Chapter 204: The Exchange Method for Witchcraft

Chapter 204: The Exchange Method for Witchcraft



After listening to Veronica's narration, Marika nodded and turned to look at Ren. "Baron Ren, I'm sorry, but it seems we'll have to set off soon."

Ren smiled and said, "No problem, Major Marika. But it's already half past ten, shall we depart after lunch?"

Veronica and Marika exchanged a glance and smiled. "Of course, then we'll have to trouble Baron Ren."

"You're too kind, this is the hospitality I should offer," Ren said with a slight bow.

Without Ren's further instructions, the lady rose gracefully and smiled. "Baron, I'll have the kitchen prepare something special for Major Marika and Miss Veronica, so they can experience the cuisine of Master County."

"Thank you, Jennifer," Ren smiled and nodded.

A bearded man named Ironclaw, with a gleaming gaze, pondered for a moment and decided that this group would be handled by his men alone.

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"How many people are you talking about?" Ironclaw asked, glancing disdainfully at the slender man.

Huh? Ren was puzzled. Clearly, before lunch, the lady had changed into an elegant one-shoulder light blue gown. Why was she now wearing a black robe? Before he could ask, the lady smiled and spoke up, "Darling, it seems that Major Marika has quite an interest in you."

Additionally, the robe seemed a size too small for her, accentuating her voluptuous figure. At this moment, her beauty was even more evident.

"Ironclaw, why didn't the boss just take over this Fishing Harbor Town directly?" a burly man asked a bearded man with an iron hook prosthetic on his left hand.

"Yes, I'm quite curious about that as well," Ren nodded.

Merit points were equivalent to money.

When one's own strength was insufficient, the only way to gain resources was by serving the Empire, which Ren didn't mind.

The bandit gangs in this area had already been united by the Zalar Resistance Army.

This left Ren slightly disappointed.

One hour later.

Ren felt a surge of heat flowing through his lower abdomen.

After lunch.

He had just thought of a question.

"Yes and no," Veronica shook her head, but she didn't keep him in suspense for long, quickly continuing her explanation.

"Oh my, Baron Ren, your 'Jenny Horse' is almost as large as a 'Lock Horse'!"

"Are you sure you saw twelve cavalrymen and not twelve knights?"

"Is that so? Darling, don't you think Major Marika in her naval uniform has a certain charm?" The lady approached, bringing with her a fragrant breeze, and said with a flirtatious gaze.

"Please come in~"

Surprisingly, the lady was dressed in an outfit similar to Marika's naval uniform, and at that moment, a beautiful 'female officer' caught Ren's attention.

Immediately after, she pointed at Ren in surprise, "Baron Ren, you... you're an Apprentice Wizard!"

"Ironclaw, why wait for the boss? Can't we just go ahead without him?"

As Ren expected, the 'Attention Diversion' method was indeed effective.

The path through Wolf Hill Ridge.

The lady entered with a smile.

The items in the Special Item Exchange Catalog were obviously rarer than those in the regular military supply, and they were provided for the Empire's special combat talents.

But what was this task evaluation medal that Ren had never heard of before?

"Yes, Baron Ren, on our journey from Rose City, we encountered several groups of bandits robbing travelers within just a few days," Veronica nodded, her twin tails bouncing as she agreed.

Even if there were some scattered soldiers, they wouldn't pose a threat to the safety of the trade route in a short time.

The military's internal communication used magical means, indicating that the bond between the Empire and wizards was much deeper than Ren had imagined.

He repeated the exact words he had heard from Vice-Commander Phil.

"Even as a baron, I can't exchange items from the Special Item Exchange Catalog?"

Downstairs in the villa.

"As far as I know, Major General Silva still regrets your refusal to join the fleet."

However, they were tactful and didn't delve further into the topic.

"I happened to obtain a basic meditation technique, and when I tried practicing it, I found my progress to be quite good, so I've been practicing it until now.

"Senior Ren didn't deny it, he smiled and said, "I have two beautifully crafted wooden boxes of different materials in my study, containing the 'Beast Essence'."

At that moment, Veronica's eyes widened in surprise, and she stared at Senior Ren, her words trailing off in disbelief.

