Chapter 459 - Choate 455: Stupid Trail

"It's worth 5 Million Gold," Kia told Ryder when he asked for the price of Nature Fairy Bracelet.

"Rale, We have the money, right?" Ryder asked Rale. He was the Prince, he should have the money, but he decided that it was better to be certain.

"Yes, Your Highness. The treasury at the Royal Palace can cover everything," Rale answered. 

'Incredible. This is so overpowered. When the real-world money system is activated, people would be able to convert their real-world money to in-game money. Still, they would have to spend millions to have enough to buy the items. I, on the other hand, got this treasury without doing anything?' he was amazed to know how much money he had. It was incredible, after all. 

"There is a limitation, though. As a Prince, you can only use up to ten million gold coins every six months," Rale continued.

'Ten million, huh. So I'm a millionaire in the game without having to do anything. That's still incredible. I can buy two of these items easily. And this is only the limitation until I finish the Kingship Trial. After I finish, I won't have to worry about anything.' Ryder gazed at the bracelet in his hand. 

"I'm taking this. You can collect the money from the Palace. Or I'll send someone with the money," Ryder told the girl before he wore the bracelet in his left hand.

[Nature Bracelet Equipped]

[Invisibility Unlocked]

[Please read more for description]

A screen opened in front of him, but he ignored it since he already knew what it was.

"You must be jesting, Your Highness." the girl commented as she seemed to be taken aback.

"Why? Do you think I would default and not pay?" Ryder inquired in confusion. 

"Of course not. I can't even dare to think that. What I meant is that you're the Prince. There is no way we would take money from you. You can take this bracelet for free. That's what I meant," the girl clarified.

"Oh." Realizing that he misunderstood her, Ryder was somewhat embarrassed, but he didn't let it show on his face.

"Thank you for the kind offer, but I can't let you do this. It's High Duke Eston's place. Even if I pay, the money will go to a good place," Ryder insisted on paying now that it was one that. 

It was about reputation. He could get it for free, but he didn't wish to have that. Money was going to be a fleeting thing once he became the Emperor. How could he let people talk about him not paying what he owes? His reputation was going to suffer if people got to know about it.

"But..."

"No, but. This is my command. Now show me the other artifacts. I seem to have room for one more," Ryder didn't even let the girl continue her words before he stopped her and changed the topic. 

Kia could only give up, seeing that she had no choice. It was the command of the Prince. She knew that High Duke Eston was going to be upset after knowing that she took money from him. At Least she had an excuse now. And she did try. There is nothing more that she could do.

She turned back to the box and brought the next item out of it.

It was a ring this time. The ring seemed to be made of gold, but it had a mysterious stone placed inside it which acted as the jewel of the ring.

The stone was green in color, but there seemed to be a blue illusory mist around it.

"This is the Ring of Blue Sea. Another incredible artifact that is made by the hobbits during the old times," Lia told Ryder. "It is said to be from the time when His Majesty Salem was still a youngster. Its history is also fascinating."

"It is said that the Hobbit King came to visit His Majesty Draia at that time. When he happened to enter the Throne Room, His Majesty Draia was in the place with his son. The son was none other than His Majesty Salem, who was still young," she continued.

"He offered to pay His Majesty Draia anything in exchange for help, but His Majesty Draia refused to take anything else in return when agreeing to help," she said. 

"Impressed by this selfless will to help them, the Hobbit King kept His Majesty Draia's words and didn't insult him by offering anything in return. Instead, he gave His Majesty Salem this ring as a gift for their first meeting from an adult to a kid."

"His Majesty Draia didn't stop His Majesty Salem from taking the ring. That's how this precious ring of Hobbit King ended up in the hands of His Majesty Salem."

"His Majesty Salem wore this ring throughout His Young life. He only took it off five years after he became the King. And that too when he gifted this ring to the Previous Royal Commander."

The girl seemed to be completely immersed in the story as she told it. Ryder also found this fascinating. The ring ended up in the hand of such high-profile people. First the Hobbit King, then the Demon King, and then the Royal Commander?

"Wait a minute!" Ryder suddenly exclaimed as he thought of something. He gazed at Rale with surprise written on his face. 

"The previous Royal Commander, wasn't that your father?" he asked.

"That's right. He was. And I recognize this ring. My father had the ring," Rale acknowledged.

"Strange. How did it end up in this place then? Did your father really sell the ring that was given to be by the King? That doesn't seem unlikely. I don't think he would have given this ring to someone else either. It was a precious gift, after all." Ryder had found the story fascinating so far, but the end confused him. It was as if someone had left the climax of the movie and abruptly ended it.

"I told you about my father. The Royal Commanders have a rule. When they pass their position to someone else, they are supposed to leave the Demon Realm not to make the balance of power uncertain. When they leave, they aren't allowed to take any treasure with them even if it was a gift," Rale answered softly.

"That was why he donated all his Treasures to this place," he continued.

"Strange. Why didn't he give it to you then? He couldn't take it, but he should be able to give it to you then?" Ryder inquired.

"He said I hadn't proven myself yet. So I wasn't worthy of the ring. So he gave the ring to High Duke Eston and told him that only someone worthy should take it," Rale answered Ryder.

"That's right. High Duke Eston placed the ring here. This is the only treasure in the entire shop that can't be sold even to Dukes. It can only be sent to the ones who get a medal of bravery," Kia added to Rale's statement to explain more.

"Medal of Bravery? What's that? Am I allowed to get that medal to be allowed to get this ring?" Ryder asked. "How can I get that medal?"

Rale smiled wryly as he shook his head. "You don't need any medals. You are the Prince. You should be allowed to get this. Even my father would have given this to you if you were here during his time."

"As for the medal of bravery, it's a medal of achievement that is given by High Dukes and the Royals to the ones they deem to have given extraordinary service to this Empire," he continued.

"Royalty? So I can give this to you?" Ryder asked.

"You can," Rale answered. He understood what Ryder was thinking about, so he immediately clarified. "But I haven't done anything. You shouldn't even consider what you're thinking."

"Yeah. It would be a hassle and would take a lot of time. I'm leaving tonight, so I don't have time either," Ryder muttered as he rubbed his chin. 

"It's fine. I am allowed to buy it. That's enough. How much is it worth?" He asked Kia.

"No money was set for it. It's free as long as the person satisfies the criteria to get it," Kia told Ryder as he extended her hand towards Ryder, which held the ring. 

She was already sure that Ryder was going to ask for it.

"Good. I'm taking this," Ryder took as he took the ring. 

[Ring of Blue River received]

[Item Grade: Mystical]

[Description: The Treasure Ring of the Hobbits made by the Hobbit King during his ruling days]

Ryder went through the stats of the ring, which was surprisingly more or less the same as the bracelet that he had purchased for 5 million. It also had a special ability in it. The special ability was somewhat useless for Ryder, though. 

It allowed a person to be able to lock in on another person so they could be found easily in case they are lost and sense when the person was in life-threatening danger.