"You did very well," Chris appeared behind Rody, patting his shoulder and softly comforting him, "No one in the world has ever forced a Sword Emperor into such a sorry state except for you. Among your peers, no one else could have achieved this. Look, a mighty Sword Emperor, cutting off his own leg and fleeing in your presence... You shouldn't be too hard on yourself!"
"Chris, thank you. Without your natural magic's enhancement and amplification, my mental strength couldn’t have been doubled." Rody collapsed onto the ground, tiredly closing his eyes.
"Hey, you don't expect me to carry you, do you? Hey, wake up!" Chris sighed slightly upon seeing Rody's pale, bloodless face.
Fortunately, Rody was accustomed to overexerting his mental power; otherwise, such severe strain could have turned anyone else into an idiot. But Chris realized that without his natural magic's enhancement, Rody wouldn’t have been able to handle the crippled Sword Emperor. It seemed that he was still the most important partner for Rody, who wouldn’t be able to do anything without him.
Even if someone else had first unlocked Rody's potential, Chris still believed he was the most important.
The more Chris thought about it, the happier he felt. After cautiously observing the surroundings and finding nothing amiss, he picked up Rody and rushed towards the direction of Leiyin Mist Land.
When Rody woke up from his deep sleep, it was already sunny noon.
"You slept comfortably, and I'm half dead," Chris complained, "Are you a pig? You slept for three days and nights. I had to take care of you and travel at the same time, almost dying on the way. And damn Annie Belle, I can't find her anywhere she might be hiding. Besides, Leiyin Mist Land is so vast, it's impossible to find a person without a specific location!"
"Since we can't make it to the Magic Martial Competition anyway, let's search carefully..." After his battle with Sword Emperor Jex, Rody yearned for more power.
Even though it was his enemy’s words, Rody felt there was some truth in what Jex had said. 'Absolute power is the absolute guarantee of victory. No matter how clever the strategy, without matching power, it's useless.' If he had close combat abilities like a Sword Emperor, killing Jex would have been like child's play. Especially with the Magic Martial Forbidden, which limited his body without being unlocked, leaving him without fighting spirit or magical protection, challenging stronger warriors was impossible.
The Saintess said Annie Belle might unlock his potential star, and Rody was eager to find her. Especially since Annie Belle was the one entrusted by the old men of the Divine Realm Ruins to teach him magic, she likely had a close connection with him and was probably the one who could unlock his potential star.
Rody and Chris searched Leiyin Mist Land for nearly ten days but didn't find any trace of living people.
Leiyin Mist Land, shrouded in thick fog year-round, rarely saw sunlight, and was often drenched in torrential rain, extremely damp. An ordinary human would never choose such a harsh environment to dwell in. Of course, the mysterious Annie Belle might like it, but Rody also doubted she was there, suspecting another location, the Zefeng Forest.
The Zefeng Forest was over one thousand five hundred kilometers away from Leiyin Mist Land, and without mounts, it was impractical for Rody and Chris to walk there.
Eventually, they decided to return to the capital of Kamalon to seek advice from the Saintess, who might have better suggestions.
Of course, Rody and Chris were also curious about the outside world's reaction to their rescue of the mermaid princess and the hunt of the Sword Emperor. They wondered whether they would face criticism or praise. They suspected there might be no reaction at all, as Jex would not be foolish enough to reveal his humiliation, and the temple would remain silent due to the exposed mermaid hunting incident.
When passing by Mirror Lake, despite Rody's objections, Chris insisted on visiting the mermaid princess.
This time, the mermaid princess genuinely gave Rody a magic book.
The book, adorned with colorful pearls and strange magical arrays, could only be opened by her and Rody; no third person in the world could access or learn the magic within.
Rody was grateful for the magic book, and Chris seemed somewhat jealous, looking at Rody with displeasure for the next two days.
It was Chris who insisted on visiting the mermaid princess, and now he was the one who was unhappy.