The Empire's lack of recruitment of average-ability wandering Apprentice Wizards could very well be due to such considerations.

Given the rarity of encountering a Level 3 Apprentice Wizard, Senior Ren took the opportunity to ask Lady Veronica about his doubts.

It turned out that it wasn't because of his lack of charm, but because of the presence of such a 'powerful' Lady.

"So, I don't need to join to exchange?"

"Then, should there be many types of spells in the Special Item Exchange Catalog?" Senior Ren inquired after some thought.

This scene made Ironclaw feel quite satisfied.

He decided to bring both bottles of 'Beast Essence' with him.

"For example, the 'Einyus Bird Transformation Spell' requires three Bronze Medals and two thousand Merit Points to exchange."

"If it's just twelve cavalry, a single volley of crossbow arrows would be enough to secure victory."

"Senior Ren, you can understand that ordinary tasks do not earn evaluation medals. Only tasks that are more challenging or hold special significance for the Empire will be awarded evaluation medals, categorized into Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Diamond medals based on their evaluation."

"So, for the exchange, do I also use Merit Points?" Senior Ren continued his inquiry.

It seemed that what Naya of the Us Family had said was true.

"Are you about to become a Great Knight?"

"I see." Senior Ren nodded, quickly understanding the purpose of the exchange.

Understanding these matters, Marika's mood couldn't help but improve.

After Jennifer left, Major Marika's beautiful eyes lingered on the Lady's back for a while before turning to Senior Ren and saying, "Senior Ren, your butler is truly a beauty."

At that moment, the stable hand led Black Pearl to the front yard of the manor, and when Lady Veronica saw Black Pearl's physique, she looked puzzled and carefully examined the horse, exclaiming in surprise.

Hearing Lady Veronica's affirmative reply, Senior Ren couldn't help but feel intrigued.

Senior Ren was taken aback by this statement and replied, "It shouldn't be that serious. I only met Major Marika during the ennoblement assessment."

It seemed that Senior Ren's ability to achieve such significant results during the ennoblement assessment wasn't solely due to his skills as a Knight.

The purpose was likely to prevent certain ordinary combat personnel from accumulating Merit Points and exchanging them for high-value items, hence the implementation of the evaluation medals as a restriction.

After some pleasantries, she understood why General Silva had asked her to invite Senior Ren, who had shown no hesitation in declining, as if he didn't think he was worthy.

"So, due to the constraints of the Empire's confidentiality regulations, I cannot directly teach you this spell." Lady Veronica explained with a hint of apology.

"If you wish to exchange items from the Special Item Exchange Catalog, you will need both task evaluation medals and Merit Points."

"Ladies, I'll go upstairs to get my luggage, please wait a moment."

Killing two birds with one stone.

It can only be said that the Goddess was overly partial to Senior Ren. After a while, Lady Veronica finally calmed down and seriously addressed Senior Ren's previous question.

"However, I believe this won't be a significant issue for you. I heard from Major Marika that you've received an invitation from the Empire's Swordsmen Organization."

"Good heavens! Senior Ren, your talent... I don't know what to say."

Furthermore, from Lady Veronica's explanation, it seemed that certain resources for Wizards were scarce throughout the Empire, hence the high threshold was set to prevent ordinary combat personnel from participating in the exchange.

The Empire Navy's use of spells for communication already spoke volumes.

"Afterward, I was conferred the title of Baron, and at the time, there wasn't a suitable candidate for the position of butler, so Baroness Crowley took the initiative to serve as the new manor's butler."

When Major Marika first saw Jennifer, she was quite surprised.

Two dozen burly men were resting, leaning against trees or lying on the ground, holding various weapons.

Senior Ren was aware of the Merit Points.

Metal-based spells, which were hard to come by outside, might very well be available in the Empire Navy's Special Item Exchange Catalog.

"As a special talent, if this task concludes smoothly, I can help you apply for the exchange. It shouldn't be a problem." Lady Veronica turned to Major Marika and said.

Apparently, the other party possessed some sort of scouting spell or detection tool.

The news of a big catch excited them all.

".

If the previous trip to Fishing Harbor Town was Senior Ren's duty as the town's magistrate and peacekeeper, then.

"Jennifer, we're about to depart soon."

