State Your Terms

While the young master August Winster was howling in pain as he was being whipped at the "Security Department," Rein was unaware that he had inexplicably become someone's target.

This young master was just curious and wanted to ask about Rein's background, but he didn't expect to get any useful information and instead get into trouble.

Naturally, they began to hold a grudge against Lei.

Rein followed Ymir to a high-class inn – "Sylph's Freeholder Inn".

This was originally a property of the Oma Royal Family in City of Radiance. Although the name doesn't sound very grand, the interior decoration is of palatial standard, exuding luxury in a low-key manner.

The two didn't exchange a single word on the way out of the Security Department, just like their tacit understanding back in the desolate wasteland.

One walked in front, and the other followed behind.

Of course, unlike before, the two were now surrounded by a group of guards.

Yes. I feel very safe.

Aside from the imposing, heavily armored knights, Rein also noticed that the Her Highness the Eldest Princess's personal guards were all tall, beautiful female court swordswomen. However, they all had cold, aloof expressions, as if they were saying, "Keep out."

Upon entering the inn and going upstairs, Ymir was surrounded by the crowd and led into a room that was clearly protected by magic.

The old nanny skillfully removed Ymir's plain white cloak and hung it on the coat rack to the side; the three maids removed parts of her battle armor, unfastened her waist armor, took the rapier from her waist, and then draped a light veil over her.

The whole process was orderly. Ymir had barely taken ten steps after entering the house when the servants had already done everything.

Rein found it fascinating; the life of royalty was indeed extravagant, with no one having to lift a finger to change clothes.

"Alright, you can all leave now."

Ymir waved his hand and said before the maids could do anything else.

As soon as he finished speaking, seven or eight people filed out of the room.

Rein knew these words weren't meant for him, so he stood quietly in the corner.

In the blink of an eye, only the two of them remained in the room.

But he clearly sensed that when the female guards and the old nanny left, their gazes fell on him and lingered for a moment.

They seemed puzzled as to why Her Highness the Eldest Princess would leave such a man alone in the room.

This room is somewhat like a study; it's luxuriously decorated and feels very comfortable.

A yellowed map hung prominently on the wall. Rein glanced at it and immediately recognized it as a "world map" of this world.

It was marked with many place names, including those of the two great empires of Omar and Sid, as well as some place names in tiny print in the Alkolon Mountain Range.

Of course, but more often than not, there are blank, foggy areas.

The room was brightly lit by a magic crystal chandelier.

The surrounding bookshelves were densely packed with books on military affairs, geography, and politics.

This is from the Royal Collection; I don't recall any of the Rein.

At this moment, Ymir walked to the large mahogany table in front of the map. There was a sculpture of a magical beast skull on it, which looked like Third Tier "Golden Horned Magic Deer".

She removed the Golden Mask she always wore and gently placed it on the mahogany table.

This stunningly beautiful face reappeared before his eyes, and Rein was still incredibly amazed.

She wore a low-cut, V-neck golden light armor adorned with dazzling gemstones, and her thighs and shoulders were covered with intricately carved silver fish-scale chainmail. It was a high-grade enchanted armor that combined aesthetics and defense.

The court sword belongs to the light sword category. For ease of combat, this type of armor has metal armor on vital areas, while the rest of the body is exposed to the air.

Now that most of the external metal armor has been removed, only the close-fitting leather armor remains, which fully reveals her tall and graceful figure.

Hmm. I glanced at it, saw a slight ripple, but didn't linger my gaze for long.

After all, I've seen everything I should and shouldn't have seen.

Rein remained calm and focused, his gaze unwavering.

How is the injury on your neck?

Ymir removed her mask and asked a question, breaking the silence.

We agreed we wouldn't see each other again, but I never expected to meet again under these circumstances.

"She's alright now."

As he spoke, Rein instinctively rubbed the centipede-shaped stitches on his neck, and added, "Thank you for saving me again, Miss Ymir. Oh, no!"

He paused for a moment, then immediately corrected himself, saying, "It is Her Highness the Eldest Princess."

Ymir remained as aloof as ever, not caring which form of address he used, and calmly said, "Even if I don't bail you out, you can still get out of the Security Department."

However, despite her cold words, she was genuinely surprised by the changes in the young doctor she once knew.

The scene of Rein performing surgery on himself on the street had also left a deep impression on the Her Highness the Eldest Princess.

Sewing up Throat Cut wound on one's own neck is an extreme procedure that is definitely not something a regular surgeon can perform.

Before going to the Security Department, she already knew the whole story.

