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This time, the Combustion Oil released was an “upgraded version” with better Quality Blazing Gel added. As the head apprentice worker of the alchemy cottage, Leading Pigeon patted his chest and guaranteed that using this stuff to kill elite ghouls would only be more efficient.

The other alchemy apprentices also persuasively told their fellow players to buy a little more.

They were so proactive in selling because the cunning Tris had tied their compensation to the cottage’s business revenue.

For every item sold, the players currently employed at the alchemy cottage would receive a share of the income.

Although not much, compared to the players who currently had no stable source of income in the game, working for Blood Vulture Grand Duchess was acceptable.

However, even with the crucial Combustion Oil and specialized anti-vampire bullets, not everyone could complete the Black Iron Trial as smoothly as little Ashina and Joy Stick. These aids only increased the success rate, they were not 100% effective.

Lumina and Joy Stick repeatedly emphasized in their posts that players must practice their main skills to at least the Master level before attempting the challenge.

But this did not stop the players’ restless hearts.

Mainly because others had already passed it, so if I was still stuck, wouldn’t that prove I’m a noob?

However, the paradox is that in the online world, who can admit to being a noob?

“What? Dump Truck, you want to try too?”

In front of the alchemy cottage, Joy Stick, who came to join the fun and hang out, pulled his old acquaintance Dump Truck Iaido, who was cheerfully chatting with the crowd like an old man in the park with his hands behind his back, and said in surprise:

“You three are casual plus administrative players, right? Why are you also coming to do the Trial of Strength? Aren’t you happy being an official in the camp?”

“Of course I’m happy. We all get position allowances now,” Dump Truck laughed heartily, waving his hand and saying:

“But since we’re playing a game, we should occasionally challenge ourselves, right? It feels weird being stuck at level 10. I know what you’re worried about, but don’t be afraid. The four of us won’t go to the sewers to challenge the dangerous ghouls. We plan to find those gnoll bandits to practice.

There are also elite leaders among them!

And those guys are notorious for bullying the weak but fearing the strong. If we set up traps and injure them, they’ll run away. Then we can charge in and finish them off.

It’ll also help Half Off With Full Coverage train the new camp guard recruits. Two birds, one stone.”

“Wow, that’s not a bad idea. After all, no matter how big the sewers are, there aren’t that many elite ghouls for players to deal with.”

Joy Stick stroked his chin.

He also felt that he might need to shift the “battlefield” too. After they deal with the underground treasure vault of the black gang they’ve been searching for, why not take his brothers out to “hunt in the wild”?

“Yo, Rich Guy?”

As the two were chatting, the player now known to everyone as “Rich Guy” also came over to join the fun.

This guy had his little Manticore, which he had nurtured to develop subtle emotions, perched on his head. The pet was now as big as a plump cat, with a curious tiger head looking around. The man and his pet were looking left and right outside the crowd, which led Joy Stick to tease:

“You’re only level 3, and you’re already thinking about the Black Iron Trial? That eager, huh?”

“I’m here to buy ‘growth potions’ for my Stinky Treasure,” the little Rich Guy grinned and waved his hand, saying:

“We Summoners level up differently from you guys, we rely on our pets for DPS output. I’m not in a rush to level up. I need to get my Stinky Treasure’s first hunt settled first. But I don’t want to take it to the sewers. Joy Stick, do you have any good recommendations?”

“Why don’t you join us in grinding the gnoll camp?” Dump Truck invited.

“It’s not far from the camp, about a ten-minute horse ride. Mainly farming combat experience from NPCs. You can tag along and get some last hits. Not too dangerous.”

“Okay, how much?” Rich Guy readily asked, leaving Dump Truck baffled.

The middle-aged man said in surprise, “What do you mean how much? Do you have too much money with nowhere to spend it?”

“Ah, this game really has nowhere to spend money! There’s not even a recharge window. You could sell cosmetics, you know? I also want that Blood Vulture Midnight Hunter Ceremonial Outfit, but there’s nowhere to buy it. Isn’t power-leveling supposed to cost money, though?”

Feel You Poor scratched his head, then hugged and rubbed the little Manticore on his head, saying, “Or are you saying it’s free? Is there such a good thing? Anything that doesn’t cost money sounds unreliable. You’re not planning to use me as gnoll bait, are you?”

“Just register as a junior administrator in the camp, and you can move with the NPCs. Not only is it free, but you even get a work allowance every week. Lots of money, little work, close to home, you just need to spend two hours a day helping the NPCs handle camp affairs.

A simple and pleasant game mode is perfect for a Rich Guy like you.

Come on. Let me show you the ropes.”

Dump Truck patted Rich Guy’s shoulder, and the sly middle-aged man was about to lure another newbie into joining their “administrative group.”

