Chapter 4, Nesting
A few reckless friends had been honest for a month, refraining from going out to indulge. Aside from spending a considerable amount of their monthly allowance on purchasing equipment, the main reason was their fear of encountering those mercenaries again. Any one of those guys, when serious, could easily drive them all away. Although it was unlikely that they would openly kill a noble, a good beating was inevitable. Moreover, most mercenaries were skilled in torture. Whenever he recalled the female warrior Qi Wei's infamous kick, Luns would shudder uncontrollably, instinctively clenching his legs. Although it was unlikely that they would openly kill a noble, a good beating was inevitable. Moreover, most mercenaries were skilled in torture. Whenever he recalled the female warrior Qi Wei's infamous kick, Luns would shudder uncontrollably, instinctively clenching his legs.
The discussion is far from over. To speak of making money, this is no small matter. The way to earn money begins with understanding the situation, followed by knowing the people. Recognizing the trends of the world, understanding the direction of the times, and acting in accordance with the situation will naturally lead to abundant opportunities. When it comes to understanding people, one must realize that human resources can be limited; no matter how brilliant one may be, one cannot do everything. The ability to gather the talents of the world for one's own use will undoubtedly lead to a continuous flow of wealth. The final point lies in the ability to let go. It is important for a person to have self-awareness, to know when to advance and when to retreat, and to have the courage to admit defeat when faced with insurmountable challenges. Losing once or twice, as long as it does not cause serious harm, should not deter one from making a comeback. Rog, you are good at everything, but you lack a bit of perseverance and patience. This matter cannot be rushed; take the time to study the history of the continent, the paths taken by those before you, as there will always be something to learn. It is important to understand that what matters is not how fast you run on a particular path compared to others, but whether you have chosen the right path.
In the coming month, Rog would occasionally return to his little nest, where he had added many traps and mechanisms. Luns and others visited Rog's new hideout one after another, and while most of their ideas were primarily pranks, there were also some unexpectedly clever suggestions. Of course, the effectiveness of the setups created by these novices was limited, but there were some insidious aspects that were worth noting
To achieve excellence in one's work, one must first sharpen one's tools. This principle is well understood by Rog. The numerous scars left by the "Old Oak" after the Great War have also made Ete and others painfully aware of this truth. The group unanimously decided to procure high-quality equipment, which naturally included some items that were not entirely in line with the knightly identity and noble demeanor. Rog purchased a finely crafted elven crossbow, capable of holding three bolts at once, with simple runes inscribed to slightly enhance its magical penetration. "This is far more useful than a plate of vegetables," Rog shamelessly remarked to Ete, who wholeheartedly agreed and suggested adding poison to the arrows, a proposal that Rog immediately adopted.
At the edge of Soren District, Rog stood in front of an old two-story building, looking contentedly at his new abode. The building was in an excellent location, though this was only true for a select few, such as Rog. Not far from the building was a small cemetery, and a few tall oak trees surrounded the structure. Even on sunny days, the place appeared somewhat eerie
Ah, ah, ah...! Rog, stretching his enormous yawn, leaped out of bed, and several coins clinked as they fell to the ground. The sound was truly delightful
It would take another week to arrange the interior of the building, and the new furniture cost Rog 20 gold coins. Now, Rog lay contentedly on the bed in his study (in his taste, he saw nothing wrong with having a bed in the study), surrounded by piles of gold coins. Heaven knows how much a fallen noble's son craves gold coins. After counting them countless times, Rog finally grew weary and fell asleep, only to wake the next day as the sun set over the red and the books.
Rogge could only stare in astonishment, his heart surging with passion. Who would have thought that this usually dull and reticent Fess could possess such insight. Rogge felt as if the world before him had suddenly opened up, his heart filled with the soft glow emitted by gold coins
Rog never had so much money. The annual tax revenue of the old Viscount Rivers is only 300 gold coins, so naturally there won't be much surplus to give to his son. Moreover, a declining noble is still a noble, and the necessary social engagements and displays must still be observed. The heavy economic pressure has made the old Viscount's temper increasingly irritable
I have been looking for you for two months! The voice, squeezed out from between the teeth, rang out like a death knell
The snow was first melted by the spring sunshine. Roger stepped out of Faith's laboratory, silently watching the melting snowwater drip from the roof. After a long night of conversation with Faith, during which he inquired about various questions regarding magic circles, the master and apprentice, who shared many commonalities in their bad habits, began to chat about a wide range of topics. After discussing countless legends of powerful wizards, Faith suddenly exclaimed, "To become a powerful wizard, one absolutely cannot be without money." Roger's eyes sparkled in agreement, "Indeed, every piece of equipment owned by those great wizards is worth a fortune. Even that staff I snatched from that wizard last time is worth several hundred gold coins." Thus, the conversation naturally shifted to how wizards should earn money.
