Lord of the Myriad Worlds

Chapter 357: The Deal with Night Owl

After listening to Liang Yuzhi and Li Yue, Li Wei nodded. They were right — given everything they'd accomplished, failing to reach Viscount would be a real loss.

He'd also picked up on something else: Second Aunt wasn't exactly confident in her caster abilities, and Night Owl had dangled magical knowledge specifically to hook her.

She was practically already biting.

She just didn't want to say it out loud.

Li Wei didn't mind. They were a team now. Thomas was the tank, Zhao Xuanxuan was the vanguard, Li Yue was the crowd-control damage dealer, he was the scout, and Liang Yuzhi was the caster. Everyone needed to grow stronger.

This wasn't just a moment to strengthen the territory and lay its foundations for the future — it was equally a moment for each of them to solidify their own foundations and prepare. Because the next cross-border mission was only three years and eleven months away.

In a certain sense, that was a countdown to death.

So whatever Second Aunt needed, Li Wei would support her fully. That was the basic quality a team leader had to have.

"Alright. I'll talk to her."

Li Wei gave Liang Yuzhi and Li Yue a relaxed smile, then confirmed the request internally.The next instant, he felt the Pioneering Card inside him shudder violently, flying out of his body on its own. A point of light blazed from its surface, rapidly expanding, swallowing everything around him — swallowing the entire world.

Li Wei felt like he'd been launched on a rocket, shooting straight up into outer space. But when he looked up, he found that outer space had somehow transformed into a towering, imposing fortress pass. A mysterious magic array covered it from above. Countless soldiers could be seen patrolling the walls, and in the wilderness beyond the gates, an endless sea of Neanderthal encampments stretched into the distance.

'What — is this Thorns Pass?'

"Yes and no."

A voice sounded in his mind. When he turned, Night Owl was already standing before him. Half a year had passed since he'd last seen her, and she looked somewhat worn — but she still stood like a winter plum in a snowstorm, proud and unyielding.

"I greet the Guardian Commander."

Li Wei sighed inwardly. Proper courtesy couldn't be skipped.

Night Owl said nothing, only studying him with a sharp gaze — though perhaps there was a trace of stubbornness mixed into that sharpness.

Li Wei kept his composure and met her gaze calmly. With Perception +6, as long as no one was throwing punches, he had nothing to fear.

After a full minute of silence, Night Owl suddenly smiled. It was like the frozen world had instantly become spring — flowers blooming, warmth flooding back, a thousand colors and ten thousand moods.

"You have complaints about me?"

"Commander, you flatter me. I wouldn't say that. I simply feel that whatever I've achieved today is proof that your investment in me wasn't wasted. And seeing you advance further — I'm happier about that than anyone."

Li Wei bowed again, his tone genuine and calm. The message beneath the words was clear: I've repaid what I owed. You walk your road; I'll walk mine. If you try to use old favors to influence this transaction, I won't give an inch.

Night Owl was briefly speechless. She studied him a moment longer. "So you really slept with both my sisters?"

"Commander, please watch your words."

Night Owl let out a low sigh and looked into the distance.

"Things are very difficult for me at Thorns Pass. I'm barely holding on. Over the past few months I've been trying to persuade your Little Yue — but I genuinely don't know if she's bewitched or what. She was in such a desperate state, sleeping in a common bunk, selling off all her equipment and weapons just to buy you horses. She's that confident you won't abandon her? Sometimes I think you're the real enchanter. What kind of spell did you put on her to make her follow you so devotedly?"

Li Wei was quiet. Honestly, he didn't think there was anything remarkable about it. It was simply mutual commitment.

Night Owl fell silent too. He could sense the weight of frustration she was carrying.

After a long pause, she finally spoke. "Fifty three-star warhorses — that's the maximum I can pull from Thorns Pass. I'll be straightforward with you: that alone isn't enough. A Rare Dawn Knight Card can make a battle-hardened veteran who's died and returned immediately loyal to me — make them my trusted right hand. Isn't that exactly what you did? You used a Rare Knight Card and a Rare Scholar Card to win over your so-called Second Aunt and your Little Yue."

"So I'll add something: a Magic Insight Manual I wrote myself. Thirty years of my personal understanding of Sequence 3 magic. With this manual, your Second Aunt can save at least twenty years of time — and might even be able to build a basic mage tower on her own by this time next year. Do you know what it would cost to build a basic mage tower through official channels?"

"Simple: ten Weir Duke's Honor Medals, 2,000 War Points, and 300,000 Standard Gold Coins."

"Do you understand? Under normal circumstances, this Magic Insight Manual is worth two Dawn Knight Cards like the one you're holding. It's not priceless — it's just that it rarely drops, and when you need it you can't find it, and when you find it you don't need it. If I had three months to post a bounty in the Royal Capital, I could acquire an identical card for half the price."

