Chapter 83: Freeloading, So Fragrant

Chapter 83: Chapter 83: Freeloading, So Fragrant

"You’re willing to part with them? Earth Element Crystals aren’t exactly easy to find!"

Radak was a little surprised by Andre’s reaction.

With so many Earth Element Crystals, Andre could have easily kept them for Potato to slowly absorb. Yet, he was willing to trade them away.

"Time. I’m trading treasures for time. While these Earth Element Crystals can provide Power during Potato’s growth, its weak Soul has become a fatal flaw."

"If Potato were to consume all of these Earth Element Crystals, it would take at least several hundred years to fully absorb them."

"That’s too long. Accidents are bound to happen in that amount of time."

"To avoid that, Potato needs to grow faster. But Earth Element Crystals alone aren’t enough to make that happen quickly. Potato needs other treasures."

"Besides, while Earth Element Crystals are very difficult for me to obtain right now, it won’t be a problem for a fully grown Potato."

"Elemental Creatures are extremely sensitive to areas dense with Elements. Once Potato is grown, it will be able to find more Earth Element Crystals on its own."

Andre explained his reasons for offering the Earth Element Crystals.

On one hand, it was true that Potato needed other treasures to accelerate its growth. On the other hand, the sheer quantity he possessed was making them too hot to handle.

Although he could grit his teeth and keep them all, doing so would inevitably attract jealousy and resentment.

’Right now, I’m like a child carrying gold through a bustling market; I’ve already been targeted. Even though I have the protection of Lord Radak and Lord Krell, their attention can’t be on me every single moment, can it? The moment they look away, the wolves hiding in the shadows will have their chance to strike. Rather than let people scheme against me from behind the scenes, it’s better to just lay all my cards on the table. Once everything is out in the open, even if someone wants to bully the weak, they’ll have to consider whether Lord Radak and Lord Krell will allow it.’

"Mm," Radak said, smiling in satisfaction as he listened to Andre.

"Go ahead and handle this yourself. No one will bully you."

As Radak finished speaking, he struck the ground heavily with his Magic Staff.

When the Magic Staff hit the ground, it instantly unleashed waves of golden halos that spread outward.

As the golden halos expanded, a few hidden gasps of surprise reached Radak’s and Andre’s ears.

Clearly, people had been using Witchcraft to spy on them.

Radak’s strike had just activated the Witch Array formation of the Wizard Inheritance Hall, shattering all the prying gazes.

"Hehe, Junior Brother, I’m here to take you up on that offer."

After the golden halos had shattered all the spying gazes, a streak of black light shot over from the distance, landing in front of Andre.

The black light revealed a figure. Farrete had appeared before Andre.

"Senior Brother, do you even have the assets?"

Andre looked at Farrete, his eyes filled with a hint of doubt.

This Senior Brother of his was stationed at the academy year-round and rarely ever left.

As a result, Farrete’s personal financial situation was dire. He didn’t have much to his name and often had to buy things on credit.

This was also determined by his position. Farrete was the director of the academy’s Law Enforcement Hall, a role that destined him to be unable to travel to other worlds in search of treasure or explore Secret Realms like other Wizards.

Although Farrete had some "gray income," he had already spent it all on his daily research.

Farrete’s old face flushed red upon hearing Andre’s words, but he still took something out from his sleeve.

"A branch of the Cyan Spirit Tree. This should be enough, right?"

When Farrete took the branch out of his sleeve, Andre’s eyes instantly widened to their limit.

"Senior Brother, did you get yourself a sugar mama?"

Andre stared at Farrete in astonishment.

"You little brat, what are you talking about? Can’t you be serious for a moment?"

Farrete’s face instantly turned beet red when he heard Andre.

"If I remember correctly, the Cyan Spirit Tree is one of the great mother trees of the Elf Race in the Star Realm. Its Power is no less than that of a Level 7 Truth Great Wizard."

"It’s because of the Cyan Spirit Tree’s Power that the number of branches and leaves that can be harvested each year is extremely small. If you weren’t being kept by a rich Elf woman, how could you possibly have gotten this branch?"

Andre took half a step back and said to Farrete with a serious expression.

After Andre finished, Radak, who was standing at the entrance of the Wizard Inheritance Hall, could barely contain his laughter.

At this moment, Farrete’s face had turned the color of pig’s liver.

"Couldn’t I have possibly obtained this branch of the Cyan Spirit Tree from somewhere else?"

Farrete ground out the words, glaring at Andre.

"No, absolutely not. The branches and leaves of the Cyan Spirit Tree can generally only be enjoyed by the upper echelons of the Elf Royal Family. They would never find their way into the outside world."

Andre shook his head at Farrete and continued, recounting something he had read in a book.

"The last time a branch of the Cyan Spirit Tree made its way to the outside world was 30,000 years ago, when an Elf Queen fell in love with a human. This human was exceptionally handsome, but his own Talent was poor."

"So, that Elf Queen made a Potion from a branch of the Cyan Spirit Tree she possessed, had the human drink it, and then brought him back to the Elf Ancestral Land."

"That man is now a Level 5 Grand Wizard and an Elf Earl!"

"And that is one of the very few incidents where a branch of the Cyan Spirit Tree has ever reached the outside world."

Andre said, looking at Farrete earnestly.

By now, Farrete’s face was so dark it looked like ink could drip from it.

"Andre, stop talking!"

At this, Radak, barely suppressing his laughter, waved a hand at Andre to stop him.

Andre looked at his master in surprise, not quite understanding.

"That Level 5 Grand Wizard you were talking about... is my ancestor!" Farrete gritted out, his voice nearly inaudible.

"Ah!" Andre’s eyes flew wide, and his jaw dropped.

’To think that one of the most successful kept men in history was the ancestor of this Senior Brother of mine!’

"Otherwise, where did you think I got these branches of the Cyan Spirit Tree?"

At that moment, Farrete suddenly felt several years older.

It wasn’t that the matter was something to be ashamed of.

But very, very few people knew about it, and Farrete himself had rarely mentioned it, so not many in the academy were aware.

And now, with just a single glance at the Cyan Spirit Tree branch, Andre had completely exposed his ancestor’s past. This made Farrete feel utterly helpless.

He wanted to beat Andre up, but he couldn’t think of a reason to.

Andre hadn’t known it was his ancestor, after all.

But if he didn’t vent this frustration, he felt it would remain stuck in his chest, leaving him feeling completely drained.