Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio  Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Plains

The four hurried over to Mara City .

Elovan and Milose were at the front . Link and Avatar followed behind them . Link was empty-handed while Avatar had Ariel and Katyusha's statues in each hand as he walked beside Link .

The four were extremely fast . Three minutes later, they stood before the st.u.r.dy dirt wall of Mara City . Here, Link told the two High Elves, "Let's start . "

The High Elves were scared of Link now, so they were very obedient . Since Link wanted them to detoxify the poison, they started casting spells immediately . They were responsible for the poison, so they were much more efficient than Link .

The two Legendary High Elves released a fog spell together that covered the entire city . The light of this spell swept over Mara City like a broom and cured all Beastmen within . Even those who had been badly poisoned and had gone insane recovered as well . The only side effects were that they were weak and needed to rest for a while .

The recently-cured Beastmen touched their heads, standing in place dazedly . They didn't know what had happened . After a while, shocked cries came from all over . Clearly, people were scared by the corpses scattered on the ground .

Of course, these were all unimportant details .

Seeing that there were no major problems, Avatar urged, "Many people escaped outside the city . We need to cure them too . "

Elovan and Milose both nodded . Natural Power surged within them; they were about to turn into light and fly out to cure the poisoned .

Seeing that they were about to leave, Avatar reminded, "Don't think about escaping . Your Princess Ariel is still in our hands . "

Hearing this, Link smiled . He pointed at the two and two tiny dots of light sank into them . "Remember," he said, "this is a curse . "

The two High Elves shuddered involuntarily . Then, without a sound, they transformed into emerald light and split apart to find and help the individual victims .

Avatar watched them leave from the city wall . "What do you plan to do with them?" he asked Link .

"What do you mean?" Link asked in return .

"Of course I'll kill them one by one . They're disgusting, especially the three High Elves . I wish I could chop them up to feed to the dogs!" Avatar huffed . But after he said that, his tone changed and he looked to Link . "However, you did more to catch them, so you can decide how to punish the captives . I'll agree with whatever you decide . But to be fair, you should also give me the equivalent reimburs.e.m.e.nt . "

This was indeed fair, and Link agreed completely . Smiling, he said, "In that case, I want all four . They will be important bargaining chips in my battle with the Isle of Dawn . "

Killing them directly was satisfying, but other than venting his anger, there weren't any practical benefits . As a lord, he couldn't choose this option .

If these four were still alive, Ferde would gain greatly either by holding them hostage or using them to exchange with the Isle of Dawn .

With that, Link looked to Avatar and asked, "So, Your Majesty, what would you like to receive from me?"

Avatar sank into deep thought .

Before, he knew that magic was powerful, but he'd always thought that the Beastman Shamans were enough . He'd thought that they could fight against Magicians . But after today, he discovered that when a spell reached a certain point, a Shaman would be helpless .

Divine spells were powerful, but they were actually still the weakest ones . They weren't a match for the truly strong at all . Thus, Avatar discovered that the Beastmen needed true magic .

Thinking of this, Avatar said, "My race needs Magicians—Beastman Magicians who truly belong to us . But you know that we have no magic foundation, so I need Ferde to provide tutors for us . "

"Oh?" Link looked at Avatar a bit strangely . "Magic is a very difficult study . If you want it to be effective, it will take at least five years . During this, a Magician's tuition is at least 5000 gold coins…"

"Oh?" Link looked at Avatar a bit strangely . "Magic is a very difficult study . If you want it to be effective, it will take at least five years . During this, a Magician's tuition is at least 5000 gold coins…"

Avatar shrugged . "I need to train at least 200 Beastman Magicians . Just follow what you said and let them study for five years . As for tuition… We don't have money . Just count it as the benefits I got from this time . "

Link chuckled wryly . "That's one million gold coins suddenly . Your Majesty, you're really asking for a lot… I can only train 100, no more . "

"Master, you received four Legendary fighters this time," Avatar insisted . "You can't buy this with money . Two hundred, no more, no less, no discussion . "

Link thought and gave in a little . "Here, let's not talk about the specific number of apprentices and only discuss the specific cost . In five years, I'll prove one million gold coins for Beastman apprentices to study magic until you use it up . As for how many students you wish to send, you can choose . "

This suggestion was not bad . Avatar calculated in his mind and thought it was cost-efficient . This way, he could send many Beastmen with magic talent to Ferde . He could spend more money on those who were better talented and less on the others . His race's coffers weren't completely empty . If the one million was used up, he could still pay some ten thousand coins . By then, he would use his own money to support the extraordinarily talented .

