Chapter 176: Tournament Arc: White Egg (8)

In this arena of warriors and magicians, [The Merchant] was in his element, ready to navigate the currents of ambition and desire. The tournament was not merely a spectacle to him—it was a chance to capitalize on the hopes and aspirations of others, to turn dreams into reality through the almighty power of coin and trade. For [The Merchant], the world was a canvas of possibilities, and he was the master artist, skillfully navigating the intricate web of trade and commerce.

With a knowing smile, [The Merchant] leaned back in his seat, exuding an aura of quiet confidence. He knew that opportunities awaited him in this lower realm, and he relished the prospect of making his mark as a merchant in this new territory.

[The Merchant] sat in his specially reserved area, observing the participants with keen interest.

He had descended to the lower realms, not out of boredom, but to seek new opportunities for investment. The tournament presented a unique chance to discover talented individuals with untapped potential, ones whose skills and abilities could prove lucrative assets for his endeavors.

Among the contestants, [The Merchant] had already spotted several intriguing seeds worthy of consideration. First, there was [The Sage], hailing from the Southern Islands. Rumors spoke of his mastery over ancient arcane knowledge, and his ultimate ability to bend the very fabric of reality to his will. [The Sage] had a reputation for being both reclusive and formidable, a combination that piqued [The Merchant]'s curiosity.

Intrigued by the prospect of meeting such a powerful individual, [The Merchant] had sought an audience with [The Sage] when he first descended into the lower realms. However, his attempt had been met with swift and forceful expulsion from the Southern Islands. The words of [The Sage] echoed in his mind, "The Gods have no matter in the dealings and happenings of mortals."

The encounter left [The Merchant] puzzled. If the [Sage] held such disdain for the involvement of gods in mortal affairs, why then had he chosen to participate in this Tournament? The question gnawed at [The Merchant]'s mind, for he knew [The Sage] to be someone who rarely acted without purpose.

As a master of trade and cunning, [The Merchant] suspected that [The Sage] had his own motives for joining the Tournament. He doubted that any of the rewards offered could entice someone of [The Sage]'s caliber. There had to be something more, something that even the Tournament's grandeur couldn't provide.

He'd make sure to keep the [Sage] in mind but how funny would it be if the reason the [Sage] came was due to needing something from the [Merchant]?

Moving along, next, there was [Brutal King], a fearsome warrior from the Myriad Tribes. Renowned for his unparalleled combat prowess and tactical genius, [Brutal King] had united warring factions under his banner, but the main thing [The Merchant] liked about him was his ambition. Everyone knew of his famous declaration of power and challenge to the heavens, and the Merchant being, someone in said heavens, definitely heard of it too. There was nothing to say about this guy except that he was cute and that The Merchant liked the barbarian fool?

Then, there was [The Silver Elf], a skilled archer and diplomat from the Elven Empire. Possessing an unmatched elegance and charm, she had brokered delicate alliances between her people and other races, solidifying the elves' influence in the realm. Her silver tongue and political acumen made her a captivating candidate for [The Merchant]'s consideration.

Now, she was a special specimen. [The Merchant] knew that [The Silver Elf]'s true power lay not in conventional diplomacy alone. Rumors whispered of a rare and potent ability she possessed—a magic of the Tongue. With enough mana at her disposal, she could literally bend the will of others, commanding them to obey her every word.

It was said that those who fell under [The Silver Elf]'s enchantment would become her loyal servants, bound by her command without question. Such an ability held immense potential for manipulation and control, and [The Merchant] could not help but be both fascinated and wary of its implications.

This extraordinary talent was one rarely seen, to the point only two other cases of this rare ability had been recorded, both in the lowest realm known as [Hell]. The very thought of such power being wielded by beings in the realm of gods and demons sent shivers down [The Merchant]'s spine. It was said that those who wielded the Tongue could sway the minds of even the most stubborn and powerful individuals, bending them to their will with mere whispers, which was why two other cases were in hell to begin with. After all, that's the only place you could go if you tried to sway the God-King to start a Millenium War.