Chapter 413: Promoted to Mentor of Disorder (4k words)
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[This is where chapters are beginning to reach 3k words, sometimes 6k]
Hobert finally understood why Jessica had been so fearless before, unafraid of exposing her residence whether facing MI9 or the "Judgment Group."
It turned out that the owner of the residence was willing and capable of providing them with a certain degree of security. Hobert wasn't quite sure about Alice's position in the royal family, but her status as a princess was there, and in many cases, she represented the majesty of the royal family, enough to make the people of MI9 dare not offend her.
Jessica whispered, "You should still change your appearance. Although Princess Alice promised not to interfere in our private affairs, there are other servants here, and it wouldn't be good if they saw you."
After all, Hobert had killed a prince not long ago, who was Alice's younger brother.
Hobert changed back to the appearance he had when he was riding in the carriage before, and then followed Jessica into the courtyard.
While walking inside, Hobert asked, "How is the 'Barbarian' potion being digested?"
"Digested? Hmm, that's a very appropriate word." Jessica smiled and said, "During the legislative process of the 'Labor Law,' I felt that the potion was being digested very well, and my condition has been very good."
Hobert nodded. What Jessica was doing was also equivalent to challenging the existing order in Backlund, so the potion was being digested to a certain extent: "When you feel that you have completely mastered the 'Barbarian' potion, write to me. I have the potion formula and main materials for 'Briber' there."
Jessica smiled and agreed, opened the small door of the large warehouse in front of her, and invited Hobert in.
This not-small warehouse is still divided into two parts. As soon as you enter, you can see the entire warehouse. It is much larger than Carrie's studio before, but it is still packed full by her.
On one side of the warehouse entrance, there is a small room, seemingly designed to record the entry and exit of warehouse property, but now it has been cleaned up by Jessica for receiving customers.
Carrie was already waiting inside, wiping a light red sword. Hobert noticed that there were many mysterious symbols engraved on the sword.
After learning that the unfamiliar-looking man in front of her was Hobert, Carrie smiled and said, "I can only say that we are very lucky to have created two mystical weapons in one go."
She raised the sword in her hand: "As long as you inject a weak amount of spirituality into it, it will become hotter and hotter until it turns red, and the sword will ignite flames. Each strike can sprinkle some sparks, which has the effect of interfering with the opponent's vision and increasing one's own power. In addition, there is about a 5% chance that it can help the holder find the enemy's weakness."
Hobert took the sword and played with it for a while. The ability of this sword was already very good: "How long does the effect last?"
"The effect produced by Beyonder materials is not like spiritual materials that lose so quickly." Carrie said, "However, it must be repaired by me or other craftsmen every year and a half. If it is repaired on time, there will be no problem using it for more than ten years."
As she spoke, she opened another wooden box on the table, which contained a crimson war hammer, also engraved with many occult symbols.
Carrie continued: "The materials you gave me are one of the main materials of 'Provoker'. I tried to use related spiritual materials to make these weapons have corresponding pathway abilities, not limited to the abilities of 'Provoker'.
"Like this war hammer, there is a certain probability that it will strike out flames that cover the opponent. The higher the probability of striking out flames, the darker the place. I tried it at night, and the probability can be as high as 10%.
"It also has an ability to provoke with a certain probability, causing the surrounding enemies to change their attack targets and attack the holder together. If the holder's defensive ability is strong enough, this is a very good ability in team battles, but if the holder is an Beyonder who is inclined to intelligence, this skill is tantamount to suicide."
Hobert nodded: Very suitable for use in the "Forsaken Land."
First of all, it is dark enough there, and secondly, the defensive abilities of the Beyonders there are generally very high.
Hobert asked, "How much does the material and labor cost in total?"
"Not much material was used." Jessica said from the side, "However, it took Carrie a lot of time. Please pay another 200 pounds for labor."
Hobert nodded and took out the 200 pounds that he hadn't warmed up yet: "I brought you three more of the same main materials this time."
