Chapter 370: Time to Trade

Solomon paused for a moment, an idea suddenly forming in his head, so he turned back to the old wizard.

“Since you are a Magic Tower Master, are you interested in buying a pure elemental mana core?” Solomon asked casually. “The Grandmaster told me it is incredibly rare and very important for mages.”

[1Fizzy: bro shifted to merchant mode instantly.]

[James_hayes: Solo Man securing the bag.]

[sgtcwby : the hustle never stops.]

[Mezz_3863: bro is going to fleece the wizard.]

Cedric stroked his long white beard, his eyes sparkling with sudden interest. “A pure elemental core? That is indeed a rare find. Do you happen to have anything else you want to sell?”

Solomon reached into his pocket and pulled out the two crystallized eyes of the Winter Snow Serpent. He held the glowing rubies out in his palm. “I also have these.”

Cedric’s eyes widened comically. He immediately reached out, carefully picking up one of the rubies between his fingers. He raised it up to the corridor light, inspecting the swirling, icy energy trapped within the flawless facets.

“I also have a bunch of rune stones from the cultist base, but those are pretty common, so I do not really want to bother selling them.” Solomon added, and thought, ‘I also have have magic artifacts I got after looting the Good Life Financial Company, but saying it here would be admitting my crimes. And I left those with Paul, so I will just ask him to handle them through Grace Guild.’

Cedric hummed in deep amusement, entirely captivated by the quality of the boss drops. He lowered the ruby and looked at the teenager. “How much do you want to sell these for, Solomon?”

Solomon answered with a completely straight face. “I honestly do not know their exact market value. As a Tower Master, you should know their true worth better than anyone else. I will take whatever fair price you give me. But of course, the offer has to be significantly higher than what the Vanguard Exchange was willing to pay.”

Cedric pondered the negotiation for a few seconds, tapping his wooden staff against the floor. “How about one hundred thousand gold coins for the pure elemental orb, and one million gold coins for the pair of serpent’s eyes?”

The translucent blue interface hovering near the bronze owl immediately exploded.

[GoonLord: ONE MILLION GOLD COINS?!]

[Foodball: BRO IS A MILLIONAIRE!]

[M00N: THAT IS INSANE WEALTH!]

[Nick: Solo Man is set for ten lifetimes.]

[Vaelen: the wizard is loaded!]

[DaoistAlexkg: easiest negotiation ever.]

Solomon didn’t even blink at the astronomical figure. “How will you be paying me? Will the money go directly into my new academy bank account?”

Cedric squinted his eyes, looking closely at Solomon. ‘I literally just offered to make a deal worth over one million gold coins with a teenager,’ Cedric thought to himself in sheer disbelief, ‘but his expression did not change in the slightest. For a normal person, a million gold coins is their life goal.’

‘One could easily retire with that much money, start a family, and still leave enough wealth to secure the next three generations. Yet, he didn’t show a single ounce of happiness, shock, or excitement. He just looked slightly relieved, as if he had just gotten rid of some annoying clutter that was troubling him.’

Cedric chuckled inwardly. ‘This boy is clearly not interested in fame, wealth, or royal status. He only cares about strength. If I had realized this sooner, I would have approached my recruitment pitch in a completely different way. But alas, it is too late now.’

Cedric decided to test the boy’s patience. He rubbed the back of his neck and acted slightly nervous. “Well, you see, I cannot actually transfer that massive amount of liquid money all at once right now. I am a bit short on funds. Would it be alright if I pay you the full amount later in installments?”

“Whatever is fine,” Solomon responded, completely unbothered.

[1Fizzy: bro literally does not care about the money.]

[sgtcwby: ‘whatever is fine’ for a million gold lol.]

[Ferald: he is so nonchalant.]

[Mezz_3863: Solo Man just wants to get back to training.]

Cedric smiled, an alternative proposition forming in his mind. “If you are open to it, Solomon… would you be willing to accept something other than money? Perhaps some kind of equivalent trade, a magical exchange, or a personal favor?”

Solomon pondered the offer for a while. “You said you are a Tower Master, which means you sit at the absolute highest position in that Magic Tower in the Mistril Kingdom, right?”

Cedric nodded, puffing his chest out with pride. “That is correct.”

“That means there must be hundreds of elite mages and students studying in that tower,” Solomon reasoned.

