“Annie, did Young Master Watson help you achieve that? Quickly, tell me how he did it?” Clyde asked anxiously.
He already regretted his decision. If he had known that staying by Watson’s side would really increase his strength, he would not have gone to the hot spring.
He was particularly taken aback when he noticed the flames on Annie’s body and the magnificent feathers radiating high temperatures. He felt much more miserable when he considered how he might have obtained one too.
“I’m not sure how Young Master Watson did it. I just saw him use the leather armor that I took off and cast a spell to duplicate it into thousands of pieces. Then, they were fused and turned into the armor that I’m wearing now! As for the method to increase my strength, it’s even simpler. Young Master Watson picked an iron-tier medicinal herb by the roadside and used the same method to fuse it into a gold-tier herb for me. After I ate it, I immediately became a gold-tier mage,” Annie said softly as she placed her finger on her lips and recalled the scene just now.
‘Is she for real?’?
The three of them looked at each other, their eyes filled with disbelief. Annie said that the armor was replicated and then fused into a stronger one. Then, she said that Watson had picked a random her and turned it into gold-tier medicine for her to consume, after which she had advanced to the gold tier. If it had been that easy, the gold-tier adventurers in the City of Steel would not be famed as the top adventurers.
“Do you not believe me? It doesn’t matter; I can prove it to you.”
It was as if she could read their minds; Annie chuckled and took a step forward.
Boom!
There was no sound but a colossal aura spread from Annie’s body. Then, she stretched her right index finger and said, “Bronze-tier fire-elemental spell, Exploding Fireball!”
The symbol of a gold-tier mage was concurrent spells. The spell, which initially required a lengthy incantation, appeared in Annie’s hand instantly. Furthermore, compared to the spell that she had cast before, at that moment, the explosive fireball was much larger and more powerful. The massive fireball, which was half the size of a house, floated above Annie’s head. The hot temperature instantly reduced the amount of water in the hot spring by one-tenth, and even the hard rocky ground began to turn red and hot; it made Clyde and the others grimace in pain.
“That’s enough, Annie. We believe that you’ve become a gold-tier mage. Put away that spell.”
Clyde shouted as he hugged his feet. Whether it was the spell’s strength or the aura emitted from Annie’s body, she was undoubtedly a gold-tier mage. At that moment, if the spell in Annie’s hand had landed on the Golden Quill Pavilion, it would be enough to blow it up.
After he finished speaking, Annie extinguished the exploding fireball.
“Annie, you’ve really advanced to gold-tier. That is too surreal.”
Arthur sat on the ground of the gradually cooling hot spring, rubbing the blisters that had burned the soles of his feet.
“In the beginning, when Young Master Watson said he would help me to become a gold-tier mage, I did not dare to believe it either. However, that is the truth. On the other hand, none of you believed Young Master Watson’s words. You guys are having a lot of fun here! Initially, I wanted to tell you to ask Young Master Watson to increase your strength. But perhaps you should stay here and let these maids serve you. I’ll look for Young Master Watson myself and see if I can increase my strength further.”
Annie snorted coldly and turned around to leave, but Clyde and the others refused to let her go after hearing her statements.
“Annie, please do not leave yet! We’ve worked hard all day and have come here to unwind. Who said we don’t believe in Young Master Watson’s words?” Clyde smiled with an awkward expression.
“Really? When I arrived here, I overheard someone say that Young Master Watson’s words are implausible and that such words would sway only a foolish woman like myself. Who made that assertion?
Arthur’s attitude shifted as Annie’s voice grew faded. He was the one who had said those things. Clyde also frowned as he looked at Arthur. “Arthur, how can you do that? We owe a debt to Young Master Watson. If you don’t believe me, then forget it. Why did you say it out loud? You fabricated lies about Young Master Watson on purpose. Why aren’t you apologizing?”
Clyde hurriedly turned his head to look at Annie and said, “Annie, those were Arthur’s words. It has nothing to do with me. Take me to Young Master Watson, please. I wish to increase my strength and get a complete set of gold-tier equipment.”
Arthur was so angry that his lips trembled. He stretched his hand outward and pointed at Clyde, not knowing what to say.
Clyde was far too despicable. He had thrown Arthur under the bus because he wanted Watson’s help. However, he could understand Clyde. If there were a chance he could become a gold-tier elite, he would also disregard everything else.
“Captain, don’t say things like that. You were the one who told me to stay here and enjoy myself. You also said to find me a male servant.”
Annie pointed the spear at Clyde, who stuttered, “I—”
After a while, Annie looked at Leon. “And you, Leon. You agreed with the captain’s words just now. You even said that enjoying yourself here is better than talking to Young Master Watson. You even said that it was the doctrine left behind by the God you believe in, right?”
Leon’s face flushed red as he lowered his head.
“It’s not that I don’t want you to look for Young Master Watson. But, just look at all of you. What right do you have to ask Young Master Watson to help you improve your strength? If it were me, I would definitely feel embarrassed.” The men could not raise their heads; they were ashamed. Then, Annie sighed. “But Young Master Watson is a generous person. If you go over there now and apologize properly, perhaps he would be willing to help you.”
“Really?”
When they heard those words, all three of their eyes lit up simultaneously, and they raced out without saying a word.
A maid, who was responsible for serving them at the hot spring, asked, “Dear adventurers, are you sure you don’t want to stay here and continue to enjoy our service?”
Beautiful women were insignificant when compared to the prospect for them to advance to gold-tier.
“Captain, don’t get changed so quickly. Wait for me.”
“Arthur, you still have the nerve to talk about others. Aren’t you changing your clothes quickly too?”
“Captain Clyde and Arthur, I don’t care if you wear your clothes fast or slow. But can I trouble you not to wear my clothes?”
Clyde and Arthur fought to change their clothes in the locker room, regardless of whose clothes were in their hands. Leon complained in dissatisfaction as he squeezed his way into the room. The three men were in a mess; Annie, outside the locker room, was speechless.
….
At the same time, in the top level of the Holy Sword adventurer team’s office.
“Lady Swordmistress, you asked me to investigate the whereabouts of the boy named Watson. I have some news for you.”
Blake knelt on one knee and spoke respectfully to the beautiful girl whose back was toward him.
The girl stood in front of a huge French window, enjoying the scenery of the entire City of Steel. Then, she turned around nervously. “Is that so? Tell me where he is.”
“Even though everyone is saying that the Blood Rose members left by carriage, and that carriage was seen on many streets, I think they are trying to trick us.”
“Get to the point.”
“Watson’s is at the Golden Quill Pavilion. Our spy there reported that they saw them enter the building.”
Boom!
A muffled sound was heard immediately after Blake finished speaking. Christina’s French window shattered, and many sword energies spilled outward. Christina had transformed into a giant bird and leaped from the window, vanishing into the skies. Only Blake remained in the room. He rushed to the window, gazed down at the panicked street mob, and sighed with his hand on his brow.
“I know that the swordmistress thinks highly of Watson, but I haven’t told her where he is in the Golden Feather Pavilion. Why is she in such a hurry?”
