666 Reward Part 1 (1/2)
There was an underground passageway at the port's warehouse which could lead straight to the temple. Saleen still could not trust Nicholas though. He was afraid that Fycro had planted some skill into Nicholas' body, but he could not detect it yet given his grade. He brought Nicholas to the surface level and passed through the commercial district.
Even though the expeditionary army had only been decimated for less than half a month, the atmosphere of business within the city was already starkly different. The people's faces were filled with smiles as they were occupied. Other than the workers in the shops, there were small mercenary groups around too.
Most of the mercenaries had gone to the borders between Qin and Loulan, causing the mercenaries in Metatrin City to appear more valuable. The big families had large numbers of private soldiers and guards to protect their merchant convoys, so they rarely used mercenaries. The small business families usually traveled on other people's ships, so they needed the protection of mercenaries.
The mercenaries in Metatrin City had to re-register at town hall. After one battle there were large amounts of deposits in Saleen's possession that acted as security deposits for the mercenaries. Now that the mercenaries' credit was high more people were hiring them.
The four dukes in the city did not have many shops, but they possessed substantial merchandise. Goods could be ordered, so their business flourished. A number of businessmen had ordered weapons and armor there before reselling it to northern Qin. The nobles in Qin were amassing materials in preparation for a death match with an invasion by the Tanggulasi people. If Holy Rock City's army invaded Loulan they could still tag along at the back and penetrate the flanks to prevent Laiyin Duchy from joining the battle abruptly.
Other than purchasing some grain from Phoenix it was the only other way was for Saleen to travel to Cloudflow. Halfway through, he still had to pass by Lianyun City and Alchemy City, it was a must to pay taxes.
Cloudflow people loved extravagance. In Metatrin City the businessmen who wore silk and satin had come from Cloudflow. These people thought that they had lost their investments, unexpectedly, Metatrin City gained victory. That caused their grain to be acquired at three times the original price. They could bring back large quantities of ores and the price of magic nuclei was forty percent cheaper as compared to other places.
Nicholas followed beside Saleen, he could not help but ask, ”Sir, I realize that there are too many professionals in this city, wouldn't it be quite risky for you to walk around without any guards?”
Saleen was ecstatic and said, ”You are a grade-9 professional, with you around, what else is there to be afraid of?”
Noticing an awkward expression on Nicholas' face, Saleen slapped his shoulder and said, ”Before you arrived, I always brought along at least forty people.”
Seeing that Saleen had a look of seriousness, Nicholas laughed and said, ”Sir, I have followed you because I have no other way out, but I will try my best. Speaking of which, even though I am a fallen holy master, my treatment abilities cannot be rivalled by your mages.”
”Nicholas, using divine spell treatments will do more harm than good! Unless the battle is at a dead end, I would rather use magic to heal people slowly.”
”Ha ha, Sir, a holy master isn't confined to the same methods the pope used. Once I craft special equipment, I will not have to stimulate the wounded's vitality for treatment anymore. It will have a higher consumption of magic nuclei though.”
”How much higher?”
”The consumption will surely be two to three times that of a mage.”
”What about the speed?”
”It is roughly the same as normal divine spells.”
”I heard that the holy masters in Holy See charge a fee when they treat the believers.”
”Most cases are like that, but I have never charged a single cent. I know what it is like to be poor. The almighty nobles will never understand the feeling of despair when a man is at his wits' end.”
Saleen hummed in response, he did not rebut, ”No matter how terrific a noble is, they will also never let a civilian enjoy the same privileges as them. Aren't mages like this too? This world will never be fair. Nicholas' way is actually abnormal, no wonder… no wonder Pope Theisio wanted to sacrifice him.”
”Nicholas, do you have dreams?” Saleen suddenly asked a strange question.
”I had dreams in the past, but now I don't.” A flash of pain appeared in Nicholas' eyes. When he came to the northern wilderness and allowed the soldiers to act as cannon fodder, he truly believed that the souls of the soldiers would enter heaven at that moment. After discovering the truth, he still accepted Fycro's gift of one Soul Bead. The souls inside it would never attain relief.
There was no more room for dreams, he had really fallen.
”You don't have to obtain redemption.” Saleen's words caused Nicholas' eyelids to jump, ”Can such words be spoken here?”
”Sir, let's talk when we go back.” Nicholas guessed that Saleen would utter some astounding words.
”There is nothing to conceal. If Fycro didn't know about my ability, he wouldn't have worked with me.” Saleen extended his left hand, waving it before Nicholas, then said, ”I am also under the protection of a god, but this god is not the Lord of Glory. Tell me, if you side with a new god, will your previous deeds still be considered as sins?”
”No.”
”That's great. Nicholas, I am no believer either. I am just telling you, if a day ever comes when you have nowhere else to go and you have to make a choice, you can still follow me. I will apply my god's protection on you and your sins will vanish.”
Nicholas' face appeared increasingly intrigued, then he said, ”Sir, aren't you afraid that Fycro might hear what you have said?”
”There is nothing to be worried about. He better know this, otherwise, he will suspect that I might harm him.” Saleen revealed a very simple reasoning. If he concealed his thoughts, Fycro would surely be suspicious of him because Fycro could not monitor him all the time. In fact, fully subduing Nicholas was an honest thing to do.
”Sir, you are really confident…” Nicholas was kind of speechless.