Emperor's Favor

"Everyone, welcome. Let's raise our glasses together and hope our future cooperation goes even more smoothly..." Ye Luo lifted his glass, and everyone toasted him from across the room...

The banquet began. Knives and forks soon danced over the peeled shrimp. As the tender morsels went down, many guests exclaimed in amazement. Regardless of how they tasted, the moment the shrimp entered their stomachs, the meat seemed to release a warm energy. Their fatigue and exhaustion—and even some old injuries—were greatly relieved. Each piece of shrimp was like spring rain nourishing parched land, leaving them feeling wonderfully refreshed...

"Ye Luo... Your Majesty, I wonder if you have any more of this shrimp. Our Barute Chamber of Commerce would be willing to pay a high price for it!" Adolph of the Barute Chamber of Commerce looked at Ye Luo expectantly.

Ye Luo smiled faintly. "Ingredients from sixth-tier sea folk are truly hard to come by..."

"Sixth-tier sea folk!" "My goodness, they really are sixth-tier!" "A sixth-tier sea folk warrior can rival a seventh-tier human in strength out at sea. This is..."

The words "sixth-tier" stirred a great commotion in everyone's hearts once more.

Barut withdrew his gaze, crestfallen. "What a pity. What a terrible pity..."

Ye Luo continued with a smile, "I'm out of sixth-tier ingredients, but I still have plenty of lower-grade ones. However, I have a question. The Barute Chamber of Commerce mainly deals in magical materials and enchanted weapons, while the Sri Lanka Chamber of Commerce seems to own two restaurants. President Adonis hasn't said a word yet. President Adolph, are you trying to steal his business?"

Adolph looked troubled. "Of course not, Your Majesty. There's something you don't know. I have a son who's a first-level fifth-tier Gold warrior. A year ago, he was injured by a Demon Beast while adventuring. He has recovered, but the injury left him with some lasting damage. His strength has actually declined, and he can't even fight at the peak of the Silver rank anymore. I saw that the energy in the shrimp seemed capable of neutralizing old injuries, so..."

Ye Luo nodded and said regretfully, "I'm sorry to hear what happened to your son. But if it's only some old injuries, I may have something that can help you, Mr. Adolph." As he spoke, Ye Luo took a small glass vial from his robes. Inside, a cluster of white specks fluttered about like fireflies.

"What is that?" Adolph's eyes widened.

"The specks in this vial are made up of hundreds or even thousands of tiny holy insects. My people call them Emperor's Favor. Their effects are just what the name suggests: as long as you receive the Emperor's favor, you'll be fine as long as you don't die! Any injury or illness—even if you're down to your last breath—can be completely healed by these holy insects in a very short time!"

"Can they really be that miraculous?" Adolph asked in disbelief.

Ye Luo smiled faintly. His right hand flashed down, and the right arm of the server standing beside him was severed in an instant. Blood sprayed toward the table, but Ye Luo waved his hand, and an invisible force turned it all aside, splashing it onto the floor. Ye Luo had moved so fast that the server didn't even feel pain as he watched his arm fall to the ground.

Before he could let out a scream of agony, Ye Luo quickly picked up the severed arm and uncorked the vial.

The single dose of Healing Aphid transformed into hundreds of specks of light and swarmed into the wound!

Only then did the server feel the searing pain. "Aaaah!" He couldn't help letting out a wretched cry.

Ye Luo frowned. "You're a grown man. Does it hurt that much? Do you have to make such a fuss?"

"It hurts, it hurts..." The server nodded repeatedly. But he had barely managed to say those words when the excruciating pain in the wound turned into a tingling sensation. "It hurts... No, no, no, it doesn't hurt anymore..."

Then, as the specks of light entered the wound, skin rapidly grew over the severed arm. After three breaths, Ye Luo let go. The server stared in wonder as he flexed his right hand, as if the scene he'd just witnessed had been a dream...

"I, I, I'm all right! I, I can't be dreaming, can I..." The server was quite a character. In front of everyone, he pinched his own thigh hard. "Ow, ow! That hurts like hell! It really hurts..."

Ye Luo smiled faintly. "You can go. After the banquet, collect ten gold coins!"

"...Thank you, Your Majesty! Thank you for your generosity!" The server froze, then dropped to his knees in ecstasy and kowtowed repeatedly... He only stopped when Robert grabbed him by the collar and pulled him to his feet. Overwhelmed with gratitude, he left the hall.

Adolph's gaze followed the server as he left, filled with shock and regret.

Then he whipped around and said firmly, "Your Majesty Ye Luo, please name your price..."

Ye Luo feigned confusion. "Name a price? For what?"

Adolph kept his expression steady. He knew this was one of Ye Luo's negotiating tactics, so he spoke with complete sincerity. "These holy insects could absolutely cure my son's old injuries. Whatever Your Majesty wants, if the Barute Chamber of Commerce has it, I won't refuse. Of course, these holy insects also have tremendous market value. If Your Majesty would grant us the right to represent them, the Barute Chamber of Commerce would certainly offer a very generous reward..."

"Adolph, you were just talking about your son's injuries. How did you suddenly get around to representation rights? You should know that none of the other merchants here are smaller than you. Great Ye Luo, our Sri Lanka Chamber of Commerce has a branch in the Goriu Kingdom in the southeast. If you grant us the rights, we'll maximize your profits." President Adonis of the Sri Lanka Chamber of Commerce spoke to Ye Luo with great enthusiasm.

"Adonis, even though our businesses are competitors, we've always had a good relationship. Are you really going to destroy the little friendship we have left?" Adolph's expression darkened.

"Ahem..." Ye Luo coughed twice, interrupting their dispute. When everyone turned to look at him again, a triumphant smile appeared at the corner of his mouth. He raised his wineglass. "Come now, everyone. We can discuss business later. For now, let's enjoy the splendid feast before us..."

Adolph and Adonis had clearly recognized the immense market value of the Healing Aphid. Good heavens, if word got out about holy insects capable of bringing the dead back to life, who knew how many people would clamor to buy them? Having these holy insects was like having a second life. And given the chaos across the continent, not a single warrior or mage would be reluctant to seize the chance to come back to life!

But that little interlude had changed the mood at the table completely. Adolph and Adonis vied to flatter Ye Luo, and the banquet that had initially filled them with unease became lively in no time. Robert, seated to Ye Luo's right, couldn't help admiring him.