Chapter 39
“Are you sure you don’t want to give it a try?”
Watson asked with a strange expression.
He felt that the difficulty had been reduced significantly and he did not expect William to admit defeat. Did he not sufficiently lower the difficulty? Should he try using only half of the combat aura?
As Watson began thinking of that, a group of guards had already started discussing.
“This test is too difficult. It seems that we are not qualified to enter Blackmoon Castle.”
“Yes, even William admitted defeat on his own accord. We are only bringing shame upon ourselves! As expected of the young genius who is famous at the border. He has mastered five types of combat aura. Who would dare to go up against him? It won’t be easy for us to get close to him, let alone make him take a step back.”
Although they really wanted to enter Blackmoon Castle, the reality was plain for them to see. Many people had given up, and Vincent’s words rang true. If they could not even make Watson take a step back, what was the use of people like them becoming guards? To have their master protect them instead?
That would be too awkward.
No one dared to go forward. Only one of them tidied up his clothes and walked out.
“Young Master Watson, I want to try this trial.”
Watson looked up and saw the person who walked out. He revealed a surprised smile. “Allen, why are you here? I didn’t expect you to apply. We’re all familiar with each other. Forget about the test.”
When Allen heard this, he was ecstatic in his heart, but he still pretended to be calm on the surface, “Rules are rules. How can you break them so easily? Young Master Watson, don’t worry. I haven’t been sitting around idly for a month. I’ve caught two hundred magic beasts. After I pass the test, I’ll return to Miles Manor and bring these two hundred magic beasts here.”
Allen didn’t mention how hard he had trained. Instead, he said something about magic beasts, which made the surrounding guards confused. But soon, someone realized that this person was blatantly bribing them. Allen’s meaning was very clear. As long as he was allowed to pass, he would offer up 200 magical beasts.
200 magical beasts, even if they were Iron-tier magical beasts, would at least be worth dozens of gold coins.
“I can’t possibly.”
Watson scratched his face bashfully and withdrew the combat aura on his body. “Come on.”
Allen came to Watson’s side symbolically and gave him a gentle push. Watson immediately took two steps back and said, “Not bad. To be able to make me take a step back, you have passed.”
“Which farm is this Allen from? How could he defeat Watson so easily? Could it be that he’s a hidden Silver-tier warrior? Why haven’t I heard of him before?” Someone asked in puzzlement, getting a fierce kick from the person beside him, “Idiot, shut up!”
Shady business!
All that shady business was conducted in plain view. Did they think the others there were blind? Only a fool would not be able to see through it.
Behind Watson, Vincent looked at this scene with black lines all over his head.
He had heard of Watson’s encounter at miles manor and knew that Allen had already defected to Watson. It was only natural that he would enter Blackmoon Castle. However, it was still important to put on a good show in front of all those people.
“I didn’t expect you to improve so much in the past month, Allen. You’re now officially a member of Blackmoon Castle.”
Watson chuckled. He felt that Allen was quite smart. He knew that he had to bribe his way through the exam. In fact, he was not satisfied with the guards in front of him. However, if these people were like Allen and were willing to give up the property that fancies his interest, it was not impossible for him to go easy on them.
Watson looked at Allen and saw him winking at him. Although Allen’s strength was not good, he was smart. With proper training, he could rest assured about the safety of his family.
Watson did not worry any longer and said, “Allen, as the first person to pass the trial, you’ll get a set of Bronze-tier armor and weapons later. After you bring the magical beasts here, you’ll also get a Bronze-tier magic beast! Other than that, you can get three Pentacolor Fragrant Chicken eggs every day, and you can get ten gold coins a month…”
One Pentacolor Fragrant Chicken egg every day?
Bronze-tier weapons, armor, and mounts?
Was that for real?
Watson said a bunch of tempting rewards. After a pause, he waved his hand and said, “Forget it, let’s not wait any longer. Let’s do it now! Big Brother, take a hundred Pentacolor Fragrant Chicken eggs and give them to Allen.”
