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nTranslator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

nWhen he took the nearly transparent Soul Ring, Yang Ling had originally felt that it wasn’t worth it and prepared to ask Steve for another treasure. But unexpectedly, as he slipped the ring on his finger, he felt a familiar ripple of Wizard Power radiating from the ring.

nA ring that possesses Wizard Power?

nIn his curiosity, Yang Ling carefully injected a shred of Wizard Power into the ring. Soon, a layer of shining silver light started pulsing on the surface of the ring. The ring also released a chilly energy, rapidly circulating into Yang Ling’s limbs. Yang Ling instantly became more energized.

nCould this be one of the fabled Wizard Treasures?!

nYang Ling thought back to the records on the stele and became exceptionally joyful. His abilities would definitely increase by leaps and bounds now that he had such a powerful treasure. He would, at the very least, be able to preserve his life when he encountered a powerful fighter like a heaven-ranked assassin, if not defeat his enemy in one move.

nA treasure like this was worth a million Purple Crystal Coins, much less a hundred thousand!

nJust as he was about to further investigate his unexpected gain, Steve walked over with large strides. “Brother Yang Ling, do you still have a premium room open?”

nOh Yiblis, they’re getting a room this soon?

nYang Ling shook his head. The relationship of this wanton couple sure progressed faster than a rocket. They had just met and had a few sips of alcohol, and now they were already prepared to get a room. He had wanted to tease Steve, but he paused as he saw the beauty in black walking slowly toward him.

nPerhaps it was due to the alcohol, but Maryse’s face was a little red. Her skin looked like it would be smooth as silk to the touch. She unintentionally let out a wave of captivating allure, making the bartender John who was watching from the side a little parched. Even Yang Ling couldn’t help but swallow.

nIt’s unfortunate that she has other motives, and her intentions are evil. Otherwise, this lady would be a perfect lover!

nYang Ling came to his senses after shaking his head. He said calmly, “Sir Leader, I am sorry, we don’t have plans for leasing our rooms on an hourly rate for the time being!”

nHourly rate?

nThe drunk Steve was a little confused when he heard Yang Ling say this, unable to figure out what he meant by leasing rooms out on an hourly rate. Maryse wanted to stay in Wissen Town for a period of time, and Steve trying to please her, so he was just asking Yang Ling for a room.

n“Boss, the construction on the villas that we’re adding to Shangri-La is almost finished. We can rent one out for the time being!”

nSeeing Yang Ling reject Steve, John couldn’t help but interrupt. It wasn’t because John had any respect for the leader Steve; he just hoped he’d get to see the beautiful figure of the beauty in black every day if she stayed in the inn. Even if he was unable to have her, catching a glimpse or two more of her was also a form of enjoyment.

nThis beauty was stunning indeed, truly exceptional!

nSeeing John’s eyeballs about to fall out of their sockets, Yang Ling shook his head.

nIt’s said that a woman’s body is her most important asset. It looks like that’s true indeed. Beauties received a warm welcome wherever they go. Even John, who normally treats others with a cold arrogance, is no exception.

n“There are indeed a few more villas, but they have all been booked by others. I would have to pay a large sum of crystal coins if I were to default on the contracts. Sir Leader, why not look for a room somewhere else!” Yang Ling gave an apologetic smile before continuing, “Even if someone was willing to give up their rooms, the rent here is eighty Purple Crystal Coins a day, so it’s not worth it to stay in a villa alone!”

nYang Ling denied Steve’s request. The beauty in black was of unknown background and was vicious and powerful. He wasn’t willing to place such a powerful ticking bomb near him.

nEighty Purple Crystal Coins a day?

nThe crowd was shocked, and even John was no exception. He hadn’t expected the original price tag of fifty Purple Crystal Coins a day to suddenly jump to eighty Purple Crystal Coins a day.

n“Brother Yang Ling, that price is too ridiculous. It’s not beneficial to the development of our land. Even though we are brothers, I will feel very conflicted if you continue to act like this!” Steve had a thought as he saw the crowd shaking their heads. He brought out his status as a leader, hoping to put pressure on the detestable Yang Ling.

nSteve was furious after having been extorted by Yang Ling. If not for his wariness of Yang Ling’s abilities and family, if not for having to maintain his demeanor as a gentleman in front of the beauty in black, he would have ordered his personal guards to charge forward. How could he have missed the opportunity to deal a blow to Yang Ling?

