Chapter 471: Take Advantage

「.

Luo De thought for a moment, then said, "How about I just take them back? I'll pay the teleport fee."

He had checked the relevant records in the Magic Control League's 【Lock Heart】.

For dragon-slaying contracts below ninth rank, the average payout is just two hundred thousand Jin Along!

Three million?

Fuck, they really dare to ask for that.

Beside him, the ghoul Pan Ni, thinking that discovering these guests counted as a merit, insisted on tagging along to claim credit.

She had been half-asleep from being worn out all night, but the price instantly jolted her awake.

Stunned:

"Three million?! Why don't you just say thirty million? You're robbing us either way—might as well rob more!"

Luo De was, after all, a man of decorum.

He shook his head slightly:

"If you have no sincerity and are merely trying to take advantage of our misfortune, you may leave now."

Before the crocodile-man Jie Run could speak, the man behind him named Lai Er spoke first:

"Mr. Luo De, the market has changed. Do you know how many teams died hunting dragons in Ethelon just this month? A full 150—five teams wiped out every day on average. Do you still think it's the old world?"

This guy spoke flippantly and recklessly, his face begging to be punched.

Luo De knew the number well.

Not long ago in Deepwater City, after the halfling Lily succeeded in slaying a dragon, the local newspaper had published this statistic to praise the Deepwater Heroes' Alliance.

Though it was almost certainly a paid editorial, the numbers themselves were likely accurate.

Meanwhile,

they also speculated that dragons possessed foresight into disasters and epochal transitions.

And this rumor was tied to the dominant race of the Second Era of the Continent, who were now mobilizing en masse to reclaim control.

Hence, dragon disasters had become frequent recently.

"Lai Er."

The crocodile-man Jie Run glanced back at his subordinate, signaling approval.

The two of them were playing good cop, bad cop to inflate the price.

"My apologies, Mr. Luo De. Lai Er's words are harsh, but they're true. You know how difficult dragons are, especially two with ties to Hell. Forgive me for saying so, but this mission may require confronting the dark elf sorcerers as well."

That was true.

Or rather, Luo De had deliberately omitted it.

Not to deceive, but because undead dark elf sorcerers were terrifying.

And they were linked to a Hell Duke—most people avoided such connections entirely.

It was out of necessity.

Luo De's expression remained calm: "Those two dragons can fly and move—they're not sitting still in Coral Bay. Don't tell me you don't know how to lure and drive prey."

"Exactly. Besides, we have our own methods for the dark elf sorcerers. Even in an emergency, no one charges this much—it's destroying the market!"

Pan Ni chimed in from the side.

The ghoul lady had wandered all over Henry Farm, erasing the title of General Manager entirely.

To spend three million on this?

Just thinking about it made her chest ache with rage.

Oh, maybe it was just from being gripped too hard last night.

"Your own methods?"

The flippant Lai Er spoke again:

"Mr. Luo De, we walked around Shi Ying Town. Most of the constables and guards have some grit, but little combat experience. The highest-ranked official is only the sixth-rank high-tier witch, Miss Shi Ying.

As for the ragtag band of adventurers—don't even think they'll help. Don't take offense, Mr. Luo De, this isn't a dragon hunt—it's a siege.

Your own methods? Even without the dark elf sorcerers, I doubt you could handle me."

This man's words were genuinely infuriating and deserved a punch.

As he spoke, he unleashed his spiritual pressure—and surprisingly, he was a seventh-rank mid-tier.

A cold wind blew, carrying fine grains of yellow sand.

The atmosphere between them grew icy.

The crocodile-man Jie Run frowned; he felt Lai Er had gone too far today.

Normally, he wouldn't be so harsh or disrespectful.

That could backfire—they might just refuse the contract outright.

He stole a glance.

Saw the man's eyes lingering on the ghoul lady's face and body, and finally understood.

Oh, so his dick was running the show.

The woman across from them was a ghoul, yes—but her figure was graceful, her face exquisitely beautiful, her pale-blue skin texture nearly human.

She carried a faint wife-like innocence, and her cheeks always seemed flushed, her gaze toward Luo De thick with seductive lust.

Combined, these traits erased her ghoul disadvantages entirely.

Luo De had real skill—he'd managed to keep a ghoul beauty so well.

"You're sure?"

Pan Ni sneered, her face full of disdain.

She was never one to back down—she'd fought Luo De fiercely the first time they met.

Now, as head of the first-line security squad of the Wind Wall Forest, she stood before her master.

There was no such thing as showing weakness!

The chilling magical energy from her 【Negative Energy Constitution】 erupted instantly.

A tangible black mist stretched and spread, forming gaunt, shadowy figures that encircled the three members of the Blizzard Mercenary Company.

Even the winter-concentrated negative energy rose from the ground.

For a moment,

the sky itself dimmed slightly.

Crack—

The undead along the forest line, stirred by Pan Ni's negative energy, began to stir.

One by one, they crawled from the earth—nearly a hundred ghouls, malevolent spirits, and skeleton soldiers rose slowly, advancing.

Their hollow eyes glowed with evil soul-fire, terrifying as demonic predators.

Lai Er's face paled; he felt a black negative energy choking his throat, making breathing difficult.

"A necromancer? Why is your pressure so strong at seventh-rank low-tier?!"

Luo De observed the intensity of the negative energy.

He immediately knew Pan Ni had grown stronger.

In terms of Huang Tong's Spirit Measurement Ball, she'd likely surpassed 200, reaching around 205.

The 【Negative Energy Constitution】 was a talent-boosting skill; after unlocking it, Pan Ni's meditation became far more efficient.

"Not bad, Pan Ni."

Hearing this,

the frost on Pan Ni's face vanished instantly.

She cuddled Luo De's arm, pressing her chest against it, beaming up at him with a dazzling, alluring smile.

"Hehe—when you're not around, I work hard to get stronger!"

"Way more diligent than Tally. That girl only works hard in bed—otherwise she's either sleeping in or clinging to me."

Pan Ni's ink-black pupils swiveled in her sockets, suggesting:

"I think you spoil Tally too much, Master. The forest girls need a reward-and-punishment system: only those who progress quickly get to live in your forest guard cabin; those who lag behind—like Tally—should be sent to live in the farm villa outside the forest as punishment."

"That makes sense."

Luo De knew exactly what she was thinking.

He pinched her hopeful cheek.

The texture was slightly firm, lacking much elasticity—but its smooth, cool feel had its own charm.

(End of Chapter)