Carrie was slightly stunned: "I must remind you again that you didn't lose money on these two mystical weapons, but that doesn't mean we'll have such good luck next time."
Theoretically speaking, there would be no problem selling these two weapons for 2,000 pounds.
But the cost is very high. "Provoker" is a relatively "popular" Beyonder pathway, and four main materials of this level are worth between 1,200 and 1,500 pounds.
Adding the 200 pounds for labor, Carrie and Jessica thought that the cost was between 1,600 and 1,700 pounds.
But the two weapons can only be sold for 2,000 pounds in the end, which is too little profit for them.
Hobert smiled and said, "I have relevant channels to obtain relatively preferential Beyonder materials. Just let go and do it. Even if you don't succeed once, I will still pay you the labor cost."
Carrie smiled: "Okay, but if there are three of the same main materials, I am confident that I can at least make one Beyonder weapon.
"Let me take a look. This seems to be the main material of 'Beast Tamer'. I have to check the information again to be sure.
"Hehe, I'm looking forward to what kind of Beyonder weapon I can create."
Hobert suddenly thought of a new question: "If it fails, will these main materials be wasted?"
This doesn't make sense, after all, that is a Beyonder material, and the Beyonder characteristics should not disappear.
"Those materials will be combined with the weapon, but will not give the weapon any ability." Carrie spread her hands: "Such materials are equivalent to being scrapped. They cannot be used to prepare potions, nor can they be used in the production of other weapons."
Hobert seemed to understand something: "If I'm not mistaken, a Beyonder weapon can be used for more than ten years, not because its extraordinary effect is gone, but because the metal material of the weapon can only support it for more than ten years?"
Carrie nodded: "That's the truth."
"If you encounter this kind of weapon, you can help me buy it at a low price. In my eyes, they still have residual value." Hobert said, "Also, I will also recycle weapons that have failed to be made. This is part of our transaction."
Carrie wondered: "What do you want these things for?"
Of course, it is to take them to the "Nation of Disorder" to crush them and obtain the Beyonder characteristics of the Beyonder materials for recycling and utilization.
Hobert smiled: "Of course I have my uses."
Carrie nodded and didn't continue to ask.
After talking about business, Jessica poured three glasses of wine, and the three of them sat on the sofa to chat.
While chatting, Carrie talked about Hobert's messenger, saying that the messenger's level must be very high.
Jessica also sighed: "And it can emit huge mental pressure. Today, when she was waiting for a reply, she made me feel huge pressure.
"This made me have to write faster, and I finished the reply in two or three minutes."
Hobert smiled: "According to my observation, her level is indeed not low..."
Wait, it only took two or three minutes to finish writing, why did it take more than ten minutes to give me the reply?
Okay, okay, the level is not low, but she likes to cheat summoners out of donuts.
Hobert took a sip of wine to hide his unnaturalness, and he suddenly thought: "Is this wine aged?"
Jessica smiled: "Princess Alice also gave us the wine cellar here and told us that we can drink freely. I looked at it before, and there are quite a few aged wines."
Hobert said, "Is there three-year-old white wine?"
"Yes."
"Then please get me a bottle, I just need it."
Originally, Hobert was going to find a winery to buy a bottle later, which saved him an extra trip.
"No problem." Jessica quickly brought the wine.
Hobert was about to give money, but when he thought about it, it would be too distant if he gave money, so the action of giving money was changed to thanking him.
After chatting for more than twenty minutes, around nine o'clock, Hobert left with two wooden boxes on his back and the wine in his hand.
He still didn't use "Traveling" in the Empress Borough. This is a gathering place for nobles. The royal family, the military, and the church protect this place relatively strictly. It is still safer to leave here honestly and then use "Traveling".
Back in his fief, Hobert first put the white wine on the desk, then opened the two wooden boxes and named the two weapons "Crimson Sword" and "Provocation War Hammer" respectively.
After playing with them for a while, Hobert closed the wooden boxes and quietly asked Seel to send the "Crimson Sword" to Grove.
