NOVEL NEXT Chapter 106. Professional Kidnapper
Cedric watched as the meeting between Lacius and Elisa continued. After they talked about himself and the heroes, both of them discussed the main topic.
Now that Elisa knows Lacius is a human, he immediately seeks to exchange some of Elisa's tree parts.
During their conversation, both of them knew they had used the level separation introduced by Cedric. So, Lacius immediately told her he needed some of Elisa's body parts as experimental material to create a Level 4 training method.
Seeing what Lacius seeks is actually the training method to reach Level 4, Elisa recalled the training method she instinctively comprehended upon advancing to Level 4. She would rather immediately share that training method rather than part of her body.
It's not as if giving a few branches will hurt her; losing a few branches will at most make her feel a bit uncomfortable. But the idea of having someone constantly observing her body part just doesn't sit right with Elisa.
Still, she didn't immediately give the training method to Lacius, nor did she promise to give any of her body parts. Instead, Elisa called Ghiana and Niel to bring several experts that's good at negotiating.
After realizing her opponent is someone that'd god knows how many years old, she immediately seeks professional help. Otherwise, she might lose a lot during the negotiation.
Furthermore, with how strong Lacius is and the demeanor he exudes, Elisa guessed he should be someone with high status in the human race of this world. That's why she chose to approach the first contact between the two races cautiously.
While accompanying Lacius to chat about the human race's condition, Elisa quickly explained things to Niel and Ghiana.
Separating a bit of her attention, Elisa controlled the plants nearby Ghiana and Niel. She changed those plants to turn into words, "There's a strong person at Peak Level 4 from the human race visiting me. He wanted to exchange some knowledge, but I am afraid of being duped. Please quickly come to the city's center with a few professionals."
Both soon arrived at the city center together with a middle-aged elf and an elderly dwarf.
When Lacius saw the people that has just arrived, he looked at Elisa while faintly smiling, "It seems you're ready to talk about the main topic now."
***
Inside the Divine Space, Cedric saw that both parties were ready to start the negotiation.
While watching the negotiation, Cedric is constantly in a tense state and ready to send a warning or immediately purchase another [Divine Intervention: Urge] to stop Lacius from doing anything dangerous.
Although Lacius is only at Peak Level 3, and there's a massive chasm to Elisa that has reached Lower Level 4, Cedric won't underestimate Lacius at all.
He still remembers how that guy could you around the giant ant demon king by using some faith energy. Who knows how insane Lacius's maximum power is after he gathered faith energy for centuries?
While Cedric was in thought, Elisa suddenly mentioned him. "Is it possible for the god to witness our exchange?"
Cedric, who was suddenly called out, looked a little confused.
But he quickly regained his senses and contemplated whether he was going to appear.
Finally, Cedric decided to show himself and became a witness.
Although he isn't sure what Elisa is planning, he still believes in her character.
Unlike Lacius, who has been committing war crimes for centuries. Elisa is a chill person - or to be more specific, a chill tree - that prefers watching drama over fighting. Whatever plan Elisa has should align with his goal to a certain extent.
He sent a message to both Elisa and Lacius.
[Alright, I shall bear witness to this exchange.]
Lacius seems a bit surprised when he sees Cedric suddenly send a message after Elisa's words. But he quickly pushed it aside and began discussing the exchange.
Perhaps because of Cedric's involvement, the discussion proceeds peacefully.
After a few hours of intense negotiation, both parties achieved a result that they can be satisfied with.
In exchange for giving part of human's historical knowledge, some research about demons and demon kings, some alchemy knowledge, and the promises to make three reasonable moves, Lacius gained the steam engine technology, elves' internet plant technology, as well as Elisa's Level 4 training method.
Cedric only needs to think for a moment to conclude the main reason Elisa asked for his witness is so she could ask Lacius to promise to make three moves. Without his witness, the chance Lacius will fulfil his promises will depend entirely on his character, which isn't that good to speak of.
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Before concluding the trade, Elisa added to Lacius, "I'll remind you once more. As mentioned before, the creator has warned us to stop advancing the steam engine and internet plant technology for three hundred years. Are you sure you still wish to buy it?"
"Yes. I'll also keep the warning in mind." Lacius nodded. It's just three hundred years. Although it's still a long time, he can still afford to wait. Furthermore, it's not like he couldn't study the technology. The creator has just forbidden further advancement for both technologies.
Now that Elisa has mentioned it, Cedric also sent a message to warn Lacius.
[She's right. If you advance the internet plant technology, steam technology, or some knowledge related to those technologies within three hundred years, then a disaster will befall the world. The disaster might be even more severe than what happened more than seven centuries ago.]
Lacius slowly nodded. He knew what disaster the creator was talking about. It should be when two suns appear in the world, followed by massive tornadoes and other disasters that ravage the world.
Once both sides conclude the trade, Cedric appears once again.
[I have witnessed your exchange.]
