Ultragene Warlord

ntered, ”Wouldn ’t you benefit from my status? ”

”I ’m not interested.
You do seem intelligent and interesting, so I ’ll send you to the nearest city once we finish our meal, but that ’s as far as I ’ll go. ” 

Zhang Lie had no desire to stick his nose into trouble, no matter how much he admired the prince.
 Not only had the prince been able to make his request with composure despite his near-death experience, he was even able to treat Zhang Lie calmly and naturally despite the strength that Zhang Lie had demonstrated.

For a child in his teens to accomplish that much was certainly impressive, but even that wasn ’t enough for Zhang Lie.
He was the king of Limit, and he had seen countless geniuses from all over the galaxy when the Zenith Dojo recruited new talent.

At his level, his interest in students was far more important than their own talent.
The members of Team Zenith, Jun Jiuxiao, and Ye Xianchen couldn ’t strictly be considered geniuses, but his guidance was enough to elevate them over the common hunter.

The ninth prince replied seriously, ”When I become king, I ’ll give you anything you want, Master. ”

”Haha, you? ” Zhang Lie glanced at the child, his face still caked with dust and mud, and couldn ’t help laughing.

He divided the roast meat among the two people and three beasts.
”I ’m satisfied with my life.
Why should I go along with you just for your fantasies? ”

The ninth prince puffed up his chest.
”Are you looking down on me, Master? When I become king, I ’ll own this entire piece of the realm—heaven and earth alike! ”

Zhang Lie sighed and shook his head.
”Believe what you will.
Finish your meat and I ’ll send you to the nearest city.
You ’ll find a large bed there where you can dream whatever you like. ”

The ninth prince glanced at him in worry.
”Master, if you send me back to the city, you ’ll be sentencing me to death. ”

”What ’s the matter? ”

”My guards ’ betrayal had to be planned by my brothers, and if they were to find out that I ’m not dead, they surely won ’t let me go.
An assassination attempt on one of the princes is no trifling business.
My brothers have no choice but to continue with their plan, and they won ’t let me get back to the capital safely. ”

”In other words, you desperately need a bodyguard. ” Zhang Lie nodded.
”Well, you ’re interesting enough, and I ’d rather you not die so quickly. ”

The ninth prince ’s eyes widened.
”You accept, Master? ”

”That depends on whether you have a reward that would satisfy me, ” Zhang Lie replied.

The ninth prince earnestly announced, ”As long as you can guarantee my safe return to the capital, Master, I ’ll give you as much gold and jewels— ”

”Enough, enough! I ’m not interested in those trifles. ”

”How about beautiful women, Master? ”

Zhang Lie coughed as he spat out the meat in his mouth.
”Do I look so desperate?! ”

”I apologize, Master.
My mother—the empress—told me that any man who didn ’t like gold or jewels was interested in women, or otherwise in men…
Master, are you fond of men? ”

Zhang Lie clutched his head.
”Just what did your mother teach you? ”

The ninth prince smiled.
He wouldn ’t repeat his mother ’s actual words, of course— ”Most men want gold or women.
Those who want neither are the most dangerous. ”

Zhang Lie replied, ”Well, I don ’t want women or men.
Do you have any information on the human race? ”

”The human race? ”

”Those of my kind. ”

”I apologize, Master, but aren ’t you a scaleman like me? I don ’t know anything about these ’humans ’, but I ’m sure the royal study has the records you need. ”