Entering the Treasury Empty-Handed Was Not an Option

A poor temple could still have a wealthy abbot.

This was Zuo Yi's first impression upon entering the Celes royal treasury.

Although the Celes Kingdom could not exactly be called a poor temple—it had inherited some of the Light Empire's foundations—it was nothing in Zuo Yi's eyes. Its population numbered thirty or forty million, most of whom were concentrated in the royal capital and a few major cities.

Because of the threat posed by the Beastfolk, only a small portion of Celes's millions of square kilometers of territory had been developed. Its economy lagged behind, while the traditional nobles and professionals occupied the upper classes and remained entrenched in their ways. The entire society lacked the vitality to advance.

But that did not prevent the Celes royal family from possessing astonishing wealth.

The royal treasury, buried deep underground, covered an enormous area and had been built to be exceptionally sturdy. Complex magic arrays were engraved across the floor and walls, while densely packed copper pillars supported the towering dome.

Huge cabinets stood between the copper pillars, with countless rare treasures displayed inside their compartments.

All the items were arranged by category, including gold and silver currency, jewelry, weapons and equipment, magical items, precious materials, and mysterious unknown objects. Weapons and equipment were further divided into swords, axes, shields, armor, protective gear, and so on.

Excluding the gold, silver, currency, and jewelry, the weapons, equipment, and magical items alone numbered more than fifty thousand!

That number was undoubtedly astonishing. One had to know that everything qualified to be placed in the treasury was a high-grade treasure. These treasures were mainly used by the king to reward meritorious officials and generals, or given away as national gifts.

Zuo Yi had saved Celes single-handedly, so King Sasuosi had generously opened the treasury and