After both parties concluded the exchange, Lacius returned to the human territory and commanded the temple to gather historical records, knowledge about demons, alchemy knowledge, and other items promised at the exchange.
While the temple is gathering the items he needs, Lacius is also busy transcribing the knowledge he learned from browsing the elves' internet.
At the same time, Elisa's group is also busy gathering and transcribing the knowledge they traded.
Due to the sheer amount of knowledge both parties exchanged, it took a whole month before they finished the last step of the exchange.
Because Cedric said he will bear witness, he also took a look at the knowledge they exchanged to make sure there's no trick in the knowledge. Once he made sure both parties didn't play any tricks, Cedric sent a message to Lacius and Elisa.
[I've checked the items. Both parties have fulfilled most of the contract conditions except for the three moves that are owed.]
Lacius nodded at Elisa and the others, "When you need me to fulfill my three move promise, you can contact me by imagining me while praying to the god of alchemy."
"Are you also a god?" Elisa couldn't help but ask. The messaging method Lacius introduced is simply too incredible for her. She has heard him say that before, but she's still unsure about it. But while Lacius returned to the human territory to collect knowledge used for their exchange. Elisa has tried to send a prayer containing random messages to Lacius, and he actually knew about the messages.
That should mean the person in front of her is either the god of alchemy that he mentioned, or at least related to the god. But, she felt Lacius was simply too weak to be a god. Shouldn't a god at least have incredible power? Why does the guy in front of her even need to ask for a Level 4 training method?
Lacius only smiled slightly, "It's a secret. Would you like to trade other things for that information?"
Although she's curious, Elisa still declined that offer.
After packing some samples of the steam engine pump and internet plants, Lacius returned to human territory. But before leaving for the human territory, Cedric actually saw him secretly kidnapping ten elves and ten dwarves from several different villages.
Holding the rope that tied ten struggling dwarves on his right hand and the rope that tied ten struggling elves on his left hand, Lacius activated his faith energy and flew toward the mountain range that separates the continent.
While flying, he muttered while looking at the ten captives he got. "The dwarves actually could live up to two hundred years, while the elves could live up to four hundred years. I am curious what the secret to their long lifespan is. Although my current lifespan is extremely long, it's not endless yet."
"I hope their secret can help me extend my lifespan."
When he sees Lacius acting up, Cedric rolls his eyes. "Perhaps I should be glad that at least the number of people Lacius kidnapped isn't too much?"
As Lacius bypassed the mountain range, several dragons caught sight of him.
Because Lacius is holding too many captives, he is extremely eye-catching while flying in the sky.
The only reason he hasn't been seen while kidnapping dwarves and elves all around their territory is that Lacius has been hiding above the clouds, and only occasionally descends to kidnap other victims. But this trick doesn't work for the dragons that are often flying between clouds.
Compared to the snow white clouds and clear blue sky, Lacius and his twenty captives are extremely eye-catching.
Seeing a group of dragons appear, Lacius quickly descended to the ground.
When the dragons followed suit, Lacius took a quick glance and estimated the strength of his enemies.
There are twenty two dragons. Among them, three dragons are much bigger than the others.
He estimated the three should be at Level 2, while the remaining are at Level 0 and 1.
"I don't want to waste my time here.' Lacius decided to handle the dragons quickly.
The moment the dragons descended to the ground, he immediately summoned many reinforced earth spikes. Most of the earth spikes targeted the dragon's wing that had yet to retract, while some targeted their stomach.
That attack directly killed almost half of the dragons while injuring the rest.
Among them, one of the Level 2 dragons' injuries is incredibly heavy, with one of its wings torn. As for the other two, their injuries are much less serious, but they still peeled some of the scales on their stomach.
Angered by the sudden attack, the two remaining dragons dashed toward Lacius. Their massive bodies caused the ground to tremble.
In response, Lacius summoned two earth walls reinforced with a bit of faith energy. The dragons wanted to smash it, but the reinforced earthwall doesn't budge in the least. Instead, the dragons froze for a few seconds after hitting their head against the solid earth wall.
Lacius didn't waste his time as he immediately controlled the earth to bind the dragon's legs, followed by an earth spike that directly pierced through both dragons.
After incapacitating all of his enemies, Lacius continued his journey to the human territory.
Among the captives he took, although some had fainted due to shock from Lacius's flight, those who remained conscious stopped struggling after seeing Lacius easily defeating a group of dragons.
The remaining part of his journey is pretty calm. There are no longer any dragons, magical beasts, or demons blocking his path.
Once he returned to the human race's territory, Lacius immediately went to the temple. He told the temple to take care of the dwarves and elves he kidnapped, and to take care of a part of the internet plant he obtained.
Then, he personally entered his underground hideout.
Inside the underground hideout, Lacius unloaded several books containing a copy of Elisa's training method, internet plant knowledge, and steam engine knowledge. He also placed the samples he received in a safe place.
After sorting his gains, Lacius started to create a suitable Level 4 training method for himself.