The two walked and chatted towards the outskirts of the city, where the original survivor’s camp had split off a “sub-camp”. It was mainly for the collectors and cleaners working in the city ruins to reside in, and many NPC merchants also roamed around. Some players could find odd items from them.

While the little players began their daily gaming, Murphy, who had just finished several hours of slumber in the Blood Vulture Halls, also arrived at his office on time.

Unlike other vampires’ habit of being active at night and resting during the day, Murphy would set aside a few hours to sleep at night, this was his “little secret”. However, when he pushed open the office door with a yawn, he was greeted by an “unwelcome guest” sitting inside.

“Lady Shani?”

Murphy swiftly tidied up his slightly unkempt appearance and said in surprise, “Why are you up so early?”

“I wanted to ask, why would a vampire sleep during the blessing of night? Shouldn’t you be enjoying a peaceful slumber in a coffin during the day’s curse?”

Shani looked Murphy up and down and said with a hint of jest, “Indeed, you are as you described yourself, an ‘atypical vampire’.”

“I’ve only recently been turned, so my human habits stubbornly persist in influencing my new life. For now, I don’t intend to break this ‘bad habit’.”

Murphy responded politely, then glanced at Count of White Mountain Andrei standing beside Grand Duchess Shani.

The latter’s gaze lingered on the Frostfang blade at Murphy’s waist, which no longer belonged to him.

His gray eyes held complex emotions, containing a tinge of defeat. They were all newly turned vampire fledglings from last year, still Black Iron Rank vampire newcomers, but why was the gap so vast? He felt that if Murphy fought all-out, he could probably beat him within twenty moves.

Murphy had a slightly different view on this.

He thought at most it would take ten moves to subdue him.

If it was a life-and-death battle with the use of Necessary Evil, he believed he could even create a “one-hit kill”. Of course, he couldn’t say such things, as it would be too demoralizing and unbecoming.

“A noble being such as yours surely wouldn’t show up so formally in my office on a vexing morning just to play a joke. So, I suppose our conversation last night has yielded a result?”

Murphy strode behind his desk, took out his lord’s memo pad and placed it on the table, interlacing his fingers as he looked at the upright and dignified Grand Duchess Shani seated before him.

The expression on his handsome face turned serious as he asked, “May I assume that you now represent Her Majesty, the Wolf Queen of the Nordtov Kingdom, in speaking to the Governor of the Transia region?”

“You may not!”

Shani maintained her standard court lady demeanor and said clearly, “I do indeed represent the will of Her Majesty Angelina Alexeievna Romanov, but you, Lord Murphy, are not yet recognized by our country as the Governor of the Transia region. At best, before you complete the following tasks, you can only be considered an ‘acting governor’.”

“Oh?”

Murphy showed a smile and said, “So does that mean Her Majesty Wolf Queen agrees in principle to the four requests I made?”

“Yes, in principle, but in practice there will certainly be modifications,” Lady Shani waved her hand.

Beside her, Count of White Mountain immediately took out a luxurious court tea set from his spirit bag and proficiently brewed fragrant red tea.

As he busied himself, Grand Duchess Shani retrieved a scroll from her lady’s bag and unrolled it before Murphy. She cleared her throat and read:

“With the consent and instructions of Her Majesty Angelina Alexeievna Romanov, starting next month, the Nordtov Kingdom will release 6,000 captured Transia armed Blood Servants.

If there is a shortage of Blood Servants, our country will provide a portion of decommissioned troops to supplement the Transia region and bolster its severely damaged production system.

At the same time, when Count of Kadman Murphy’s formal military force is organized, three munitions factories and seven supply companies designated by our Queen will exclusively provide firearms, ammunition, and necessary military supplies to Murphy’s forces.

Her Majesty requires Count Murphy to procure supplies every two months, with each procurement no less than one campaign’s base amount!

Fifteen days later, an envoy team from the Nordtov Kingdom’s Treasury Department will enter Transia to discuss a substantial loan with Count of Kadman’s retainers and professionals.

This sum will be paid in kind to the Transia region by our country, and you must repay it annually over the next five years.

To demonstrate the Queen’s emphasis on the Transia region and her expectation for its production recovery, the first loan will come with interest rates that are a loss from any perspective. Subsequent loan terms will be determined based on the specific circumstances.

Finally, the Queen has granted the Thorn Clan full authority to implement the ‘mineral for food’ program in Fort Crimea and Transia’s southern mining areas.”

At this point, Grand Duchess Shani glanced at Murphy.

The vampire lord had listened attentively, and upon hearing that his four requests were granted, his eyes were filled with joy.

However, the next second, Grand Duchess Shani’s tone changed.

She drew out her words, saying:

“However, a long-term cooperation with the Transia region is tied to the Nordtov Kingdom’s reform process. The Queen hopes to see her acting governor fulfill the contract between both parties in a more serious and professional manner. Thus, the Queen has added two binding conditions to this treaty.

