The Paladin in the Abyss

"Each for a thousand Gold Coins," Tijana stated the price directly.

"So expensive!" Kailon had yet to speak when Molo couldn't help but exclaim from the side, "Those ordinary weapons used to only cost three hundred!"

"You won't find cold iron products anywhere else." Kalon clapped his hands decisively, "How much stock do you have now? We'll take it all."

Standing to the side, Lancelot felt speechless inside. What is called a windfall, he truly experienced today. Those cold iron weapons of such quality could be produced two or three a day by that kid Bruto, and Tijana was asking for a thousand Gold Coins each, while the other party readily agreed.

"Not much, just about two hundred pieces left, you can take them all if you want, same price," she responded.

"Tijana!" Molo's dissatisfied roar erupted, "The rule is that all surrounding forces get a share, do you want to defy the treaty recognized by the Wind Demon King?"

"That foolish ceasefire agreement does say that, but what's being divided is the output for the coming three months, these are merely some trial production samples." Tijana leaned back comfortably in her throne, calmly watching the male Succubus, "If you're willing to pay, naturally you'll have your share."

Lancelot keenly seized on the term 'ceasefire agreement', it seemed that Twin Bridges Town was still under some constraints; of course, it could also be indirectly protected by that agreement.

"As for you two," Tijana turned her head to look at the Giant Bull Demon and the Arachne Elf, "Have you seen enough? If so, then give them back to dear Sonam. You have the right to divide the one-third production originally belonging to Wisk evenly. I'll give you three days to think it over.

Come over with the money after three days, otherwise, your share for these three months will belong to Volcano Fortress."

Without a word, Pami and Kavalan handed the cold iron longsword they were holding to Lancelot, who then passed it to the increasingly anxious Sonam.

"Think it over," Tijana said without another glance at the two who had been revealed as paupers, and with an impatient tone, she addressed Molo, "So what's your decision? I assume you don't have financial problems. Leave three hundred thousand Gold Coins, or you won't get a share this time."

"Don't rush me, Tijana," Molo's eyes narrowed, "You don't think a few Coward Devils holding this thing and killing a Berserk Demon is enough, do you?"

Here we go, Lancelot thought.

"I believe Sonam would be quite happy to chop a few of your big toads for fun," Tijana's voice turned cold, and Sonam also grinned, drawing his longsword.

At those words, the group of Berserk Demons around Molo shrank back behind the male Succubus in a flurry, each shaking so much in fear that they quivered incessantly.

"A bunch of useless trash!" Molo cursed loudly. Pointing at Lancelot, he said, "If cold iron weapons are really worth that much gold, then at least they should be used to fight against enemies of the Berserk Demon's caliber! Have this human mercenary fight a bout with my men holding it!"

Lancelot didn't flinch at the words, who do you think you are, why should I listen to you?

"He's my mercenary," said Tijana unmoved, "No one is holding a knife to your throat and forcing you to pay. If you don't want it, I have another customer waiting here."

"Mercenaries just want money, right? I've got plenty of it," Molo shouted angrily, "Human, what do you want? Say it!"

"Enough!" Tijana shouted harshly, "Twin Bridges Town is not a place for you to run wild!"

Molo completely ignored her, as anger had clouded his mind, and everything today had deviated from his expectations.

In his imagination, the despicable residents of Twin Bridges Town should have been worshipping him, Tijana should have been excitedly crossing her legs at the sight of him, his subordinates should have triumphed in the competition, and representatives of the Giant Bull Demon and Arachne Elf should have fled in shame after being exposed by him, but look what had happened instead!

Even a weak human mercenary dared to refuse him!

Just then, Lancelot suddenly pulled out a mountain crystal from his bosom and said:

"Do you have one of these gems called mountain crystals?"

Molo was stunned for a moment, then took out a Dimensional Bag full of gems, rummaged through it, and exclaimed with great joy:

"I do! Can't hold back anymore, huh? Hahahahaha!"

"I I I... I want one this big, make sure you look closely," Lancelot stuttered all of a sudden, shaking the mountain crystal, "A big gemstone for a big toad."

"What are you up to?" Tijana's voice rang directly in her head, a telepathic ability many middle-rank and above Demons possessed.

"I'm just asking, didn't think he'd actually have one," Lancelot didn't have the ability to telepath, but he did know a small Dharma Method from the Spiritual Cultivators that allowed him to send his words directly into the target's ears, unheard by others. "Don't worry, I can still handle a Berserk Demon."

"You, do you not have enough fun just remote controlling a Quasimodo Demon?" Tijana too was startled by his skill of speaking as if right next to her ear, but showed no sign of it, "No matter what strength you're hiding, don't even think about making a move on Molo. He's not something you can handle, and I can't let him die here; this fool is more useful alive than dead."

"Okay," Lancelot replied, succinct and to the point.

Molo quickly assigned a strong Berserk Demon to come forward, but Lancelot still stood in place, not moving an inch.

"What are you waiting for?!" Molo bellowed in rage, "Get up here and face your death!"

"You haven't paid yet," Lancelot rolled his eyes. He suddenly began to understand what Tijana meant; if he were the Lord of Twin Bridges Town, he too would hope the leaders of the surrounding forces were such fools.

The male Succubus furiously tossed a mountain crystal at him, which Lancelot caught and then exaggeratedly tumbled several times across the ground, as if the throw had been so powerful he couldn't catch it properly.

"Showy," Tijana's voice echoed in his mind, "Anyone smarter than a rock could tell you're playing him."

"I'm just getting into character, heh heh," Lancelot dusted off his clothes and got up, bowing his head to check the mountain crystal in his hand.

The quality of an Upper Grade Spirit Stone, filled with abundant Spiritual Energy, merely holding it caused a resonance with the Spiritual Energy inside him, as though with just a thought, the Spiritual Energy within would surge into his body.

Although such gems were rather rare, their sole purpose in this universe was to be crushed into powder during the forging of weapons to provide energy for enchanting Runes, so they were not expensive. However, with this one included, Lancelot only had seventeen gemstones that could be considered Upper Grade Spirit Stones, still far from the one hundred he needed for his Foundation Establishment.

"Strike now, tear him to pieces!" Molo's roar erupted. Along with his roar, the Berserk Demon clad in Golden Armor charged fiercely toward Lancelot.