Standing in the middle of the hall, Kai watched these old people who were running around like little children and couldn't get excited. Iris was also standing there in complete shock. She didn't even say hello to Kai and just ran to look at the array. It could be seen that she was truly turned on by this craft. Elder Caius and Elder Brood just watched and remained silent.
- Ahem. - Cai coughed to draw attention to himself.
As soon as he did so, the trio standing beside him turned around. They were exactly the ones who had been in an argument with them.
Seeing that they had reacted to him, Kai smiled.
- Elders, do you remember our argument? - Kai asked smiling, 'I don't think anyone would mind me joining two Alliances at once. - Said Kai, looking at the two elders.
- Are you kidding me? Your array is unbelievable! If you were the son of my worst enemy, I would try my best to recruit you into the Massive Alliance. With this alone, you've already made a huge contribution to our cause! - Elder Caius announced solemnly, pointing his hand towards the array.
- I agree... Although we can't get any new information from it. But the efficiency and production scale of my Alchemy Alliance will greatly increase. It will also strengthen us greatly! - Elder Brood replied seriously.
It seemed that these two could only agree with each other where Kai was involved. He had truly become a bridge of sorts between the two warring Alliances.
- I'm very happy to hear that! - Kai said smiling, -Do I have to go through some kind of joining procedure? - He asked.
- Hmm... Usually yes, but I think in your case, these formalities can be skipped. Where do you live? I'll send you a token of the highest rank. It's second only to the Alliance Elder badges. - Said Elder Caius.
- I will do the same. Just tell me your address. - Nodding his head, Brood replied.
- Erm... After the feast at the Shadow Palace, I went straight here. I worked non-stop for about three weeks and didn't even go out. So, I haven't settled anywhere yet.'' - Kai answered awkwardly.
Hearing these words, the old men's faces creased a little. It seemed that Kai was an atypical person. Sometimes, they didn't know how to react to him... Usually, people set up their lives first and only then go about their business. But Kai came to Shadow City, went straight to the exam, broke into Personal Apprentice status, and after drinking, went to paint an array... It seemed like he didn't care about anything at all except his goals....
- Kid, what's wrong with you? It seems to me that if I asked you to draw an array somewhere on the street, you'd be sleeping there. - Rolling his eyes Brood gave out.
- Hmm... Yes, you're right... That's probably exactly what I would do. What's the point of leaving before the work is done? - Hovering in thought, Kai replied.
In fact, after the transformation of his body, the need for sleep and other processes was even more dulled. Also, Kai's stamina had reached another level. In the past three weeks, he hadn't rested much. When he was tired, he would just sit down to meditate to restore his energy.
- Okay, bygones... I was just joking, but it seems like you're not... - Slanting his eyes at Kai, Brood replied.
- Kai, as a Personal Apprentice, you have the right to rent a dwelling in the Shadow Palace. It's not a problem, as there's too much space there. You won't find a better dwelling in the entire Shadow City! - Elder Caius suddenly said.
- Aha... How do I rent it? - Suddenly realising something, Kai asked.
- For Reputation Points of course... - Caius answered calmly.
- Exactly! Hehehe. - Kai laughed snidely and looked at Elder Ovian, 'Elder, you said that if I created such an array, I would get a huge amount of points. So what do I get? - Kai asked with a smile.
At this moment, Elder Ovian seemed to come to his senses! He was so dumbfounded by Kai's array and everything that had happened that he had completely forgotten about his part of the deal.
- That's right! It had all slipped my mind! - shouted the old man, -And how much should you get? To be honest, I don't know how to evaluate your work myself... - Ovian replied with a complicated expression.
- Hmm... Well, Elder Brood said that good Alchemists could earn about two hundred points a month...' Kai said casually.
Although he knew that the elders wouldn't try to trick him, but Kai had such a way of speaking. He still decided to show that he understood a little about the Shadow Sect's rates.
In fact, he had no idea what was worth what. Those two hundred points didn't tell him anything... But that didn't mean that the information itself couldn't be used to his advantage! It just had to be presented properly.
- That's true... But it won't help in evaluating your array... What do you think? - Ovian asked thoughtfully, looking at Caius and Brood.
- Hmm... To be honest, I'm having trouble answering that too... - Shaking his head Caius replied.
- You are the wiser of the two, Elder Ovian. I think I'll leave it up to you. - Brood said calmly.
The whole situation was a bit of a stalemate... Sometimes things had too much or ambiguous value. Such things were called priceless because it was unrealistic to value them with any amount of money....
- Kai, do you have an opinion about this? - Ovian suddenly asked.
In this short time, he had begun to take Kai seriously. It seemed like this guy always had his ideas and trump cards up his sleeve. Why not ask him? He might have a good solution.
Hearing this question, Kai thought deeply for a few moments.... The elders didn't rush him and just quietly waited for an answer.
- Hmm... Let's be clear... - Kai said seriously, - I don't know the rates of goods in the Shadow Sect. Moreover, I'm not particularly interested in untold riches. I'm pursuing the pinnacle of martial arts and constant development. Also, I need a lot of information for my own research...' Kai began from afar, 'The ideal scenario for me is to have plenty of time and enough money. I don't need too much. - Kai replied.
- That makes sense... What's your suggestion? - Ovian asked curiously. He liked Kai's way of thinking....
- It's simple. I need a good start-up capital and I don't have to spend time earning points. - Kai explained, 'Give me a decent, one-time reward. It doesn't have to be too big, just a normal one. Also, give me a regular, small monthly payment to cover the cost of basic things like the library and cultivation areas. You can consider it as the monthly rent of my array. - Honestly put forward Cai's demands.
It was a good offer. This array could only be created by Kai and if it were to wear out, only Kai would be able to refurbish it. Even more so, the Alchemy Array would bring incredible benefits to the entire Shadow Sect. It was difficult to appraise it, and if one simply flooded Kai with Reputation Points, one would upset the balance of the Sect. That wouldn't be a reasonable way out either....
But Kai's offer sounded really favourable. He would receive a reward for winning the argument, although not much. And also, would receive a monthly payment from the two Alliances, for the use of his array. One could say with such an offer, Kai is even making concessions for the Shadow Sect.
- Hehehe... You know how to do business right, kid... - Brood smiled, - Although it's not a fair price for your array, as we'll earn much more with it. But you offered... We'll pay you a thousand points every month. - The old man slyly gave out.
He also spoke frankly. By increasing the production of pills, they would be able to sell a lot more and end up making super profits. A thousand points was a small percentage of the potential income. Such a move wouldn't go against the Shadow Sect's balance sheet, and Kai that amount was enough. After all, that's ten salaries of a good Alchemist!
- Since that's the case, I'll support it with the same amount! One thousand Reputation Points per month! - Caius firmly proclaimed.
- Hehehe. Kai, I can count on you... Since you can get twenty-four thousand Reputation Points a year... I'll reward you with your annual income! - Elder Ovian solemnly gave it out!
Thus, Kai received a huge amount of Reputation Points, but not too much to negatively affect the Shadow Sect's economic balance! Everyone was left with a win-win situation.
Shadow Sect - gained an incredibly useful array and a potential contribution to the development of two strong Alliances.
Kai - secured influence and resources for his research and cultivation.
Greed only works in the short term... Kai, for his part, planned to spend quite a bit of time in the Shadow Sect. The way he used his array made the most sense in terms of long-term strategy!