"Twelve cavalry and a carriage."

"Of course, Sir Ren. This is a spell improved by my mentor, Master Enius, and it's known as the 'Einyus Bird Transformation Spell in the Navy."

Ren nodded, "It's almost ready. It could happen at any moment, so I think it's best to bring it along."

Obviously, with such a beautiful lady by his side, they didn't expect Ren to be so 'gentlemanly'.

Think about it the other way around.

"Sir, Colonel Jennifer will be at your service this time." The lady gave him a coquettish wink and smiled at Ren, slowly squatting down to untie him. (Omitted one-hundred-thousand words)



"Sir Ren, I'm so sorry. My mentor has already handed over the Einyus Bird Transformation Spell to the Imperial Navy, and it's been included in the Special Item Exchange Catalog."

"I see." Ren's face showed contemplation.

Ren smiled and explained, "Major Marika has a keen eye. Jennifer is actually a Baroness, and she's now the head of the Crowley family. I was once invited to join the Crowley family."

"Let's just take it directly; we can get a bigger share of the spoils!"

"As the top-ranked candidate for the noble appointment in Minster Province, I'm sure there won't be any issues with your eventual joining."

Moreover, this qualification certificate is one-time use. After using it, you can only choose to continue performing special tasks for the Empire to earn evaluation medals.

Meanwhile, Ren was chatting with the two ladies inside the carriage.

"Yeah, let's just take it, Ironclaw!"

"Baron Ren, it's like this. Only by joining the Imperial Navy can you exchange items from the list."

"Recently, I think the security in this area will be excellent." Ren smiled.

Marika, sitting beside him, realized this.

Ren hesitated for a moment. He wasn't sure whether to answer truthfully or to tell a 'white lie' to spare the lady's feelings, especially since he was about to go on a mission with Marika.

These words kept reaching Ironclaw's ears.

"They should be cavalry. They're not wearing full-body armor but leather armor." The thin man thought for a moment and nodded confidently.

For Ren, he didn't mind the Empire's approach.

"Major Marika, Sir Ren is a bit slow. It's been half an hour, and he's still not down yet." The girl with twin tails turned slightly impatiently and asked.

Marika smiled at Ren and nodded, "Baron Ren, as the rising star of Minster Province, the South Sea Fleet is still very willing to do this favor for you."

The Bronze Medal was equivalent to a one-time transaction certificate.

"You don't understand. If we directly capture Fishing Harbor Town, will these merchant teams still come to the town? Even merchant ships might stop coming, and the pirates in this area will be out of luck!"

"That's right. This is an internal exchange list for the Imperial Navy, from which you can exchange for items that are almost impossible to obtain outside, such as some spells, secret techniques, and special medicines, covering a wide range." Veronica explained.

She hadn't expected that Ren, who had always shown exceptional knight talent, was actually an Apprentice Wizard.

But unlike before, he was now a noble, and on the other hand, he had also learned about the Empire's attitude towards wizards.

Apart from the Empire's invitation letter to the Swordsmen Organization, the lady's reason might have played a significant role too.

At this moment, a thin man ran over and said, "Ironclaw, I just saw a big fish, but the defense is not weak; there are twelve cavalry."

But the Special Item Exchange Catalog?

In the study, Ren, due to the lady's superb skills, the uniform bonus, and the voices of the two ladies from outside, felt refreshed after a while. He walked downstairs with two boxes.

"Have you seen a fishing net? When fishing, the small fish and shrimp smaller than the net's holes slip through, but the big fish get caught. Understand?" Ironclaw, a bearded hulk, explained proudly.

The lady's fair hand pulled, suddenly untying the rope of the black robe, and as the black robe slid down, Ren's eyes widened, and his mouth slightly opened.

Ren understood.

They had waited for half a day, thinking that there wouldn't be anything today!

Veronica saw that Ren still looked puzzled and immediately thought of something.

"The task evaluation medal is a certificate awarded after completing various special combat tasks for the Empire."

"Veronica, I'm so sorry. I couldn't find the 'Beast Essence' at first, so it took some time."

"Ren hesitated slightly and replied, "Resources are limited, so they should be allocated to those who are willing to serve the Empire and have the potential to be cultivated."

