Chapter 5: Skill Points? The Blood Emperor's Most Hated Woman
2024-11-18 Author: Amnesty L
Suppressing the excitement in his heart, Tang Zheng looked at the Ability Panel within his status window:
[Ability Panel]
Innate Ability: [Player]
Comprehensive Level: 1 LV
Experience Slot: 0/100
Job:
Basic Job Class: Genius 1 LV
Skill Points: 3
Passive Skill: Item Box
Active Skill: None
After taking up the "Genius" Job Class, his comprehensive level had increased from the original 0 to 1.
In addition, he had gained 3 Skill Points.
This made Tang Zheng's heart skip a beat.
Indeed, his innate ability, [Player], was still somewhat different from the players in YGGDRASIL.
In the game, players could choose three skills from the relevant job class's skill table for every level they gained; after reaching level 100, normal players would possess around 300 skills.
Of course, monsters like the Bone King, who had mastered 718 skills, were rare even in the game, and that was due to the existence of the special skill "Dark Wisdom."
Theoretically, the Bone King could continuously learn new magic.
"Only gaining skill points but no skill list? That's bad news."
"In other words, I must have to acquire skills through other means."
Tang Zheng's expression remained unchanged as he thought silently to himself.
His next course of action became much clearer.
Crunch!
A crisp sound echoed as Tang Zheng bit into the rye bread. He ate heartily, and in less than half a minute, he finished more than half of the hard bread in one go.
"Cough!"
His throat was a little dry.
Eating this stuff so quickly really did make it easy to choke.
Tang Zheng picked up the black waterskin Nfirea Bale had just given him, tilted his head back, took a big gulp, and let out a light sigh, a comfortable expression appearing on his face.
Had this waterskin been a gift from anyone else, Tang Zheng would not have drunk the water inside.
He stood up.
Tang Zheng hung the black waterskin on his waist, got up, and walked into the street, following the flow of people toward the center of the Royal Capital.
With so many prying eyes, it wasn't a good time to place the waterskin into his Item Box.
"Since I've stumbled upon it, I might as well watch this peak showdown."
Tang Zheng showed a hint of anticipation.
There were still over four years before the Great Tomb of Nazarick's arrival. The remaining time was a bit tight, but not so tight that he couldn't spare this much.
Sharpening the axe doesn't delay chopping the wood.
Though the two weren't as powerful as they would become four years later, they should still be at level 20 or higher right now.
This could be considered the threshold for powerful humans in this world. By watching their match, he could also gather some information.
Before acquiring the "Genius" Job Class, Tang Zheng had indeed not been in the mood, but now, he already had some ideas in mind for his future job build.
The showdown between the Warrior Captain and "Nail Clipper," even years later, was a topic still relished by many powerful individuals from various countries. Moreover, this battle didn't just attract the attention of the Re-Estize Kingdom's own people.
Gazef and Brain were already widely renowned as genius-level figures even before this match.
If Tang Zheng remembered correctly, Brain also possessed a talent like "Warrior (Genius)."
Amidst the crowd, all sorts of discussions about the match constantly drifted from all directions.
Most of them were speculations about who would ultimately emerge victorious from this contest.
Such fervent discussions and excited emotions made Tang Zheng's eyes suddenly light up.
Others might not know who the final victor of this battle would be, but he certainly did.
Tang Zheng believed that for a contest that could attract the entire kingdom's people, there must be a betting pool.
If he placed a bet on Gazef in advance, he should be able to make some money even if the odds were low. He was quite poor right now, and both food and lodging cost money.
Thinking of this, Tang Zheng looked at a young man walking past him, who was wearing light leather armor and appeared to be dressed as an adventurer.
"Hello, could you tell me where the nearest betting pool is?" Tang Zheng kept his voice calm and asked rather directly.
Based on some experience from his previous life, Tang Zheng knew that in such a lively atmosphere, it was better for strangers to ask directly. A polite, roundabout approach would only make people impatient.
Startled by the sudden question, the leather-armor-clad youth turned his head and looked at Tang Zheng in surprise.
He sized him up from top to bottom.
A hint of disdain appeared in the youth's eyes. "An outsider?"
Tang Zheng was currently dressed in grey-black clothing, with a short sword hanging from his left waist and a waterskin on his right. His attire made him look little different from a local.
However, his facial features and short black hair were clearly not the mainstream look in the Kingdom.
"That's right, I just arrived here yesterday."
Tang Zheng showed no dissatisfaction on his face toward this somewhat condescending reply and still spoke softly.
"Heh, just as I thought."
"There's no betting pool at all," the leather-armor-clad youth said with a wave of his hand, his head held high.
"None?" Tang Zheng was a little surprised.
For such a grand event with so many people flocking to the Royal Capital, opening a betting pool would be a surefire business for the bookmakers behind it.
Not to mention for those perennially greedy nobles.
"Of course, it's because of Princess Renner's foresight."
Seeing the surprise on Tang Zheng's face, the leather-armor-clad youth spoke with a hint of bravado, his tone filled with undisguised admiration.
"Even as an outsider, you must have heard of Renner, right? She is known as the Kingdom's Pearl, the lady who possesses the 'Splendor of Gems'."
"When the Royal Court Tournament began, Renner proposed to His Majesty the King that a contest representing the country's image should be prohibited from being used for gambling."
"It would tarnish the Kingdom's reputation and is disrespectful to the powerful individuals participating in this contest."
The leather-armor-clad youth's voice became somewhat agitated as he spoke, crossing his arms over his chest. "Although this proposal met with some objections from the nobles, it was ultimately approved by His Majesty the King."
"Princess Renner is both farsighted and gentle and benevolent…"
Seeing the youth's growing excitement, Tang Zheng took an expressionless step back before quickly melting back into the crowd.
He pretty much understood what was going on.
"Renner?"
Tang Zheng recalled the leather-armor-clad youth's infatuation and was somewhat speechless.
It seemed this Golden Princess had quite high prestige among the commoners.
Prohibiting the establishment of betting pools?
Tang Zheng believed that while the proposal might have passed on the surface, it couldn't truly be banned in secret. Some nobles were bound to operate them regardless.
It was just that it would be impossible for ordinary people to participate.
Therefore, his plan to get rich was ruined.
"Gentle and benevolent? To use that to describe this Golden Princess is truly…" Tang Zheng shook his head slightly.
On the surface, Renner not only had a gentle personality but was also kind and innocent, always considering the country and its people, possessing a heart of gold.
In reality, however, she was a monster that ordinary people could not comprehend at all; even Albedo evaluated her as a "spiritual heteromorph."
She was, without a doubt, the woman the Blood Emperor loathed the most.
Even the queen of the Dragon Kingdom, the Dragon Queen who had lived for hundreds of years but liked to pretend to be a loli, only ranked second in the Blood Emperor's heart in terms of loathing.
(end of chapter)