In Kael'thas's residence, Rex held his coffee and sipped it quietly, not at all anxious about Kael'thas's departure. As the saying went, anything the system produced was guaranteed to be quality. The Hearthstone's description was brief, but it said it could ignore sealing barriers. Though Rex had not tested it, he had complete faith in that claim. Its range, however, was harder to judge.
Azeroth was enormous, nothing like the short distances in the game. It had multiple continents, and there was even Outland, the world of the Orcs, which would all come into play in the future. Rex really could not be sure whether it would work when traveling from the Eastern Kingdoms to Kalimdor, or when used in Outland. Within Silvermoon City, however, he had no worries.
Rex also had some thoughts about Archmages. Gilneas's strongest class was still the Warrior; Rachel, who held Hero Rank, was a Warrior. Other classes, such as Paladins, were not in short supply either. Only Mages remained a sore spot for Gilneas. Its last Archmage had appeared centuries ago, and even the strongest Mage in the country today was only eighth rank, not even ninth rank.
Still, luring an Archmage away was impossible for Rex at present. Every Archmage held Hero Rank, and the only way to attract them was to offer something that interested them. Unfortunately, Gilneas held no appeal whatsoever for Archmages, or even for ninth-rank Mages.
While Rex was thinking, the Town Hall before him began to change. A hazy glow emanated from it, faint and thin rather than brilliant. Yet the light persisted. Once it appeared, it neither faded nor spread outward. Thus, over just a few seconds, that seemingly thin glow began to grow dense, and a dark silhouette appeared within it.
As the figure emerged, the light gradually dimmed, finally dissipating into the air to reveal Kael'thas in his blood-red robes. He surveyed his surroundings, disbelief still lingering in his eyes. This was his own residence; there was no way he could mistake it. And who else could the man drinking coffee before him be but Rex? He had already returned from Silvermoon City to Dalaran, yet he found that fact difficult to accept.
Using a Portal in Dalaran to return to Silvermoon City was a privilege reserved for Prince Kael'thas alone. Otherwise, Silvermoon City's Magic Barrier could block any Portal. That privilege existed only because the Magic Barrier had been specially adjusted for his convenience. Yet this Hearthstone had easily pierced the Magic Barrier without causing so much as a trace of magical fluctuation, making it utterly undetectable. When Kael'thas finally recovered, the gaze he directed at Rex held both eagerness and wariness.
This technology was simply too extraordinary for Kael'thas not to take precautions. Yet as a Mage, he felt an intense longing for magical items.
"Gilneas truly does have its own strengths. We have researched this field of magic for over a thousand years, yet we have made little progress." There was a forlorn note in Kael'thas's voice. Proud as he had always been, what had happened before his eyes had dealt him something of a blow. Gilneas, a nation not known for magic, actually possessed such capabilities. It seemed everyone had underestimated that isolationist country.
A thousand years? Even another two thousand would get you nowhere. Rex sneered inwardly, though he still marveled at how many geniuses this world possessed. Even if the High Elves could not develop it in a thousand years, or even two thousand, if they kept researching, they would discover it sooner or later.
"Now that you've tried it, Prince Kael'thas, we should have a proper talk," Rex said with a smile.
"Go ahead. Tell me your real purpose, Prince Rex. I'm sure you didn't come here just to show off." Kael'thas had already regained his composure. At that moment, the shock the Hearthstone had brought him vanished completely; nothing showed on his face.
"Then I'll be frank. I brought these four Hearthstones to trade with you, Prince Kael'thas. Six months ago, I founded the Knights of the Round Table, and I need a great deal of funding to keep things running. I had no choice but to put these treasured Hearthstones up for sale." Looking at Kael'thas, Rex calmly stated his purpose. He neatly arranged four boxes identical to the one on the table, placing them together.
A faint smile rested on Kael'thas's face. The wealth the High Elves had accumulated over thousands of years was simply staggering. His father, in particular, had inherited the throne toward the end of the Troll Wars. And how long ago had those wars been? More than two thousand years ago, when humanity was only beginning to rise. With the High Elves' extraordinarily long lifespans, even without humanity's knack for amassing money, they could easily acquire far more wealth over a lifetime than humans, who lived only a hundred years.
The High Elves had always been renowned for their magic, and the magical items they made sold exceptionally well, fetching high prices among humans. Kael'thas was the perfect embodiment of the saying: anything that could be solved with gold was no problem at all.
"Name your price." Kael'thas went straight to the point, gently reaching out to stroke the exquisite boxes. His gaze was tender, as though he were caressing the woman he loved.
"We don't have many of these Return Scrolls in Gilneas. At most, we can make only a few each year. What do you think, Prince Kael'thas?" Rex found it difficult to name a price. If he did, he would have no way to gauge what Kael'thas thought they were worth. Most importantly, Rex feared asking for too little.
"Ten thousand gold coins each." Kael'thas considered for a moment, then named a figure that made Rex's heart leap.
"Deal!" Rex did not hesitate in the slightest. A Hearthstone that cost 350 gold coins was now selling for more than twenty times that amount. There was nothing to hesitate over. Though he could have pushed the price higher by haggling with Kael'thas, there was no need. Rex was not a merchant, and this price was far above what he had had in mind.
"Wait here a moment." Kael'thas acted swiftly and decisively, afraid something might go wrong with the deal. Once they had agreed on the price, he stepped outside and gave a few brief instructions. About half an hour later, five chests were set before Rex.
"Fifty thousand gold coins. It's all here!"
(End of chapter)
Before you continue