Harvesting the Mysterious Orbs

Traveling along the nobles-only passage, Velin's convoy moved without hindrance. Compared to the overcrowded state of the other passages, they were moving who knew how many times faster.

Just then, a merchant stood atop his carriage and waved at Velin's group.

Seeing this, Velin waved for the convoy to stop. He patted his horse's rump and rode over, his expression stern as he asked, "Merchant, what is it?"

"Honored sir, please forgive my offense." The merchant hurried down from his carriage, dropped to his knees, and addressed Velin.

The others in the passage lowered their heads at the sight and pressed onward, paying no attention.

The less they concerned themselves with such matters, the safer they would be, and the less likely they were to incur a noble's wrath.

"I forgive your rudeness." Velin was quite curious, but his expression remained calm as he spoke to the merchant.

"My lord, thank you for your mercy." The merchant climbed to his feet and continued, "My name is unworthy of your ears. I rashly waved to you in the hope of joining your convoy."

Velin glanced to the side and found that the merchant's convoy had eight carriages. Given his status, he was exempt from entry taxes on twenty carriages. His own convoy had only six, meaning he still had room for fourteen more. It was precisely because the merchant had noticed this that he had risked his life to wave at Velin.

In this world, unless one was powerful enough to disregard worldly rules, one could only humble oneself before nobles.

"Then what price are you willing to pay?"

At this, delight appeared on the merchant's face. He hurriedly said, "My lord, if you are willing to help, I can offer you two high-quality half-elves."

"Half-elves?" Velin frowned deeply upon hearing those words.

The southeastern border of the Ilia Kingdom bordered a Half-Elf Kingdom. It was powerful, with national strength slightly surpassing that of the Ilia Kingdom, so the kingdom officially prohibited the capture and sale of half-elves.

But rules were rules. For profit, there were still many who would take desperate risks.

Clearly, the merchant before him was one of them.

In addition, many nobles across the land were involved in it as well, their interests deeply intertwined into a vast industrial chain.

The royal family also turned a blind eye to the situation, secretly ordering the directly governed cities of each province to levy heavy taxes and profit from them.

When the merchant noticed Velin's expression change, he assumed the price had dissatisfied him and immediately prepared to raise his offer.

But before he could speak, Velin said first, "I have no interest in the half-elves you are offering."

"My lord, I have offended you. I am willing to give you..." The merchant wiped the sweat from his forehead.

"Listen, merchant." Velin rudely cut him off. "If you have something that interests me, I can let you join my convoy and avoid the exorbitant entry tax."

According to the customary half-elf entry tax levied in the major cities of the Ilia Kingdom, it was generally ten percent of the slave's total value.

Hearing this, the merchant wore a pained expression. He looked back at his convoy, then gritted his teeth and took two orbs from his robe. He respectfully offered them to Velin. "Sir, I obtained these by chance. I hope you will appraise them. If they are not enough, I am willing to make up the difference with Gold Coins."

Velin accepted the two orbs from the merchant and slowly infused them with Battle Qi. They reacted faintly, but soon returned to stillness.

Though the reaction was slight, he had noticed it.

The merchant's expression showed that these items were quite valuable, but Velin still intended to squeeze him for more. After all, there was no reason to refuse a slave trader's money.

"Merchant, you may join my convoy, but you must also pay one thousand Gold Coins for this opportunity."

"Thank you, my lord. Thank you, my lord."

The merchant beamed and swiftly took ten one-hundred-Gold-Coin exchange notes from his pocket. They were issued by the Ilia Kingdom Royal Bank and bore miniature Magic Arrays and special markings to distinguish genuine notes from fakes.

After carefully examining them, Velin put the notes and the two orbs into his pocket, then urged his Red Phosphorus Horse away.

Seeing this, the merchant hurriedly ordered his men to follow behind Velin's convoy through the nobles' passage toward the city gate.

At the gate of the West River Province Capital, the officer saw the Ex Family's eagle banner flying from Velin's carriage. He waved off the city guards' inspection and allowed them to pass.

"My lord, that slave trader has eight carriages and at least thirty half-elves. If we collected the entry tax, it would be at least three thousand Gold Coins." The scribe beside him watched Velin's convoy pass and asked in confusion.

"Do you think I don't want to?" The gate officer smacked the scribe on the head and said angrily, "That is the Ex Family's Eagle Emblem, not some minor noble we can bully at will. It represents one of the five great powers of Xihe Province. Do you think I dare collect taxes from them?"

"My lord, I was being greedy."

The scribe hastily admitted his mistake and dared not argue.

After entering the West River Province Capital, Velin looked at the bustling streets around him, and his worldview was thoroughly refreshed.

He had lived in Windsor Castle for eighteen years and rarely gone out. Since he was not the heir, his family had never forced him to take part in social activities. He was happy to remain idle, and so developed a lazy disposition.

The shops lining both sides of the streets sold everything: Magic Scrolls, staffs, magic crystals, Ferocious Beast Flesh, and more.

"Master, shall we rest in the Provincial Capital for a few days?" Belder, Captain of the Knight Guard, stepped forward and asked Velin.

"No. We will head straight for the Teleportation Array. It will not be too late to rest at the Carrod Provincial Capital in the border province by the Gray Mang Wasteland."

Velin waved his hand, signaling the convoy to follow. He had no plans to stay in the West River Province Capital.

He had already calculated the costs. Staying one night in the Provincial Capital would cost at least one hundred Gold Coins, enough to buy two serfs.

At the beginning of a career, every coin had to be saved.

Two hours later, Velin led his convoy to a Giant Building.

A Middle-aged Mage wearing a Mage Robe stepped forward and saluted Velin. "Good day, Sir."

"Good day, sir." Velin performed a standard noble's salute. "My convoy requires teleportation. Our destination is the Carrod Provincial Capital in the border province."

"Please wait a moment."

The mage then called over two Mage Apprentices to inspect the convoy, record the information on white paper, and calculate the cost.

Five minutes later, the Middle-aged Mage handed Velin a sheet filled with information.

"Sir, this is the estimated fee. According to the privileges enjoyed by the Ex Family, you need only pay eighty percent of the cost."

"Thank you."

Velin gave it a quick look and found that the teleportation fee he needed to pay was six thousand Gold Coins. After thanking the Middle-aged Mage, he led his people through the Magic Array inspection and into the Giant Building.

Velin handed his Red Phosphorus Horse to Orlando, then carried Gold Notes worth ten thousand Gold Coins to the payment counter nearby.

The Red-haired Woman seated at the counter saw Velin approaching and immediately put away her lazy demeanor, sitting upright.

"Madam, this is the bill."

Velin handed the paper given to him by the Middle-aged Mage to the Red-haired Woman, then took out the Ex Family's Eagle Emblem and placed it before her.

After the Red-haired Woman completed the necessary procedures, Velin handed her the Gold Notes worth ten thousand Gold Coins.

"My lord, would you like Gold Coins or Gold Notes?"

Faced with the Red-haired Woman's question, Velin considered it for a moment before replying, "Gold Notes worth five thousand Gold Coins, and two hundred Gold Coins."

"Please wait a moment."

The Red-haired Woman entered a string of information into a Magic Instrument. It resembled a mobile phone from his previous life, making it feel very familiar to him.

Finally, Velin tucked away Gold Notes worth five thousand Gold Coins, carried an exquisite Cloth Bag containing two hundred Gold Coins, and headed back toward his convoy.