Chapter 306: Commission and Thoughts

Actively infect oneself with the beastification disease?

When he saw those words, Rod was dumbfounded for quite a while.

What a bizarre line of thinking?

The look in Rod's eyes toward the Star Spirit girl Hailey cooled several degrees.

Still, he politely introduced himself by name, only he did not say he was the Warden of Windwall Forest, but rather a traveler who had come upon an injustice.

Plenty of people share the same name — just within Shi Ying Town there were three or four others called Rod.

And Hailey, when she heard Rod was a traveler.

Her eyes lit up.

"Mr. Rod, surely you have heard the rumors about our Star Association. To be honest with you, we do indeed hope to conduct better research on the blood of the beastification disease — that is the purpose of our coming here. However, we did not expect the strength of the beastification patients to increase, so our manpower is somewhat lacking. Might we commission your assistance?"

"What is the commission?"

Rod was not really intending to do it.

Mainly he just wanted to see whether this lot had done anything detrimental to Shi Ying Town.

"Mainly to assist us in driving off or killing high-tier beastification patients. On the Koch Plains there are trolls and mountain ogres — once they are infected with the beastification disease they become extremely troublesome, always destroying the survivor camps we have established. To be frank, we are eager to understand the blood of the beastification disease, and we also have a mage's dignity — we have been continuously researching spells to cure this disease."

The Star Spirit people's eyes were a slightly deeper blue; although different from humans, Rod could still read the sincerity in her gaze.

"Survivor camps, huh. I'll speak plainly — given my past experiences, I don't really trust unfamiliar mages. If during this period I discover you doing anything I consider problematic, don't blame me."

He had the idea of clearing out the high-tier beastification combat strength on the Koch Plains; for now, their interests aligned.

A brief cooperation posed no problem.

Besides, they seemed to understand the situation on the Koch Plains better than Rod did — perhaps they could help him find those hidden high-tier combatants faster.

The Star Spirit girl Hailey saw him nod.

She revealed a faint smile.

But that Jeremy wore an obviously irritated expression.

He could not stand Captain Hailey's good attitude toward this man, and even less could he stand that masculine, handsome face.

Then he looked at the two girls beside Rod, as if he had found a breakthrough.

He sneered:

"And these two are? Mr. Rod, are they all your companions? You are quite the romantic."

Rod smiled faintly and shook his head.

"Not companions, but servants."

Boom—

A massive sword of light, condensed from Spirit Power, slashed down from above, severing the rocky road, a small hill, and a stream along with it.

Clouds of dust surged upward as if their lives depended on it.

In an instant the entire area was swallowed within a great wave of sand and dust, blending perfectly with the yellowish haze.

Hailey and Jeremy in midair stared at the scene below in shock.

Jeremy's mouth hung open in astonishment, and for quite a while he could not get a word out.

"Captain Hailey… is this really Tier 6? I do not feel I could block that sword at all."

"…With such power, this man should be the strongest Tier 6 Spirit Warrior of our age — even the eldest daughter of the Agel family cannot match him. If one were to be approached by him in haste, it would be every mage's nightmare — and I count myself among them."

"What? Even the Captain—"

Jeremy was stunned.

Unlike him, who had only just advanced to Tier 7, Captain Hailey was a high-tier Tier 7 mage who had remained at that level for ten years, with all manner of spells thoroughly mastered.

Hailey's expression grew solemn:

"And this man swung out that sword casually — it was not his full strength. How could a man with such power remain unknown?"

"I'll go investigate."

"There's no need, Jeremy. Casually probing into a powerful individual's background is quite offensive, unless the other party volunteers the information."

The Captain stopped him: "Furthermore, this man is focused on clearing the area near Claw Valley Mountain — that is the important defensive line separating the Dusk Hills. It's actually not hard to guess."

Jeremy's face, however, looked somewhat ugly.

"The way I made things difficult for him just now — will he hold a grudge?"

"He shouldn't. This Mr. Rod is a man of some breadth of mind — at least in front of girls he is."

Saying so, Hailey even let out two cold laughs.

But her gaze remained fixed on Rod, as if lost in thought.

Jeremy noticed this and could not help but quip:

"Aunt Hailey, it seems he's taken a fancy to you. Should my mother be glad that her little sister is finally getting married?"

"Hmm?"

Hearing the threatening snort.

The smile instantly vanished from Jeremy's face; he shrank his neck and no longer dared speak out of turn.

Hailey, meanwhile, shook her head.

"We Star Spirits are born with frail bodies and can only become mages. A race with too narrow a profession is too easily targeted, so we have mastered and developed spells of enslavement — gargoyles, trolls, giants, even dragons will serve as our vanguard. Humans are no exception."

"You want to enslave him? But he's only Tier 6 — bullying those below Tier 7 is fine, but we have encountered even more powerful enemies among the stars. Take you, Aunt — aren't you already close to advancing to Tier 8?"

"Mind your address. Outside, call me Captain."

Hailey paused, then said again:

"There are always people beyond people. Jeremy, do not underestimate humans — their talent always exceeds everyone's imagination, just like the two paths of Legend and Domain, which we still have not been able to deconstruct. Besides, this is not enslavement, but employment."

Saying so.

She spotted Rod's figure again amidst the dust and smoke.

She saw that cat-girl happily leap into his arms, clinging to him affectionately, quite cloying.

But this human ignored the cat-girl in his arms, instead turning his head toward the half-sky, colliding with Haley's gaze.

Then he revealed a gentle smile.

Heh.

Tricks to deal with little girls.

If one could manipulate this person through emotions, it would indeed save some effort.

The two Star Spirit people slowly descended to the ground.

Jeremy, seeking to ease relations, immediately showered him with flattery.

"Remarkable, Mr. Rod, you are the most powerful Tier Six Spiritual Warrior I have ever seen."

Rod laughed loudly and waved his hand.

He did not mind the previous offense, that was all.

"Not worth mentioning, not worth mentioning, hahaha—"

This cooperation saved quite a bit of effort.

The two Star Spirit Mages were indeed very familiar with the situation on the Ke Plain; now, after five hours, they had together slain eleven Tier Six and one Tier Seven Beast-Turned Patients.

Although most of the time was spent on rushing and searching.

"No time to lose, let us continue to the next location."

Haley suggested.

Rod, however, said, "Let us call it a day for now; it is not early anymore."

"Is that so."

The Star Spirit woman, Haley, looked quite regretful and lamenting.

Rod paused for a moment.

He noticed this differed somewhat from her previous attitude.

Before leaving, Haley gave him the reward for this commission and additionally gifted him a magic stone for communication, saying that if he came again, he must contact her.

(End of this chapter)