After a few years, his race would have their own Magicians . It wouldn't be much in the beginning, but with the seed planted, it will grow naturally .

Thinking of this, Avatar had already agreed to Link's suggestion . But since they were discussing conditions, he still had to ask for more . "One million isn't enough . At least 1 . 5 million . "

"One point one million, nothing more . " That was 10,000 more gold coins and could feed so many mouths . Link obviously wanted to give less if possible .

"One point four . I won't do it if it's less!" Avatar gave in a bit, but he wasn't stupid . "

"1 . 15 . "

"1 . 3 . "

"1 . 15 . "

"1 . 25… ah, you're scamming me . "

"Okay, then 1 . 25 million . "

"Okay, then 1 . 25 million . "

"1 . 3!" Avatar huffed .

"Alright, alright," Link acquiesced . "Let's take the average . How about 1 . 27?"

Avatar was still annoyed, but if they really kept arguing, it was just the difference of a few ten thousand . Beastmen were naturally coa.r.s.e, and he was too lazy to argue anymore . "Master, then let's do 1 . 27 million . But I think you're better as an evil merchant . "

Link laughed loudly . "Okay, after I return to Ferde, I'll send Magicians to choose some talented youths and take them to Ferde . All travel costs will be on Ferde . What do you think?"

"That's better . But can't adults go learn?" Avatar didn't want to send children . These guys didn't have set personalities yet . If they lived in somewhere like Ferde for too long, they might not want to come back .

Link chuckled and shrugged . "Adults are fine, of course, but their bodies are set already . The various magic training won't be very effective . Their minds are set too and lack creativity . Even if they can learn spells, they won't become very accomplished . Your Majesty, if you fear that the children will forget the plains, you can send Warriors to teach them the traditions . "

He made sense . Avatar thought hard and couldn't find any problems . He finally nodded . "Good . Let's do that . "

Coming to an agreement, the four Legendary captives now belonged to Link .

After that, the two started talking about the alliance and went through another round of bargaining . Finally, Avatar agreed to take 100,000 elite Warriors northward . The requirement was that the humans must provide all food needed and 10,000 sets of equipment equal to what Norton's official soldiers had .

Undoubtedly, this was a huge cost for the humans, but they desperately needed Beastman power . Link gritted his teeth and agreed .

Done with that, the two stayed at the city wall for another hour . Then Elovan and Milose hurried back .

"How are things?" Link asked .

Elovan quickly replied, "Everyone is cured, and the rivers are cleaned . No one should get poisoned again . "

Avatar glared . "What if someone does?"

Elovan quickly replied, "Everyone is cured, and the rivers are cleaned . No one should get poisoned again . "

Avatar glared . "What if someone does?"

Elovan hurriedly took out a big bottle of dark red potion . There was around a liter . "Your Majesty, this is the antidote . You just need to put a drop in a bowl of clean water and have the poisoned drink it . They will recover fully . "

Avatar accepted it, satisfied . He pointed at Link . "Okay, you don't have anything to do with me anymore . You two are the Ferde lord's captives . He'll punish you . "

Hearing this, Elovan and Milose were relieved . This was great . That Beastman was too barbaric and illogical . It was much easier to deal with Link . From what they knew, Link didn't torture captives . If they went with him to Ferde, they could definitely live well . Then, when the Isle of Dawn heard of what happened, they would rescue them .

They would be able to escape this place .

The two immediately went to Link's side, staying away from Avatar .

Avatar looked at them with scorn and sneered . "Little lambs who aren't even fully grown, you're lucky you're alive!"

With that, he said to Link, "Master, I'll go arrange the soldiers now . "

"Go . I must return to Ferde too . Say hi to Holun for me . " Link smiled . Holun was a warlord, but he had a candid personality and was easier to communicate with than Avatar .

Avatar could feel that Link was happier when he mentioned Holun . "I will . He always talks about you . "

Link nodded . White light flashed around him . Under this light, Link, the two High Elves, and two statues disappeared together . An instant later, the five appeared tens of thousands of miles away .

Here, Link's face darkened, and his lips curled up . Sneering, he looked at Elovan and Milose . "Gentlemen, you think you can return to the Isle of Dawn now, right?"