"The crowd's all fired up."
Al stood on the raised platform, looking helplessly at the crowd below, still caught up in their frenzy.
After a long while, people finally noticed Al standing onstage and gradually quieted down.
"It is my honor to have you all attend my specialist lecture."
Scattered applause rose from the audience. Al bowed and continued:
"I believe everyone came for a grand archmage, an alchemy grandmaster, and an engineering master. Some friends have even come to seek my advice on treating infertility..."
The audience burst into laughter, their applause growing enthusiastic.
Al gave a self-deprecating smile as well. "I am neither a grand archmage nor capable of treating infertility. My first lesson for you is not to believe or spread rumors."
The audience began whispering among themselves. Many sighed in disappointment and quietly left.
Someone shouted, "You didn't deny being an alchemy grandmaster, so does that count as an admission?"
"I wouldn't call myself a grandmaster, but I believe the knowledge of alchemy, engineering, and runecraft I bring you today will inspire some of you. Of course, I won't let those who have traveled far leave empty-handed."
Al paid no further attention to the noisy crowd below. He took an enormous blackboard from his spatial backpack and directed magical chalk to write and draw on it.
"Postpartum-care-for-sows."
Salorian Dawnseeker read it out word by word. Then he rubbed his eyes and read it again. Only after confirming that his eyes were not deceiving him did he turn a peculiar look on Belovar.
Those in the VIP seats were either nobles or influential figures capable of reshaping an entire region. Well educated as they were, they suppressed their laughter and all looked at Belovar.
Belovar flushed scarlet with embarrassment. Picking up the Staff of the Great Torrent beside him, he was about to go up and teach his grandson why flowers were so red.
"Lord Belovar, please be patient."
Anasterian felt the trip had been well worthwhile. Tedious paperwork had drained the Sun King's energy; how could he let something so entertaining end so easily?
Belovar forcibly restrained his anger, his teeth grinding audibly. Now, whenever he looked at the grandson he normally treasured above all else, he could see a bloodred "death" written on his forehead.
The enormous blank blackboard had already been filled, but the audience below had no interest in examining it.
The general seating area was already in an uproar. Some cursed Al for failing to live up to his reputation, some were getting ready to leave, and still more were filled with disappointment, believing his great reputation was undeserved and that the elven child onstage was nothing but a grandstanding clown.
"Ahem."
Al cleared his throat, but the audience showed no sign of quieting down.
[Ultrasound] activated. Intense sound waves swept past the VIP seats and across the entire general seating area.
The elven commoners, who had been seething with indignation and raising an uproar a moment earlier, now covered their ears, their faces contorted in pain.
Still used a little too much force.
Al rubbed his brow with a headache, recalling what had happened a year ago.
[Monster Compendium: Mist Bat activated] [Your teaching materials +1] [Your brain development increased by 1%] [You have comprehended Ultrasound]
Mist Bats were terrifying hunters that frequented the northwestern Ghostlands year-round, using sound waves to hunt large carnivores.
When desperately hungry, Mist Bats would even ambush passing caravans. Dozens of the kingdom's poor died to their sound waves every year-a tremendous loss for the high elves, whose birth rate was low.
After becoming a high-circle mage, Al had visited Windrunner Spire specifically to capture these creatures, resolving quite a few problems for the ranger forces. The Monster Compendium had naturally activated, leading to today's scene.
Al had reduced the sound waves to their lowest level, just enough to cause stabbing pain in the eardrums. In other words, had Al used his full strength, none of the commoners present could possibly have survived, excluding the old monsters in the VIP seats.
"Calmed down a little? Then I'll continue."
The younger generation is formidable. Is this a newly developed spell? the archmages present all thought.
Ignoring the commoners' fearful gazes, Al spoke with easy confidence:
"To the Quel'dorei, pigs are filthy, useless creatures, yet the human 'allies' we look down on most hold a view utterly different from ours. To humans, pigs can be food, prey, or even companions.
"Today, we aren't discussing ordinary boars, but a kind of divine creature. Their close relatives call them-the offspring of Agamaggan!"
The audience looked blank, having no idea what Agamaggan was, much less what this had to do with them. Only Anasterian Sunstrider wore an expression of shock, his eyes filled with disbelief.