First, since this contract is established on the basis of jointly confronting the Black Disaster threat, the Queen must confirm the Transia region’s ability to withstand the gnoll army.

Therefore, the Queen will grant Count Murphy three months.

Count Murphy must clear out the rampant gnoll bandits in the Transia region before the deadline, lest these wilderness demonic beings become the vanguard of the gnoll onslaught when the Black Disaster erupts.

Second, the Queen wishes to confirm that her soon-to-be-appointed Governor of Transia is a professional in governance.

Hence, before the three-month deadline, the currently chaotic Transia region must be restored to order! According to our generals’ estimates, the current population of the Transia region ranges from 150,000 to 200,000.

Therefore, within three months, Count Murphy must control at least 60% of the people on this land and have them acknowledge your rule and authority.

If Count Murphy fails to accomplish these two tasks, then regrettably, Her Majesty will appoint a more professional and outstanding member of the royal family as the Governor of Transia.”

The instant Grand Duchess Shani finished speaking, Count of White Mountain Andrei happened to present a fragrant cup of red tea before Murphy.

The vampire lord looked into the gray-blue eyes of this slender young man and had evidently realized who this royal family member was, the one who would replace Murphy in ruling over these lands if he failed.

Andrei was also looking at Murphy.

At this moment, Count of White Mountain’s eyes showed no expression.

He was simply regarding the Count of Transia with a scrutinizing gaze, as if sizing up an “opponent”.

“Three months, huh?”

Murphy let out a light chuckle, reached out to accept the court red tea Andrei offered, held it to his nose and inhaled, nodding in satisfaction as he said,

“Very well, I accept this challenge bestowed by the Queen! But I also have an additional condition, no need to worry, it need not even be formally recorded in this soon-to-be-signed treaty.”

Murphy took a sip of the red tea.

That warm sensation, mixed with a spicy aroma, charged straight into his nostrils, but it was not unpleasant.

He liked this taste of victory.

It brought his human soul even more pleasure than wine laced with blood.

The vampire lord set down his teacup, stood up, pointed at Andrei, and said to Grand Duchess Shani, “For these three months, I want your descendant and his servants to remain in Transia, assisting me in completing what I intend to do. He can also act as the eyes of the Wolf Queen and yourself, reporting the changes soon to occur on this land.”

“Bold indeed!”

Lady Shani couldn’t help but praise, “You are so confident in your ability to make my descendant submit to your personal charisma through your actions? Excellent! This demeanor alone is worth Andrei studying closely.

He is very talented.

But always lacking in confidence, always eager to prove himself yet filled with the rashness unique to the young. However, these issues are seldom seen in you, despite your similar age. I’m curious what story you have experienced to make you so steady.”

“Then, Count Murphy, I entrust my descendant to you.

His original mission was to go to the Dark Mountain range to represent the Thorn Clan in supporting the Blood Pact Knights’ defenses. Having him work in the Transia rear can achieve the same effect.

But I warn you, do not lead my little Andrei astray.”

“No need to worry, Grand Duchess.”

Andrei said softly from the side, “I’ve always been slow to learn.”

“Then let’s sign.”

Lady Shani placed the contract on the table and handed Murphy an exquisite court gold pen.

Murphy did not sign immediately but patiently read through the entire contract from beginning to end. After confirming there were no pitfalls or issues, he picked up the pen and wrote his name, then inverted the signet ring on his finger and covered it with spirit energy before imprinting it below the contract.

“Wait, Grand Duchess Shani.”

As the Thorn Grand Duchess was about to leave after completing the official business, Murphy called out to her.

Under Shani’s questioning gaze, Murphy smiled and said, “I hope you can stay in my domain for a few more days. You represent the honored Thorn Clan and Nordtov Kingdom, while I am the acting governor appointed by the Wolf Queen. I think I should let my subjects understand this.

You can conduct a tour of my domain to proclaim the majesty of the Wolf Queen.

What I mean is, my warriors…

They truly adore and admire your exquisite demeanor.”

He passed her a Computation Bead. The Grand Duchess hesitated before accepting it, then shook her head, saying, “But I do not like them, a bunch of rude scoundrels!”

“Yes, yes, yes! That’s the attitude! Maintain that attitude, pride tinged with gentleness, gentleness retaining a hint of warranted arrogance. It is precisely your exquisite demeanor that attracts my warriors.

It would be best to act a little more spoiled or flash your feigned yet undeniably beautiful smile.”

Murphy reminded, “You should not be deceived by my warriors’ appearances, their inner beings are all very simple and warm-hearted warriors. They can complete any task you order! I guarantee, after interacting with them, you will come to like them.”