Chapter 589: Probing and Gifts

"Mr. Rod, I see no shortage of pretty ladies in your Shi Ying Town, so why on earth must you pick a ghoul?"

Underling Number Four couldn't hold back and continued to mock.

But as he spoke to the end.

He got a clear look at Pan Ni's stunning figure and her delicate, married-woman charm, and couldn't help but freeze.

Just standing there in a daze, staring at Pan Ni.

He, who had always had a thing for married women, felt as if some unknown switch had been flipped in his head, and actually began to wonder what a ghoul woman might taste like.

The little leader, Sein, glanced back at Underling Number Four, his gaze turning slightly cold.

Fool.

This underling had clearly taken his earlier exaggerated words at face value.

Directly slapping the woman in the face was obviously out of the question, and especially not in front of a woman.

But an internal rift was impossible.

Better to turn it into an opportunity to probe.

He cast a glance at the ghoul woman, who carried a languid beauty; she herself didn't seem to care much, still asking Rod who these people were.

Only Sein could see that this ghoul lady named Pan Ni would, from time to time, cast a cold, seemingly inhuman glance at Underling Number Four.

In her eyes was a cruel hunger, a craving for human flesh.

Enough to make one's hair stand on end.

Sein's perception was far sharper than that of ordinary people of the same rank; at this moment he even felt the ground squirming faintly.

Clearly a considerable number of ghoul summons were moving underground, probably over a hundred of them.

Mid seventh-tier, a ghoul mage skilled in necromantic summoning, huh?

What's important is that she's so beautiful and full of flavor.

Where on earth did this Rod find such a fine piece of goods?

"Mr. Rod, on the road here I ran into quite a few beauties in Mad Wind City—how about I write a letter? Given Mr. Rod's status, surely plenty of ladies would answer the call, so why bother with, heh heh, a rotting ghoul?"

Sein said.

Pan Ni's gaze, brimming with that wicked, cold, overflowing negative energy, swept over him in turn.

Then, the moment she turned to look at Rod, all that chill vanished in an instant, replaced by a coy, pitiful expression.

She hugged Rod's arm and swayed it back and forth.

"Are they Master's friends?"

"No."

"Then can I kill them?"

"No."

Saying so.

Rod leaned in close to Pan Ni's ear and added in a low voice: "Not for now."

Pan Ni, stirred by his breath, let out a string of heh-heh laughs, her face the picture of being bathed in spring breeze.

The witch Dimia, standing nearby, felt her heart clench as well.

She couldn't help but look over.

When you say things like this, could you please keep your voices down a little more?

Can't you see their expressions all froze for a second?!

Sein sneered inwardly, treating the veiled threat in those words as if nothing had happened.

He went on: "Speaking of which, our conscription regiment happens to be short a mage specialized in necromantic summoning. I wonder if Mr. Rod could let Miss Pan Ni come to our regiment alone for a two-day lecture? Share a little, won't you."

He put Added Weight on the word "alone."

The meaning was self-evident.

Sein wasn't all that covetous of this ghoul married-woman; he mainly just wanted to probe Rod's bottom line a bit more.

Kula Hill sat on the leeward side.

Yet at this moment a gust of yin wind surged in, both cold and damp.

The atmosphere had gone a little stiff.

Dimia hurriedly spoke up:

"We can hold an open-air spell lecture in the square outside the Town Hall. Anyone can attend for free."

She secretly tugged at Rod's clothes.

Signaling him to stay calm, not to start a conflict.

Then she saw Rod sneakily place his palm on Pan Ni's waist and give it a squeeze.

Pan Ni lifted her gaze shyly, obediently pressing herself even closer to Rod.

"."

Do you two not understand what the atmosphere is right now? What are you doing?

Sein didn't give up:

"An open-air spell lecture is naturally no problem, but I heard Mr. Rod also keeps a succubus. We'd like to learn about the succubus's shapeshifting as well—and that sort of rather intimate teaching really has to take place indoors, doesn't it?"

Underling Number One excitedly chimed in: "Exactly, exactly—could you trouble Mr. Rod to call that succubus over?"

Underling Number Four pressed on relentlessly: "Best if Miss Pan Ni comes too! I want to learn necromancy!"

"Sorry, but no to both."

Rod shook his head and refused outright.

"Perhaps you don't know, but both Pan Ni and my succubus are extremely important partners of mine. Although our meeting had its rough patches, during this time together I've long since fallen deeply in love with them—even the moment they leave my sight makes me feel wretched."

Penny in his arms stiffened slightly.

She looked up, moved, tears already welling in her eyes, though they could also be corpse fluid.

"Really, Master?"

Rod smiled and nodded.

【Tally's obedience to you +4, current obedience: 99】

【Penny's obedience to you +2, current obedience: 60】

【Obedience broke through to 60, beginning random draw of shared skills】

【Draw beginning.】

Rod did not continue looking at the panel.

Nor did he care about the increase in Tally's obedience on the panel.

This fellow is both lazy and clingy.

She should be planting trees with Vivian right now, but she probably slacked off and slipped over to follow.

Thane snorted coldly, his face already turning somewhat ugly.

"This won't work, that won't work either; Mr. Rod, you are giving the Recruitment Corps far too little face."

The anxious expression faded from Dimia's baby-fat cheeks.

She began to scan the surroundings, thinking about the possibility of a kill.

She holds the military post for Shi Ying Town; back in Stormwind City, she studied related matters.

Her political methods are more radical than those of the old gentleman Humbert and the Tooth Fairy Rosalia.

She had even foreseen this scene and the countermeasures on the way here.

Namely, simply pin the deaths of these five on that den of thieves.

The flaws are a bit numerous.

But at least it is better than exposing ourselves directly.

Who would have thought Rod would casually wave his hand, instantly dispelling the tense atmosphere?

Everyone saw him take the white longsword with the leather scabbard from his waist.

The blade and hilt are made of integrated ceramic material; the sword emits waves of deep spiritual energy, clearly indicating it is of no ordinary quality.

"This is the 【Soul-Shaking Blade】. Although it is a close-combat weapon, it is actually not durable; one could even say it breaks at a touch. However, I have inscribed many practical spells within it. Using it as a staff that requires no casting process also holds considerable research value for spellcraft. I will lend it to you to use."

Saying this, Rod tossed the 【Soul-Shaking Blade】 over.

Thane caught it in one hand.

Feeling the waves of spiritual energy emanating from within, he could not help but feel wild joy in his heart!

A weapon almost touching the level of a treasure!

And because of the 【Accepts All Comers】 attribute on the sword, he could also easily sense the various spells within it!

It is just that one of them, 【Invisible Rope】, seems to be in an unusable state.

But it does not matter!

With that thought,

he joyfully gripped the hilt tightly and tried to draw it.

"Ah."

Rod, however, had appeared beside him at some point, his eyes dim, carrying a smile.

"This sword hides extremely powerful energy. Once drawn, it will release and kill the enemy. Do not draw it unless absolutely necessary."

(End of Chapter)