It's truly terrible.
The feeling that all your secrets, ideas, thoughts, and actions are held in the hands of someone else. August did not dare to experience it again.
Just like he himself was no longer the Sword God praised by everyone, no longer the Demigod respected by everyone. He is nothing more than a puppet, with the puppet strings even hooked into his thoughts.
"Don't worry, I'm not threatening you."
Noir smiled, pushing a cup of tea towards August. He hesitated a bit then sat back in his chair, however he didn't say a word. It seemed like he was waiting for Noir.
"I just want to show you the way."
"Right now you still have a way to go, you still have a chance to change the future. Waiting until that happens to act will be too late."
In fact, Noir doesn't know the secret of the Knight Association. This is a real secret. If he wants to investigate clearly, he must consume "Accumulation".
But while investigating August, the system also found the reason August was worried. That meant that the Sword God had given Noir a secret for free, which was no different from mind reading.
Demigod's mental barrier was extremely strong, but in front of the system, it was as good as not having it.
"Sir, I don't know what the way in your words means..."
"Anything is fine, but that mainly depends on yourself. As long as you pay enough, even restoring the Knight Association in its prime isn't difficult at all."
"You... can do it?"
"Of course I can."
Noir indifferent responded.
During the most prosperous and powerful period of the Knight Association, no one had taken that step. The strongest Grand Elder Lord in the history of the Knight Association was just an Above God level being.
But the problem is, can the Knight Association afford to pay this bill?
"I hope you can tell me!"
August became happy, if he could bring the Association back to its golden age, then the safety issue would no longer be a concern.
However, this attitude makes Noir a little uncomfortable.
Brenna was like that, now August is no different.
Does no one understand the principle of "equivalent exchange"?
If every customer was like that, Noir thought he would be very tired, even if a simple explanation was enough. But he doesn't like explaining an obvious principle in business over and over again.
At this moment, Alva interrupted and spoke.
"Master, if you want to get information here, you have to exchange the same price. Same like Brenna of the Witch Association also bought the information."
"So that's it, sorry for being too hasty sir."
"Nothing."
Noir waved his hand as if it was no big deal, looking at Alva very satisfied.
It was not in vain that he saved her.
At this point, August had finished considering his words. He asked sincerely.
"Sir, if we want to make the Knight Association return to its prime, how much will it cost?"
"If... selling off half of the assets would probably be enough."
Noir estimated a bit and then gave an answer. An answer that left August devastated.
"One… half?!"
The Sword God's face turned pale. If the Knight Association immediately lost half of its finances, there would be no need for war, the Association itself would collapse because it could not handle the expenses.
If August dares to agree to this deal, there is a high possibility that he will become a sinner for the entire Association.
"So… do you have any way to help an Elder Lord from Higher God level become Chief God?"
To become a pillar supporting an organization like the Knight Association, at the very least one must be a Chief God level being.
As long as a new Chief God appears to replace the recently deceased Grand Elder Lord, the Knight Association can be safe.
"Maybe. As for the price... about ten Higher God level items, or treasures of equivalent value would be fine."
Once again, August felt hopeless.
Talking to Noir is truly like being on a roller coaster, lifting others to the top then letting it all slide down suddenly.
Ten Higher God level items…
God-level items are extremely valuable, even August cannot bear to waste them. Higher level items are more valuable and cannot be bought with money.
If the Elder Lord knew that August used ten Higher God-level items to buy just one piece of information, he feared that the title of Sword God would be difficult to maintain, regardless of whether this information was accurate.
If it's fake news, August will not only lose his title of Sword God, he could even be thrown into prison.
August glanced at his pocket dimension, feeling for the first time how poor he was.
"Sir, how valuable is the method to become a God?"
The Sword God asked in nervousness.
According to logically, Brenna acquired information about how to become a God level being. So a peer like August will definitely be able to buy it.
"Finally waited for this moment."
Noir smiled, he was waiting for August's words.
Because of Sword God's caution from the start, he couldn't help but change his marketing strategy.
First, it was to constantly provoke August's mind, pushing the tension as high as possible. Then he gradually lowered, lowered, until he reached his final goal.
His final goal is not to "return the Knight Association to its prime" or "help the Knight Association have a new Grand Elder Lord", his goal is to sell information about the path to becoming a God to August. Because he knew August couldn't pay off the previous two.
And what effect does this have?
Of course it works, influenced by the too high things that Noir drew before, August will unconsciously accept the higher price of the path to Godhood.
This is quite similar to the trick of raising the price of the product and then reducing it to the price the business wants to sell it to customers. In this way, the business person can make a profit and the buyer of the goods will feel like they are making a profit, even if only mentally.