Sometimes, Rody really couldn't understand what Chris was thinking.
"Hey, you like mermaids, right? There are several mermaid elders and priests. Why don't you go back to them? They seem to like you," Rody said, accustomed to Chris's moodiness. He knew Chris would be back to his cheerful self in a day or two, like water flowing over stones, leaving no trace.
"You think mermaids just marry anyone? You really don't understand anything!" Chris and Rody hired a carriage and headed to a large city with a teleportation gate to the capital of Kamalon.
Upon returning to the capital, Blay, they were surprised to find that the top hundred matches of the Magic Martial Competition had not yet begun.
All over the city, new regulations and rewards for the Magic Martial Competition were posted. The first-place winner would not only be granted a title and nobility by Kamalon but also receive a treasure and five thousand gold coins from the new king. The second to tenth places would also receive various rewards, all far exceeding the original prizes. What surprised Rody and Chris even more was that in just about a month, Kamalon had a new king.
During their absence, the old king was murdered by his two sons.
In the fratricidal conflict, the younger son, William, supported by the military, defeated his brother Lorith and ascended the throne. He not only announced a year of tax exemption but also strengthened foreign relations, expressing friendliness to all nations. The Magic Martial Competition, which had been suspended during the civil unrest, was restarted by the new king with fifty thousand gold coins from the royal treasury. Nobles and merchants contributed nearly thirty thousand gold coins to sponsor the event.
Prominent locations were already bought by various trade guilds, each displaying their banners.
Some large trade guilds even hired beautiful women in sensual outfits to perform dances and boost morale, simultaneously promoting their guilds' reputations.
Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
When Rody and Chris returned, the entire capital of Kamalon was engulfed in a festive atmosphere. The top hundred matches of the Magic Martial Competition were in full swing, with even the children running and chasing each other in the streets wearing clothes sponsored by a bakery, promoting meals for the competitors.
"Boss, you're finally back, great, we were just getting worried, your return is timely!" Stanley cheered.
"What's got you so worried?" Rody asked.
"The first prize alone is five thousand gold coins, oh my, five thousand gold coins, how long would it take us to earn that? No, we couldn't earn that much in our entire lives! Rody, don't you want to roll in a pile of gold coins? I think that would feel even better than rolling around with women!" Tommy the plump boy couldn’t stop talking about money and women.
"I'm not thinking about the top ten, maybe I can make it into the top fifty," said Kaley, who seemed to have entered the competition with the support of his father, General Quentin. Despite losing an arm, his experiences in the Orc Demon Blood War had indeed given him substantial abilities.
"I'd be satisfied just to make it into the top five hundred," Tommy sighed.
"Tommy, did I hear that right? You're also signing up for the Magic Martial Competition?" Rody thought the plump boy must be driven crazy by his desire for money.
"It's about participating," Tommy said, causing Chris to almost spit out his drink. He thought Tommy wasn't so much about participating as he was about getting beaten up.
"You don't know, everyone who registers gets a seat for the competitors, and there's free food and drink, everything provided without limit. If he doesn't take advantage of that, he wouldn't be the cunning merchant Tommy!" Terry, the only one bold enough to expose Tommy's true nature, said. He and Tommy were actually very close friends, but they were used to teasing each other. A day without ribbing his friend felt like a day wasted.
"I'm not signing up, that's just asking for trouble. A seat? I'll sit in the competitor seats of the boss and Chris. No matter how enthusiastically you look at me, don't expect me to cheer you on!" Stanley might seem the most foolish among them, but that was far from the truth.
"Rody, we've also signed up," said Leo and Benson, who had made considerable progress and seemed eager to prove themselves.
"A bunch of lunatics!" Chris left the noisy group behind and went to seek an audience with the Saintess.
