Wizard: Starting from the Skill Tree-Chapter 446: The Deal

Yarbede lazily and playfully swept her gaze over the vast treasure vault, finally fixing it on Duke. Her red lips slightly parted, her voice carried a magnetic allure that was both intoxicating and heart-pounding:

"Oh~, my dear little Duke, it’s been so long since you summoned me, I’ve almost missed you. This little box seems quite interesting."

Her gaze then shifted to the small wooden box on the stone platform, with a flicker of imperceptible surprise in her eyes.

The rule barrier that had Duke stumped seemed nonexistent to her eyes.

Yarbede seemed to have sensed the contents inside the wooden box, and her interest was piqued.

She examined Duke with keen interest, as if he were a fascinating toy.

Yarbede didn’t immediately focus on the wooden box, instead she walked barefoot to stand before Duke, a playful smile on her face. She extended her slender, jade-like fingers, almost touching Duke’s chin.

"It’s truly surprising~ my dear Duke, I didn’t expect you could come into contact with something of this level, you really didn’t disappoint me." Her voice carried a sweet yet dangerous magnetism.

Though her fingertips didn’t actually touch him, Duke could feel a cold, irresistibly alluring yet extremely dangerous aura brushing over his skin, making his soul quiver slightly.

This was a fear stemming from his body and soul’s instincts, due to the vast disparity in their power and life levels.

Duke forced himself to steady his mind, stepping back half a step to avoid the intangible tease.

"Yarbede, I need your help." Duke stated bluntly, maintaining a calm tone, "The barrier around that wooden box, I can’t break through it."

Yarbede seemed to see through the essence of the barrier at a glance.

She looked back at Duke, her smile growing more enchanting: "Help you? Of course~ For me, passing through such an ownerless rule space is not difficult. But..."

She intentionally elongated her tone, leaning forward slightly, exuding an oppressive presence:

"My dear Duke, you should know, this isn’t part of our messenger contract. Asking me to make a move comes with a hefty price, are you prepared to pay?"

Duke knew full well that negotiating with such an entity was no easy matter.

If it weren’t for his inability to solve the rule barrier around the box in a short time, he wouldn’t want to deal with her.

But there’s no choice, right now the quickest solution he could think of was this Yarbede.

Duke asked in a deep voice, "What do you want?"

Yarbede tapped her red lips with her finger, pretending to ponder, her gaze lingered on Duke, as if evaluating the worth of a commodity.

"Hmm~ let me think..." She chuckled lightly, "I want you to accompany me every night from now on..."

Yarbede intentionally drew out her tone, watching as Duke’s body tensed and his expression shifted slightly, she laughed as if her prank had succeeded:

"Of course, it’s not what you’re thinking, though that sounds nice too~"

She licked her red lips, continuing: "For now, I’ll help you retrieve this little box. And one day in the future, when I need it, you will do something for me."

"Of course," Yarbede seemingly saw through Duke’s concerns, adding, "I swear by my true name, this task won’t send you to your death, nor will it force you to go against your most core stances and principles."

Her words left room for ambiguity, filled with devilish linguistic artistry.

"How does this deal sound?"

Duke swiftly weighed his options. A future, uncontrollable promise is no doubt costly.

Yarbede’s kind of existence certainly wouldn’t require anything trivial.

But on the other hand, this price isn’t instantly payable, it won’t harm his current strength, talent, or possessions, and it leaves time for maneuvering and growth.

Duke was particularly curious about what it was about him that attracted Yarbede.

The disparity in power between them was so vast that it seemed unlikely he would be able to help Yarbede in the foreseeable future.

Yarbede’s behavior looked more like an investment, betting on Duke’s growth to a certain height in the future so he could become a support.

But right now, Duke was only a Level 1 Liquidation Mage, far from being at a level that could aid Yarbede.

The small wooden box was within reach, and the secrets and power it contained could be crucial.

Missing this opportunity might mean never getting another chance.

Duke took a deep breath, fixing his gaze firmly on Yarbede, "Alright! I agree. I’ll do something for you in the future, as long as it doesn’t endanger my life or my fundamental principles."

"Wise choice~" Yarbede revealed a smile enchanting enough to captivate all living beings, seemingly unsurprised by Duke’s answer.

"Then, the deal is struck."

"Alright, now let’s take a look at this well-guarded little treasure~"

Yarbede seemed to be in a great mood as she turned and faced the stone platform and the small wooden box.

Without performing any casting actions, she casually took a step forward.

The bizarre rule barrier that had stumped Duke seemed nonexistent before her, or perhaps it respectfully made way for a supreme existence.

She easily walked to the edge of the platform as if passing through a screen of water.

Yarbede extended her hand, gently picking up the seemingly unremarkable small wooden box, weighing it in her hand, the corner of her mouth curved into a profound smile.

"Indeed, somewhat interesting~"

She turned around, with the wooden box in hand, once again passing through the barrier, returning to stand before Duke, casually tossing the box to him.

To his surprise, Yarbede didn’t even open it to take a look and simply handed the box over.

He could tell that even Yarbede was somewhat interested in the contents of this box, yet she kept her promise, not taking away its contents.

Without hesitation, Duke gently lifted the box lid.

There was no expected burst of dazzling light, nor a rush of overwhelming energy.

The interior of the box was lined with a layer of unknown, soft dark velvet.

In the center of the velvet, lay a single item quietly.

It was a small bean, only the size of a fingernail, entirely showing a warm, vibrant green.

It was oval-shaped, its surface smooth, with a texture similar to a natural plant seed, and one could faintly see extremely fine, seemingly naturally formed patterns on it.

This item looked so ordinary, so unremarkable, like some unknown plant seed that you might casually find by the roadside.

Duke froze, even doubting whether he had found the wrong item, or Yarbede had taken the wrong one.

To have gone through such trouble, guarded by such a powerful rule barrier, kept as a secret by the rulers of Ash City and Toulouse for generations, all for this little bean?