Katarina's head turned reddish as anger started to build up within her. She was a Nascent Spirit Maugnetic. This disrespect cannot be tolerated. The only reason why he's still standing on his feet was because she was keeping her identity a secret.

But if he kept up with that attitude, she was going to have to reveal her true power.

Eventually, Katarina composed herself. She took a big breath and grabbed Michael's shoulder.

"Let us go for now. We will meet with the Elves at an appropriate time. They'll be much more receptive to us once we have what they need."

But Michael remained in place and listened to the conversation between the angry adventurer and the Elf.

"We've been here for two days now. We just want to meet with the Elf in charge of this place," said the brash adventurer, bashing his giant shield on the ground.

The Elf remained steadfast despite the pressure. "Like I said. Our Lady Farren has yet to return. It will take a few more days before she arrives in New Sparta. And even then, I cannot guarantee that she will give you her time of the day. There are more important people that deserve it."

After hearing those harsh words, the adventurer could only back away in annoyance.

Once he was dealt with, the Elf turned to Michael. "Are you here to schedule a meeting with Lady Farren as well?"

He nodded. "Yeah. How long would that be?"

"You are the hundredth in line, so you're scheduled to meet with her about a month from now," she said as she looked over her scroll.

A month? That's too long.

He met Farren before and they were very friendly with each other. If she was here right now, he wouldn't have to wait that long. Unfortunately, she was still a few days away from arriving in New Sparta, according to the Elf.

"Are you going to go with the schedule or not?" asked the Elf. "If not, I'm gonna have to give your schedule to somebody else."

Michael changed his approach. "Can you tell Lady Farren that I want to talk to her instead?"

The Elf sighed and shook her head. "I've heard that before. Lady Farren's time cannot be wasted. NEXT!"

"Don't worry," Katarina said. "My school will provide Darkwood for us in a couple of weeks."

Just as the Elf gestured for the next group of adventurers to approach her, Michael reached down into his pockets and pulled it out for the Elf to see.

In his hands was a thin strand of intertwined wood-like vines wrapped neatly around his palm.

The Elf's ears twitched, her superior sense of hearing catching on to the unique sound of the Darkwood's vines rubbing on each other.

She immediately turned to look at his palms, her eyes widening at the sight.

"Tha… that…THAT'S!!!!" the Elf gasped.

Even Katarina couldn't keep her composure. She stared at the Darkwood in Michael's hands, confusion written all over her face.

Even she knew that the Darkwood in his hands was genuine.

"I was planning on selling this to Lady Farren. Would you be able to tell her about this?" he asked the Elf.

But it seemed that she was far too flustered to see Darkwood with her own eyes that she completely lost the ability to speak. It was only when Michael waved at her face and caught her attention did she finally wake up from her stupor.

"Forgive me for being rude! I never thought that you had Darkwood in your possession. The Elven Kingdom would be more than willing to buy that Darkwood off your hands!" she said, her fingers slowly creeping in towards the Darkwood.

But before she could get a grasp on it, Michael took it back. "But this gives me priority on a meeting with Lady Farren, correct?"

The Elf nodded her head fervently. "Yes! Yes! I shall notify Lady Farren of your presence as soon as she arrives in New Sparta," she promised.

Only then did Michael hand over the Darkwood towards her.

The Elf carefully wrapped the Darkwood on her belt, making sure to secure it tight. "Please follow me back to the Elven Territory. We shall reward you handsomely for your efforts!" said the Elf, giving Michael a respectful bow before gesturing for him to follow her inside.

Of course, the previous brash adventurer saw this and couldn't help but complain about the injustice that befell him.

"Hey, what gives! We got here first, but he's getting a meeting before us!"

The adventurer approached Michael, his shield and his giant hammer by his side for maximum pressure.

But instead of cowering, Michael remained tall and looked up at the adventurer with no fear in his eyes.

"This is unfair! How is he invited to the Elven Territory but we are forced to make camp outside?!"

The Elf immediately glared at the adventurer. Now that Michael had given them Darkwood, he was now considered as an important guest within the Elven Kingdom. There would be no disrespect towards him that would be tolerated.

But just as she was about to retrieve her bow, Michael raised his hand at her, gesturing for her to stop.

Then, he looked up at the adventurer. "It's their choice," he said.

"What?! You're just a puny punk!"

The adventurer raised his shield and bashed it towards Michael, intending to push him around a little bit to teach him a lesson.

But suddenly, Michael disappeared from his sight, only to reappear behind the adventurer.

This caused the adventurer to stumble forwards, head scratching the ground and his weapons clattering away from him.

Flustered, he immediately tried to get back up. "YOU!"

He punched towards Michael, but instead of dodging, Michael raised his hand and caught the punch.

His hand was definitely considered 'puny' compared to the adventurer. But as soon as the punch landed on Michael's palms, its momentum completely stopped.

"What?!"

Michael caught his arms and twisted it, breaking his bone immediately.

The adventurer winced in pain, before Michael pushed him forward, launching him back several feet, his head bashing onto a tree and rendering him unconscious.

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