After dedicating the "Provocation War Hammer" to the "Nation of Disorder", Hobert returned to his room and used meditation to fall asleep as soon as possible. He wanted to maintain an excellent state to deal with tomorrow's promotion.
...
Before dawn, the villagers and residents of the town made an appointment to go to the lord's mansion. Under the rule of the previous group of bandits, they had to pay taxes once a month.
If the leaders of those bandits had not been killed by the lord, it would have been time for them to pay taxes again.
So recently everyone has been a little uneasy. The lord's mansion has not sent anyone to urge them to pay taxes, and they don't know how the new lord plans to collect taxes.
When everyone learned that the lord was going to announce how to collect taxes, it immediately attracted widespread attention. Almost everyone in the family came out, wanting to hear how to pay taxes next year, otherwise this New Year would definitely not be good.
Hobert also got up very early today. Philip came to report early in the morning that almost all the residents of the entire territory had come.
The front of the lord's mansion was already full of people, and even the roads up and down the mountain were crowded with people.
But the outside was not noisy, and even the sound of loud talking could not be heard.
Obviously, compared to doing household registration statistics, the people respected Hobert's authority more. They were very conscious of not making noise in front of the lord's mansion.
Hobert ate a simple breakfast and returned to his study, placing all the extraordinary materials on the desk.
He had already prepared tools such as measuring cylinders, balances, and beakers. After all the materials were ready, he began to prepare the potion.
First, 80 milliliters of three-year-old white wine, which is normal wine, nothing to say.
Then add the juice of the crown tree, the golden juice quickly merges with the wine, turning into a warm light yellow.
Then there is the black giant gold monster flower and the bark of the dragon pattern tree. The giant gold monster flower is a flower with gold and black colors, about the size of a palm, but very light.
The bark of the dragon pattern tree is a piece of bark that seems to be mixed with black stars and golden patterns, and even seems to be able to see a little starlight and weak golden light.
After the giant gold monster flower and the dragon pattern tree bark were added to the beaker, they were quickly melted and underwent a chemical reaction-like change. The liquid in the entire beaker seemed to be tumbling.
Finally, Hobert added the "Mentor of Disorder" Beyonder characteristic that had been divided and re-condensed.
Its shape is like a tightly clenched translucent black fist. This fist intuitively gives a sense of strength and evil. The patterns and light spots on it seem to follow normal rules, but they are full of disharmony, and seem to contain a lot of madness and chaos.
Just looking at it makes people feel uneasy, as if a serious obsessive-compulsive disorder patient saw an extremely messy room and wanted to roll up his sleeves and tidy up the room.
The Beyonder characteristic also quickly melted, but there was no violent reaction in the beaker, but Hobert seemed to hear some mind-numbing whispers from the beaker.
But if the line of sight leaves the beaker, the whispers disappear.
Hobert took out the glass medicine bottle that he had prepared, and not a drop of the potion in the beaker was left, all poured into the medicine bottle.
Hobert put on the stopper and put it in his pocket.
Opening the door of the study, Fors was already waiting outside.
She had gone to a high place to look outside just now. Even Fors, who lived in a big city, rarely saw a scene of thousands of people gathered together.
These are all the people of this territory, and they are all loyal to Hobert. Thinking of this, Fors was excited for Hobert.
Hobert stretched out his hand, and Fors naturally took his arm.
Accompanied by the guards and supported by the respectful servants, the two came to the front of the lord's mansion.
"Lord!"
"Madam!"
The loud greetings from outside made Fors slightly stunned. She was not as shy as when she first entered the lord's mansion, but greeted everyone generously.
Philip had prepared a small high platform in advance, the horn was tied to the tree, and the microphone was placed on the table on the small high platform.
Hobert and Fors came to the high platform hand in hand, and the people behind also saw them. For a time, the sound of "Lord" was endless, and the scene was very enthusiastic.
Hobert smiled and waved to them, the greeting process lasted for more than a minute, and the scene gradually calmed down.