“There are thousands,” Cedric corrected him proudly.

“Then I want you to personally teach someone how to use their magic,” Solomon stated firmly. “I want you to make them a master.”

[GoonLord: WAIT WHO?!]

[Brerell: is he asking for a friend?]

[M00N: who is he trying to train?]

Cedric stroked his beard, looking slightly hesitant. “I can certainly help them enroll in the Magic Tower and bypass the entrance exams. But I cannot personally teach them. My time is incredibly valuable, and I stay extremely busy for weeks and months on end with high-level arcane research. I simply cannot take on a personal disciple right now.”

Solomon looked him dead in the eyes. “You will not have to give me a single gold coin for the orb or the eyes if you agree to personally teach her magic.”

Cedric was genuinely shocked by the condition. His curiosity peaked. “Who exactly is this person you are talking about? Who could possibly be so important to you that you are willing to casually throw away over a million gold coins just for their tuition?”

“Elizabeth,” Solomon answered without hesitation.

[Ferald: HE IS DOING IT FOR ELIZABETH!]

[IceWaterKat: OMG MY HEART!]

[PandoraLifeweaver: W BOYFRIEND MATERIAL!]

[TallicaStew: Solo Man literally buying her a master class.]

[Foodball: the ship is sailing so fast!]

[Naturic: Elizabeth is going to cry when she finds out.]

Cedric stared at him. “Just to confirm… are you referring to Princess Elizabeth, the Third Princess of the Bririth Kingdom?”

Solomon nodded.

“Ohohoho!” Cedric threw his head back and laughed out loud, a booming, echoing sound. “Solomon, the Bririth Kingdom and the Mistril Kingdom are direct neighbors. We share a massive border and a primary trade river. And our two nations are incredibly hostile toward each other. If I were to personally teach the Bririth Princess, or even attempt to take her across the border into the Mistril Kingdom, I would be kicked out of my own royal family and excommunicated for treason!”

“Your royal status does not matter, and it doesn’t change who you actually are as a mage,” Solomon responded, completely unmoved by the political drama. “Elizabeth is my friend. She is currently struggling terribly with controlling her water magic. She needs a master.”

[Joshua_Swofford: bro just ignored the geopolitics.]

[Vaelen: Solo Man does not care about borders.]

[DaoistAlexkg: he just wants his friend to get stronger.]

Cedric raised a thick white eyebrow in profound confusion. “Are you sure she possesses a pure water attribute?”

“Yes, I am certain,” Solomon nodded. “Why?”

Cedric’s mind raced as he processed the arcane implications. ‘The legendary bloodline talent of the Bririth royal family is exclusively destructive Fire Magic,’ Cedric thought to himself, a wicked grin forming behind his beard.

‘And their Third Princess has somehow awakened an innate talent for Water Magic… an element that is heavily frowned upon in their militant society anyway? That bastard King Jean La Bririth must be absolutely furious and deeply disappointed in her!’

A devious, incredibly petty plan formed in the old wizard’s mind. ‘Is this not the perfect chance to get some glorious revenge on that arrogant king? If I personally train his ‘useless’ daughter and mold her into an overwhelmingly powerful, transcendent Water Mage… it would spite him completely! The political humiliation would be absolutely hilarious!’

Cedric smirked, chuckling repeatedly as he rubbed his hands together. “Very well, Solomon. I accept your terms. I will personally teach her.”

[1Fizzy: THE WIZARD ACCEPTED!]

[James_hayes: Elizabeth is going to be OP now!]

[Mezz_3863: Cedric looks like he is plotting something evil lol.]

[sgtcwby: best deal ever made.]

Solomon raised both of his hands defensively. “Although I have made this deal with you, I honestly do not know how Elizabeth will actually respond to it. She will be the one who makes the final decision on whether she wants to learn from you or not. So, our deal is not completely final just yet.”

“Ohohoho!” Cedric laughed heartily, tapping his wooden staff against the floor. “I completely understand, my boy. I look forward to her decision. I will talk to Gustav regarding this and our trade. I will take these rubies with me. And I believe the orb is in academy’s possession?”

Cedric turned around and walked away down the corridor, chuckling to himself as he plotted his petty, magical revenge against the neighboring king.

[GoonLord: W SOLO MAN!]

[Nick: bro literally just changed her entire future.]

[trenthay: this is why he is the goat.]