"Friends?"
Shendu murmured those three words and pondered them for a moment before shaking her head without hesitation.
"I refuse. Why would I become friends with that woman? She spends all day fantasizing and putting herself at the center of everything. Allow me to decline directly."
Shendu barely hesitated. She had already had more than enough of that woman's talent for stirring up chaos.
"Ah! You're not going?"
Hearing Shendu's answer, Al was so shocked he almost lost his voice.
He thought of that arrogant woman's punishment and couldn't help tightening up, fear flashing in his eyes.
Originally, if he hadn't known how strong Shendu was, he could have forcibly "invited" her. But now, after seeing her strength, that possibility no longer existed.
Her power was overwhelming. With a single move, she had beaten him senseless.
If he tried to drag this silver-haired girl there by force, the consequences would definitely be disastrous. He might even get himself killed. The facts were clear—he couldn't even defeat this woman.
"What? Do you have an objection?"
Shendu gave a cold smile, frightening Al into retreating several steps.
Suddenly, she recalled that she still lacked certain materials to recreate the Amaterasu Sword. If this woman could provide them, then becoming "friends" might not be entirely unacceptable.
"No objection. It's just that Her Highness the Princess will probably be very angry... She might punish me severely."
Hearing Shendu's tone, Al instinctively shrank his neck and dared not say anything more.
Either way, he was doomed. Returning to Priscilla at worst meant getting beaten. But if he showed backbone in front of Shendu, he might truly die here.
"Then, Miss Shendu, what would it take for you to meet Her Highness?"
"Or rather, what condition would you set?"
Al asked eagerly. From the moment he entered, he had noticed several books placed before Shendu—ancient historical texts.
Among them were volumes detailing the Dragon Sword Reid and portions of its forging methods. He had a vague realization that this girl seemed fond of ancient weapons.
"Simple. I want the manufacturing technique for the replica of the Amaterasu Sword from four hundred years ago. If that can be provided, I'll agree to that woman's request."
After saying this, Shendu fell silent.
She snapped her fingers once more, and a spatial gate appeared behind Al. Before he could react, an invisible force shoved him straight inside.
"Master, do you think that woman actually has such a thing?"
"According to legend, there was once a manuscript written by the Sage back then, but it has long since gone missing."
Akane had just been browsing ancient history alongside Shendu and had gained a clearer understanding of certain details.
"Not sure. At worst, I'll just forge a slightly inferior weapon. With my martial techniques, it shouldn't be a major issue."
With the combat arts granted by the Multiverse Role-Playing System, and paired with a somewhat stronger weapon, Shendu believed it would suffice.
Besides, since Priscilla was a Royal Selection candidate, she likely possessed some capabilities. Shendu decided to wait patiently and see whether anything useful could be obtained from her.
...
Elsewhere, after scrambling out of the Divine Dragon Merchant Guild, Al tumbled and crawled his way before Priscilla, dropping to his knees and immediately begging for forgiveness.
"Forgive me, Princess. I failed my mission. I couldn't successfully invite her."
Kneeling on the ground, Al embellished the earlier events with dramatic flair. When he finally mentioned that Shendu required the forging technique for the Amaterasu Sword, Priscilla's eyes lit up.
Whether it was good fortune or simply outrageous luck, a merchant from her territory had once presented her with a manuscript as tribute.
It was said to have been written four hundred years ago by the Great Sage.
The manuscript recorded details about the Amaterasu Sword, as well as information on how to create the Dragon Sword. The documentation was remarkably thorough. At the time, Priscilla had merely found it interesting.
After receiving the tribute, she had locked it away in her treasury. She never expected that Shendu would actually want it. That made things even better.
"Hmph, Al. You may be useless, but you've delivered important information. Therefore, I shall give you a beating!"
With a radiant smile, Priscilla stepped forward and unleashed a flurry of punches and kicks upon Al. When she finished, his face had swollen into something resembling a pig's head.
After disciplining her knight, Priscilla set out at once, riding in three dragon carriages toward the Divine Dragon Merchant Guild's territory with imposing speed.
During this period, through her investigation, Priscilla had come to a profound realization that Shendu likely had an enormous connection to the Divine Dragon Merchant Guild.
More likely than not, the guild's president was Shendu herself.
Considering that possibility, Priscilla decided it would be wise to moderate her attitude slightly.
Even if they could not become friends, they absolutely must not become enemies.
It must be said—Priscilla's dragon carriage was exceedingly luxurious.
If the other Royal Selection candidates' carriages could be described as elegant, then hers was true extravagance.
The entire carriage was draped in purple fabric embroidered with golden phoenixes. The domed roof was adorned with various sapphires and rubies, decorating it in dazzling brilliance, as though announcing to the entire world that she was a Royal Selection candidate.
Even the reins and protective gear were forged from gold, gleaming brilliantly from afar. It perfectly reflected just how arrogant this woman was.
"Eh? Isn't that one of the legendary Royal Selection candidates?"
"She's way too high-profile."
"I've heard only that legendary woman decorates things that lavishly!"
The surrounding crowd whispered among themselves, quickly drawing their conclusions before dispersing just as fast.
To commoners, nobles were merely topics of discussion. If overheard, they might be seized and severely punished. The divide between nobles and commoners was rigid, and no one would dare show disrespect openly.
When Priscilla arrived and stated her purpose, Shendu was informed and allowed a faint smile to form.
"Master, it's that woman again. She's really quite irritating."
If not for Priscilla's special status, Akane would have already blasted her away without hesitation. She had no patience for unreliable people.
"It's fine. As long as she has value, she's worth speaking to."
After a brief moment of thought, Shendu decided to let her in for proper negotiations.
Once the decision was made, Shendu signaled her subordinates to admit her. Upon learning she was permitted entry, Priscilla strode forward arrogantly, ignoring the guild's mages entirely.
This time, knowing what Shendu wanted, Priscilla's eyes were filled with confidence.
She was not afraid of Shendu wanting something. She was only afraid of her wanting nothing.
A person without weaknesses was truly difficult to negotiate with.
"Hmph, you certainly kept me waiting. It is rare for me to wish to become friends with someone, yet you treat me this way. How truly heartbreaking."
Priscilla covered her face with both hands, pretending to weep.
Shendu remained utterly indifferent—her expression completely blank.