Chapter 26

Nalasha ran to the ruins, took a look, and found a copper plate with a stick. The copper plate had clearly been subjected to violence and then burned, altering its shape and leaving black scorch marks.

"Princess Lucia, look, this is the light magic item I want to sell you, called... Moses." Nalasha once again realized the limits of her knowledge.

Moses quickly approached, grabbed the plate despite the heat, wiped it vigorously with his sleeve, and replied to Nalasha, "Yes, Miss, as you can see, it is the short-distance tracking mirror you mentioned earlier, which you wanted to give to the Ninth Princess."

Bunier, who had been trying hard to find light in the dark world, was startled awake by Moses' voice. He opened his mouth wide, pointed at the plate, and suddenly shouted, "What short-distance tracking mirror? It's clearly a copper plate, and nobles shouldn't lie, they shouldn't."

Nalasha shook her head, took the plate Moses had cleaned, and gestured for Bunier to come over. When Bunier approached with a look of skepticism, Nalasha slowly ran her hand over the plate. Some parts of the plate turned into a glass-like mirror, while others remained unchanged.

Obviously, the plate's shape had been altered, damaging part of its display function.

"Please turn your head to the left and then look back at the plate you mentioned. Do you see? It's the same scenery, the short-distance tracking mirror, right?" Nalasha blinked innocently.

"Terrible, a magic item has been destroyed by a group of barbarians, it cannot be forgiven, never." Lucia said regretfully, clenching her small fists tightly.

Bunier was stunned. He looked at the road leading to the slums and then back at the plate, his neck mechanically and repeatedly turning.

The sky was nearing evening, and the brilliant sunset shone through the evening clouds, casting a glow on the earth and the copper plate. The reflected colors made the copper plate look more dazzling than gold, and the images reflected in it were crystal clear.

People around began to gather and watch, their faces showing surprise, and they were pulled to the back by others who wanted to see.

"It's impossible, it's fake, a trick, is God playing a joke on me?" Bunier muttered, his pupils losing all focus.

Rodney leaned in, glanced at the young lady, sighed, and said, "Rister Bunier, with the gold coins you received to repay your debt, you need to compensate my master, Miss Nalasha, for her loss. The price of a one-time-use magic item has never been less than a thousand gold coins. How much do you think the short-distance tracking mirror is worth?"

Rodney knew it was wrong to mock others when they were in trouble, but he couldn't control himself. He understood that stepping on someone who had fallen was wrong, but he hoped to make the same mistake again and again.

He was certain that the plate in Miss's hand was indeed from his home, a plate that had been used for at least ten years. When it was first bought, it had no scratches, and it came with a set of a dinner knife and fork. The merchant who sold the set even gave two extra napkins, white, thin cotton napkins.

But that was in the past. Now it had changed, becoming a valuable magic item—the short-distance tracking mirror. He wondered what the knife and fork would turn into if they were in Miss's hands.

But it didn't matter anymore. One plate was enough to take half the life out of the Bunier Chamber of Commerce.

Bunier took a deep breath and said with a stern face, "It's not very valuable. There are many magic items that can project images. Ten gold coins are just right for its value."

As he said this, he had already decided to give the other party ten gold coins and then immediately find a way to leave the capital.

Princess Lucia raised her head and asked, "Is it really only worth ten gold coins?"

"Yes, Princess Lucia."

"Alright, here are a hundred gold coins. Go buy ten, or other projection items can also be a substitute. You said there are many, many." Princess Lucia waved her hand, and someone immediately threw a bag of gold coins to Bunier.

Bunier trembled, grabbed the bag, and looked at Stover Rodney with a pleading expression, saying, "Rodney, you are kind, you will leave me a way out, right? The chamber of commerce was a bit hasty before, but please understand."

"Bunier, do you want me to recall those 'pleasant' things again? Whether I was at home or not, someone came to my door every day to demand repayment, not allowing me to have extra money. When I went out, they told me what would happen to my family if I didn't return in a few days.

Bunier, put away your false mask. I know you too well. If I show you leniency, you won't praise my kindness but will call me a fool in your heart."

Rodney put away his angry or mocking expression and said calmly.

"How can that be? Please believe..."

"Bunier, compensate me, or buy ten with a hundred gold coins." Lucia, unwilling to waste more time, interrupted him.

Bunier nodded in resignation, "As you wish, Your Highness."

Then, one of the princess's people came to take them to get the money. If there was no cash, they would force them to sell the chamber of commerce's products or shops at a low price.

Bunier actually knew that things weren't as they appeared. He recognized the copper plate, but what was the point?