“I understand.” Vincent also understood that his eighth brother wanted to make such big promises to win over the hearts of the people. Without saying anything else, he returned to the castle. A moment later, he walked out with a basket of eggs. The number of eggs in the basket was neither too much nor too little and there were exactly a hundred of them.
Seeing this scene, the guards knew that what Watson said was true. Their eyes instantly turned red. A hundred colorful fragrant eggs, that was a hundred gold coins. The value of the eggs was more than two hundred Iron-tier magic beasts. Allen had already made a profit, and he even had three eggs to eat every day in the future. Such treatment was something none of them dared to imagine.
Some of them moved their noses and sniffed the fragrance in the air. They licked their lips as they felt a lot more comfortable.
“Young Master Watson, I suddenly remembered that my family has an ancestral bronze-tier enchanted necklace that is worth fifty gold coins,” a guard stood out and said righteously.
“Although my family does not have any valuable jewelry, I have a twelve-year-old sister who is about the same age as young master Watson. She can be a little handmaiden to serve you tea and water.” Another guard stepped forward.
The rest of the people looked at each other and started to discuss among themselves.
“Young Master Watson, I don’t have anything valuable in my family, nor do I have a cute sister. Do you think I’m…”
The guard who spoke seemed to feel that there was something strange in the gaze of the people around him, he added, “Why are you all looking at me like that? I’m not saying that I want to give my body to the young master. I’m saying that I have the strength. As long as the young master is willing to recruit me into the castle, I’m willing to capture ten Iron-tier magical beasts every day!”
Watson smiled at the excited crowd. “Everyone, don’t be anxious. Come one by one! Big Brother, please write down the conditions that these people have promised.”
Half an hour later, Vincent was holding a long gift list in his hand. On it were written various benefits. Some people gave jewelry worth dozens of gold coins, some gave their younger sisters, and some gave land, food, and weapons.
Among the dozen guards in front of him, Watson chose ten who were under the age of forty. These people were still young and had a lot of room to improve their strength in the future. As for those who were in their fifties or sixties, Watson could only apologize even if they gave a lot of gifts.
He accepted the gifts to make a fortune, but also to improve the strength of these guards. When those guards delivered the items, ordinary armor would be fused into Bronze or Silver-tier defensive equipment. Wheat would be fused into high-quality ingredients that could improve the strength of the guards
Watson made up his mind. The better the items these people gave, the more benefits they would get. If he only needed to move his fingers to arm a team of guards and make them all feel grateful, there was no reason for him not to do so.
“The test this time has ended. I want to apologize to those who failed. The next recruitment will be in a month’s time! Those who are interested can inform their friends. If they can pull someone over and successfully pass the selection, they will receive a Pentacolor Fragrant Chicken egg.”
With a wave of his hand, Watson dismissed those who had been eliminated. He led his big brother and the ten selected guards into Blackmoon Castle. The excited voice of his seventh sibling Scarlet could faintly be heard beside him, “Watson, can you share some of the many gifts you received? You’re really too cunning to have them present you gifts if they want to join the castle. If they come here a few more times, we’ll make a huge profit without having to do anything.”
“Shh, seventh sister, Don’t talk nonsense! This is clearly called wisdom. How can you call it cunning?”
Boom!
The gate of Blackmoon Castle closed with a loud bang, leaving a few people who looked at each other blankly.
“What are you still standing there for? Quickly go back and ask if there are any Bronze-tier warriors we know who are willing to join Blackmoon Castle.”
Some people came to their senses and gritted their teeth and left in a hurry. They had no hope of joining Blackmoon Castle, but it was fine to introduce other people over. How could they possibly miss out on a chance for them to get Pentacolor Fragrant Chicken eggs for free?
They had never heard of such a thing before. Similarly, the wealth of Blackmoon Castle once again breathed new life into everyone’s worldview.
The border had been peaceful for decades, but a big storm was about to occur.