Chapter 37: Chapter 37: Having a sword but not using it and not having a sword are two different things
Let’s briefly go back to yesterday.
"What? The White Tower and the Alchemist Association want to collaborate with me?"
Louis frowned slightly.
He had no communication with the White Tower and the Alchemist Association.
Especially with the White Tower, he was reluctant to interact with this organization that once used him as a human experiment subject.
It was the first time Olivia saw such a troubled expression on Louis’ face in this lifetime.
"Oh right, he doesn’t like dealing with the White Tower."
A small light bulb slowly lit up on the little swan’s forehead.
"Sister Wang, what do they want with Louis?"
"Surely, they don’t want to borrow his slime digestion ability, right?"
Lumira tugged on Olivia’s sleeve from behind.
My little princess, could you stop talking?
His Highness Louis is originally an experimental subject; how could he possibly send his magical pet for experimentation?
Aren’t you just offending him?
However, no sooner had the words fallen, Beatrice laughed and pinched her face in surprise:
"Who told you this news, Olivia."
Mages and alchemists had difficult dealings with the extreme environmentalist druids.
Mages needed to conduct magic experiments, and alchemists needed to refine alchemy and medicine.
Both were major consumers of magic materials and significant producers of waste.
In this world of magical prosperity, handling magic waste was also a big problem.
The White Tower settled in the Imperial Capital back then because the Imperial Capital had advanced waste treatment facilities.
But!
Now the entire National Waste Disposal Plant is in a semi-reimbursed state.
And predictably, until new equipment can be procured from the Superior Forest here in the Imperial Capital, handling magic waste will become a major problem.
"...So, the White Tower and the Alchemist Association plan to allocate some funds and ask your Limuru to help them out."
Louis was somewhat shocked as he turned to look at the little swan.
No way, little swan, are you really a genius?
Otherwise, why did you immediately figure out their plan?
The little swan’s nose was almost pointing skyward.
"Wow, showing off in front of the Magic Country feels amazing!"
The next second, she wanted to secretly poke Louis’ nerves again:
"Since it’s the White Tower and the Alchemist Association, they must be offering a lot, right?"
Wakakaka, what a joke, dealing with trash and they’re stingy with money.
They’d definitely be tight-fisted...
Beatrice said with a smile:
"Indeed, I didn’t expect them to be so generous; they’re willing to offer 30,000 gold coins for the treatment fee."
"Young Master Duo?"
The little swan’s mouth gaped slightly.
Her mind went blank.
"Is magic waste disposal that expensive now?"
"Where’s it expensive? Don’t talk nonsense, okay? It’s hard to update the waste disposal facilities once every five years in the Superior Forest.
Your Highness, don’t speak randomly, the long ears are almost giving us their hearts."
A sarcastic voice came, startling Louis and Olivia.
"Holy crap, who are you, old man!"
Louis, seeing an old man with a white beard suddenly appear beside him, instinctively drew his sword.
But after seeing Beatrice’s helpless smile, he didn’t slash at him.
The maid beside Beatrice said coldly:
"Lord Gandalf, next time when entering the Minister of the Seal’s office, please remember to knock the door, don’t use spatial jumping."
The old man chuckled awkwardly, knowing he was at fault.
Yet, he still couldn’t control his mouth, prattling on:
"Hey! Sometimes the White Tower needs to find its own reasons, okay?
Have research funds increased in all these years, have they managed their business well?
The long-eared equipment has been the same price all these years, I’m about to lose my mind!"
Louis couldn’t help but chime in:
"Then have they bent the knee?"
Darn, could it be a fellow countryman?
"What ’Lee’? I usually kneel on a washboard at home, not on fruits."
White-bearded Gandalf gave Louis a disappointing answer with his actual actions.
"Plums are quite tasty, it would be a shame to kneel them to mush."
Louis: ...
Alright, perhaps he was overthinking it.
Louis’ eyes welled up slightly.
Greed was taking over.
