Published: March 11, 2025
Chapter 69: Each with Their Own Plans
It was a strange feeling. Laura had never thought that just a scent could invoke so many thoughts. In Laura's impression, scents were merely simple sensations of fragrance or stench. However, the scent she caught from Zhao Hai made her feel invigorated and full of qi presence.
Laura was momentarily taken aback, but Zhao Hai seized the opportunity to stop. He turned to look at Laura's stunning face and calmly asked, “Miss Laura, do you have something to discuss?”
Laura quickly came back to her senses, her face flushed. She hurriedly released Zhao Hai's clothing and bowed slightly, saying, “I apologize, esteemed mage. May I know your name?”
Zhao Hai chuckled softly and replied, “Of course, my name is Zhao Hai.” He used his name from Earth; if he claimed to be Adam Buddha, he would likely be hunted down immediately—he wasn’t that foolish.
Laura took a golden medal from her bosom, holding it in her hand, and said to Zhao Hai, “Mr. Zhao Hai, this is our Majidel Chamber of Commerce VIP Medal. With this medal, you can enjoy a 20% discount at any Majidel Trading Company across the continent. If you shop at the Majidel Trading Company in the Versailles Principality, you will receive a 50% discount. If you sell goods to the trading company, they will purchase your items at a price 10% above the market rate. Although I know this doesn’t compare to the grace you've shown me by saving my life, it represents my sincere appreciation, so please accept it.”
After saying this, Laura bowed deeply, holding the medal high above her head without straightening up.
Zhao Hai stood at about 1.7 meters tall, just shy of 1.8 meters, while Laura exceeded 1.8 meters. This normally put pressure on Zhao Hai, but as Laura bent down, she became shorter than him, which was somewhat disconcerting for Zhao Hai.
Zhao Hai wanted that medal. Having it would make his future endeavors more convenient. He could also tell Laura and the others were in a hurry for a significant reason; otherwise, they wouldn’t have rushed to Black Mountain Pass. They were suffering heavy losses but showed no intention of turning back; instead, they planned to camp out and continue their journey the next day. This indicated the urgency of their situation, so Zhao Hai didn’t linger. He smiled slightly and reached out to accept the medal, saying, “Thank you, Miss Laura.”
After receiving it, he examined the medal closely. It was palm-sized, crafted from pure gold, and was shaped like a blooming Blood Lotus, exquisitely made. In the center of the medal were the words "Majidel."
Seeing Zhao Hai accept the medal, Laura straightened up and let out a sigh of relief. She truly feared he would refuse the token.
Laura’s gift of the medal was not solely for gratitude; she primarily wanted to establish a connection with Zhao Hai. To her, Zhao Hai was a powerful senior dark mage, and so young, especially with someone like Galen, a senior warrior by his side. Forming a relationship with Zhao Hai would be beneficial for her.
In the Ark Continent, strength ruled supreme. If Laura could befriend a high-ranking dark mage like Zhao Hai, it would significantly impact her standing within the family. So, when she saw Zhao Hai accept the medal, she felt relieved; as long as Zhao Hai used it, she would be able to find him and gradually draw closer to him.
After putting the medal into his sleeve, Zhao Hai concealed it directly into his space, using his sleeve as a mere cover.
Having secured the medal, he said to Laura, “Miss Laura, you have many matters to attend to, so I won’t delay you any longer. We can meet again when the opportunity arises.” After speaking, he turned to leave. This time, Laura didn’t stop him; she merely called out to Zhao Hai’s retreating figure, “Please do come to the Majidel Trading Company to find me, Mr. Zhao Hai. You can find out my whereabouts at any Majidel family shop.”
Zhao Hai didn’t turn around; he gave a light wave of his hand and stepped into the body of the shapeshifter. Meg and Galen followed him inside, and then the shapeshifter quickly left the battlefield.