Chapter 433 - 28: Helping the Goddess Spread Her Faith (3)

Chapter 433: Chapter 28: Helping the Goddess Spread Her Faith (3)

...

A few days later, Mica came to the Als Territory again, and Al met with him.

"Well, well, if it isn’t Mica."

"What’s the matter? Don’t want the aid my master offered? Are you here to give it back?"

"How could that be! You’re a magnanimous man, my lord. Please just think of me as a fart in the wind and forget I ever happened!" Mica said with a fawning smile.

When he had returned to Kazaria’s territory a few days earlier, he was punished for failing to secure the alliance. However, the "Temple of the Goddess of Wisdom and War" architectural blueprint he brought back caught the attention of all the other Civilian Lords.

So, the lords had one of their own—an ordinary lord—build the Divine Hall. They then recruited the legendary-tier troops, the Temple Guardians, and subsequently tested their abilities.

The Temple Guardians were incredibly powerful. Unlike ordinary recruited soldiers, their combat effectiveness didn’t decrease in high-gravity environments.

Moreover, they were extremely versatile. They were physically strong, able to both tank damage and deal it out, and could even cast Divine Arts. The variety of these arts was vast, covering everything from offense and defense to healing.

After getting the test results for the Temple Guard, the lords keenly felt that if they had more of them, they would no longer have to live like rats in a sewer. They could finally confront the Noble Lords head-on.

Furthermore, the Divine Hall itself had an outstanding presence and seemed to improve the morale of the people in the territory.

The populace in the territory that built the Temple of the Goddess of Wisdom and War had clearly become much more motivated. Many citizens had even begun to use the plaza in front of the Divine Hall as a recreational spot, gathering there often.

That lord also reported that being inside the Divine Hall calmed his anxiety and allowed him to think more clearly.

After this glowing five-star review from the lord who built the Divine Hall, the other lords felt a newfound reverence for the person backing Al. ’To so casually gift us a top-tier, legendary-grade building blueprint... his own power must be truly unfathomable.’

That was why Mica had been ordered to return to the Als Territory to purchase more architectural blueprints.

"Lord Al," Mica began, his tone now humble, "may I ask how many more of these architectural blueprints you’d be willing to sell us?"

"Oh? You’re here to buy architectural blueprints?"

"Oh, sorry. Seeing as you guys took so long to get back, I figured you weren’t interested and used them all up."

Hearing Al’s words, Mica panicked. ’Last time I failed the mission, but I at least brought something back, so the punishment was merely symbolic. If I fail again this time... I can’t imagine what’s waiting for me.’

"Lord Al, I was foolish before! That’s why I’ve come, to apologize and make amends."

Mica quickly produced a point card worth Ten Thousand Points—a physical card that could be used for exchanges in the point store—and handed it to Al.

Al glanced at the card before taking it. His stern expression softened considerably.

"Ah, the blueprints... Well, I might have a few left. How many are you looking for?"

"How about... a thousand of them?" Mica ventured cautiously.

"Holy shit! Do you think these are cabbages you can buy at the market? No way! How could I possibly have that many?!" Al exclaimed, startled into cursing. ’These Civilian Lords are completely delusional.’

"Then five hundred?"

"Three hundred?"

...

In the end, after a round of "friendly" negotiations, Mica happily transferred a Million Points to Al. In return, he received 88 "Temple of the Goddess of Wisdom and War" blueprints from Al, who wore an expression of profound pain throughout the exchange.

As for why the price had gone up, Al offered a unique explanation.

It was a matter of prioritizing a bulk order, of course. Besides, the rarer the item, the higher the price—wasn’t that just basic business?

"I’m telling you, that was our entire stock. I was planning to keep one for myself to take back at the end of this stage, but now they’re all yours. If my master wasn’t sending someone to audit the accounts, there’s no way I would’ve sold them to you this cheap."

"Sigh... Why my master feels any sympathy for you lot is beyond me."

"Thank you, thank you! On behalf of all the Civilian Lords, I thank your master for his support!"

...

After thanking Al profusely, Mica departed in high spirits.