"It seems you have a keen interest in raising animals, Your Excellency," Veronica said, her large eyes fixed curiously on Ren.

In a valley to the west of Fishing Harbor Town.

"Beast Essence?" The two women exclaimed in unison.

What surprised him was that Veronica could accurately determine that his Apprentice Wizard level was a Level 3 Apprentice Wizard.

After listening to Veronica's suggestion, Ren turned to Marika with a doubtful look.

"Do you know how hard I've worked to reach my current level? I never expected you to become a Level 3 Apprentice Wizard so easily!"

Ren was also quite surprised.

This was similar to the planned economy in his previous life, where one needed both money and ration coupons to buy grain.

After launching the attack yesterday, almost all of them were taken out at once.

Half a day later, the team had reached the outskirts of Fishing Harbor Town. Once they passed through the forest ahead, it would take about forty more minutes to reach the town.

As expected, the burly men listening nearby reacted the same way, their faces filled with realization and admiration for Ironclaw.

At that moment, the sound of a beautiful woman's footsteps echoed outside the door.

"That's wonderful. The Empire Swordsmen Organization has always been my goal. Otherwise, I might have chosen to join the South Sea Fleet." Ren, feeling elated, smiled.

"And your Mental Energy seems to be quite strong as well. Are you also a Level 3 Apprentice Wizard?"

The burly men nearby smiled widely upon hearing this, confirming that a big catch was on the line.

As a Baron and the governor of Fishing Harbor Town, their destination, Ren was entitled to travel by wagon.

After hearing Ren's 'explanation', Marika and Veronica exchanged a knowing smile, as if amused by Ren's attempt to hide his intentions.

Is it something like an exchange catalog?

If one doesn't have the required status, even money won't be enough.

Furthermore, since the 'Einyus Bird Transformation Spell' is a type of spell, his learning process should also simultaneously boost his Apprentice Wizard level.

"Your Excellency, it's not very gentlemanly to keep two ladies waiting for so long," Veronica said with a hint of reproach.

If it were truly possible, he might be able to raise his Beastmaster level once again in a short period.

However, the key issue was that a person with an exceptional Knight talent also possessed Wizard potential comparable to Veronica's. Marika was at a loss for words.

"Miss Veronica, may I ask, I'm very interested in your mentor's 'Einyus Bird Transformation Spell'. Could you possibly sell it to me?"

"Your Excellency, the road from Master County to Fishing Harbor Town appears to be quite safe. The security here is impressive."

"Even in Rosby City, they are extremely rare. From her demeanor, she doesn't seem like a housekeeper but rather a noble lady."

"There might be something going on." Major Marika intended to send the beautiful woman to inquire, but after looking around, she didn't see the woman's figure.

When he heard those words, he couldn't help but admire the wisdom of the pirate leaders.

"Knock knock knock."

The pirates were bloodthirsty, and only through plunder could they make money.

"Miss Veronica, may I ask if the white seagull you just mentioned has undergone some special modification? I'm curious to know if it's the result of a spell or a potion?"

Upon hearing Veronica's words, Marika beside her covered her mouth in surprise, staring at Ren.

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"Of course, Baron Ren, please do as you wish."

Although Ren had a premonition, he still decided to give it a try.

From this, Ren felt that his previous decision was correct.

Seeing Ren's hesitant expression, the beautiful woman covered her mouth and giggled.

When asking this question, he had considered the possibility of his Apprentice Wizard identity being revealed.

Previously, he believed that the Empire's view of wizards wasn't as bad as imagined, but rather saw them as a helpful force. However, this view now seemed a bit conservative.

So, even if others found out that he was an Apprentice Wizard, it wasn't a big deal.

Now, Ren also wanted to hurry to Fishing Harbor Town to complete the joint mission between Master County and the South Sea Fleet, and then have Marika help him exchange for the bird transformation spell.

"It's incredibly rare."

"Let's go! Cheers!"

As he spoke, Ironclaw waved his iron hook, and over twenty burly men eagerly headed towards Ren's wagon team.

Soon, the group finished setting up an ambush in the forest ahead of the wagon team.

"Ironclaw, look, that's the team," the thin man said, pointing to Ren's wagon team slowly moving along the road.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end