Galidos immediately took a step back, very resolute, "This is all my fault, I don't want the corpse of the Flame Demon, you guys can split it."
Hermes was equally decisive, "Without Brother Li Xi, we wouldn't have been able to get out alive. You take all the spoils. It would be stingy of us not to compensate you. I hope you won't be angry."
Li Xi was in dire need of Flame Demon blood, and one could never have too much of it. Since they didn't want it, Li Xi dared not refuse, for fear that if he politely declined, they might change their minds.
Hermes looked at Li Xi and asked with great interest, "In the undead planes, besides necromancy, other magic cannot be used normally. I wonder what is special about Mr. Li Xi's magic that allows him to cast it so quickly and without any influence?"
Although the journey had been a bit bumpy, the Flame Demon bloodline was secured, and Li Xi was in a good mood. He smiled nonchalantly at Hermes's question and explained, "To be honest, Master, I don't use magic, I use ninjutsu. It's a professional system bestowed by the gods. It's not affected by the outside world and relies entirely on one's own internal energy. As long as the internal energy is not depleted, ninjutsu will not fail, and thus it is not affected by the undead planes."
"There exists such peculiar and powerful ninjutsu in the world. I wonder if Mr. Li Xi would be willing to visit our Mage Guild and discuss this new energy system with us. I see many similarities to magic, and mutual exchange between our two systems should provide some form of supplementation." Hermes finally revealed her true intentions. She and other council members had been skeptical about much of the intelligence they had received. When could magic become a wholesale commodity? It sounded like a pipe dream.
But ever since Hermes had witnessed Li Xi casting spells in the undead planes, a complex mixture of emotions welled up within her. 'Astonishing', 'deep admiration', 'the world is vast, and I am but an ant', 'a mantis trying to stop a chariot', 'a frog in a well' – she felt that even these phrases that described being provincial and narrow-minded were insufficient to describe herself.
In Hermes's eyes, Li Xi had become the vanguard of a new generation of magic. If their forbidden spells could be cast as quickly as Li Xi's, with infinite firepower and almost zero pause time, oh, Hermes couldn't even dare to imagine it in her dreams.
'To go to the Mage Guild and discuss ninjutsu with these walking libraries,' Li Xi had an unexpressed thought,
In essence, it's better to be with our Mage Guild; we can accept you, so come quickly. The Church of Magic wants to kill you, and you can't survive alone. You can only rely on a big tree, and that tree is their Mage Guild.
Li Xi didn't speak, but merely returned a knowing glance before disappearing in the direction of Cardo City.
Hermes, left standing there watching Li Xi vanish, said something unexpected to Galidos, "This is not your fault. I will explain when we get back."
Galidos immediately bowed in gratitude. There were only four S-class mercenaries on the entire continent. Now, without Hathaway, Cameron would be crippled. Without a dragon, what would he be called? A Dragon Knight?
This meant that out of four S-class mercenaries, only three remained. The resources that were to be divided among four people would now be shared by three. If one were to discuss conspiracy in terms of who benefited the most, Hathaway's misfortune would be attributed to Galidos.
The Flame Demon was discovered by you, and the mission was initiated by you. Now, a dragon is dead, and an S-class mercenary is crippled. Someone must take responsibility. Cameron was not alone; he had a large group of vested interests behind him, and they would definitely look for someone to vent their anger on. Galidos was the most suitable candidate. However, now that Hermes, the resident council member of the Mage Guild and the beloved disciple of Grand Archmage Elma, had spoken, anyone who dared to cause trouble for Galidos would surely be dealt with.
Hermes's words were equivalent to clearing up all of Galidos's subsequent troubles. This favor was immense, arguably more significant than that of a biological parent. Sultan Novel Network
But why would Hermes offend a large number of powerful people for Galidos without reason? She immediately followed up, "I heard you have a good relationship with the two princesses of the imperial family?"
"Yes, I was the personal martial arts tutor for the two princesses for three years. We've kept in touch, and our relationship is quite good." Galidos still hadn't figured out what his alliance with Hermes had to do with the two princesses, but he didn't hesitate to sell them out completely.
"I also heard that Mr. Li Xi escorted the Second Princess, Filin, to Aisenge. The intelligence also suggests that the Second Princess has feelings for Mr. Li Xi." Hermes's eyes remained fixed on the direction Li Xi had disappeared, her mind immersed in the image of Li Xi creating a labyrinth with his bare hands in the undead planes. What exquisite energy manipulation! If mages were favored children of heaven and earth, then Li Xi was their beloved son.
As Hermes spoke, Galidos had an epiphany and immediately understood. He could tell from the way Hermes addressed people. She spoke the princesses' names directly without reservation, but addressed Li Xi with the respectful honorific 'Mister,' like addressing a senior.
Coupled with Hermes's earlier attempts to win over Li Xi, if Galidos didn't know how to respond next, he might as well go and smash himself to death against a block of tofu.
"It is natural for a young woman to yearn for the one she loves. In this world, only a princess's status is worthy of Mr. Li Xi's talent and appearance. I will certainly offer my advice upon my return to ensure that Mr. Li Xi can soon win the heart of his beloved."
Hermes cast an appreciative sideways glance at Galidos. Galidos knew he was on the right track. Like a primary school student receiving encouragement, he immediately added, "Of course, this is all Master Hermes's credit. It was you who persuaded the princess. I believe Mr. Li Xi will surely be grateful for this favor from Master."
Hermes smiled triumphantly, "Hmm, not bad."
As he was experiencing the desolate beauty of the Duoluo Wasteland, he had no idea that he had once again been manipulated, and by the most "vicious," "deadly," and "corrosive to a hero's heart" scheme – a honey trap.
He had only read about the Duoluo Wasteland in books before, but now, seeing it with his own eyes, he understood what a sinful paradise was.
Li Xi had only been gone from Galidos and the other two for the time it took for an hourglass to empty when a long string of tails began to follow him. There were goblins armed with what could only be used as firewood.
These were the small, blue-green dwarves, no taller than 1.3 meters and weighing less than 40 kilograms. They were a world apart from the two bear goblins that were captured and kept by Filin. If even the gods had not recognized these two species as the same, perhaps no one would have linked bear goblins and ordinary goblins together. While it couldn't be said that these two creatures had no similarities, it was simply impossible to find any common ground.
These little fellows looked at Li Xi as if he were a table full of delicious food, their throats constantly bobbing up and down, saliva uncontrollably flowing from the corners of their mouths. They were just short of someone making the first move so they could swarm him and tear him apart, unaware that Li Xi could take away thousands of such creatures at once.
Behind Li Xi were several grimy bear goblins with large yellow teeth that looked as if they had never been brushed since birth. They brandished the leg bones of unknown animals as weapons and followed behind with an imposing air. The wounds of varying depths all over their bodies spoke of their daily lives and the hardships of living in this land.