Pearls

Hundred-Handed Reaper Huo Jia?

It was an utterly unfamiliar title. Vala had no idea which important figure in the human kingdoms bore such a name. However, seeing the hundred-odd Mage Hands still floating around Duke, she felt that the title was incredibly fitting.

Since Duke had announced his name, Vala inexplicably felt a little more at ease. It seemed that this important figure did not intend to wipe them out.

Vala tactfully bowed deeply once more.

"Count yourself fortunate, Vala. My plans have a use for you. Offer me your absolute loyalty, along with that of those under your command. As a reward for your loyalty, you will receive a vast place to settle. The entire nearshore region of Westfall will become your clan's territory, and every Murloc here will obey you. As for humans... with me here, humans are not a problem."

Duke's words were arrogant, outrageously so, but Vala did not think he was exaggerating. Murlocs feared the Naga. For the past ten thousand years, they had willingly served the Naga, believing that whoever had the most arms was the boss, and they had already formed a preconceived impression.

She knew Duke's hands were magical constructs, but such lifelike, nimble palms were definitely beyond the capabilities of an ordinary mage. Feeling the astonishing magical aftershock from where Duke had slain the male Naga leader, Nul'uk, Vala was secretly alarmed.

She knew very well that Duke was not an opponent she could contend with.

So, she decided to offer her loyalty, even if only temporarily.

"I, Vala Ragescale Avis, represent the Ragescale Splinter Clan. I am honored to serve you, Master." Vala waved a hand and spoke a few words to her thirty-some clansmen in Naga. At once, every Naga knelt before Duke.

"Rise." As Duke spoke proudly, twice as many Mage Hands as there were Naga supported their elbows and helped them to their feet.

For a moment, every Naga's expression changed.

They had not personally witnessed just how powerful Duke was. The only proof was the countless Murlocs willing to serve him, along with the corpse of Nul'uk, who had pursued them.

But now, the overwhelming strength in those Mage Hands made them shudder.

Hands formed from magical energy possessed such power. They could use that power to help them up—or to seize their throats and strangle them to death...

The Naga's awe of Duke deepened another level.

Having established the relationship between lord and subject, Duke felt that something was still missing. He suddenly recalled the soul mark Medivh had branded onto his chest.

"System Spirit, can I create something similar to Medivh's soul mark?"

"After calculation, Host lacks sufficient mana to brand a mark upon a soul that resists. Conversely, if the target does not resist, a mage mark is merely a cantrip equivalent to a level 0 spell for you."

"Can I add something extra to it?"

The System Spirit instantly understood Duke's intentions. "Yes."

At that moment, a cold white glow lit up on Duke's right index finger. It was the radiance of frost magic.

"Vala, open your heart. I have something to bestow upon you."

Duke naturally called the shots now. Vala did not dare resist. Swaying her long serpent tail, she came before him.

Though Duke's movements appeared full of openings to Vala, and he did not even have the most basic mage shield, though she clearly felt that a single strike could kill the human who was about to enslave her, Vala did not dare act.

The Mage Hands floating around Duke were so unpredictable that she truly had no idea how formidable they were.

She stepped forward respectfully, closed her eyes, and allowed Duke's finger to touch the center of her forehead.

As the white light shone through her eyelids and grew brighter and brighter, nearly beyond what Vala could endure, a cool sensation entered her soul through her brow.

"Mmm..." The icy, comfortable sensation was so intense that it nearly melted Vala's mind.

Vala immediately realized that this was no ordinary mage mark.

It had not only entered her soul, but also latched onto every one of her magical circuits.

It's over! Now I'll truly have to serve this tiny human until death.

At that moment, Vala finally extinguished the last tiny ember of rebellion in her heart.

As if responding to Vala's newfound loyalty, she suddenly felt as though everything had become clear. She could distinctly sense that her frost magic had improved significantly. It was not the kind of forcibly enhanced power that would leave aftereffects, but rather a simplified model for using frost magic more perfectly, branded into her soul.

As time passed and her strength grew, the power of her frost magic would increase proportionately as well.

This great power...

Looking at Duke's youthful face, Vala could hardly believe that he had done this. Duke had actually imprinted upon her the metamagic specialty that legend said could only be comprehended by oneself!

Turning to look at the water's surface, Vala saw the bright emblem on her forehead—a black insignia with a hooded reaper skull in its center, surrounded by countless faintly emerging Mage Hands.

It truly was the emblem of the Hundred-Handed Reaper!

Vala had no further thoughts. She bowed deeply again. "Master, what are your orders?"

"Which Naga clan was chasing you just now?"

"That was the Greyscale Clan from Stranglethorn Vale, south of Westfall. However, since Master killed their chief warrior, they likely will not dare come again before finding powerful reinforcements. Besides, a round trip from Stranglethorn Vale to here takes at least two months. We should not need to worry about the Greyscale Clan in the short term."

"All right, then." Raven pointed at the huge one-eyed Murloc. "For the next month, aside from settling your own tribe, take Old Blindie and bring every Murloc along the Westfall coast under your command. When the time comes, I will personally demonstrate my power to the leaders of all Murloc tribes."

"And what else?"

"I want pearls! Pearls of every size—the prettier, the better. Have the Fish-Spear Tribe handle that. I will return here in one week to collect them." Only at that moment did Duke finally reveal what he was after.

That's right! Pearls!

The world of Azeroth was not like the world Raven had lived in before transmigrating, where pearls were cultivated. Throughout all seven human kingdoms, and even in the elven Quel'Thalas, pearls were rare luxuries.

It was simple. All pearls were in the sea, and the oceans were the domain of Murlocs and Naga.

Humans could build powerful warships to conquer every target on the sea's surface, yet they were powerless beneath the waves. It was not as though no humans had ever set their sights on the Naga, but Naga nests were generally on the seafloor. Who else could wipe out an entire small tribe in one stroke like Duke had?

Besides, Duke had originally only planned to deal with the Murloc tribes.

Hearing Duke's demand, Vala secretly let out a breath. Different races had different values. To the Naga, pearls really were no big deal.