That little girl must be a mage, a light mage. With the princess, she openly bullied you. Could you resist? Just like when he bullied Stover Rodney's family, many people knew that if they gave Rodney a little savings, he could quickly repay his debt and even make more money, but where was the fun in that?

After giving ten thousand gold coins, he would immediately leave the capital. Perhaps going to another principality would be a good choice. Otherwise, Rodney would continue to bully him just as he had bullied Rodney.

Bunier made up his mind and suddenly felt relieved. Even if he had bullied others and was now being bullied back, it didn't matter. He would leave, leave Celeste Capital, leave Gels Principality, and wait until the chamber of commerce had more power.

Thinking this, Bunier turned his head and glared with resentment. When his focus landed on a young man who smiled at him with a deep intention, he suddenly regretted turning his head.

"Brother Murong, he wants revenge." Nalasha was very sensitive.

"I know, so he won't live for three days. In three days, he will die from poisoning." Gongsun Murong said calmly.

Nalasha nodded and immediately stopped caring about such small matters, happily pulling Lucia's hand and bouncing, "Lucia, as we agreed, one half each."

Lucia, who had defeated evil and made money, was equally happy and invited, "Would you like to come to my house for dinner? Although it's late, I believe they will leave food for us."

"Sure, sure, but... I think I still have family outside the city, over two hundred people." Nalasha suddenly remembered an important matter.

"Have your butler arrange it, and I'll send people to help." Lucia said.

Thus, the newly appointed butler Rodney, along with thirty-seven guards and the people sent by the princess, began to work.

He didn't feel tired at all, but was full of energy.

******

Celeste Capital was large. By the time they rode fast from the slums to the palace, two hours had passed, and it was completely dark. The twin moons had risen, and the light from the magic lamps shone from the streetlights and the windows of buildings, marking the beginning of the nightlife.

Nalasha and Lucia got along very well, introducing each other to the desert and the academy.

Lucia promised to arrange for Nalasha and her brother to attend the first academy of the principality in the capital, the Celeste Comprehensive Academy, which had the same name as the capital.

Nalasha also said that her brother would make more small foods to share with Lucia, and they would explore interesting places together, ensuring Lucia's safety and allowing her to play with Little Gold whenever she wanted.

The magic patterns on Little Gold's body had been removed, and it would exist nominally as the Ninth Princess's pet.

The principality had only one Ninth Princess, no Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, or Eighth Princesses. The First, Second, Third, and Fourth Princesses were Lucia's elders.

Lucia herself was a special existence, not only because of her cuteness but also because of the magic fluctuations at her birth.

Of course, due to her relationship, her father, the Third Prince, held a high position, and her mother was the highest among her many mothers.

She would not be used as a political tool and married off. In the future, her husband would have to change his surname, and their children would belong to the principality.

More importantly, she would not share a man with other women, as strength determined status, regardless of the type of strength or status.

The current Nalasha was the best example. A little girl selling water in the desert could not have gained her current status. Only after surviving the water-selling and being recognized by the city lord Aurel and invited to a grand banquet could she be valued.

******

Duke Gels was very pleased. He had already learned from the intelligence gathered by the guards around his granddaughter that his most beloved granddaughter had gone to the slums and had walked through the garbage step by step.

This kind of closeness to the people was exactly what he, the duke, wanted to promote. Moreover, his granddaughter had also promoted justice, and the despicable Bunier Chamber of Commerce had finally bowed its proud head before the justice of the principality.

The people in the slums would spread the word that the duke had never forgotten them, that the duke was working hard to change their lives, and that the duke had provided many squares for people to take refuge. Wasn't Stover Rodney a beneficiary?

This was a political gain, and Duke Gels was very sure of it.

Then there was a gain in talent. Like his most beloved granddaughter, the little girl also had a wind affinity of over eighty percent and could compress small fireballs and instantly cast a short-distance light projection spell.

So she could trick the Bunier Chamber of Commerce, turning an ordinary copper plate used for eating into a magic item—the short-distance tracking mirror. Ha, indeed, a cute little baby. As for the merchant Rister Bunier, let him die. The principality protects merchants, but not to help them bully their own people.

Moreover, according to the letter from the city lord Duncan Aurel of Pray Water City, the little girl selling water was also a water genius, absolutely not inferior to her wind affinity. Could she have a low affinity in the desert and still fetch water at will?

More importantly, the intelligence also mentioned that the little girl and the Ninth Princess had a conversation. Their demands were very low: they needed a school to study, a place to build an estate, and to be treated equally under the principality's law when provoked.

Hmm! These two children were very confident. The last point proved it. Being treated equally under the principality's law meant they didn't care about being provoked but were unwilling to oppose the entire principality, similar to a noble duel.