A black flame ignited, swiftly reducing these reports to nothingness, leaving not even a trace of ash. Those icy, crystalline fingers, amidst the flames, remained completely unharmed
In the lord's mansion of Lille, the capital of the Bavarian duchy, located two hundred miles west of Rhine City, Ao and the librarian Philok were enthusiastically studying the reports from Roger and others, particularly Roger's explanations regarding the crossbow poison and the mechanisms in Roger's small hideout. Elisis, a combination of ice mountain and black flame, delicately pinched the report handed to her by Ao Philok, as if holding something filthy. Her blue, shimmering nails occasionally sparkled in the sunlight. She increasingly loathed these individuals, unable to comprehend why Ao Philok was so interested in such worthless people.
The magic ring that Feis gave to Roger is an ordinary magic amplification ring. Although it is called a magic amplifier, it actually helps the caster to control spells more precisely, allowing them to cast spells using less magical power. As a result, it generally enables a wizard to cast one additional low-level spell.
The southwestern Soren District is an urban slum, a forgotten corner where individuals engaged in various lowly occupations congregate, and it is also a haven for criminals. Winter is not a favorable time for the people here; the dilapidated houses require repairs, and winter clothing and fuel need to be prepared.
After the snow, the Rhine City is draped in a silver sheen. Sunlight refracts through the icy branches, casting vibrant colors, and everything dirty and ugly in the city seems to have been washed away. This year, winter has arrived a bit earlier in Rhine City, much to the delight of the nobility and the wealthy. It is once again the time for noble ladies and young women to showcase their new winter dresses.
Rogge cheerfully opened the door and walked in. The small building appeared to have been unoccupied for some time, with the sparse furniture covered in dust and cobwebs. Half of the shutters were not functioning well, and a wooden staircase led to the second floor beside the living room. The second floor had three rooms: one large and two small. Rogge planned to use the large room as his study, while the two smaller rooms would serve as a storage room and a laboratory, respectively. Heaven knows what Rogge could experiment with, at least for now.
Sleeping until naturally awake, counting money until one's hands cramp. This is Roger's happy life
After discovering that mental power could also be used as a tripwire, Rog began to practice diligently with great enthusiasm. However, aside from the fact that the cat he threw out gained a little weight, there had been no progress over the course of a month. Rog finally understood that one does not achieve success overnight; as his fervor waned, he began to seek out Aite and the others to indulge in leisure activities.
During this period, Roger learned a new spell, Flame Finger. This spell allows him to unleash a small jet of flame from his fingers to harm his enemies; however, as a second-level spell, its power is naturally quite limited
Rog, you now have a bit of money. Of course, this is far from enough; you can't even afford decent magical materials. You have been with me for so long, and I haven't given you much. This magical ring might still be of some use to you. And this piece of black crystal is of good quality. However, you will need to rely on yourself to turn it into magical equipment. If you have any questions about the magic circle, feel free to ask me again. The rest will depend on your own efforts. The improvement of magical power is not something that happens overnight. If you want to become powerful quickly, you must earn money; only with money can you acquire good magical equipment, and with greater strength, you can earn even more money. Throughout the history of the continent, who among the prominent figures was not as wealthy as a nation? As for those great magisters, each of them possesses one or two artifacts. Founding figures, emperors, and generals cannot do without money. And which war has not been a costly one?
Due to its unique geographical location, this small building cost Rog only 50 gold coins. Just a week ago, this amount represented Rog's living expenses and tuition for an entire year. However, Rog now has 350 gold coins in his pocket and bag, having acquired a decent-quality staff from a mercenary mage just a week ago. The aquamarine stone on it is of good grade, providing significant assistance to mages who favor water magic. Given Rog's impressive achievements, having single-handedly dealt with two warriors and a mage from the opposing side, Luns and others unanimously believed that the staff rightfully belonged to Rog. After spending a few days reflecting on the battle, Rog concluded that the staff held little significance for him at present and sold it for 400 gold coins.
Rog walked towards his small building with powerful strides. He felt that he had never been so full of ambition in his life as he was today; everything in the night seemed to radiate a golden glow. Gold coins, jewels, and beautiful women danced around Rog. Haha, look at this towering chest, look at these long legs, truly a feast for the eyes, almost as if they were real. "Why does this face seem a bit familiar? Quite attractive, indeed, very alluring. Where have I seen it before? ... This is not an illusion!" Rog suddenly awakened from his reverie, staring in astonishment at the other end of the alley, where the female warrior Qiwei approached with an air of grim determination.
Rog almost forgot that he had a skeleton
The golden lion remained indifferent, standing up and walking to the floor-to-ceiling window. The window faced east, and the setting sun cast a blood-red hue over everything in front of it. Ophirok's gaze seemed to transcend hundreds of miles and time, landing on the city of Rhine.
The setting sun grew increasingly red, casting the vast landscape in a blood-like hue. The blood of Ophirok was slowly boiling, his heart already gazing down upon the earth. Elysis, as if hidden within the black flames of a hellish inferno, watched the blood-stained mountains and rivers, and the rising momentum of Ophirok. His ice-like eyes gradually melted, a silvery light flashing by, akin to the cold gleam on the scythe of death