Dear Broom Knight.

Chapter 733 Katarina's Dragon Scent
“There is no room for negotiation.” Valera’s expression was serious. “These are Lowry’s exact words.”

Katarina's strength completely dissipated: "Ah... what's the point then?"

"What is it, Lori? Is there something...?" Armies floated over lightly, his long sleeves brushing against the blue fur on Katalina's back. "I can assure you, my family has no designs on Katalina whatsoever."

"The Baron said he saw a trace of fate in your ways," Valera replied solemnly. "Considering your original identity and your past deeds, he has to believe that the magical ruin of the Roaring Sky Tunnel is a reward from fate, or rather, from some special being, to the Count and Countess who raised you and Miss Pearl."

Katarina can be the mercenary who gets paid to do things, but she must never be the one to share in this reward.

She doesn't deserve it.

If she insists on getting involved, it could very likely have a negative impact on her.

Travis blinked frantically, mentally calling out to Luscania... Lowry dared to speak so confidently, there must be extremely certain information.

He didn't think Luscania would have any.

Travis still knew how high the lineage of Luscania was.

Therefore, the memories he saw with Luscania a couple of days ago must be incomplete.

In order to understand the whole situation, Travis used mental potions and endured a slight headache to read through all the memories he could find!
So there must be something he couldn't even find the keywords for... something even Hermes couldn't find.

But this was by no means his fault.

He should have known long ago that a guy who couldn't even pass the dragon language test and was a lazy bum with only a superficial understanding of basic dragon knowledge was not trustworthy at all.

Damn it...should he go back to Qingfeng Territory?
Ignoring the thunderstruck king, Armies gazed intently at Valera and said earnestly, "It was less of a reward and more of a test."

For me, and for Pearl, it was the same.

Therefore, as long as you participate in that trial, you are eligible for a reward.

"And since I'm here, I can be sure this ordeal won't be too serious..."

“The Baron said you were too confident in your previous preparations,” Valera replied without changing her expression. “No matter how thorough the preparation, there are always unexpected surprises.”

Just as Almes opened his mouth to say something, Valera interrupted him: "Our Baron also said that if you become Hermes again, then the so-called test will naturally be in vain."

The reward then naturally becomes compensation for your contributions to the world over the years.

Therefore, your family is definitely safe.

But the Baron also believed that if a situation arose that required it, Katarina would be the first person you would abandon, and she might even be the one you pushed to the front to block the enemy.

Polish scholars are all more important than her.

The Baron understands and knows that these are not things you dislike about Katarina.

But... he didn't think that Katarina deserved to be the one who had to be set aside.

Of course, if Katarina still insists after the Baron has made his point so clear, then she has chosen her own path, and the Baron will not say anything more.

However, this is on the premise that Katarina truly knows everything.

Valera glanced at him indifferently: "However, she clearly doesn't know that, does she?"

Katarina grunted and lay down on the ground, covering her long face with her two front paws.

Valera jumped to her feet: "Katarina!"

“Although, although he didn’t go into as much detail as you, Ezra did tell me that there was a possibility of death, and that his whole family would only want to protect their own family.” Although she didn’t dare to open her claws, Katarina’s answer was fairly honest. “But if that happened, Ezra would be willing to leave all the treasures he had given up to me.”

Even if they come back, they won't regret it and come after me later.

Valera took a deep breath: "When did you say that? Hmm?"

"Just before we entered the castle," Katarina answered cautiously.

Valera glanced at Armes... No wonder he kept releasing his Thousand-Thread Spider Vine during that time.

She actually knew that as long as Hamilton possessed the plant parasitized by the Thousand-Thread Spider Vine, he could transmit information over long distances.

At that time, Varela did have her doubts, but she was still deceived by the family's superb acting skills and tacit cooperation.

Of course, it's also possible that she simply doesn't care about the future of the Hamilton family... If Katharina hadn't come along, her indifference would indeed be understandable.

They're just neighbors.

Valera took a deep breath, suppressing the surging anger within her: "And now? Do you still think that way?"

Katarina quickly shook her head: "No, no!"
My predictions about the dangers seem insufficient.

I never imagined there would be a danger that even Lowry thought would be a near-death experience.

I will still live.

No matter how much money you have... it's still...