Ten, hundred, thousand...
30,000 gold coins?
Three small targets?
Now he just has to nod to agree?
No, no!
Why is he getting red-eye in another world as well?
Wait?
Is it me who’s taking the money?
Then that’s fine!
The power of the great sin of greed began to burgeon within him.
Every cell was howling.
Get this money!
Get more money!
Get all of their money!
Louis’s eyes were red like a rabbit’s.
He was drenched in sweat.
He thought he could resist the temptation, but now it seemed he was mistaken.
That was because it wasn’t enough!
More!
More!
Oh right, these mages don’t seem so friendly towards elves and druids...
Doesn’t that mean?! Hiss!
His mouth moved faster than his mind:
"I can help you deal with this batch of magical waste."
"But don’t you consider tackling the technical challenges of waste disposal facilities?"
"This... Lord Gandalf, our Ense should also have its own highly efficient waste disposal equipment."
"Old mage, having a sword and not using it is not the same as not having one!"
This old mage, whose name is quite a point of ridicule, fell into deep thought:
"Having a sword and not using it, is it the same as not having one...?"
But wanting to surpass the technology of the elves, how difficult it is!
If it were so easy to surpass, countries wouldn’t allow such a big cake to be taken by the elves.
However, under the stimulation of greed, Louis’s mind was operating at its peak, instantly seeing through the key, and said with devilish persuasion:
"Mage, if you can’t catch up on the path they’ve paved, why not consider overtaking on a bend?"
"Have you seen my slime? How do you think its digestive ability compares to the elves’ equipment?"
The old mage’s body trembled:
"It’s even better than their best equipment!"
Louis seized the opportunity: "But what if I told you that its fast digestion is not purely due to its individual traits but is replicable?"
Louis glanced at Beatrice.
Beatrice gave a gentle smile:
"Lord Gandalf has the clearance to know information about the giant slime."
"That’s truly... wonderful!"
But Louis didn’t realize at all, covered by his helmet, that at this moment his face clearly carried an indescribable intoxication and madness.
Just like a drunkard smelling sweet wine, or Gorante sniffing the fragrance of money.
"The terrifying digestive power of the giant slime, coupled with the dragon’s unique pseudo-spells ’Iron Stomach’ and ’Pica’, this is the essence of Limuru’s digestive ability."
A mere dragon couldn’t do it.
A mere giant slime couldn’t do it.
But combined, they can produce an enormous chemical reaction.
However, discovering the essence of this digestive ability is inseparable from the [Greed Dominator].
Only someone like Louis, who directly comprehended Limuru’s power essence as a "Dominator", could easily uncover the logic within.
This time, the White Robe Mage couldn’t hold back anymore.
He revealed a cold yet resolute smile:
"Really?"
"Absolutely true!"
"I’ll agree to this on behalf of the White Tower; what the elves do, can’t we humans do?"
The old mage, was ignited.
Then, he naturally gave the response Louis most anticipated.
"30,000 gold coins as a meeting gift."
"His Highness Louis, if the subsequent technical path is fundamentally validated, your slime, no, our esteemed Lord Limuru, please spare some time to cooperate with our research!"
"The Alchemist Association will be more than happy to lend a hand."
"If we can overcome the challenges..."
"300,000!"
"Within a year at most, we will bring you an order worth 300,000 gold coins!"
The little swan’s eyes widened in disbelief.
Red-eye disease +1!
It was also at the moment of hearing this news.
Louis felt the influence brought by the [great sin of greed] vanish in an instant, a floating happiness spread through every cell.
Yet swiftly followed by a sense of tastelessness.
After the excitement entered sage mode, he suddenly realized that these 30 small goals seemed unspendable?
...
[Location: Adventurer Guild]
When Louis picked up a few things Alice could know and told her.
Without any surprises.
Red-eye disease +2!
Alice gritted her teeth and said: "Put your helmet on, or I’m afraid I won’t be able to resist."
"Resist what?"
"Robbing you!"