After making a deposit for the Imperial Engineering Master Francesca and the Dwarf Rune Master Torrek, Su Li spent more than half an hour observing the remaining cages on the fifth underground level of the Gray Market Trading Company.

Even in the Gray Market Trading Company, it is impossible to imprison over 100 Champion-level slaves. In fact, Torrek and the female vampire are among the few Champion slaves here.

Su Li didn’t count precisely, but among the more than 100 slaves, there should only be 4 to 6 of Champion level. The Gray Market Trading Company has gathered resources from all directions, from the Empire to the Border Prince’s Territory, from the Dark Ark to the Lusichia Rainforest, from the Vampire Count’s Land of Death to the distant Arabi coast, accumulating prisoners of countless races and forces to achieve this scale.

Thinking this way, Su Li felt he was quite strong. Under the Divine Grace of the Sun Goddess, numerous powerful knights came to his territory from all directions, making his Champion Knight scale far exceed that of some large forces in Marle Castle.

Therefore, he felt good and spent another sum among the remaining captives, using 500 Golden Crowns to reserve 12 Elite-level slaves, including 6 Elite Knights from the Medical Knight Order, 4 Priests from the Dawn Church, and two respected Monastery Directors of the Sun Goddess Church.

A Monastery Director is a very high-level profession, only those eldest and wisest monks eventually ascend to become the leaders of their monasteries. Generally, only High Tier Elite Priests can transition to this position, possessing extensive academic knowledge, mastering various common knowledge, steadfast in will and eloquent, greatly accelerating the spread of doctrine.

For instance, the venerable Priest Stephen Kuerz once served as the director in a fortress on the edge of a Baron’s Territory. He is highly revered and loved by the monks and is renowned in Marle Castle and surrounding territories for his wisdom.

During this time, he tirelessly tested his faith, sought truth, and challenged non-believers. Over decades, he shared countless stories of his personal struggle and redemption with others, leading many to convert to the faith of the Sun Goddess.

The unexpected change occurred during a disastrous adventure, where an Adventurer’s Group around his fortress entered the forest without employing a local guide and consequently encountered a Beastman ambush. Youths seeking aid came to the monastery, requesting Stephen’s assistance. Everyone in the monastery thought assisting this ideology was terrible.

Yet Dean Steve decided to use the Goddess’s wisdom and strategy to rescue these lost and reckless youngsters, and he succeeded immensely. He only took two Church Knights from the monastery and successfully distracted the Beastman’s attention, rescuing the adventurers.

On site, hundreds of confused adventurers were inspired by the firm faith of the Sun Goddess followers and their determination to face danger, joining the Sun Goddess Church and learning Violet’s faith from the director.

But these reckless adventurers hadn’t yet learned the Goddess’s wisdom and tactics when their poor discipline attracted another ambush by the Forest Bandits.

In a moment of crisis, Dean Stephen decided to sacrifice himself to preserve more followers for the Goddess. He instructed two Church Knights to lead all followers away, and like a heroic figure standing tall and resolute, he charged alone with a sword towards the densely coming Forest Bandits. Using courage, determination, and strength, he proved the glory of the Sun Goddess.

The Forest Bandits suffered heavy losses at his hands alone, but they also earned his respect. When the bandit leader found him drenched in blood, lying atop a pile of corpses, unconscious yet not dead, he was deeply shocked. He believed this powerful old man could sell for a good price to compensate for his losses in the battle.

In fact, he wasn’t wrong. Roger sold this powerful director to Su Li for as high as 430 Golden Crowns! Surpassing the usual value of an elite knight significantly.

According to President Roger, having such a powerful director in Hesse Territory would ensure an endless stream of new knights. More crucially, this director is already at the peak of High Tier Elite Knight stage, and as long as he doesn’t fall in battle, no one knows if he might suddenly gain insight and break through to the Champion Knight level. (Although the likelihood of this is extremely low, many knights are stuck in this bottleneck stage for life.)

Honestly, Su Li saw this potential, which is why he was willing to pay double to buy this strong Monastery Director.

Su Li has the intelligence system’s assistance. If Dean Stephen can indeed break through, Su Li has a significant chance of finding the opportunity for him.

After viewing these slaves, Su Li decisively bid farewell to President Roger. Although the president kept inviting him to continue touring other items and tools in the Gray Market Trading Company that were not suitable for open display, Su Li firmly refused.

If he kept watching, he might end up spending recklessly again. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

Originally, his visit to the Gray Market Trading Company was to sell some forbidden items, earn some wealth; buying these slaves was a spontaneous decision. If he couldn’t resist purchasing some witchcraft tools, it would stray far from his initial intent.

Su Li hasn’t forgotten his purpose for visiting Marle Castle—it’s to earn substantial wealth and return to improve the finances of Hesse Territory.