This scene made Seel straighten his chest, while Philip's eyes were filled with tears.
Under Fors's guidance, Hobert turned on the microphone switch: "As I said yesterday, I called you here to announce how Jeffery will collect taxes in the future."
The people who had never seen a horn were wondering how the lord's voice was so loud when the lord spoke.
But Hobert came up and said to the point, which made everyone quiet down immediately.
"I hereby announce," Hobert smiled: "Jeffery will be exempt from all agricultural taxes from today on!"
This news shocked Grove, Albert, and the others. Of course, they understood the significance of the agricultural tax to the landed gentry. Without the agricultural tax, the lord would lose more than 80% of their income. How would they support the expenses of the lord's mansion?
Fors also showed a surprised expression. She realized yesterday that Hobert would greatly reduce the taxes on the people in the territory, but she never expected that Hobert would simply waive all the taxes!
However, most people were a little confused. Many people didn't understand what agricultural tax was, and of course, they didn't know which part of the tax the lord was reducing.
Hobert continued to explain: "You don't have to pay taxes on what you get from farming, from orchards, or from vegetable gardens!"
The scene suddenly became quiet, and everyone couldn't believe it.
Until someone in front of the stage mustered up the courage to ask: "Lord, that is to say, no matter what I plant, no matter how the harvest is, I don't have to pay taxes, right?"
"Yes!"
After a few seconds of silence, someone shouted: "Long live the Lord!"
Then everyone followed and shouted: "Long live the Lord!" "Long live the Lord!"
The shouts were earth-shattering, and many people were so excited that their eyes were filled with tears.
Taking advantage of the extremely enthusiastic scene, Hobert quickly handed the microphone to Fors, and then, surrounded by Xio and others, came to a small room at the entrance of the Lord's Mansion.
Hobert said to Xio when he entered the door: "Guard here and don't let anyone in."
"Yes!"
Hobert locked the door tightly, and recalled the ritual of advancing to "Mentor of Disorder" again: taking the magic potion in his own territory, amidst the heartfelt gratitude of the people.
Now that both requirements had been met, taking advantage of the cheers outside still deafening, Hobert opened the bottle and drank the magic potion in one gulp.
The moment the magic potion entered his mouth, Hobert felt his consciousness explode. For a moment, his consciousness was in chaos, and he instantly lost control of his consciousness and body.
Hobert became muddle-headed. His spiritual body broke through the roof and came into the air.
At this time, the sun rose, and the sunlight shone on Full Moon Lake, making the lake water look soft and warm. The sunlight shone on the vibrant vegetation, making this land look full of life.
What a beautiful lake, what a beautiful rural scene, and there are so many people outside!
"Long live the Lord!"
"Long live Jeffrey Territory!"
Hobert heard shouts, and a burst of passionate emotions repeatedly washed over the completely emptied Hobert, allowing him to regain emotional fluctuations.
Lord? Baron Hobert, I am Baron Hobert!
Yes, they are grateful to me for exempting them from agricultural taxes, and they are cheering for me!
This place with beautiful scenery is my territory!
Suddenly, Hobert regained his consciousness, and then he heard confusing whispers in his ears, making Hobert's head ache.
Hobert was about to resist the whispers through meditation, but the cheers outside gradually drowned out the whispers, until only the cheers remained in Hobert's ears.
He breathed a sigh of relief and regained control of himself.
Perhaps the magic potion was digesting well, or perhaps the ritual was very effective, the process of advancing to "Mentor of Disorder" was smoother than Hobert expected.
He lowered his head and clenched his fist, feeling that his strength had increased again, and his physique was stronger. Although he didn't dare to compare with the "Guardian", he was close to the physique of a "Dawn Paladin".
At the same time, he felt that his speed had also improved significantly. He possessed various fighting skills. Even if he had not learned fighting, he would be a fighting master in battle.
The blessing on fighting skills, the "Justiciar" pathway started from "Arbiter", and by the time it reached the "Sheriff" level, it was already a fighting master.
