Chapter 105: Talk

The manager hurried to open the lid. Inside lay ten stalks of Mana Grass, neatly arranged. He picked one up, examined it closely, and his voice cracked with awe. "This... this is actually premium-grade Mana Grass."

Premium-grade had been extremely precious even in the era before the plant went extinct, he never expected to see a full ten stalks of it in one place.

The manager stood speechless, too stunned to form words. After freezing for a long moment, he finally managed: "Is... is this also from the Great Forest?"

"Yes, this was cultivated personally by my friend here."

"To think... someone who can actually grow Mana Grass..." His gaze fell on Ethan, and the realization hit.

"Ah! That’s right, you are human, only humans can farm, which is why you can grow Mana Grass... I understand now."

He had been so caught up in his astonishment that he hadn’t noticed Ethan standing there until just now. He looked at Ethan with immense excitement and spoke with solemn intensity. "I will definitely get you a satisfactory price."

News that Mana Grass was about to appear at the auction spread through the entire building in minutes, some elves pulled out communication crystals to contact their networks; others hurried out the doors entirely.

Ethan crossed his arms and watched the commotion unfold, the corner of his mouth turning up.

If Karloitz’s informants were here, the news would reach the Marquis very soon. Now it was just a matter of seeing how he reacted.

’Will he come to negotiate with me, or just try to rob me directly?’

Ethan patted Pearl’s head, turned, and went back to his room.

Night fell.

Plenty of elves wanted to meet Ethan, but Elara and Leon turned them all away. Just like the day before, Ethan spent the evening comfortably, he was just getting ready for bed when a knock came from the door.

"Who is it?"

The door opened, and a black-haired elf walked in, he carried an air of quiet nobility, crossing to the bed, he offered Ethan a measured smile and said: "Apologies for disturbing you this late. My master wishes to speak with you, so I took the liberty of imposing."

"Did Leon and Elara agree to this?"

"Yes."

’Then he belongs to either the royal family or Karloitz.’ Ethan had told Leon and Elara beforehand that he wouldn’t meet anyone except people from those two factions. Since this elf got past them, he had to be one or the other, whichever side it was, Ethan didn’t mind having a chat.

"Your master is..."

"Marquis Karloitz."

"Is that so? I’ve been wanting to speak with him too."

"Wonderful." The elf smiled and produced a communication crystal, the sphere began to glow, and an elderly voice drifted out from it.

"So you are the last human? It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Marquis Karloitz."

"Hello. My name is Ethan."

"I will get straight to the point. I want all of your Mana Grass, and I will offer you a satisfactory price for it. What do you say?"

"Then I’ll be blunt as well. Can you give me the Fragments of Chaos that are on the Dark Elves?"

"...Why would you ask me for Fragments of Chaos? I have absolutely no connection with the Dark Elves. You don’t actually believe those rumors, do you?" ℯℯ𝘭.

Ethan stared at the crystal sphere, he remained silent for a long moment, then nodded. Since Karloitz refused to admit it, there was nothing more to discuss. "It seems we have nothing to talk about."

"...You’re too hasty. Aside from Fragments of Chaos, is there anything else you desire? A territory, perhaps..."

"I don’t want anything." He had plenty of land in the Great Forest, he didn’t need territory on the outside, he rejected Karloitz’s proposal without hesitation.

Karloitz sighed on the other end of the crystal. "Why refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit?"

"I’m the kind of person who enjoys all kinds of drinks."

"...We shall see about that."

’If he’d been honest from the start, there might have been room to cooperate.’ After confirming the negotiation had broken down, Ethan looked at the black-haired elf.

The elf let out a helpless sigh. "As the last human, I offer you this piece of advice, it would be best for you to cooperate with the Marquis."

"Why do you say that?"

"When the Marquis wants something, he must have it — otherwise he will not let the matter rest, since he wants the Mana Grass, he will use any means necessary to get it."

"Hmm."

"Furthermore... if the royal family gets involved, the Marquis might even resort to harming you, just to prevent the Mana Grass from falling into their hands."

"I understand. Thanks for the warning." Ethan was not afraid, he was already mentally prepared for this.

Seeing him utterly unbothered, the elf sighed once more, turned, and left the room.

After a while, Leon walked in with a bitter smile. "It seems your conversation didn’t go very pleasantly."

"Karloitz refused to give me Fragments of Chaos. He even claimed he has absolutely no connection with the Dark Elves."

"Of course he wouldn’t admit it. But his collusion with the Dark Elves is an open secret."

"Perhaps all those rumors are false, either way, I have no reason to cooperate with him anymore." Since Karloitz refused to hand over what Ethan needed, the other faction was the only option.

Just then, another knock came from the door, and Elara burst in with shining eyes. "Mr. Ethan, the royal family has sent someone, do you want to meet him?!"

Speak of the devil, Ethan nodded.

A moment later, a burly elf walked in, he and Leon seemed to know each other — a nod and a quiet exchange of greetings, then he approached Ethan, gave a respectful bow, and said, "Greetings, last of the humans, Mr. Ethan. I am Lahart Vire, a knight of the Vire royal family."

"He is the nephew of the current King, His Majesty Regracio Vire," Leon added.

"A pleasure to meet you." For the other party to actually be a member of the royal family made things significantly easier.

Ethan smiled and stated his conditions. "You’re here for the Mana Grass, right? My condition is that the royal family gives me the World Fragments."

Lahart nodded without hesitation. "Agreed."

Ethan was speechless.

’That easily?’

"We can give you the World Fragments. But... one cart of Mana Grass is, I’m afraid, not enough."

"How much do you want?"

"At least ten carts of Mana Grass."

Ten carts — ten times Ethan’s current planting scale. However, to Ethan, this was hardly a difficult task at all.

"No problem."

Marquis Karloitz’s influence didn’t end with controlling the Dark Elves. More importantly, many elves followed his every command. If Ethan stayed in the Elven Kingdom for too long, there was no guarantee he wouldn’t face retaliation.

Lahart turned the problem over in his mind. ’Even if the other party is a human — he is a human who can cultivate Mana Grass!’

Ever since humanity disappeared, the plant had been virtually extinct. The importance of someone capable of growing it was self-evident, the royal family had to ensure Ethan’s safety no matter what.