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Chapter 436: "Cheap" Isn't Always Easy to Get
The perilous Underdark was rife with various dangers.
Fortunately, Matthew and his team were well-prepared, equipped with strategies to handle all sorts of predatory threats.
The team avoided unnecessary battles along the way, with Matthew and Annie handling most of the threats.
Matthew used a Sleep Spell, while Annie delivered lethal arrows.
Common low-tier or mid-tier magical creatures naturally stood no chance against them.
As a Level 10 Arcanist, Matthew's combat prowess was comparable to that of a high-tier spellcaster.
For every encounter, Matthew always had a suitable spell ready at his fingertips.
With Annie as an ally in their newly-formed partnership, Matthew also benefited from her contributions of fate energy.
This was one reason he welcomed her collaboration.
Beyond her unique status, she was also a Level 15 high-tier peak Ranger!
After about two hours of travel, they arrived at the exit of the narrow cavern.
Along the way, they had cleared numerous magical creatures and bypassed others that would have caused too much commotion.
Now, the only thing blocking their exit was a group of lanky gnolls.
"A medium-sized gnoll outpost, with roughly 500 combat-ready adult gnolls."
After recording this vital information, the group slipped away effortlessly under magical concealment.
Neither disguises nor invisibility could be detected by these ordinary gnolls.
Before leaving, Annie scouted the best shooting positions for their return.
As they emerged from the cramped cave, the dim view brightened considerably.
Dense clusters of glow moss illuminated the entire Underdark, casting a soft light.
Towering rock walls, dozens or even hundreds of meters high, expanded their field of vision.
Looking up, they saw a sea of glowing light, ethereal and dreamlike.
They marveled at the surroundings, while Matthew recorded observations at the cave's edge.
Then, Matthew gestured for them to follow him toward their true objective—a small gold vein.
Upon reaching the broader Underdark space, the oppressive darkness and tension seemed to dissipate.
Though encounters with magical creatures remained frequent, they posed no significant trouble.
Against ordinary magical creatures, Matthew allowed the modified warriors to take the lead, with Beelzebub providing backup.
Annie, observing in secret, scrutinized the modified warriors' combat methods.
She quickly gathered key insights.
Despite their large frames, the modified warriors moved with surprising speed and agility.
Equipped with high-quality adamantine weapons crafted by Ashes,
they effortlessly dispatched low-tier and mid-tier magical creatures with one or two strikes.
From this alone, Annie realized their combat abilities far surpassed their apparent professional levels.
Annie was tempted!
She quickly imagined the benefits if the Ail Elves could harness this capability.
They could mass-produce formidable melee soldiers.
This technology was incredibly valuable!
Parry, noticing the same potential, frequently glanced at the modified warriors.
Yaya, whose perceptiveness was unmatched, had already noticed their behavior and informed Matthew:
"Hmm, do you think they're trying to steal our secrets?"
In response to Yaya's question, Matthew casually replied:
"That's exactly what I want them to know—that we hold this card."
Having personally mass-produced modified warriors in the past, Matthew understood the complexities involved.
Merely observing wouldn't suffice; even a Grand Arcanist couldn't replicate the process within a decade.
So, Matthew let them watch and openly recorded data himself.
"Strength is solid, though explosive power is average. More 'weighted' training is needed."
"Agility is decent, and reflexes are commendable."
"Coordination among them still needs improvement."
Annie noticed Matthew's deliberate actions. Reflecting on past trades and holding to the principle of "maintaining goodwill in failed negotiations," she cautiously asked:
"Is this Bay Territory's secret force? Their combat skills are incredible!"
Matthew didn't respond immediately. After the modified warriors, led by Jifan, dispatched three cave trolls, he stopped recording and smiled at Annie:
"Yes, they are Bay Territory's modified warriors. They've undergone multiple experimental surgeries to achieve their current combat prowess."
"The Underdark's dangers and concealment make it perfect for field testing them."
Annie was momentarily stunned by Matthew's openness.
Didn't this require confidentiality?
Parry, quicker to recover, excitedly praised:
"That's incredible! Their combat abilities are at least high-tier."
"With good coordination, they could even take down extraordinary-tier professionals."
"Is this Bay Territory's new technology? It's astonishing!"
Low-tier and mid-tier professionals were abundant, but high-tier ones were rare treasures.
Even among naturally gifted Elves, not all could reach high-tier levels.
While mass-producing high-tier professionals was impossible, creating high-tier combat power in large numbers was still highly desirable.
Seeing their interest, Matthew sighed and shook his head with a feigned look of helplessness:
"While effective, the cost is exorbitant."
"Each warrior has required over 1 million gold coins and immense effort…"
Glancing at the returning modified warriors, Matthew appeared to hesitate before shaking his head again with a helpless expression.
His words sent shockwaves through Annie and Parry.
A single modified warrior cost 1 million gold coins?
Such an astronomical price left Annie and Parry speechless despite their many thoughts.
It was just too expensive!
With 1 million gold coins, they could train tens of thousands of professionals.
Among those, at least ten would likely become high-tier professionals through natural development.
From a financial perspective, the latter option was undoubtedly more cost-effective.
But then Annie had a realization.
What was a challenge for a mid-tier Arcanist like Matthew might not be one for the Ail Elves.
If they could dispatch specialists to assist Matthew in refining the surgeries,
couldn't both the Ail Elves and Bay Territory benefit from these modifications?
With this in mind, Annie's previously calm heart began to race.
Watching Annie and Parry exchange ideas, Matthew's lips curled into a subtle smile.
"You want my technology, and I want yours!"
"And mere technology won't suffice!"
"Won't you have to send over a large number of personnel?"
"And will they return?"
Annie remained unaware she had already fallen into Matthew's trap.
She was envisioning a future where the Ail Elves deployed a vast army of modified warriors to crush the Cole Elf Kingdom…
Today's 3 updates.
Tomorrow: more to come.