"Greetings, esteemed Indestructible Body Stigmata Great Wizard." Leo bowed respectfully to the crystal ball.
As one of the two Stigmata Wizard helped him the most, and another Beast Blood Boiling Stigmata Wizard, Leo still maintained full respect for them, even though he knew they had their own plans.
After all, the help these two gave him was genuine.
Without these two Stigmata Wizard, he wouldn't have been able to defeat the Purple Flame Stigmata Wizard, and thus the Vengeance Giant's revenge wouldn't have been accomplished.
Although the outside world spread the word that he had defeated a level four wizard with level three strength, which was an unprecedented feat, Leo himself knew that he was able to defeat the Purple Flame Stigmata Wizard mainly because of the Indestructible Body Stigmata Great Wizard.
" Leo, how is your recovery going?" The Indestructible Body Stigmata Great Wizard asked with concern, as if he were looking after a junior.
"... fine."
Leo didn't know what to say. When he and the Indestructible Body Stigmata Great Wizard left the main battlefield of suppressing the Black Skull Stigmata Great Wizard, Leo was seriously injured and it would be impossible for him to recover in less than several hundred years.
That diagnosis was personally performed on Leo by the Undying Body. Only a hundred years have passed, and Leo doesn't believe that this Stigmata Great Wizard is unaware of his physical condition.
"What do you mean by 'it's alright'?" A puzzled voice came from the crystal ball, emanating from the Undying Body.
"... I've almost fully recovered," Leo said softly.
"Almost fully recovered? So fast?" Sure enough, the voice of the Undying Body suddenly grew louder, as if he doubted that he had misheard. His essence was damaged, and he could be almost fully recovered in a hundred years. That was a bit abnormal.
"I had a bit of a lucky encounter and recovered some of my injuries." Leo didn't mention the Planetary Origin Energy, nor did he say that he had fully recovered.
The Indestructible Body Stigmata Great Wizard clearly had something to discuss with him, and he needed to leave himself some room to maneuver.
"I originally thought you were still seriously injured, so I just went through the motions and got some... um... some medicine for you."
The Undying Body spoke as if he were slamming on the brakes while going downhill at high speed, almost letting slip something he shouldn't have. However, his reaction was a bit slow, and his words were somewhat incoherent.
"Since you've almost recovered, I won't give you any more medicine. Congratulations!"
Hearing the stiff congratulations from the Indestructible Body Stigmata Great Wizard, Leo said gratefully, "Thank you, esteemed Indestructible Body Stigmata Great Wizard. Is there something important you need me for?"
Leo had spent over a decade with the Undying Body and knew this Level-Six Stigmata Great Wizard all too well. He was nothing like other Stigmata Wizard Stigmata Wizard; he lacked any of their aloofness or mystery.
On the contrary, he is very down-to-earth and will do any business that can make money.
Judging from what he almost let slip, it's clear he took on another deal to make a little extra money.
Leo understood him. After all, for someone cultivating Indestructible Body, if they didn't save up enough money beforehand, the advancement would be too painful...
"Ah, now that you mention it, there really is something I need to discuss."
"A while ago, that old guy from Falling Star Marks complained to me that his son was going to participate in a mandatory expedition mission, and it just so happens to be in a different world than his own. He's lived for almost ten thousand years and only has this one son. It's his first time participating in an expedition mission, and I don't know how worried he is."
When the Undying Body mentioned the name of the Falling Stars Stigmata Great Wizard, Leo immediately recalled some important matters that Charlotte had given him when he last returned, one of which was that the Falling Stars Stigmata Great Wizard wanted to hire Leo as a bodyguard for his descendants.
The price is very high; a single expedition to a medium-sized world can yield a reward of 30,000 energy crystals. The task is also very simple: just protect his son's safety.
Unfortunately, Leo's body had not yet recovered at that time, and the Godslaying Set was not ready either. No matter how much money was offered, Leo would not accept it.
He even wrote a tactful letter of refusal himself, which Charlotte then gave to the Falling Stars Stigmata Great Wizard, explaining that he was indeed not fully recovered and was powerless to participate in the deal.
Unexpectedly, after many twists and turns, the Falling Stars Stigmata Great Wizard found the Undying Body here.
Falling Stars must have spent a lot of money on his only son, otherwise he wouldn't have been able to persuade the Undying Body.
"I'm on pretty good terms with that guy, Falling Stars. He wants me to help him find a powerful wizard to protect his son. Price is no object."
"When I heard about this great opportunity, you were the first person I thought of. Now that you've recovered, how about we make some money?"
The Indestructible Body Stigmata Great Wizard doesn't resemble a Level 6 wizard at all; he's more like a shrewd businessman.
Perhaps fearing Leo might refuse, the Indestructible Body Stigmata Great Wizard specifically emphasized, "The mission isn't actually that dangerous. He's already found a thousand Level 1 wizards, two hundred Level 2 wizards, and over a dozen Level 3 wizards. They're all relatively famous and powerful wizards. For example, more than half of those thousand First-Level Wizard are among the top five thousand in previous First-Level Wizard Tournament. You could say he's protecting his son to the extreme."