Katarina couldn't continue, awkwardly squatting there. Armies thought for a moment before asking, "If it's just opening the door, locating the location, and setting the return coordinates... what are Ms. Katarina's fees?"

"Hmm? Hmm..." Katarina hesitated before saying, "The Gale Gem, and also, the specialty of the Noisy Sky Tunnel?"

Then she immediately realized: "Of course you name the price! If I'm satisfied, I'll accept it; if I'm not, you can raise the price!"

This is a seller's market for me!

"Eh~" Valera tried to say something, but she felt that it would be pointless to say anything.

The only option is to let Katarina charge in alone.

"Is it wasteful?" Armes pondered for a moment. "That material does indeed help the Gale Wolves' fighting style."

Katarina shook her head: "I haven't even gone yet, how can I know what I want? What if this isn't the best treasure in the Noisy Sky Tunnel? Wouldn't I be at a loss?"
"Of course, since you say that excessive spending is useful to me, then I definitely want it too."

Almes smiled... The Gale Wolf was indeed very interesting.

The bloodlust and cruelty inherent in the wolf race are also present. At certain moments, Katarina made him almost think he was talking to Daragal, the bloodthirsty werewolf and sea wolf god.

But his cunning, intelligence, and restraint of some of his greedy nature are more like those of Daragher's sister, Isabara.

Although comparing the beast-human god to the wolf clan is somewhat inappropriate, Almes felt that these magical animals, who had lived with humans for a long time and whose relationship was either one of love or hate, had gradually developed a touch of humanity.

Once animals are freed from the influence of their instincts, even just a little, they can no longer be regarded as wild beasts.

However, it was only after discovering how Lori treated the Gale Wolves that Armmus fully grasped this point.

He only knew before that he had to be extremely careful with these magical creatures, and that they wouldn't actually abide by the racial agreement they made with humans.

Didn't Gale Wolf also break its alliance with Gezar?

While this is normal in the human world—I'm sorry, why should I continue to respect the weak?—it doesn't really count in the animal world.

They generally follow their allies wholeheartedly to the very end, only turning back when they are crippled and their race is on the verge of collapse.

The choices made by the Gale Wolf are already close to those of humans.

Their behavior also resembles that of normal people who have enough respect and loyalty to the alliance and can tolerate it as long as the other party does not break the agreement first.

But none of this was as absolute as what Lowry did in making the Gale Wolves part of his territory.

Perhaps his success is just an isolated case. After all, Lowry's bloodline is different, and he has an innate... powerful deterrent effect on all kinds of animals.

But at least it reminded him.

Magical creatures are not unusable.

The most troublesome aspect of the path that Armes envisioned was that while the network was good, the nodes needed maintenance and protection.

The result of having human believers reside there would naturally be a church that becomes too powerful to control, like the Lord of Storms.

Humans naturally tend to live in circles and then exclude those who are not in those circles.

Animals are different.

Although they are a group by nature, they do not include other races in the same group, even if they do the same work.

Adding the monitoring of the Thousand-Thread Spider Vine would make things much easier.

Almes added another line to his mental plan.

However, what race to use then is something he'll have to consider later; for now... his mission is still the Noisy Sky Tunnel.

He stared at Katarina, tilted his head and thought for a moment before asking earnestly, "For Katarina, are only wind-related gems and materials useful, or do we need to include artifacts and various rare items?"

“I don’t need finished human products,” Katarina replied immediately. “And Wolf Mountain doesn’t need the scent of anyone other than Lowry.”

Armies nodded: "Then that's settled."

We can sign an agreement in the presence of His Majesty Travis and Mage Valera, in which one-tenth of the treasure's assets will be compensated to you in the form of special products from the Noisy Sky Tunnel Wind System.

However, while I will try my best to ensure that all varieties are available, I cannot necessarily reserve the best materials for you.

Katarina thought about it seriously and quickly made a decision: "No problem!"

Since I'm not going to share the risks with you, this price is good enough.

I'm not a greedy white dragon!

Armies smiled and glanced at Valera, who hadn't spoken up to stop him.

Valera sensed his gaze, looked up, and asked softly, "Mr. Armos, is it because Katarina smells the strongest of dragons on her that you insist on having her open this door?"

"Huh?" Katarina turned to look at her in surprise.

(End of this chapter)