They seemed confident they could defeat any opponent in a duel, provided the referee was fair.

What an interesting pair of children. Where did their confidence come from? Was it the magic talent shown by the little girl?

That would be too simple. Unless the little girl had even more powerful abilities, or the big boy had some unknown trump card.

Duke Gels laughed as he thought and then asked the person beside him, "Have they washed up?"

"Yes, Duke. From the information gathered during their conversation with the Ninth Princess on the way here, it seems that Miss Sophia Nalasha really has a water affinity. When she bathed with the Ninth Princess, she controlled the water to form various shapes for the princess to see, even... even..." The servant was at a loss.

"Hmm?" Duke Gels prompted.

"Even the four mages we sent to observe were injured. They were four ninth-level water mages. When Miss Nalasha performed an ice spike, they thought she would harm the Ninth Princess and attacked.

Then, Miss Nalasha thought they were trying to assassinate the Ninth Princess, so she cast a Water Domain Splendor to protect herself and the princess. Next, she cast a Foggy Mist to block the others' view, followed by a Water Mirror Illusion to create countless images of herself and the princess, and finally an Ice Seal to freeze and injure the four mages."

The servant said this with a gulp, truly frightened.

After a moment, he added, "All were cast instantly. Of course, everything is fine now. When the four mages were almost frozen to death, the Ninth Princess explained, and now the Ninth Princess is learning water magic perception from Miss Nalasha."

"Oh? All water magic spells cast instantly? Haha, indeed, the little girl selling water has a higher water affinity than her wind affinity. The first three spells require ninth-level mages to chant, while grand mages can cast them instantly. The last one, Ice Seal, can only be cast instantly by a fifth-level grand mage. Her water affinity has reached the 'water is me, I am water' level."

Duke Gels analyzed and concluded, then sighed, "Indeed, the little girl selling water and her brother hope for an estate with a lake and to be treated equally under the principality's law. Their confidence comes from here.

A magic strength exceeding a fifth-level grand mage is hard to imagine. Many people who challenge them will suffer, but do they really think they can withstand all provocations? Haha!

There seems to be something wrong, don't you think? Oh, I remember, what about Nalasha's brother? The intelligence says he is very fast, able to move twenty meters in a second to injure someone. Tell me, what is he doing?"

Duke Gels suddenly realized, was the little girl selling water strong? Yes, very strong, strong enough to make people fear. Her willingness to live in the principality was an honor, and even his granddaughter couldn't match her. Her talent was truly enviable and frustrating.

But this was absolutely not a reason for them not to be afraid. A fifth-level grand mage was far from invincible. The other person, as her brother, seemed to show too little strength. Speed to a certain level is defense, not offense. Breaking through defenses is the most important.

Speed means others can't hit you, but if you only have speed, you can't hit others. It works against thugs, but not against truly powerful warriors or grand mages.

Do they have any trump cards? If so, what is the last one?

The servant, unaware of the many thoughts in Duke Gels' mind, replied respectfully, "Gongsun Murong finished his bath quickly, and then he asked the people serving him to find chickens. You know, chickens are only eaten by the lowly, so... he was angry, and we had to find him chickens. Master, we actually wanted to test him."

Duke Gels frowned, "Without my orders, you are not allowed to do anything, including the four mages earlier."

"Yes, I will follow your orders. Later, we sent him a thousand chickens, and everything was done as he instructed, without any deviation. Master, you can't imagine it, he actually touched each chicken one by one, and chose ten, saying it was enough. I really can't figure out what was different about the chickens."

"Since you don't know, don't use your imagination to guess about others. I don't know what is different about the chickens, but I know that the brother Nalasha relies on is definitely different. True ignorance is not your own ignorance but thinking others are as ignorant as you, and even worse, using your ignorance to criticize the wise as ignorant."

Duke Gels was angry. He wouldn't think Nalasha's brother was incompetent. From the intelligence, Nalasha always looked at her brother before making decisions, clearly indicating that the final decision-maker was her brother.

The servant shuddered and quickly said, "I will remember it. After that, he asked us to send him many medicinal herbs, and he tasted each one, and he didn't die from poisoning..."

"Is this not enough for you to take seriously? You can also try them and see if you will be poisoned."

"Yes, we were wrong. In the end, he kept twelve herbs and went to the palace's back garden to find a type of mud, and asked us to send him several types of cheap rice wine, the kind only commoners drink."

"Understood." Duke Gels had already made up his mind and would replace this steward, even though he was left by his deceased mother.

He could assign him to other tasks because he was loyal.

But he was not suitable for this position.

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