IW: Chapter 216 - Unmarried + Queen, Isn't This Maxed Out BUFFs?
"You seem a bit different from before."
Although only a moment had passed since they parted, Socia keenly noticed that Bai Ye seemed completely different.
That sword intent on his body...
He couldn't even hide it.
"My strength has just improved a bit."
Bai Ye lowered his head, stroking Autumn Leaf Blade, a hint of sorrow in his heart.
This blade, which he had just acquired, seemed to already be holding him back.
Inside the training space, even with Armament Haki covering Autumn Leaf Blade, it would shatter after just a few strikes against Sodders's divine weapon.
Liang Yue was different; he played with a tree branch against him, but Bai Ye's swordsmanship was simply too far behind his.
During this abuse, his Ghost Swordsmanship reached its peak, allowing his Sword Soul's swordsmanship to break through and awaken.
Similarly, the other powers hidden within his Ghost Hand were also realized through battles with others.
Perhaps one day, he could possess swordsmanship, Wave Force, Ghost God Power, Blood Qi Power, and Phantom Ghost Power.
Bai Ye didn't have too many expectations for the final Phantom Ghost Power; after all, he didn't want to be parasitized by a Phantom Ghost in a near-death state, leading to a two-souls-one-body situation.
"The sword intent on you can even rival Agamzu's."
Socia's Moonlight Tavern was also a place Agamzu loved to frequent, so she naturally knew Agamzu.
What made someone possess such powerful sword intent overnight?
Was it because he had hidden his strength before?
"Don't be so nervous; I was just talking, I'm not really bothered by this."
Socia shrugged, not dwelling on the question.
She felt that Bai Ye being stronger would actually allow him to better look after Celia.
"Socia, there's something I'd like to discuss with you."
"Speak."
Socia nodded in agreement. Since she had asked Bai Ye to look after Celia, as a return, she obviously had to agree to one of Bai Ye's requests.
Of course, if it was too excessive, she wouldn't agree.
"While I will look after Celia, I occasionally need to go out, so there might be times I need your help."
Bai Ye initially thought he could look after Celia himself.
On one hand, his strength wasn't enough; he would definitely be training during this time.
On the other hand, being with Celia would also bring many opportunities, so instead of leaving her at the Elven Outpost, it would be better for her to stay with him.
But due to his increased strength, Bai Ye would likely need to leave for a period and then return to stay for a while.
He wouldn't be able to keep Celia with him constantly.
"Alright."
Socia didn't refuse; Bai Ye's strength and his identity as an adventurer indicated that he wouldn't stay in one place for too long.
"By the way, Socia, is it expensive to buy a house here in Hutton Mar?"
Originally, Bai Ye didn't want to buy a house in Hutton Mar.
He had always rented here, and his daily money was never enough, but now, he wanted a place to settle down.
"It's not very expensive, probably around thirty thousand gold coins for a decent one."
"I understand."
Thirty thousand, plus the mission he was about to undertake, he could probably gather enough.
It seemed house prices weren't too outrageous.
Wait!
He bought a house to look after Celia; where had he seen this plot before?
"Indeed, the magic of love!"
"Socia, where's the love coming from?"
Socia didn't answer Bai Ye's question, but instead gave him an expression that implied he should understand. However, Socia was actually just joking.
She also understood that Bai Ye was buying a house simply for Celia; adventurers didn't need to buy such things.
"Mmm-hmm, who knows where love comes from? The tavern's opening hours are delayed by an hour today. If there's nothing else, I'll be going."
This woman...
Watching Socia's retreating back, Bai Ye felt speechless.
"Lord Bai Ye, may I come in?"
Niu Niu poked his head in and looked into Bai Ye's room.
His bull's head was already inside, yet he was still asking if he could enter.
Were those rolling eyes looking for something?
"Niu Niu, you need to knock before entering, understand?"
"I didn't even mind, and I'm a bull..."
"What did you say?"
Bai Ye clenched his fist and smiled at Niu Niu, then thought of a question and asked curiously, "Niu Niu, do your Minotaur tribe distinguish between male and female?"
They should, right?
After all, Sauta clearly looked like a male bull.
"Lord Bai Ye, you can't think such things!"
Niu Niu looked at Bai Ye with a horrified expression, clearly startled by Bai Ye's sudden thought.
Big Fool, what are you trying to do?!
"Niu Niu, are you a female bull?"
Bai Ye looked at Niu Niu with interest. This horrified look, he must be a female bull, right?
"Lord Bai Ye, you are truly a pervert!"
"Sorry, I'm not interested in bulls!"
