Chapter 70: The Dilemma of Power and Legacy
"When will the Elf Tribe arrive?" Boone asked the man while looking at him.
"We received news from the Elf Tribe; they are on their way but encountered some trouble. They should arrive by the evening."
Boone nodded. "Go and call the crown prince over."
Sylvus returned to his room to continue his cultivation.
As for Ronald, he was still kneeling on the ground.
Meanwhile, Volo had brought in several powerful Mage Emperor-level mages. However, they found that they couldn't break the magic that had bound Ronald.
Ronald was furious and shocked at the same time. Even with the help of several Mage Emperors, they couldn't dispel the magic. Just what level of power does Sylvus possess?
With no other choice, Ronald had to continue kneeling. Fortunately, Boone stationed guards near the alley, preventing more people from witnessing Ronald's humiliation.
By evening, several powerful presences suddenly appeared outside the Holy City. Sylvus glanced at them but didn't pay much attention.
Boone, on the other hand, personally ran out of the Holy City to welcome them. He knew that the Elf Tribe had arrived.
The night passed without incident, and the next morning, Sylvus woke up calmly and unhurriedly. After washing up and having breakfast, he instructed Meylan to open the shop for business.
Outside the shop, Ronald and his group of seven, who had been waiting impatiently, immediately lit up when they saw Sylvus.
"Sylvus, can you release our king now?" Volo asked urgently.
Sylvus glanced at them and, with a thought, Ronald suddenly felt his body lighten, and he stood up.
"Get in line properly. If you make me unhappy again, kneeling won't be enough to solve the problem." Sylvus said indifferently.
Ronald, who was on the verge of exploding with anger, held back upon hearing this. He didn't want to spend another day and night kneeling.
The line began to move, and before long, it was Ronald and his group's turn.
"Can we start our wager now?" Ronald asked coldly as he stood before Sylvus.
"Of course, but first, you need to bring Mondo over."
Ronald nodded to someone nearby, who quickly disappeared and returned a few minutes later with Mondo.
"W-what do you want from me?" Mondo stuttered, his eyes filled with fear as he looked at Sylvus, who had left a deep psychological scar on him.
"Meylan, go fetch a Grade Eight Spirit Pill," Sylvus ordered.
Meylan nodded and quickly retrieved a pill. "This is a Grade Eight Spirit Pill. It can completely restore Mondo. The price is five million magic crystals."
"What do you mean? Are you seriously asking us to pay?" Ronald asked angrily.
"This pill is a product I'm selling. Of course, you need to pay for it," Sylvus replied.
Ronald said nothing. Volo, standing beside him, handed over the money without hesitation. He took the pill and sniffed it, his brows furrowing.
"Strange, this pill is indeed made from medicinal herbs, but I can't tell what herbs were used." Volo was surprised. As a Nine-Star Potion Master, he had encountered 90% of the herbs on the continent, yet he couldn't identify the ingredients in this pill.
Sylvus smiled faintly. It wasn't surprising that Volo couldn't recognize the pill, as it wasn't made from this world's herbs. In fact, the pill was a product of the system. If Volo had been able to identify it, that would have been the real surprise.
"Will this pill really cure Mondo?" Ronald asked, his gaze fixed on Sylvus.
"Well, he's already crippled. You have no other options. If he dies from the pill, I'll give you the Forging Hammer as compensation," Sylvus said casually.
Ronald was at a loss for words, but Sylvus continued, "You tell me, do you want me to win, or do you want me to lose?"
Ronald froze for a moment. He looked at Mondo, then back at Sylvus. The question left him conflicted. Mondo was his grandson, and of course, he wanted to save him. But the Forging Hammer was the Dwarf Tribe's sacred artifact, and he also wanted to claim it. Unfortunately, he could only choose one.
"Hmph, naturally, I want to save Mondo. But if anything happens to him after taking this pill, our Dwarf Tribe will not let you off!" Ronald said with a cold snort.
Seeing this, Sylvus smiled but said nothing. It seemed Ronald secretly hoped that something would happen to his grandson. After all, Mondo had become a cripple, and his value couldn't compare to the Forging Hammer. But, Ronald's hopes were destined to be dashed.
Mondo looked at the pill in his hand and hesitated. What if something went wrong with the pill? At the very least, they should ensure its safety first, right?
"Don't worry. Sylvus wouldn't dare deceive us. If anything happens, I'll avenge you," Ronald reassured Mondo.
Mondo already knew his situation. Even Volo, the Nine-Star Potion Master, couldn't save him. Hearing his grandfather's words, Mondo realized he had no other choice. If he couldn't fully recover, he might as well be dead. With that in mind, Mondo swallowed the pill.
Almost immediately, he felt a surge of energy flow into his body. After a short time, a faint force began to rise within him, and the energy in the surrounding air rushed into his body.
"Could this pill actually be working?" Ronald was surprised by the scene before him.
Volo, standing beside him, frowned. Even as a Nine-Star Potion Master, he hadn't been able to fully heal Mondo. If a mere pill could solve the problem, his reputation would be tarnished.
Before long, Mondo's strength began to increase. He quickly reached the level of a Knight Apprentice, and with every breath he took, his strength continued to rise. After about ten minutes, Mondo slowly opened his eyes and found that he had regained his former strength as a Nine-Star Golden Knight.
"I... I've recovered? Have I really recovered?" Mondo looked at his body in disbelief. For the past two days, he had contemplated ending his life after becoming a cripple. But now, the person who had crippled him was the one who restored his power.
Ronald took a deep breath and nodded at Volo, who approached Mondo and examined him. After a moment, Volo's expression darkened.
"Not only have the prince's injuries been healed, but his strength has returned, and it won't be long before he breaks through to the Platinum Knight level."
Volo didn't want to admit it, but the evidence was right in front of him. Ronald, on the other hand, felt a fleeting sense of disappointment. If Mondo was healed, then they had missed out on obtaining the Forging Hammer.