"Are you so confident?"
Firina's eyes held a bit more interest.
Lear smiled gently.
"Your Highness's reputation is such that even the children of the Ninth District sing praises. Why would you deceive me over a mere Blue Crystal Grass?"
Firina's sapphire-like eyes narrowed slightly.
Of course, this was a lie, but what intrigued her was the unwavering confidence and determination in the other's eyes just a moment ago.
It seemed as if, should she dare to break her promise, the other might actually do something...
She chuckled, her gaze shifting to the silver-helmeted Knight still in a state of excitement.
"Rekell, take your men to retrieve the Blue Crystal Grass, depart immediately."
The Knight, receiving the goddess's personal order, instantly surged with an exaggerated spirit.
He knelt on one knee, his gaze full of fervor.
"At your command, Your Highness!"
The firmness and oath-like tone left Lear quite moved.
For the people of this world, speaking a word with such an imperial lady of nobility was a great honor.
However... for someone not in their ranks, he not only felt no honor but found it somewhat amusing.
Stand up just to leave?
Her flaxen hair fluttered in the air, accentuating Firina's extraordinary mystery.
Slowly, she lifted her gaze to the sky.
"פֿאָלגןמייןרוף"
She chanted a soft spell.
In the next moment, the clear cry of an eagle echoed through the sky.
A massive shadow swooped down from the heavens.
Throwing a giant shadow on the ground.
Whoosh~
The air howled, the wings flapped, and cyclones swirled fiercely.
The dark silhouette landed slowly on the ground.
The head of a falcon, the body of a lion, with a wingspan of over ten meters on its back.
Amber eyes emitted an arrow-like sharpness.
A sharp, hooked beak filled with ferocity.
Griffin!
The foundation upon which the Griffin Empire stands!
The strongest force in Lorand City.
Every adult Griffin possesses the power of an upper knight, capable of reaching Level 12!
This is a rank capable of commanding a small unit in the Royal Legion!
The Griffin stood on the ground, its shoulder height surpassing 3 meters.
The lion's body brimming with explosive strength.
Just standing before such a creature, one could feel its suffocating pressure.
Faced with a one-meter-tall, hundred-pound wolfhound, one could feel the pressure of a beast. This fantastical creature, weighing three to four tons, exerted nearly unbearable pressure.
Lear's eyes lit up with fervor.
This might be the allure of this world—extraordinary life that doesn't exist on Earth!
He felt that riding a Griffin soaring through the sky was far more fulfilling than riding alongside the goddess!
Firina seemed to recall something, turning to look at Lear.
She was surprised to find that this youth, yet to cultivate a Seed of Magic, was not trembling in fear under the Griffin's presence.
Instead, his eyes shone with a different kind of light.
As if he saw a long-desired... toy!
Such a ferocious creature as the Griffin, a killing machine on the battlefield, was being treated by an ordinary person as... a toy?
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
She couldn't quite grasp where his confidence stemmed from.
"Go, Rekell."
The silver-helmeted knight raised his head high, like a triumphant returning general, and mounted the ferocious magical creature under the envious eyes of all the soldiers.
The Griffin's lion body pushed off the ground fiercely, wings flapping wildly.
A cyclone erupted, stones scattered, and the trees and grass shook violently.
The lift carried the massive creature swiftly into the sky.
Chirp~
After a sharp eagle's call, it disappeared into the heavens.
Firina looked at Lear with a hint of deeper meaning and spoke softly.
"I have yet to know your name..."
"Lear Els, I greet Your Highness."
Lear placed his right hand on his shoulder, once again indicating a noble's greeting.
Els?
This surname is rather unfamiliar... but becoming a Pioneer Lord hints at something.
Surely his ancestors once shone, but as for now... his clothing says it all.
Firina nodded slightly.
"Lear, may I buy the Magma Fruit sapling in your possession?"
"I have new research that requires it."
"It takes twenty years for a Magma Fruit to grow from a sapling to bearing fruit, requiring continuous cultivation along the way... and that's the shortest time."
"You can ask someone about it later if you like."