The fact that he survived having his Throat Slash by a Third Tier assassin is enough to prove that his methods are not simple.

Moreover, there's also Bazel, whose motives are unclear.

Once, on the wasteland, Ymir thought that Rein was an ordinary doctor with some little secrets.

But now it seems that this secret is quite significant.

Without any further pleasantries, Ymir went straight to the point.

"Speak, what is the deal?"

His tone was as cold as ever, which Rein was used to.

Although the two hadn't known each other for long, he was well aware of this big shot's decisive and efficient nature.

He went straight to the point, saying, "The reason I was assassinated and the bounty on my head is because I have a 'secret.' So, I'm going to use this secret to make a deal with you."

Ymir seemed to have expected this, and said calmly, "Continue."

"I possess the location of what might be the remains of Mechanical City belonging to a more advanced civilization—a Mechanical City capable of flying through the sky. If we obtain the technology from those remains, it could very well revolutionize modern steam technology. The remains might also contain even more advanced Transcendent items."

Rein succinctly and directly explained the general situation of Baron Morin's treasure.

Ymir had been quite calm, but upon hearing these words, her azure pupils suddenly contracted.

Although she had a premonition that things were not simple, the amount of information contained in that sentence was still too astonishing.

You mean...

She was clearly trying to gauge the veracity of those words, and asked, "The wreckage of a Mechanical City that appears to be from an advanced civilization?"

If it were any other kind of treasure or secret, the Omar royal family, who were used to seeing all the world's treasures, would never have been so moved.

But this news forced her to take it seriously.

"Yes."

Rein nodded, his face solemn.

"."

Suddenly, Ymir's eyes began to sparkle.

This "secret" carries immense weight.

Only someone in such a high position could truly understand what this secret meant for a nation or for human civilization.

Finally, she understood why a Blood Marquis of Sid would personally hunt down a First Tier Transcendent doctor; she also understood why someone in the Oma Black Market would offer a bounty of one hundred million for him!

If

If there really is a Mechanical City of another advanced civilization somewhere in the mist, then this means both a threat and an enormous opportunity!

Just like a thousand years ago, when her ancestors in the Spurglin Family discovered the ruins of a steam-powered Mechanical Civilization.

The reason Rein chose to reveal this secret was not for any other reason, but because he had no other choice.

The truth is now clear: the mastermind behind hiring Quinn to assassinate Morin was the royal family of the Xid Empire, the Dracula Clan!

Such a powerful enemy could crush an Awakened as easily as crushing an ant.

I was only lucky to survive this time.

Rein is very self-aware.

The "Morin Treasure" has been exposed, and he alone has no way of protecting it anymore.

If he continues to keep the secret, he might be lucky this time in the face of the Sid royal family's pursuit; but next time, even Bazel at his peak might not be able to protect him.

He fled to City of Radiance with the "Baron Morin's Treasure" in his possession for three reasons: first, he had no better option than to deal with this "secret"; second, he was hoping that the person behind it all was unaware of the value of Morin's Relics and would give up the pursuit; and third, he was also betting that the other party would not be able to find him.

Now, all illusions have been shattered.

If a child carries gold through a bustling market, he may be alive to take it, but he also has to be alive to spend it.

He had to make a choice.

Since it's impossible to keep a secret, the only option is to maximize profits.

Moreover, the only truly essential items Rein needed from the treasures on that mechanical airship were the advanced potions and exclusive knowledge for the "Battle Doctor Sequence".

As for Steam Machinery, he, as a doctor, wasn't particularly interested. It would be better if he could master it; if not, it wasn't a difficult decision.

There is a lot of room for negotiation.

That's why he decided to trade this secret.

He needs a trading partner who can transfer the risk and who has the financial strength to bear this "secret".

There aren't many forces in this world capable of standing up to the Sid royal family's pursuit.

The City of Radiance is one, the Oma Royal Family is another, and then there's the Her Highness the Eldest Princess in front of us who has a blood feud with vampires.

With the teacher arrested, Rein had little goodwill towards City of Radiance anymore. Choosing to trade with them carried a high risk of being "murdered and robbed."

Besides, he simply couldn't trust strangers.

Princess Ymir, at least, was a friend, not an enemy.

The woman who once borrowed 100 Gold Kron and was able to repay him with a "Law Ice Crystal" is more credible than the other two parties.

She became stronger, and now she has another place to stay.

Of course, there is another reason: if Rein wants to save his teacher Ilubeck, he also needs to ask this Princess for help.

Although there are still unpredictable risks, this is the best option at present.

Ymir hesitated for a moment, then said decisively, "State your conditions."

Please vote for me!