Chapter 174 Diplomatic
After Adam had opened his eyes, he learned from Valerian that he had been in that strange state for almost two days.
He didn't know how he had come to levitate in midair like a sage. He started to stroke his chin and muttered to himself in sheer disbelief, "Is this what they call a state of enlightenment? Have I… become a wise man?"
"Val!" He hurriedly looked in the young dragon's direction. He then walked toward him and picked him by the armpits. "Look into my eyes! Tell me, do you see wisdom in my eyes? Huh? Huuuhh?"
Valerian's whiskers started to twitch. 'B-Brother, are you alright?'
"Don't ask stupid questions," Adam said with a straight face. "Tell me, do I look smarter than before?"
'No?' Valerian replied truthfully.
"Tsk." Adam gently put the little guy back on the ground. He then looked away and started tying his long hair into a ponytail. "As I thought. You're too young and dumb. You just can't see it."
Valerian was speechless.
"Anyway." Adam took out a black robe from his earring and wore it over his bare upper body. "Let's go meet the old baboon leader. Didn't you say he had tons of treasure?"
"Myu!" Valeiran's eyes flashed with excitement. He hurriedly ran toward the youth and then agilely climbed his head.
'Yes! I've seen it myself. They have a lot of it!' He added through a mental transmission.
"Hmm." Adam nodded as he canceled his spell, Druidism, and walked out of the cave. "But we have to be diplomatic about it."
'Brother, what is diplomatic?'
"If you can take what belongs to others without making them feel bad. That is what it means to be diplomatic… I think"
'Oh! Brother, Come to think of it, you really have become wiser than before. Will you divide the treasure with me?' The little guy asked while rubbing his paws together, a cunning glint flashing in his topaz eyes.
"Oho?" Adam was pleasantly surprised. "Not bad! Already learning the ropes, I see. Fine, I'll think about it."
Being praised by Adam, Valerian clapped his paws excitedly. 'So 50-50?'
"Don't push it!"
Valerian's ears dropped and he laid back down on the youth's head. 'Fine…'
The duo exited the cave, and under the young dragon's guidance, Adam left for the branch inhabited by the leader as well as the elders of the baboon tribe.
…
"Kie!"
"Kie! Kie! Kie!"
"Kiiiiieeee!"
As expected, when Adam spoke to the old baboon leader about the treasures, everyone lost their minds. The youth was only just now realizing how seriously these magical beasts took their treasures.
Currently, Adam and Valerian were standing on a thick branch near the crown. This branch seemed to be the place where all the high-ranking members of the tribe gathered.
The old baboon leader was sitting on a giant throne made of green vines. Moreover, the other baboons, who were similarly aged, stood around him.
While the baboons were glaring and screaming at Adam, his mind had already drifted elsewhere. He thought to himself, Why is it that I always cross paths with these greedy magical beasts?
While the elders of the baboon tribe were cursing at Adam, he had already started digging his nose. This action of his caused the elders to be even more furious and scream louder. If it wasn't for Valerian being present, they might have already attacked him.
However, Adam completely ignored them and continued to search for booger.
Meanwhile, the leader of the tribe, the old and hunched-back baboon, looked at Adam calmly. He then glanced at the young dragon lazily lying on the youth's head and couldn't help but sigh.
Although he greatly revered Valerian's true identity. That didn't mean he would start doing things that would go against the values of his tribe members.
The Peach Baboons valued three things above all else - eating, sleeping, and hoarding treasures.
Now that Adam was asking them to give him some of the treasure that they had hoarded over generations, it didn't sit well with the old baboon leader. He wanted to refuse, but at the same time, he did not want to offend the mighty dragon.
The old leader had never found himself in such a dilemma.
"You know, old sir," Adam looked at the baboon leader and smirked. "I'm not asking for anything else. Just give me some of the gold and platinum coins you've gathered. It's not like you can use it in this place anyway."
"Kie!"
"Kie! Kie! Kie!"
"Kiiiiieeee!"
"Ki-ki-kieeeyah!"
This elicited another round of angry roars from the baboons gathered. However, Adam released a tiny bit of his mana, the pressure emitting from the mana instantly shutting up everyone in place.
He continued, "Of course, I won't just take it for free. I'm a morally upright gentleman, after all."
The youth paused for a moment and then added, "If you're facing any problems, I'll take care of it. You can give me the coins as compensation. How about that?"
The old leader was first taken aback, but the next moment, his eyes lit up. He looked at the other elders of the tribe and discussed something with them in their native language.
After a few minutes of arguing back and forth, the baboons had finally come to a decision. Some were happy about it, most others were simply salty about the possibility of having to part with their treasures. While a few others were looking at the youth with mockery.
The old baboon leader got up from his throne and first bowed toward Adam. 'Esteemed warrior, please do not address me as 'Sir', I do not deserve it.'
Adam resisted the urge to roll his eyes. This old guy was a little too sophisticated, he felt. He patiently waited for the baboon to continue.
The old baboon looked the youth in the eyes and asked earnestly, 'You mentioned that you will resolve any issue plaguing our tribe.'
Adam nodded. "Of course, it should be something that I can handle."
'Please, rest assured.' The old baboon bowed once again. 'I have just the task for you!'
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