Although he was insulted, Bai Ye was in an unusually good mood.
Seeing Niu Niu's frustrated expression, wanting to speak but unable to say anything, Niu Niu was very upset right now.
Just now, he had originally thought Bai Ye was a pervert.
Someone actually liked Minotaurs, but thinking about how vast and strange this world was, perhaps Bai Ye was the legendary one-in-a-million pervert?
"Niu Niu, so what exactly do you want from me?"
Bai Ye didn't dwell on the question; he was just teasing.
If he came to him, there must be something.
"It's like this, Lord Bai Ye, I want to become stronger, so..."
Niu Niu awkwardly rubbed the back of his head. He hoped Bai Ye could guide him in his training.
After the Glan's Fire, Niu Niu also realized his own lack of strength.
"Becoming stronger..."
Bai Ye actually had an idea for Niu Niu to become stronger, but it couldn't be implemented yet.
Moreover, Niu Niu's talent was actually limited, and Bai Ye didn't know how to improve Niu Niu.
"Have you thought about the direction you want to take to become stronger?"
Bai Ye didn't answer immediately, but instead asked Niu Niu if he had thought about how he should proceed.
Listening to Bai Ye's question, Niu Niu was silent for a moment, then raised his axe and said, "I think I have great talent with an axe!"
As Niu Niu spoke, he swung his large axe around.
Axes were the weapon of choice for most Minotaurs in their tribe; besides their horns, brute strength and axes were a good match.
"Then have you ever thought about changing your path?"
"Like what?"
"How about a dairy cow?"
Having Niu Niu take the path of healing and support him seemed like a good option.
This world didn't restrict animals from cultivating such powers.
However, upon hearing Bai Ye's suggestion, Niu Niu shook his head like a rattle-drum, clearly unwilling.
After all, what kind of bull would do such a thing!
"Are you really not considering it? A Shaman Niu Niu!"
Bai Ye continued to tempt him; he also needed a support to give him BUFFs.
"Lord Bai Ye, I think my axe is good!"
Niu Niu persisted, wanting Bai Ye to agree with him.
He absolutely could not become a support!
How embarrassing would that be to say!
"Alright, you'll understand my good intentions later. So, since you're preparing for battle, start by swinging your axe a hundred thousand times today before coming to find me."
He won't even agree to this?
Bai Ye was a little surprised. How obsessed was this Niu Niu with axes?
It's not like you can't use an axe after changing your profession to support.
If a Holy Priest just changes his fox head, wouldn't he directly become an Earth-Pounding Healer!
"Okay!"
Although Niu Niu always felt Bai Ye was being perfunctory, he also believed that if he had to choose, he would rather swing his axe every day.
After all, how could he have the abilities of a Holy Priest!
Although he hadn't been out of Gran Forest for long, Niu Niu had somewhat understood the outside world and knew what Holy Priests were.
After Niu Niu left, Celia peeked out, quietly observing Bai Ye. When she saw Bai Ye's eyes also looking at her, Celia shyly lowered her head and asked, "Lord Bai Ye, I heard you're leaving here?"
She had just met Socia and learned from her that Bai Ye was planning to leave.
And she had actually come this time to tell Bai Ye something.
"Lord Bai Ye, you can go on your adventures. I'll stay here and work at Sister Socia's during this time."
Celia didn't want Bai Ye to think of her as a burden, nor did she want to hold Bai Ye back, preventing him from going on adventures because of her.
Such a thoughtful gesture made Bai Ye feel a surge of emotion. As expected of his good little sister, he would top up another five hundred game coins later.
"Celia, I might go out for a while and then come back. When I return next time, I'll buy a small house, and you can live there then."
Compared to living in a tree hollow, living in a house was better, even though Celia used to live in tree hollows when she was an elf.
"But that must cost a lot of money, right?"
Celia clasped her hands tightly, looking at Bai Ye with some worry. She didn't want Bai Ye to feel pressured because of her.
Before meeting her, Bai Ye didn't need to worry about lodging, so was it because of her?
For a moment, Celia felt an unspeakable emotion in her heart.
"It's not very expensive, is it? At least we should have a place to live, shouldn't we?"
He was about to go to Melancholy Cave soon, and then all the Purple Mist Group's money would be his, wouldn't it?
Besides, compared to a house, the potions and weapons that would need to be purchased later would probably be the most expensive things, right?
"Then, Lord Bai Ye, what can I do for you?"
Celia looked at Bai Ye very seriously. She felt that she couldn't just accept Bai Ye's kindness for nothing.