The Sunstrider surname represented a distant past. During the War of the Ancients ten thousand years ago, the Wild Gods had fought shoulder to shoulder with the Night Elves, battling the Burning Legion valiantly through countless days and nights until they drove the demons from this world.
The Wild Gods had also suffered grievous losses.
The great bear demigods Ursoc and Ursol had fallen beneath the Legion's iron hooves. The raven demigoddess Aviana had lost her wings in the skies she loved, and even Malorne, Elune's most beloved consort, had his neck snapped by Archimonde, the Legion's overlord.
Among these great demigods who had sacrificed themselves was also the boar god Agamaggan, who had left an indelible mark on the defense of Azeroth.
Agamaggan was one of the ancient demigods. Legend held that this immortal, gigantic boar was among the first creatures to roam the continent of Azeroth. Thorny vines coiled around his body.
With the passing years and his boundless appetite, his body continued to grow, gaining supreme physical strength. He wielded thorny vines and tusks as weapons, ensuring that the trolls who hunted him always returned empty-handed.
Though Agamaggan ultimately fell before the Burning Legion, his contribution could never be erased. His sacrifice bought Malfurion and the others time to storm Azshara's Stronghold and reach the Well of Eternity.
If any mortals in this world still knew these secrets, they had to be the Night Elves who had fought alongside immortal beings and reaped the rewards of the war.
Anasterian's father, Dath'Remar, had once been one of them. But, true to his surname, he had resolutely embarked on a journey east across the sea to pursue the sun in his heart.
Thus came the high elves, the Sunwell, and the flourishing age of today.
Casting a meaningful glance at His Majesty Sunstrider, who was also looking his way, Al did not explain Agamaggan to the commoners. Instead, he continued:
"I believe none of you care who Agamaggan is or who his offspring are. Listen closely. What I'm about to say may change your future."
The audience gradually quieted down and began listening intently to Al.
He waved a hand, and the three-meter-tall construct Franky brought out a cage with heavy footsteps.
With a tug, the black cloth covering the cage was pulled away, exposing a muscular boar covered in blue-green markings to the air and drawing a succession of stifled gasps from the crowd.
"Since everyone cares about their future, I won't beat around the bush."
Al chuckled and continued, "This kind of boar's skin lacks the roughness and thickness of an ordinary boar's, but it has a unique property-magic resistance."
Anasterian could no longer remain seated. He rose with an exclamation of wonder.
The mages behind him likewise cried out, their eyes fixed on the boar in the cage.
"You can probably all understand what magic resistance means, so I won't elaborate. Now, I announce..."
"I will explain how to raise these divine creatures free of charge. Piglets can also be purchased directly from Salona's breeding farm. But there is one condition..."
Al smiled at the crowd below, which had long since lost its composure, and slowly said:
"This leather may only be sold to the Salona Family. I will purchase it at a fair price."
"Of course, I will only sell alchemical equipment made from this leather to the Sunstrider royal family. If anyone thinks they can pit themselves against His Majesty the Sun King, all I can do is wish you a happy journey to the next life."
After speaking, he did not forget to wink at Anasterian.
Caught between laughter and tears, the Sun King looked at the little fox onstage. He had thought Al was merely a scholar gifted at research, never expecting him to be so calculating.
In full public view, how could anyone refuse such generous terms? He would gain a new strategic weapon {or equipment} while saving an enormous sum in research funding, paying only some negligible costs and the price difference.
He turned around and handed the enormous profits already within his grasp to the people. Any other noble who obtained such precious divine creatures and exclusive techniques would surely never make them public, even if they didn't develop ambitions they shouldn't have. All I can say is, that's you all over.
The Sun King thought with admiration.
"A truly flawless open scheme." He shook his head with a wry smile.
"Your Majesty, Al..."
Belovar looked at his grandson with a complicated expression, intending to offer Anasterian some explanation.
"You have a fine grandson, Lord Richest Man."
The Sun King patted his old friend of many years and teased him.
Belovar: Am I done for?
"Haha, don't make that face. You're exactly as you were when you were young. I was merely reflecting on how vigorous and dazzling he is. He reminds me of someone."
Belovar let out a long breath and immediately played along. "Did Your Majesty recall an old friend?"
"No, I merely thought of my royal father-Dath'Remar Sunstrider."
Belovar: About me becoming the great-great-great retired emperor-is there still time to pack my valuables and run?