Chapter 239: Chapter 237: Can I Join You?
Looking to purchase scrolls from me?
Hilia’s heart skipped a beat.
Could Emilia have discovered something?
No, that can’t be right.
Hilia remembered her disguise was comprehensive.
Not only did she sharpen her ears, but she also altered her appearance, height, voice, and posture.
With so many layers of disguise, Hilia was confident that even if Vanessa came, she wouldn’t recognize her.
Under this premise, Hilia thought of how she was seen buying a large number of blank scrolls yesterday.
After all, she hadn’t hidden it, so being seen was quite normal.
But... how did Emilia know she could craft Tier Three scrolls?
Could it be a trick?
No, why should it matter if it’s a trick?
Lord Rose’s disguise is invincible!
No one can see through it!
What does it matter if someone suspects me?
As long as I don’t admit it, it’s fine!
If I’m not discovered, then there’s nothing to fear.
I’m a mysterious elf priest casually producing Tier Three scrolls, so what?
Feel free to investigate.
In a flash of thought, Hilia immediately took out a few Tier Three scrolls she carried with her.
"What type of scroll do you need? Whether it’s attack, defense, healing, enhancement, or special use, I have them all here, top quality, guaranteed satisfaction."
Hilia’s straightforwardness left Emilia a bit puzzled.
In her plan, if this Hilia was truly Hilia, she should be feeling guilty, pretending not to have Tier Three scrolls.
With such openness, it seemed like she truly was Hilia of the Elf Race... But who could craft a Tier Three scroll at Tier Two?
Even her brother, Pascal, the top scorer in the Divine Magic Academy’s first-year scroll exam, couldn’t do it.
Emilia had investigated the various situations of her siblings, especially those studying at the Divine Magic Academy.
Pascal took first place in the scroll exam, drawing her attention, and coincidentally saw Hilia in second place.
Initially, she thought Hilia didn’t possess as high a scroll talent as Pascal.
Until she later found out Hilia could craft Tier Three scrolls long ago, her usual scroll practice had no relation to the exams.
She hadn’t studied past scroll exams, spending every day doing unrelated extracurricular exercises, and only upon entering the exam hall did she know, her impromptu performance secured second place.
Pascal, on the other hand, specialized in reviewing, predicting daily exam questions.
Their score difference was minimal.
"Pascal can’t mass-produce Tier Three scrolls, so this Miss Hilia must indeed be Miss Hilia."
However, Hilia’s various reactions made Emilia somewhat uncertain.
There’s also the possibility Hilia saw through her.
Thinking about it, Emilia glanced at a passing mercenary and invited the two to discuss in her tent.
Emilia thought, "Regardless if it’s true or not, it doesn’t matter. The truth will naturally reveal itself."
When seated in the tent, Emilia asked, "Miss Hilia, Miss Elina, what is your current exploration progress?"
Hilia answered, "We’ve ventured slightly further into the ruins."
Emilia understood and smiled, "It seems what we saw was truly you."
Elina asked, "You could see us?"
Emilia nodded, "Yes, when we were preparing to open the door, we accidentally saw magic light and sound appear on the central tower of the castle, and I knew it must be you."
Hilia was shocked, "What? You haven’t even entered the castle yet? How incompetent."
Emilia: "..."
Our incompetence, truly sorry.
Hilia’s words were basically a confirmation, yet Emilia found it hard to believe.
They were still exploring outside the castle, slowly searching for the key to unlock it while someone had already delved into the castle and climbed the tower... no, climbed to the mid-levels of the tower.
The disparity left her incredulous.
Could they have known all the puzzle-solving clues in advance? How could they progress so quickly?
The ruins still limited the number of entrants, sending away groups exceeding five to different mirror worlds. Emilia felt confident that the four teammates she brought from the Royal Magic Academy were carefully selected, capable of making it into the top hundred in the same tier, same grade within the Ista Empire.
Even faced with Tier Three high-tier demons, they could put up a fight.
Yet, the exploration of five was defeated by two elves.
"May I ask, where have you reached now?"
Hilia said, "Not very deep, just on the fifth level."
Elina added, "Yes, only the fifth level, going quite slowly. Oh, right, choosing the tower starts counting as levels, but not entering the castle counts as level zero. Each level requires proof upon entry, just like the door."
Emilia: "..."
Defeated thoroughly.
Emilia opened her mouth, intending to ask about the situation inside the castle, but instead blurted out, "Can I join you?"
"What?"
Hilia and Elina were momentarily at a loss.
"I..." Emilia realized, her face slightly reddening, but since she had already spoken, she decided to inquire further: "It’s nothing, just asking if you need a Sword Master to help you conquer the ruins."
"Well..."
Hilia and Elina exchanged glances; Hilia seemed indifferent while Elina appeared somewhat doubtful.
After pondering for a moment, Hilia said, "We probably can’t go together because we only have two teleport proofs, and we don’t know if a third person would end up with us at the same place."
"Proofs..."
Emilia felt a spark, asking, "Do the old proofs remain after you acquire new ones?"
Hilia shook her head, "The old proofs disappeared completely."
"Is that so, what a pity, I wanted to purchase high-level proofs from you."
Elina was surprised, "Proofs can be traded?"
Emilia nodded, smiling, "Yes, many new mercenary corps, reluctant to waste time in the maze outside the door, buy proofs from mercenaries who don’t want to enter the ruins and face danger.
"And weaker mercenaries, by wandering in the maze for eight hours, can obtain transit proofs, sell them to mercenary corps, and earn gold coins. This has become a unique trading item here."
"How much does one proof sell for?" Hilia asked curiously.
"Currently, the market price is 50 silver coins per proof, but as more low-tier mercenaries choose to farm proofs, the price is dropping rapidly. In two days, it might fall to 10 silver coins. But beyond [The First Trial] proofs, other proofs still hold high prices, though none have produced other proofs yet."
Hilia thought about it, realizing proofs were only awarded upon reaching the second level, and before that, the castle exterior and the first level remained interconnected. Re-entering after exiting merely places you outside the castle again, requiring renewed effort to solve the entrance method...
With renewed posture, "You’re about to enter level one now, right? We aren’t familiar with the outside, but we know the first level inside the castle well. If you have any questions, just ask, and I’ll quote based on the information’s value."
"..."
