Demon King: Hero, don’t run away!

The Slime King proposed using knowledge as a bargaining chip for exchange, but Yang Yu refused, opting instead for a strategic retreat,

”The knowledge gathered by you slimes may be interesting.

But personally, I still prefer tangible rewards.

Before arriving at the palace, we’ve seen that slimes possess a unique civilization, with many things that must be intriguing.

Since His Majesty the King wishes to reward me, I hope to pick something myself.”

After a moment of contemplation, the Slime King agreed to Yang Yu’s request:

”Some things cannot be casually given to you.

If there’s something you fancy, write it down on a piece of paper.

I will evaluate their value and ultimately decide whether to give it to you.”

”Thank you for your generosity, Your Majesty.

Now, can you show me your kingdom’s legal code?

After all, while touring, it would be unfortunate to accidentally breach the laws, causing our evaluation among the slimes to drop, which is something I wish to avoid.”

”No problem. I understand you.”

The Slime King beckoned, and a green slime clad in white lifted its hand, summoning a thick copy of the legal code to hand over to Yang Yu.

Flipping through a few pages casually, Yang Yu saved the legal code into the system.

The characters inscribed were ones Yang Yu had never seen before. They seemed to be a writing system developed by the slimes themselves, so it needed to be deciphered by He Meng.

After storing the legal code safely, Yang Yu pulled out a large pink sack the size of a burlap bag,

”We certainly couldn’t come empty-handed for a visit. I have prepared bountiful gifts for His Majesty.”

Relying on gifts to gain favor, does he really think this would work?

The Slime King initially wanted to outright refuse Yang Yu, but suddenly a fragrant aroma wafted from the pink sack Yang Yu produced.

What is this fragrance about, and why does it have such a strong clover scent?

The Slime King became curious and didn’t refuse Yang Yu, allowing a nearby guard to bring over the pink sack Yang Yu held.

The clover fragrance spread through the palace as the guard moved, rendering the ministers almost unable to resist.

Once opened, a lush batch of clover came into the Slime King’s view.

The Slime King was astounded; the clover provided by Yang Yu was comparable in quality to the high-grade produce from the plantations.

To be able to transport such high-quality ingredients to an underground place like this without their quality diminishing at all, how exactly did he do it?

Yang Yu flashed a polite smile:

”Your Majesty, this is the clover I cultivated; please enjoy it.

As for the other officials here, since I initially didn’t know how many of you there would be, I didn’t prepare corresponding gifts.

However, it’s rare for us to meet, and I’d be willing to offer some clover to all present slimes as a gesture of sincerity.

I wonder if Your Majesty would allow me to prepare gifts for the ministers here on the spot?”

”On the spot?!”

The ministers present were surprised, looking at Yang Yu, then collectively shifted their gaze to the Slime King.

Noticing the expectation in the ministers’ eyes and having just received the gifts, the Slime King was in a bind and could only agree:

”Since you have this intention and wish to demonstrate your sincerity, we shall make an exception this time.

Of course, the ministers cannot receive gifts without reciprocation; they must return gifts to you upon receiving them, to prevent owing a debt of gratitude.”

In unison, the slimes agreed to the King’s command.

Yang Yu’s lips curved slightly; he finally managed to play his ace.

After bowing to the Slime King, Yang Yu produced a giant flowerpot, scattering clover seeds into it and activating the skill [Clover Cultivation].

With a loud ”bang,” a swath of clover burst open like fireworks, reaching the relatively low palace ceiling.

Under the stunned gazes of the slimes, Yang Yu took out several bottles, approached the clover patch, and picked equivalent weights of clover, distributing them to each minister through the guard.

There weren’t many ministers in the Slime Palace, only twenty-six, so Yang Yu didn’t take much time.

As a reward for helping him, Yang Yu even picked a few leaves of clover for the guards who had assisted him.

Receiving their jar of clover, the ministers were shocked by the quality and quantity of the clover, their gazes fixated on Yang Yu at the center and the Clover Tree, from which only a third had been picked.

Yang Yu slightly furrowed his brow and, slightly resigned, addressed the slimes:

”I’m sorry, I lost control of the power and grew too much clover at once.

The excess clover I will take with me.

Later where I’m going, there are sure to be other slimes, so consider this a meet-and-greet gift.”

With a wave of his hand, a huge array appeared under the flowerpot where the clover was planted, swallowing the entire clover plant.

The gigantic Clover Tree vanished into thin air, disappointment creeping onto the faces of one slime minister after another.

”Well then, Your Majesty, I’ll now go see what rewards your Slime Kingdom has suitable for me.”

After bowing to the King once more, Yang Yu turned to leave. The Slime King called out to Helot, instructing him to guide Yang Yu and his companions.

Helot did not refuse, accepting the task.

Glancing at his jar filled with clover, then at the departing Yang Yu, a minister finally couldn’t help but speak out:

”What kind of magic did you use? Why can your flowerpot grow such a large amount of clover all at once!

We find clover extremely difficult to cultivate, let alone growing such tender and juicy clover.”

Facing the minister’s query, Yang Yu turned back with a smile, saying, ”That’s a secret,” then followed Helot out of the palace without a backward glance.

Yang Yu utilized the strategy of baiting once more.

This feeling of wanting but being unable to attain it can be addictive and irresistible.

If he were to reveal that he could easily cultivate clover and had plenty of clover seeds, it would lessen the leverage in subsequent negotiations.

Only by purposely showing that even without the slimes’ help, he could find other ways to resolve the issues and wasn’t solely dependent on them could he maintain an advantage in future negotiations.

If the strategy of baiting didn’t work, Yang Yu would employ some means to gain the slimes’ assistance.

To obtain delicious clover, many slimes might choose to risk moving to the surface.

The value of clover to the slimes shows its worth.

As the saying goes, ’money makes the world go round,’ so could clover sway high-level slimes to serve as mercenaries, perhaps even betraying the Slime Kingdom?

If things didn’t work out, he could also recruit some low-level slimes, sign contracts with them, and take them to the surface for trials, gaining abundant experience to help them level up.

Of course, that would be a last resort.

After all, pulling slimes who know nothing to the point where they could barely assist in combat would consume a lot of time and effort.

Preferably, Yang Yu would rather make use of what was readily available.