nYang Ling understood Steve’s intentions without having to think too deeply into it, now that Steve had intentionally highlighted his status as a leader. Looking at the lecherous Steve, then looking at the beauty in black behind him, her every movement filled with a certain allure, Yang Ling immediately thought of a counterattack.

n“Sir Leader, you are wronging me. These crystal coins are all going to be handed over to you as tax. I can barely even keep the inn running, much less turn a profit!”

nThe crystal coins were to be handed over to me? Steve wondered.

nAfter patting his dizzy head, Steve suddenly remembered the deal they had made back at Wissen Castle. He knew that his plan had backfired.

nIndeed, after Yang Ling’s reminder, the crowd suddenly recalled the triangle eyes Midhart, who had been hounding them for money every other day. They broke into a commotion, all pointing their spears toward the bloodsucker Steve.

n“Dozens of purple coins in tax for a villa?” Maryse subconsciously shook her head after she understood what was going on. She looked at Steve, who had been manically collecting taxes, in disbelief.

nSteve became awkward, seeing that Yang Ling’s words had ignited Maryse’s confusion and dissatisfaction. He wanted to slap himself. He would have wasted his efforts if the beauty in black had a bad impression of him after Yang Ling’s words.

nWhat do I do now?

nFacing the seemingly dissatisfied Maryse, facing the troops and adventurers pointing fingers at him, Steve wasn’t sure how to respond. He wanted to maintain his demeanor of a white knight in front of the beauty, but he could not bear to part with the crystal coins he could gain from Shangri-La every day.

nOh Yiblis, I’ll let Yang Ling have the upper hand for a few days. I’ll make sure he pays for it in the future, when my reinforcements arrive!

nAfter a moment’s hesitation, Steve clenched his teeth and said, “Our most difficult time in Wissen Town has passed. In order to thank all of you for your support, from today on, taxes on Shangri-La and the rest of the inns shall return to normal. We will only collect a symbolic sum of a few Purple Crystal Coins daily!”

nRent will return to normal?

nAfter a moment’s surprise, the troops and adventurers cried out in joy. They had seen how the entire event played out, and they were all in awe of Yang Ling. If not for Yang Ling’s ingenious counterattack, directly targeting Steve’s desire to avoid embarrassing himself in front of the beauty, this detestable leader would never have been so kind as to voluntarily decrease the taxes!

n“Brother Yang Ling, surely you will have extra villas now!” Looking at the man who had repeatedly caused him to suffer losses, Steve clenched his jaws in anger.

n“Let me discuss this with the guests and see if I can squeeze out a villa!” After receiving that welcome surprise, Yang Ling’s smile became even more radiant.

nD*mn it, could this b*stard have lost interest in women? Maryse wondered.

nWhen Yang Ling not only avoided falling for her allure but also rejected the idea of her staying in Shangri-La, Maryse couldn’t help but doubt her own charms. Over all her years of using magic, this was the first time she had encountered a man who wasn’t moved by her.

nBut after close observation, she saw how Yang Ling would steal peeks at her perky breasts just like the other men. She immediately overturned her unwarranted guesses.

nIt looks like the b*stard is still interested in women, but he’s also especially concerned about his reputation, she thought.

nOver the years, she had seen many such men. They would pretend to be decent men, but they were all lecherous demons behind closed doors. They would all tear off a woman’s clothes while calling her their darling.

nMaryse believed that if she managed to stay in Shangri-La, she would have the chance to be alone with Yang Ling sooner or later. After a moment’s deliberation, she came up with another idea. She believed that Yang Ling would definitely show his true colors then and grovel before her.

n***

nThere were two sides to every coin, and with every negative came a positive!

nMaryse staying in Shangri-La was akin to planting a time bomb beside him. But at the same time, Yang Ling noticed that business in the bar was busier than usual.

nTroops and adventurers who had nothing to do would hang around in the bar for the entire day, waiting for the breath-taking Maryse to appear. Even if they could not have her for themselves, catching glimpses of her was also a form of enjoyment. Naturally, the more they drank, the more crystal coins they spent, much to the elation of the old butler Murbaqi who was in charge of the accounts.

nEvery time the alluring Maryse appeared, she attracted the eyeballs of everyone present, their naked gazes sweeping over her notable areas like daggers. If having lecherous intentions was a crime, these troops and adventurers would have been executed many times over.

nThe troops hung around the bar every day, while the leader Steve also visited uninvited. He would stick around Maryse like a fly, pouring her drinks and treating her with passion, like a true lecherous noble.

nIf Steve hadn’t needed to manage so many things personally, he might have booked another room in Shangri-La and stayed by Maryse’s side day and night.

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