: "Wrong, Rod, I like every single dish here!"

"Alright, alright, alright." Rod laughed and patted her head.

Very quickly.

Everyone finished their meal.

The well-fed Little Little Bangde started playing dead.

But Miss Xiao Ke pushed him along to help deal with the post-meal trash.

Lady Kali: "Human, you defeated a seventh-tier being, and you don't have so much as a single injury on you?"

"Injuries, there really aren't any. It's just that I used a Spirit Art with an enormous cost, and it took a full five minutes before I recovered."

A full five minutes?

Some high-tier spells, after being used, leave you bedridden for ten days to half a month — and you call five minutes 'a full'?

Lady Kali couldn't be bothered with these trivial details.

She softly chanted an incantation and cast a 【Body Analysis】 on him.

"Muscle strength, bone density, internal organ condition — all fine. In fact, far stronger than an ordinary sixth-tier. And no hidden injuries either."

Rod: "I want to strengthen my fundamental constitution and strength and the like — do you have any good suggestions?"

【Blessing of the Ancient Sky Tree】 was his current killing move.

But using it left him completely spent for five minutes — the side effect was just too unpleasant.

If he wanted to exempt himself from these side effects, he had to start with his body's fundamental constitution.

"Permanent magic potions, grueling warrior training, resonance from absorbing natural elements, power contracts with higher beings, bloodline awakening, swallowing precious medicines — it's nothing more than these few options."

Lady Kali took out a test tube bottle from her spell satchel; inside was a half-bottle of bubbling red potion.

"Drink it."

Rod did as told.

(End of this chapter)