At the very least, she should do something for Bai Ye.
"I haven't thought about it. I'll tell you when I do."
Bai Ye shook his head; he really hadn't thought of anything.
"Okay, Lord Bai Ye, you must tell me when you've thought of it!"
"Alright, Celia, I'm going to turn in a quest first."
Because the Gran Forest investigation quest was not issued by an individual, but by the King of Belmar Principality.
So Bai Ye still needed to report to the palace.
After bidding farewell to Celia, Bai Ye set off for the palace.
"I told you, you don't need to feel so much psychological pressure."
Socia, who had just told Bai Ye she was going to open a shop, also appeared here at this moment, looking at Celia's worried expression, she couldn't help but murmur.
"I just feel a little embarrassed."
Alas.
I really don't know what to say.
Socia could only let Celia calm down on her own.
Speaking of which, was entrusting Celia to Bai Ye a good thing or a bad thing?
Palace.
Bai Ye was led by a guard into the palace.
At this moment, Queen Skadi was sitting on the throne looking at Bai Ye, while Bai Ye was also observing the queen in front of him.
Queen Skadi.
Originally the daughter of a wealthy merchant, she became a princess after marrying the crown prince of Belmar Principality. The crown prince died not long after their marriage, and she, through her decisive and balanced methods, became the Queen of Belmar Principality.
She had only recently stabilized the situation, but there were still many in Belmar Principality who did not submit to her.
This identity, a widow + a queen, really stacked up the buffs.
"So the anomaly in Gran Forest was due to the dissipation of the Great Magic Array, and the elves sacrificed themselves to extinguish the great fire?"
Listening to Bai Ye's description of the mission, Queen Skadi leaned back on the throne, thinking about something.
But the anomaly was not just at the location of the Great Magic Array.
"So these arsonists are?"
Queen Skadi asked, still having some questions to confirm with Bai Ye.
"Their identity is unclear, possibly caused by a black-robed person who disappeared through a dimensional rift as soon as we saw him."
Dimensional rift?!
A trace of distress flashed across Queen Skadi's face; she hadn't expected even this to appear.
Someone who could open a dimensional rift was not of simple strength.
And such a person had run into Gran Forest and caused such a stir.
"Then, the Great Magic Array isn't the only cause of the anomaly, is it?"
Queen Skadi continued to ask.
"Shiroke, I heard an Apostle was transferred here, causing these anomalies."
Many anomalies on Arad Continent were actually related to the transfer of Apostles.
Held was truly heinous.
These Apostles themselves had strict requirements for their living environment.
It was like throwing Shiroke into Melancholy Cave, and Anton to the Sky Realm; wasn't that purely making them enemies with the people of Arad?
Neither side was wrong.
Everyone wanted to survive.
"It's an Apostle, that's not good news."
The anomaly in Arad actually came from an Apostle.
Queen Skadi frowned tightly, then as if remembering something, she looked up at Bai Ye.
That meaning, Bai Ye understood.
But he wasn't an adventurer!
She wouldn't be thinking of sending him without any benefits, would she?
Although Bai Ye was indeed preparing to go.
But Queen Skadi, he wouldn't go without benefits.
From the game, it was clear that Queen Skadi was a very cunning woman, or perhaps all politicians were like that.
"Bai Ye, could I trouble you to investigate?"
Indeed.
After a pause, Skadi also stated her request.
She hoped Bai Ye could help with the investigation.
"Of course, as long as you give me a generous enough reward, I'll go."
...
Ah?!
It wasn't what she had imagined!
Skadi was stunned. Although she had indeed thought that a young man like Bai Ye, when faced with her request, would probably be overcome with enthusiasm and agree immediately.
But his calmness... completely ruined her plans.
"I need a set of armor. My current strength is fine, but I lack defensive means."
Bai Ye didn't want money; he hoped Skadi could give him a set of armor.
After all, he had offensive means, but no defensive means, and he hoped to get a set of armor from Skadi.
"Belmar Principality is quite poor right now, don't worry, once the Principality improves a bit in the future, I will definitely not treat you unfairly!"
Drawing a big picture?
Bai Ye was speechless.
So it meant that anyone who reached this position, no matter who they were, would learn to draw a big picture.
Indeed.
Belmar Principality was indeed very poor right now.
But what she said, was he supposed to not ask for benefits and gamble on a future with her?
"Your Majesty, I actually still lack a very good weapon, if..."
"Okay, just one set of armor. I will find you the best set of armor currently available in the Principality!"
Alright!
You're ruthless!
