Chapter 404: Dual-Trait Treasure

【【Treasure Fetish】 activated successfully】

【Granted the item 【Binding Silk Ball】 a new treasure trait: Pressure Mouth Plug】

【Details: The grey squirrel Cui Qian sometimes mistakes the item for her beloved gnawing stone, leaving a trace of 【fondness】 upon it, which was successfully captured by 【Treasure Fetish】.

The new trait 【Pressure Mouth Plug】 will form an invisible spiritual ball that forcibly lodges itself in the target's mouth, prohibiting the use of oral skills such as biting and breath attacks. Note: once the target's bite force reaches a certain value, this skill will be exempted.】

Mm.

Binding plus mouth plug.

Rod briefly imagined the scene of the black dragon Mikhail being restrained by this thing.

A bit of an eyesore.

Still, this skill can to some extent deal with breath attacks, which is pretty good — just don't know if it can hold up against a dragon's bite force.

"Indeed, a fine thing for dealing with dragons."

Rod was pleased inside, and couldn't help pinching the big squirrel's puffed-up cheeks.

"Right!"

Cui Qian proudly raised her head, "You humans have very limited knowledge, connections, and skill — feel free to come ask me, Cui Qian, for help! Hahahaha—"

"Awesome, awesome — by the way, where did you get this thing?"

"Oh, the branches of the World Tree lead to every corner of the various planes and pocket universes, and there's always some annoying giant spider spinning disgusting silk on the branch paths. We grey squirrels sense the World Tree's disgust at this, so every so often we go clean it up, then gather it into a ball — and that's the thing in your hand."

"I see."

The giant spider — that is, the Spider Queen Lolth.

She has designs on the World Tree?

Most likely, yes.

Cui Qian once said that the dark elves had invaded the Tree Plane several times, and luckily were driven off by a ninth-circle druid guarding the place.

Lolth, as the original faith of the dark elves, being active in the outer planes can basically be taken as her doing.

Good thing she doesn't seem much interested in the material plane.

Rod played for a while with Cui Qian and Little Little Bangde.

Then he handed out some snacks and magic rings before taking his leave.

Just as he was about to use 【Far Voice Chain】 to consult Lady Kali about swift, agility-type magical creatures—

She contacted Rod first.

—The elf Bernhard has come to visit.

Forest edge.

On the trunk of the outermost giant-horned white elm, violent spiritual fluctuations appeared.

Whoosh — a green spiritual rift tore open.

Rod's tall figure stepped out from within, each stride carrying the wind, steady and brimming with momentum.

"A treant's 【Treewalker】?"

Bernhard, waiting quietly not far off, exclaimed.

【Treewalker】 is one of the treants' exclusive spiritual arts; for mages, the hardest step is the one calling upon natural power.

Even if someone could successfully call upon it, once they merged with the tree, none of them ever separated out again.

A Warden who can use it so casually and at ease is indeed no ordinary figure.

Bernhard became all the more certain that attaching himself to Windwall Forest and breaking away from Beryl Court was the right choice.

The elf Lady Kali, who had arrived a step earlier, heard her fellow countryman's exclamation, and for some reason felt a tiny secret thrill.

But looking at the man walking toward her with a smile on his face, she still couldn't help pulling a sour face and snorting:

"This guy always has a knack for these unorthodox tricks."

Rod had just walked over.

The ghoul Pan Ni leapt out from the side, stood at attention, and saluted.

Reporting: "Master! Pan Ni has once again successfully intercepted an illegal intruder! A blonde female elf!"

"That's a guest — and a man, at that."

Bernhard was the type of elf whose gender was hard to tell, delicate and exquisite, with a head of smooth, shoulder-length hair.

Perfectly fitting Rod's stereotype of male elves being feminized from the smutty serial-novel section of the Snowhill Evening News.

Rod stepped past the bewildered ghoul and greeted this new helper in the forest.

"How are things going?"

This 'thing'—

Of course referred to handling the matter of Ashley, daughter of the Third Elder of the Elder Council.

Bernhard was a sufficiently traditional elf, even in temperament.

He nodded coldly:

"Please rest assured, Mr. Rod — Beryl Court will not learn a single thing about Windwall Forest."

"That's good. When shall we hold the attachment ceremony? You're welcome anytime."

"I was just about to bring this up — please allow me, Mr. Rod, to move about at the forest's edge daily within this week."

"Of course, I'll have someone assist you when the time comes."

Assist, my foot.

It's just surveillance by another name.

Although everyone has signed a soul contract, the proper procedures still have to be observed, don't they?

Bernhard naturally knew this as well.

"Then I'll thank you in advance, Mr. Rod. By the way, this is a recording of memories and experience regarding dragon-slaying. Please keep it safe, and if you have any questions, feel free to find me anytime."

Saying so, he handed over a recording orb.

A video lesson?

That is rather novel.

Rod looked toward Kaliester: "You want to watch first?"

"Don't you humans know how to spell the word 'efficiency'? Everyone in the forest watches together."

"Fine by me. I was planning to watch it tonight with Tally and the others, playing while we watch. Together?"

The Young Lady elf's face went cold, and she looked at him as if he were dog shit.

"Get lost."

Rod's provocation succeeded, and he laughed uproariously.

The two of them had made progress in their relationship ever since that tacitly understood 'find the frog' commission that day. In the past, if he had dared to crack such a joke, a fireball would have flown straight at his face.

Then he got back to business.

Rod asked:

"Two learned and talented elves, I'm looking for a magical beast or racial creature that has a great advantage in speed and agility. Preferably one that's relatively common. Do you have any good recommendations?"

Although both were traditional elves, their reactions were completely different.

Bernhard first humbly said a few times that he didn't dare accept the praise, then fell into thought.

Kaliester, upon hearing the compliment, let out a pleased hum from her throat, planted one hand on her hip, and wore a proud expression on her face.

At the same time, she was also the first to give her own answer:

"Fairy dragons, feathered serpents, air elementals, adult or multi-armed land naga, shadow demons, and dark elves who have undergone arachnid transformation like Watching Yuna — they all have quite decent speed. This is related to body size and physical composition. Small dragon-types like fairy dragons have always had an advantage in speed."

After all, she had helped Rod with the war soul ritual twice, so she knew what this guy was trying to do.

"It depends on whether you want a speed-specialized type, or one that combines strength with speed."

At this point, Bernhard could only give a wry smile.

"I don't know as much as Kaliester, so I won't show off my ignorance."

Rod said it was fine, and continued: "Of course, preferably one that combines strength with speed."

"Then I recommend a cosmic creature called a Stellar Ambusher. There's a specimen shop in the market district of the Magic Control Union, and I remember they have a complete corpse specimen of that cosmic creature there. It's a bit pricey, though."

"You even know about things inside the Magic Control Union?"

Rod was shocked.

"Thirty years ago, I once served as a spell consultant, exploring several newly discovered planes alongside the Magic Control Union's extraplanar cleanup squad."

Kaliester raised an eyebrow and said it as if it were no big deal.

(End of this chapter)