After I posed the question, my heart began to race, and I quietly clenched my fists, eager to see how Judina would respond.
However, this coffee-loving beauty seemed unfazed by my inquiry and casually remarked, "Your information is somewhat inaccurate; the Ruler and the Manager are entirely different entities. Essentially, the Ruler is akin to the head of a nation, while the Manager merely operates a business within that nation."
Judina clarified some of my doubts but evaded others, neglecting to elaborate on the powers of a Manager, which left me with little guidance regarding my choice.
This card cannot grant management authority. Do you intend to select it, or would you prefer to exchange it for another treasure of equal rank?
"No, I shall take this spatial card. Thank you for your explanation!"
As long as I remain on Demon Island, I will inevitably acquire more treasures and cards. Even if I were to select a seemingly worthless item, it matters not; moreover, just moments ago, I sensed a fleeting glimpse of the past and future, a premonition that solidified my resolve.
The subsequent choice of rewards was much simpler. I narrowed my focus to alchemy, and soon a tome on alchemical magic found its way into my possession.
The Alchemical Notes of Aigezu, a seventh-level treasure, chronicles Aigezu's journey from alchemical apprentice to advanced alchemist. The sixth-level treasures and cards no longer held significant value for me, allowing me to select with ease. I already possessed numerous combat-type weapons and sought a few auxiliary treasures, with alchemical items being my primary choice, followed by martial arts manuals or spellbooks, as well as unique tools. Of course, if I had access to magic circle data, all of the aforementioned would pale in comparison. Although the treasures of Demon Island are categorized by rank, it does not necessarily mean that lower-tier items are less expensive than higher-tier ones; some unique items command exorbitant prices. Fruits of Desire, spellbooks, and spatial gates all belong to this category. With my aspirations to engage with magic circles in the face of adversity thwarted, I sought to compensate through my rewards. The amusement park on Demon Island boasts a rich repository, and upon inputting relevant keywords, I discovered three books related to spatial magic circles.
One of the treasures was a staggering ninth-level item, which I declined. The remaining two, "Principles of the Tunguska Magic Circle" and "Detailed Explanations of Nine Common Magic Circles, Demon Language Edition," were not to be overlooked.
For my final two rewards, after much contemplation, I chose the Butterfly Pact and the Bull-Snake God's Warhammer. Both items possess legion attributes.
The Butterfly Pact is a transparent glass vial containing azure-striped golden-winged butterflies, while the Bull-Snake God's Warhammer is a heavy weapon measuring one and a half meters in length, its hammerhead glinting with silver light.
The Butterfly Pact transforms into the Legion of Netherworld Butterflies, a sixth-level treasure; upon utilizing the third-level legion, the azure-striped golden-winged butterflies will vanish forever, and the user will gain the title of Netherworld Butterfly Contractor, marked by a permanent butterfly tattoo, allowing the summoning of thousands of Netherworld Butterflies at will. By harnessing the power of these butterflies, one can employ any illusion, attaching the five senses to the Netherworld Butterflies to scout distant situations. The attack of the Netherworld Butterflies invokes a curse known as the Red Butterfly. The Bull-Snake God's Warhammer, in its Bull-Headed Snake God legion form, is a sixth-level treasure with fifth-level legion effects. The holder of the Legion Command Tower or Barracks can transform into a Bull-Headed Snake God monster, augmenting their strength twentyfold and summoning fifty Bull-Headed men and one hundred giant snakes to serve them. Currently, the legion members stand at twenty-five out of fifty Bull-Headed men and forty out of one hundred giant snakes. As I confirmed my selections, the screen before me brightened, and the rewards materialized instantly, bypassing the delivery process. Though this was a novel experience, I had seen many wonders on Demon Island, so I refrained from displaying any astonishment. Judina, seeing that I had finalized my rewards, casually gestured, and a thick, colorful book floated into the air. "This is an additional benefit for Guides. You're quite fortunate; this batch contains several remarkable items.
The Collection of Beauties is a book-level, second-tier legion structure, offering super luxurious residences, be it mansions, villas, apartments, seaside cottages, buses, planes, or luxury private cars, all at your disposal to fulfill any wishes of the women contained within. When a particular page is used, it will appear pixelated. Currently, the legion members stand at one out of ninety-nine."
As I opened this peculiar book, reminiscent of a playboy's style, I found the first several pages adorned with photographs of beautiful women, all of whom were familiar to me—Lu Li, Chen Xiu, Sun Yan, and several others I had guided in the Abyss. "Those women who cannot become warriors, if they are unwilling to continue their journey in the Netherworld, may sign a special contract to be included in the Collection of Beauties as a special reward for the Guide. It seems you have quite the charm; more women are willing to become your personal favorites than to embark on the journey to the Netherworld."
Upon seeing this additional reward, my eyes nearly widened in disbelief. The Collection of Beauties?
This is essentially a portable harem!
For a man who yearns for such a treasure, the value is undoubtedly above ninety percent under normal circumstances.
After I had collected all my rewards into the Book of Demons, Judina smiled and gestured for me to leave. I was once again enveloped in a cocoon of white light, transporting me out of the amusement park on Demon Island. This time, the imposing gatekeeper demon, adorned with four bat-like wings and two pairs of arms, exhibited a rather brusque demeanor, directly waving me away with its four arms. It seems that without a ticket, one is unwelcome everywhere.
With my magical wings unfurled, I ascended slowly into the sky. My days of labor over the past fortnight had instilled in me a profound sense of reflection and life insights. The power of the Book of Demons returned to me, bolstering my confidence further.
Now, the magical beasts on Demon Island posed no threat to me. As I descended boldly into the training camp, I observed a new group of recruits enduring the rigorous training imposed by the bald instructor, Weir.
Upon my arrival, several fierce individuals among the recruits cast covetous glances my way. I paid them no mind, knowing that with the instructor's centaur guards on duty, they wouldn't dare to stir up trouble. After Weir harshly reprimanded the new recruits, he announced their dismissal. He merely acknowledged me with a cold nod, signaling for me to follow him.
Having witnessed the opulence of Judina's office, the instructor's office, which initially appeared quite upscale, now seemed rather shabby by comparison. I certainly wouldn't point out the instructor's financial shortcomings and invite trouble; I merely indulged in a few internal jabs for my amusement.
"You performed admirably on this project. The sixth challenge is also not on Demon Island. I can grant you a few days of leave, after which the headquarters in France will arrange your remaining training."
Once visits to Demon Island become frequent, the novelty wears off. From the first five training projects, it seems this camp is less about enhancing the recruits' abilities and more about strict elimination. I even sensed that the remaining five projects might constitute the true training. However, why they are not conducted on Demon Island, but rather in the outside world where special abilities cannot be freely utilized, remains a mystery to me.