To prevent his brothers from getting beaten up too badly, Rody thought of various ways to enhance their abilities. The group also openly shared their combat experiences and insights, which, combined with Rody's organization, formed an effective set of tactics. The experience and insights of over a hundred fighters were not something ordinary soldiers could have. Especially Rody's 'Mad Battle Rhapsody' and Chris's 'Aura Simulation' benefited everyone greatly.
Although Rody himself couldn't practice aura or magic, he was familiar with and proficient in many techniques.
After surviving the battles in the land of evil, Rody felt these men were valiant and worth befriending. He shared his personal insights to help improve everyone's strength.
Designing different strategies and tactics for each person was Rody's forte.
...
"The Saintess has already left. The temple took her away during Kamalon's civil war," Chris soon returned with somewhat disappointing news for Rody. However, the Saintess had left a letter for Rody, which contained only magical arrays and no words.
Rody couldn't understand the meaning, and Chris just smiled mysteriously without explaining.
Of course, Rody didn't worry that the Saintess would, like the mermaid princess, offer something as a sign of betrothal, as the Saintesses were committed to eternal purity and could not marry. So, Rody accepted the letter, planning to study it slowly. The magical arrays were complex, with one interlocking with another, complementary and intriguing to him.
"Everyone's abilities can't improve drastically all at once, but why not try suitable battle pets?" Chris suggested.
"I'll leave this to the boss, as I want wild summoning beasts, not those from pet stores. It's not just about money; those beasts are usually bred by large mercenary groups or trade guilds. They look nice, but their combat abilities are nothing to boast about," Stanley declined.
"You don't have the money, even if you liked them," Tommy laughed heartily.
"If there are pet eggs that complement personal attributes and enhance combat abilities, hatching and training them ourselves could be great. They might not be useful in the Magic Martial Competition now, but they will be in the future," Chris said with a slight smile. "If it weren't for this guy's abnormal sensing ability, I wouldn't say this, but as long as you, Rody's boss, are willing to carefully sense for them, you'll definitely find the most suitable battle pets."
"That's going to cost a lot of money, right?" Leo and Benson, who weren't wealthy, were quite concerned about the financial aspect.
If they really were to purchase pet eggs, few could afford it, and they believed Rody would end up footing the bill. Buying for one or two people might be manageable, but for over a hundred, even a wealthy man like Rody could end up penniless.
Of course, they were unaware that Rody and Chris had recently plundered a large warship used for capturing mermaids and killed several of Jex's capable subordinates, including Ghost Stab, Shadow Thief, Archer, the Silver Armored General, and two great mages, all of whom had storage rings.
From these two encounters, Rody and Chris not only obtained nearly a thousand gold coins in military supplies but also several storage rings. With Rody’s exceptional mental powers, he quickly made these rings his own. Especially the Silver Armored General’s ring, which contained over two thousand gold coins.
Moreover, the spoils from the Orc battlefield hadn't been touched yet. Rody felt it was entirely feasible to purchase pet eggs for everyone.
Rody himself had bone pets like a rabbit, two mantises, and a vine-clawed tiger, which worked well in combat. He thought if others had battle pets like him, not only would their combat abilities improve, but it would also be less boring in daily life.
"Let's go see, and if possible, everyone can buy some cheaper pet eggs to try hatching!" Rody's suggestion was met with cheers from the group.
"Long live Rody!" They didn't know where his money came from, but they knew their boss was a wealthy man from Felic.
Pet Store.
The pet stores in Kamalon were run by very famous and large trading companies.
Due to the Magic Martial Competition, there was a constant stream of customers buying pets. But it was rare to see a big customer like Rody, bringing over a hundred people to buy monster eggs. Wherever Rody and his group went, they received enthusiastic hospitality, complete with personal attendants explaining everything and secretly slipping Tommy price lists and small gifts.
Most of the pet eggs sold in the stores were of first and second-tier monsters, with third-tier being rare.
Fourth-tier and above were treasures of the stores.