After speaking, he added another sentence.
"Of course, I will pay you adequately."
Twenty years to bear fruit?
Lear's mouth twitched, thinking by the time it fully grows, the daylilies would have withered away.
Only time-honored noble families with thousands of years of heritage can afford to nurture something so slowly, after all.
"I naturally trust Your Highness. If needed, I will sell it together to you."
With that, he directly took out 12 mud-covered magma fruit seedlings from the sapling.
He handed them over.
The surrounding soldiers turned green with envy upon seeing this scene.
Firina was somewhat stunned at this sight as well.
She smiled, unconcerned, and directly took the mud-covered seedlings.
The contrast between her fair fingers and the mud-covered seedlings was striking.
The next moment, the previously drooping seedlings seemed to be blessed by the Goddess of Sprouting and visibly perked up.
Teeming with vitality.
"Tomorrow morning is when the next batch of Pioneer Knights will choose their pioneer territories."
"After you've chosen your territory, Sir Lear, I'll provide you with the compensation, is that okay?"
"At that time, it will surely satisfy you."
Lear narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Certainly."
Agreeing, he then spoke softly again.
"However, I am a bit short of funds at the moment. Could I borrow 100 gold coins from Your Highness?"
The soldiers observing silently were now shocked, wondering if they misheard.
This guy is asking the princess... for money?!
This unknown, down-and-out noble, who crawled out of the slums... just handed a filthy sapling to Her Highness and, shamelessly, dared to ask his princess for money?!
Such filthy deeds were being used to insult the princess?!
They felt as though their goddess was being defiled!!
Outrageous!!
Firina was baffled by Lear.
As the princess of Lorand City, a Level 16 Grand Mage, she's encountered many strange people, but it was the first time someone asked her for money.
What kind of mind is this...
Laughing helplessly, she waved to the maid behind her.
"Jasmine, fetch 100 gold coins for Sir Lear."
Saying this, she gave him a half-smile look.
"Anything else you desire, Sir?"
Lear was full of praise.
"Your Highness is generous!"
"Magnanimous!"
"Worthy of admiration!"
Firina couldn't help but laugh.
"As long as you are satisfied, Sir. You can see me again once you receive the assigned territory tomorrow."
Saying this, she looked towards the maid behind her.
"I'll make arrangements, and someone will guide you into the manor when the time comes."
Lear nodded.
"Then I thank Your Highness in advance."
Just then, the blonde maid named Jasmine stepped forward, retrieved a cloth bag from somewhere, and handed it to Lear.
"Here are 100 gold coins."
Lear reached out to take it, opened it to check that everything was in order, and tucked it away.
Seeing his unabashed demeanor, Firina smiled wryly.
This guy.
With the startup funds in hand, Lear didn't want to linger and, after a few polite exchanges, bid farewell and left directly.
Firina and her maid watched as Lear disappeared quickly, feeling inexplicably that... this guy might have just come for the 100 gold coins?
They exchanged glances, amused, unsure how to describe their inner feelings.
Standing before you is the Eldest Princess of Lorand City, and all you ask for is gold coins?!
Having achieved his goal, Lear couldn't care less about what others thought.
The magma fruit tree seedlings, which he had inquired about the prices before coming here, could be sold for more than 30 gold coins elsewhere.
Another piece of news was that the Blue Crystal Grass could fetch 50 gold coins; he originally didn't expect Her Highness to offer any additional gains.
These 100 gold coins were already beyond the budgetary income.
Taking what's given, even if earning a bit less, was certainly not a loss.
A wise gambler doesn't only rely on a perfect hand but knows when to leave the table. The smartest don't even gamble, but right now, he had no choice but to do it himself.
As for the supplies Firina promised him, they were considered an extra gain.
The substantial profit earned from using two 2-star pieces of news filled his wallet within half a day.
Could the two pieces of 1-star information be utilized?
Lear shook his head. Without any channels, their value was indeed limited.
In thought, his gaze fell upon the fifth 6-star golden piece of information... Swamp Divine Format!
On the morning of July 8, the dragons shall ascend from all four seas!