"So, you're basically just going through the motions by accepting this mission; you can just coast along and get the energy crystals."
"Then what price would the Falling Stars Stigmata Great Wizard offer?" Leo asked.
"He originally only offered 20,000 energy crystals, but I told him about your situation. Other Level Three Wizard get 20,000, how could a wizard like you only get 20,000? He said that as long as you go, he'll give you 25,000 energy crystals!!!"
The Undying Body deliberately emphasized the amount of 25,000 energy crystals, as if it were a very large sum.
"Pfft"
A sudden laugh came from her shoulder. Leo immediately turned her head and glared at Yaoyao, who was covering her mouth with her paw.
Yaoyao stretched out three little paws and waved them at Leo, implying that the information he knew was that the price Falling Stars offered Leo was 30,000 energy crystals, but how come it became 25,000 in the mouth of the Indestructible Body Stigmata Great Wizard...?
What about the five thousand energy crystals?
"My lord, if you wish me to go, I will not ask for a single energy crystal, just to repay your kindness."
Leo made no mention of the information he had previously received from the Falling Stars Stigmata Great Wizard.
"This isn't right..."
The Undying Body said somewhat guiltily that he had already made a small profit from it, and if Leo didn't want the reward, he would have made even more, but he was still a little uneasy.
"There's nothing wrong with that. After all, I will never forget your kindness to me, sir. If my abilities can be of any help to you, sir, it would be my honor." Leo's attitude was very sincere, and his tone was full of genuine emotion; he was practically a moral exemplar.
"Then I'll tell that old guy Falling Stars that with you here, his son won't be in any trouble even if he encounters the World Lord." The Undying Body said in a slightly embarrassed voice. By saying this, he had already tacitly agreed that Leo didn't want a single energy crystal as payment, so the entire reward would go into his pocket.
"It's entirely up to you, sir."
Leo's sincere attitude made the Undying Body waver a little. Had he gone too far? How could he even make money off a junior? Leo cultivated the same Indestructible Body as him, and was destined to be a penniless wizard as well.
"If you encounter any difficulties in the future, come to me. If others won't help, I definitely will." The Undying Body, feeling guilty, said this as he hung up the crystal ball.
Unexpectedly, Leo immediately smiled and said, "My lord, I do have a bit of a problem right now and I need your help."
"..."
The Indestructible Body Stigmata Great Wizard probably regretted his words. The voice inside the crystal ball paused for a while before continuing.
"Oh, what trouble have you encountered?"
Leo's face was beaming with smiles, even his eyes were sparkling. "It's still about the Black Skull Stigmata Wizard from before."
"A hundred years have passed since this happened, what could possibly have happened?" The Undying Body was puzzled. All the rebellious wizards had been taken away by that Supreme Lord, there shouldn't be any left over.
"That's how it is..."
Leo rattled off a string of information about the abundant and highly valuable resources that grew in the former Black Skull territory to the Indestructible Body Stigmata Great Wizard, but he seemed to have forgotten to mention Charlotte entirely.
"Although I have also established a small academy, it has been developing for less than a hundred years, and the number of Official Wizard is less than a hundred. There is only a group of Wizard Apprentice, and we are powerless to exploit these resources."
"You know my situation, sir; I'm so poor I don't even have a magic ring."
Upon hearing Leo's words, the Undying Body felt even more embarrassed, as he had just stolen 30,000 energy crystals from Leo.
"Here's what I'm thinking: if our two academies could join forces, with your academy providing protection and our academy handling the mining, we could split the profits 50/50. What do you think, sir?" Leo's voice was full of sincerity, perfectly framing his position as the underdog.
"Fifty-fifty split?"
The Undying Body was astonished. According to Leo's description, the profit here was far more than 30,000 energy crystals; it would easily exceed 300,000.
Even if it's split 50/50, he can still get 150,000. Even if he leaves 50,000 to the academy, he can still have 100,000 left. If he mines a little more, he might even get 200,000.
This deal is definitely worth doing.
"If you're not satisfied, sir, we can have 60% for you and 40% for me." Leo seemed very afraid that the Undying Body wouldn't cooperate with him, so he further conceded 10% of the profits.
"Then it's settled. I'll take six, you take four. Tell me your college's spatial coordinates, and I can immediately have the college organize people to go there."
Fearing that Leo might change his mind, the Undying Body immediately agreed after Leo explained the trade arrangements, without even considering whether there were any problems.
For him, there were no problems with this deal; with his level six strength, he could easily overcome any obstacle.
Everyone knows he's the poorest of the Stigmata Wizard; blocking his path to wealth is as unpleasant as eating his flesh.
In this world, he has already reached the pinnacle of existence, able to ignore 99% of the problems.
Even if there's a poisonous cake in front of him, he'd still eat it; he has a strong stomach and isn't afraid of any poison.
Leo immediately reported the spatial coordinates of the academy to the Undying Body.
"You wait, it will be as short as three days, or at most five days, and my people will appear at your academy."
The Undying Body hurriedly hung up the crystal ball, seemingly to arrange manpower; when there was money to be made, he was more eager than anyone else.