Price-wise, first-tier monsters were the cheapest, with adult monsters costing between thirty to sixty gold coins. Young ones with promising potential or cute appearances could fetch ten to twenty gold coins.
As for monster eggs, they were uniformly priced at five gold coins each.
Since no one could tell what kind of monster was inside each egg or its potential, and not even what it would look like once hatched, the pet stores simply mixed all the eggs together and sold them at a standard price.
If someone bought a satisfying pet, the store would use their image for promotion.
The storefronts displayed photos of girls holding cute pets and walls had thank-you notes and group photos from famous mercenary groups, all part of their varied marketing strategies.
"Does your Lieutenant have the ability to sense the potential of pets? That's amazing!" The saleswoman clapped her hands, subtly probing Rody’s reality. She noticed that unlike others who bought monster eggs based on color and appearance, Rody would pick them up, close his eyes, and quietly sense them.
"If I had that ability, I'd open a pet store myself instead of being a poor soldier," Rody flatly denied.
"The Lord is not poor, you are a wealthy man!" The saleswoman's words echoed with the group's agreement. Rody seemed like an alchemist who could turn anything into gold. With Rody around, everyone managed to visit a magic blacksmith shop to get new armor sets, and everyone had the chance to buy a pet egg.
Chris went even further, designing a special emblem for the 'Magical Team' at a boutique using magic crystals.
Soon, the elite squad could likely be renamed 'Magical Team.'
"Let's buy these ten pet eggs today, and we'll come back tomorrow to see if you have new monster eggs," Rody said generously. Within two days, everyone had obtained pet eggs that matched their attributes.
"Lieutenant, please take your time," the store owner and the saleswoman personally escorted them to the door with great enthusiasm.
Rody also placed an order at the Alchemist Guild for over a hundred pairs of glass sunglasses.
Everyone agreed that these sunglasses were the coolest. The black sunglasses added an air of mystery and charm, enhancing one's temperament. At first, it was a bit awkward to walk wearing them, but people like Tommy and Stanley, who loved to show off, wouldn't even take them off to sleep.
With over a hundred people wearing sunglasses on the streets, the turn-back rate was an astonishing 100%.
Everyone thought Rody had come up with the idea to make everyone look cool and attract women, but nobody realized it was a test by Rody to see if anyone knew about the Wishing Goddess's relic, the Obsidian Magic Mirror. If the world was unaware, Rody could switch to the mirror that could assess people's combat abilities and potential while more people wore sunglasses.
Even Rody didn't expect that wearing these sunglasses would cause such a sensation.
Especially among young men, who all wanted to wear a pair on their noses. Many followed Rody, offering money to buy them. The demand in the market was so high that the Alchemist Guild worked day and night to meet it. In just a few days, many men were sporting cool sunglasses.
In Kamalon, if a man didn't wear sunglasses, he would feel embarrassed to even look up while walking. As for dating, holding hands with a date without sunglasses was unimaginable.
Rody was surprised that aside from the positive response, nothing unusual happened.
Except for alchemists and merchants, no one cared who invented the sunglasses.
It was said that Kamalon's new King William II also wore a pair to a banquet at the Duke of Chauvin's family, sparking a buying frenzy. Many nobles mistakenly thought the sunglasses were the king's invention. The popularity of sunglasses soared, and Kamalon's alchemists came to Rody to sign a new contract. Rody owned the invention and modification rights of the sunglasses, but he had to give the manufacturing rights entirely to the Alchemist Guild to mass-produce this fashionable item. He also had to transfer the operational rights to the Merchant Union for sales. The new contract stipulated that Rody would receive 5% of the profits from each pair of sunglasses.
The signing of this contract delighted everyone.
A pair of sunglasses was not very expensive. The cheapest cost one silver coin, and the better ones were priced within ten silver coins, with the best not exceeding one gold coin. However, the 5% profit from the millions of people in Kamalon's capital was a considerable amount. Moreover, the popularity would surely extend beyond Kamalon to the entire human continent.