"In any case, Li Wei — there's no need for pretense between us. I once genuinely considered you my second most trusted person in the Internal Affairs Department, after Hathaway. I had even mapped out a future path for you —"

"Now, the situation is what it is. I urgently need a trusted subordinate, which is why I need this Rare Dawn Knight Card. So — do you agree to the exchange?"

Night Owl was surprisingly direct, laying out every reason plainly and clearly. Li Wei couldn't detect any motive to deceive him.

The only uncertainty was whether the Magic Insight Manual was genuine. Not having Second Aunt here was a significant oversight.

"Commander, could I let my Second Aunt review the manual first? The moment she confirms it's authentic, I'll agree to the exchange immediately."

"Why not?"

Night Owl waved a hand, apparently casting some kind of magic on the manual, then handed it to Li Wei.

He opened it. The first fifteen pages were densely packed with symbols and formulas he couldn't begin to understand. Everything after that was blank. He understood. Completely.

"Thank you for your understanding, Commander. Could you send me back first?"

Li Wei said sincerely. Night Owl wasn't his enemy, and he had no reason to take satisfaction in her difficulties. As long as the deal was fair, he was perfectly happy to treat her as a respected elder he kept at a respectful distance.

"No rush. Once you're back, you'll have three minutes to review it. After three minutes the magic activates — unless you complete the transaction, it will automatically incinerate itself. Also, if you have any five-star profession cards among your drops, I can purchase those too. Market price: 50,000 Standard Gold Coins plus one Silver Token per card."

"If you agree to the trade, I can't offer much of a premium, but I can consider it a favor owed. Or — you could go directly to Hathaway. Tell her I said so, and ask her to serve as an advisor to your territory. How does that sound?"

That was something.

Li Wei's mind stirred. The five-star profession cards he'd opened from the purple drops — right now only Liang Yuzhi and Li Yue could use them. Everyone else would have to wait.

Holding onto them beyond that wouldn't generate much value. Selling them was the logical move.

So — agreed.

Besides, Night Owl had been his superior. Keeping up appearances mattered.

As for Hathaway — well, that was a pleasant surprise.

And most importantly: Li Wei had a feeling that the Thorns Pass front Night Owl was defending was very likely the border of the world his territory occupied. Otherwise, why would Night Owl conduct such a conspicuous trade without worrying about the anti-smuggling department?

For the sake of the future, supporting her was the right call.

"Agreed, Commander. You're too kind — it's my honor to be of help."

Li Wei produced three five-star profession cards: the five-star Cavalry Card, the five-star Hunter Card, and the five-star Mountaineer Card. He also had four-star drops, but those probably wouldn't be worth Night Owl's time.

As he handed over the three cards, a flash of starlight appeared nearby, and a blurry figure materialized — staring at Li Wei with a stern expression. The anti-smuggling department?

Li Wei's heart jumped — but the next instant, Night Owl casually tossed out an official document. The figure took it, expression blank, and left without a word.

"Don't worry. It's fine. We're in wartime — everything is subordinate to the defense of Thorns Pass. Even if this case went before a six-star lord, I wouldn't flinch. You have even less to fear. But this transaction will need to be included in your future income and taxed in full."

Night Owl smiled slightly, pocketed the three five-star profession cards, and her gaze toward him softened noticeably. Then, as casually as if making small talk, she said: "That Riverside Fortress of yours still needs a mana well. I happen to have one quota available. If you need it, I can give you half price — just 100,000 gold coins. What do you say?"

"Thank you, Commander, but the Duke has already promised to build one for me." Li Wei said quickly.

"Oh? You really are lucky. Good, good!" Night Owl seemed genuinely surprised, forced a smile, waved her hand, and ended the meeting. She didn't even bother keeping up the act.

Her mood was probably quite bad.

The next instant, Li Wei was back in the territory hall. His treasury had gained another 150,000 Standard Gold Coins and three Silver Tokens. His total wealth had surged to 330,000 Standard Gold Coins and 80,000 Barbarian Gold Coins.

The magic-sealed manual had come back with him as well.

"Second Aunt, take a look — is it useful? I need to complete the transaction within three minutes."

Li Wei said quickly.

"Let me see. It should be fine — Night Owl just has a habit of controlling people and being overly calculating, but there's nothing actually wrong with her. She wouldn't stoop to cheap tricks like this."

Liang Yuzhi spoke as she hurried forward and flipped through the manual. She only read the first page — and then it was as if she'd been pulled into another world entirely. She didn't even look at the rest. She simply sprinted to her laboratory.

"It's good, Little Wei — you're my most precious nephew!"