A hint of resentment flashed through Queen Skadi's heart. This guy didn't listen to her drawing a big picture at all.
He had only one attitude: he wouldn't act without seeing a clear benefit.
Anyway, Skadi was at her wit's end. If this continued, Bai Ye wouldn't just ask for a set of armor; he'd ask for a sword too.
She was truly numb!
The Principality itself didn't have much military power. When it was founded, it was based on peace.
And now, she saw a good prospect. When she tested him, Bai Ye showed no fear, which made Skadi see that Bai Ye seemed to have the strength to solve this matter.
Since that was the case, Skadi naturally wanted to win over Bai Ye.
Belmar Principality's current situation was actually a bit awkward.
They were a neutral and peace-loving country, but the empire next door was growing stronger and stronger, and she heard that a Sword Master Barn had appeared there.
The gap in strength between the two sides was widening, and the empire showed no signs of stopping its expansion.
This also made Skadi realize that if Belmar Principality continued on its old path, it might one day be annexed by the Derlos Empire.
So they needed to arm themselves.
And this was also why she agreed to Bai Ye's request.
She wanted to test Bai Ye's strength, which was also a gamble on Bai Ye.
She hoped to see a return on her investment in Bai Ye.
"Then thank you. Once the armor is ready, I'll depart."
Bai Ye nodded in agreement. Armor was good, but if he also got some potions, that would be even better.
Thinking of this, Bai Ye suddenly looked at Skadi, with a hint of expectation in his eyes, just as he was about to speak, Skadi repeatedly raised her hand and said, "My head hurts a bit today, I'm going to rest."
Hey!
You're the daughter of a wealthy merchant, and now the Queen of Belmar Principality, don't you even have that much money?
"Ente, go find a suitable set of armor for him."
Skadi looked at Ente, the commander of the knight order, and told him to prepare the equipment to be given to Bai Ye.
"But... isn't he asking for a bit too much?"
This was a powerful set of equipment.
Ente actually wanted to say that their knight order hadn't even been equipped yet.
Belmar Principality was composed of the Knight Order, the Coastline Legion, the Mercenary Group, and Special Elite Units.
Its military strength wasn't particularly strong, but it was enough for self-preservation, and Ente also saw that the Queen seemed to want to win over Bai Ye.
But was it too much to pay so much to win over Bai Ye?
"The Derlos Empire has been restless recently, and now, due to the Glan's Fire, we have been significantly affected. The original roads through that area have seen an increase in monsters, which will only add to our burden.
And Shiroke's existence will further exacerbate all of this. We lack a strong person who can solve the problem.
If we continue to sit idly by, I believe the Derlos Empire will make a move."
Queen Skadi looked into the distance. She was now very clear that the Derlos Empire would sooner or later make a move against them.
And the Shiroke matter was something she had to resolve, and at the same time, she wanted to use this matter to see if Bai Ye was worth winning over.
There would definitely be a major war with the Derlos Empire in the future.
"King Lyon Heinrich III is indeed ambitious!"
Ente certainly agreed with this point and nodded in agreement, saying he would go find a set of armor for Bai Ye later.
A set of armor had been sealed in the treasury, but no one had ever used it.
"I hope so. Belmar Principality cannot decline in my hands."
Queen Skadi sighed with emotion. She didn't want Belmar Principality to be annexed because of her.
Perhaps now was the time to work hard.
The best armor currently available in Belmar Principality was found in the treasury.
After Queen Skadi brought it to Bai Ye and spoke the name of the equipment, a hint of surprise flashed in Bai Ye's eyes.
She actually gave him this set?!
Inheritance: Sacred War Goddess Titanium Plate Armor Set!
This equipment was once coveted by many classes in the Version 60.
"This set of equipment is the best we can offer right now. I hope you won't let it gather dust, and these potions were also bought from Norton. I'm counting on you for the Shiroke matter!"
The Queen gave Bai Ye ample face. After handing these items to Bai Ye, a hint of longing appeared in her eyes.
She longed for Bai Ye to return safely and resolve Shiroke.
This meant that her investment was not wrong, and then she would have more confidence when dealing with the Derlos Empire.
The cunning queen learned to invest and craved returns. Although it was a bit of a gamble, Skadi could only do this!
"I understand."
Having received the mission reward, he naturally had to do it properly.
Picking up the set, and putting it on, Bai Ye felt as if he was blessed by a strange aura.
"Niu Niu, you stay home and cultivate for now. Celia, I'm leaving."
After bidding farewell to Niu Niu and Celia, Bai Ye set off on the road to Melancholy Cave
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