Chapter Four: Choices

Very soon, Li Mingxing and his companions arrived at the first level of the aerial city. This was the district for commoners and commerce, and in the southeast corner of this level was an area specifically designated for parking and trading giant elephants.

Upon arrival, Li Mingxing immediately saw the largest giant elephant in this inner world—a towering beast thirty-five meters high. According to the constant commentary from Curved Blade Qiyada along the way, this fifth-tier elephant was the chief transport asset of the city lord’s caravan, capable of carrying about three hundred tons at a time. When fully loaded, nine people could even dwell upon its back, and its maximum speed reached three hundred kilometers per hour—a truly remarkable pace.

Naturally, the elephant Li Mingxing was to receive would not be of this caliber. After being led to the elephant trading area, Li Mingxing saw the giant elephant that Razak had promised to gift him.

Contrary to Li Mingxing’s expectation of receiving a newborn calf, this was a fully trained first-tier giant elephant, five meters tall, with unadorned gray skin.

At the sight of it, Curved Blade Qiyada remarked, “Master, Razak Maula is indeed generous. This is an elephant specifically trained by his family, and he’s simply giving it to you.”

Li Mingxing couldn’t help but smile at this; it seemed that, much like prized horses in the real world, the elephants here were valued for their bloodlines.

However, his curiosity got the better of him, and he asked, “So, what’s the best direction for developing this elephant? Transport, combat, or as a mount?”

“It has excellent balance, making it an ideal choice as a mount. Of course, if you wish to use it for transport, it can carry quite a lot as well,” the second steward replied, glancing at Curved Blade Qiyada.

Upon hearing this, Qiyada’s eyes reddened. He understood perfectly well that the second steward was trying to dissuade Li Mingxing from developing the elephant for combat, thereby denying Qiyada a better opportunity for advancement.

Still, the final decision rested with Li Mingxing—after all, the elephant was now in his possession.

Li Mingxing glanced at his subordinates, then at Curved Blade Qiyada, and finally said calmly, “I need a transport elephant to handle our logistics. Second steward, would it be possible to exchange this one?”

The steward’s face lit up with a smile, and he cheerfully clapped Li Mingxing on the shoulder. “Actually, our Razak family doesn’t have any suitable first-tier elephants left for transport, but we do have a newly upgraded second-tier one. I can make the decision to exchange it with you.”

As he spoke, a seven-meter-tall elephant appeared before them. Li Mingxing observed strange arcane symbols painted on the beast’s legs, presumably to enhance its load-bearing ability.

Li Mingxing was quite satisfied with this elephant, but Qiyada protested, “With such an elephant, you won’t have any protection. You can’t even form a proper caravan.”

Li Mingxing looked at Qiyada, understanding his discontent. After all, Qiyada had joined him in hopes of commanding a war elephant, not managing a transport beast. Yet, Li Mingxing also realized that, as a commander, he could not alter his plans for the sake of someone who had only just joined him and whose loyalty was still unproven. Even if Qiyada could offer excellent service, there was no real need to make such a concession.

Therefore, Li Mingxing ignored Qiyada and turned to the second steward. “Then let’s make the exchange. I feel somewhat embarrassed at causing you this expense.”

“No need to feel that way,” the steward replied, seemingly in excellent spirits. “It’s what you’re due. By the way, this kind of elephant requires a handler, preferably someone with at least second-tier strength. Whom among your people do you intend to assign?”

Li Mingxing first looked to Curved Blade Qiyada, but then shook his head. Qiyada was no longer the ideal candidate. Among his subordinates, Li Mingxing also had a zombie, thirty dwarves, over a dozen battle leopards, and nearly ten dark elves—his strongest combat force. Assigning any of them as elephant handlers was out of the question.

After a moment’s thought, he picked out the burly warrior of the **People who was standing nearby. “Second steward, how about him?”

The steward glanced at the **People’s warrior. “What’s his tier and temperament?”

“In terms of tier, he’s roughly at high-level second-tier or low-level third-tier. As for temperament, he’s a bit timid, but when it comes to a fight, he can be brave.”

“That will do, though he’ll need to undergo some training,” the steward agreed, nodding. As long as Li Mingxing did not appoint Qiyada, the steward would have agreed even if he’d picked a commoner.

Upon hearing that the **People’s warrior was chosen, Qiyada protested loudly, “You promised I could be the handler!”

Li Mingxing fixed him with a stare. “Would you really excel as handler of a transport elephant?”

Faced with this question, Qiyada fell silent. He knew very well that he aspired to be the handler of a war elephant, not a transport beast. Even so, Qiyada felt deeply disgruntled. He gave a heavy snort and stood at the rear of Li Mingxing’s group, face dark.

Noting his temper, Li Mingxing signaled to Yin Haitao, who nodded and quietly withdrew to one side.

After the matter of the elephant had been settled, the steward produced the items Razak had originally promised Li Mingxing: five thousand gold coins, a sack of gemstones, a flying carpet that could seat four, and two iron golems wielding twin curved blades.

However, the matter of upgrading the zombie by one tier could not be completed there. The steward looked over Li Mingxing’s zombie and said, “We can’t upgrade this flesh golem here. If you trust me, I can take it back for the upgrade. I assure you it will be completed and returned to your men before noon.”

At that moment, Li Mingxing was examining the two iron golems. He sized up the situation and realized that, even if Razak failed to return the zombie, he’d already profited handsomely. Besides, Qiyada had previously assured him that the Maula were men of their word.

Since his zombie was being taken away, Li Mingxing did not object and simply nodded.

After the steward left, Li Mingxing said nothing but immediately opened the sack of gemstones, curious as to how many it contained.

Qiyada’s face grew colder at this. “No need to check. Each sack is standardized—enough to power four spell formations. Not a single gem more or less.”

Li Mingxing could hear the resentment in Qiyada’s voice. He lightly clapped Qiyada on the shoulder. “Don’t worry. I keep my word. If you’re dissatisfied and want to leave now, I have no objection.”

Qiyada glared at Li Mingxing for a long moment before saying through gritted teeth, “I’ll trust you this once. But if you let me down again, I’ll make sure you never succeed in this place.” With that, he stalked off ahead.

Watching him go, Yin Haitao approached Li Mingxing. “My lord, shall I—?”

“No need. Just keep an eye on him. If he causes real trouble, I’m not one to be trifled with,” Li Mingxing replied coldly.

His subordinates all nodded their agreement. After all, they were creatures of darkness, raised in a world where the strong preyed upon the weak. If Li Mingxing were too soft on Qiyada, they would lose respect for him. His current attitude was, in their eyes, the only appropriate response.

With that settled, Li Mingxing turned his attention to the flying carpet. It was the four-person type, and he planned to station a Graystone Warrior as pilot and shield, two Dwarven Blasters on either side for ranged attacks, and a Harpy as support. The Graystone Warrior would serve as both pilot and frontline defense, the Dwarven Blasters would handle ranged threats, and the Harpy would provide auxiliary support or scouting as needed.

Li Mingxing intended to test this combination first. If it proved effective, he would procure another four-person carpet and assign his other Graystone Warrior to it as well.

In any case, he had already determined that the two newly acquired Iron Golems were strong enough to compensate for the loss of a Graystone Warrior as a frontline fighter.

As for this plan, the Blackstone Champion—the leader of the Graystone Warriors—had no objections. Since the opportunity for Graystone Warriors to advance to Blackstone Champions was now lost, finding a new path for them was both necessary and appropriate.

Thus, he made no further comment. At that moment, Li Mingxing turned his gaze to the Dark Elf Blood Knight and smiled gently. “Now, let’s see if we can find some suitable mounts for you.”