However, the "Black Emperor" pathway only "completed" it all at once at the "Mentor of Disorder" level.
Hobert stroked the "Fighting Ring" on his hand. This magical item, which he had worn for the longest time, could finally "retire".
Then Hobert let his spirituality spread and felt his new abilities.
The first is "Disorder", which is the signature ability of "Mentor of Disorder". It can cause the locked target to fall into chaos, making it difficult for attacks to land on oneself, and making it easy for the enemy to make wrong choices.
At the same time, it can cause a certain amount of chaos in an area of about five meters, such as the temperature in this area suddenly rising, the road surface in this area suddenly becoming uneven, etc. This state can be superimposed.
In addition, the ability of "Distortion" has been greatly improved. In addition to strengthening the ability to distort the target's language, actions, and intentions, it can also distort the concepts of oneself and the target, so that both parties bear half of the damage, curses, diseases, etc.
Hobert unconsciously touched his "Healing Fork". The sequence 5 level "Distortion" plus "Healing" is a perfect match!
"Corrosion" has also been strengthened, which can corrode the minds of people within twenty meters, and Hobert can already control whether to make the enemy greedy or gloomy. In any case, it is easier to make the other party make irrational choices.
The strengthening of abilities such as "Weakening" is the greatest. You don't have to use "Bribe" to use the four skills of "Weakening", "Charm", "Arrogance", and "Connection".
Especially "Arrogance" and "Connection", which were somewhat useless skills before, have become surprisingly useful abilities.
"Arrogance" can make the target become proud, arrogant, and reduce their mental state, leading to misjudgment.
"Connection" can quickly create a link between the two parties, causing the target's hostility to temporarily disappear.
And "Charm" now has two modes. The first mode is to make it difficult for the enemy to generate the desire to attack, and even lose the desire to fight for a short time.
The second mode is more like "Charm" + "Distortion", allowing the enemy's attack to fall on their companions, and quickly generate goodwill towards oneself, believing that their companions have betrayed them, thereby becoming one's own helpers in a short period of time.
If this ability is used well, it is a very explosive skill in team battles!
Finally, there are the changes in Hobert's temperament and spirituality brought about by the magic potion.
He can act like an ordinary person, or he can make himself extremely majestic, causing the surrounding creatures to unconsciously lower their posture and want to submit.
The change in spirituality is that the "storage" of spirituality has become huge. Now when Hobert uses "Holy Light" or "Underworld Gate" again, there will not be too much burden.
Hobert took a deep breath, Sequence 5 was indeed a level stronger than Sequence 6.
At this time, the atmosphere outside was still very enthusiastic. Hobert adjusted his state, and after going to the "Nation of Disorder" to re-seal the figure in the pool, he came out of the room.
Xio immediately felt that the Lord was different from when he went in.
His back seemed to have become taller, and he seemed to be more majestic than before.
Hobert returned to the small high platform outside and took the microphone from Fors.
Fors had been asked so much that she was overwhelmed. She didn't know whether raising livestock and poultry was within the scope of agricultural tax, and she didn't know whether taxes should be paid if the vegetables grown were used for trading.
Hobert returned to the high platform and answered everyone's questions one by one.
...
Feynapotter Kingdom, northern city of Tuburia.
Lieutenant Colonel Byrd was frantically packing his bags!
Knock knock knock~
Someone knocked on the door.
Byrd cocked his pistol: "Who is it?"
"It's me!" It was Ethel's voice.
Byrd was first surprised, then desperate, and finally tried to calm himself, put the gun back in its holster and opened the door.
Ethel stood at the door and smiled at the room: "You seem to be packing your luggage?"
"Honey, I was just about to find you!" Byrd said happily: "You don't know, after hearing the news of your attack, I couldn't stay for a moment and wanted to rush over to protect you! Mother above, let you return safely."
Ethel smiled slightly: "Thank you for your concern."
As she spoke, she suddenly kicked Byrd away: "Take him away!"
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