God of Tricksters

Everyone was stunned by Richard's answer. Flora's reaction was normal and she seemed to be ready to kill Richard by using this as an excuse.

"Wait a minute, Madam Flora. Richard must be nervous right now. Let me talk to him a bit!" Karl hurriedly stepped in. He was panicking himself, not knowing why Richard tried to screw him up. Karl turned around and glared at Richard. "Richard!"

Richard looked down while stuttering. "But… but…"

"There's no but for today. What's wrong with you today? Why do you want to screw me over?"

"But… I can't." Richard shook his head helplessly. Karl was about to explode, but Richard managed to complete his sentence before that happened. "I can't upgrade a skill that doesn't exist."

"You—!" Karl suddenly stopped and realized something. "Doesn't exist?"

Richard could easily see through one's skill, so it was clear that Richard didn't lie. In other words, Flora was the one who pressured Richard this whole time by asking him to upgrade a skill that didn't exist.

"I only saw an A Rank Skill called Ice World."

"!!!" Everyone was stunned by that response. Even Flora realized that Richard was the real deal.

"Madam Flora…" Karl immediately turned around and glared at Flora. She came here to upgrade her skill, but to think she would lie to him.

"Ah, that's what I meant earlier… This skill is too weak for me, so I always call it Ice Field since it doesn't suit that name." Flora shrugged as if she didn't feel any burden from that lie. She glanced at the suitcase and said, "I'll give you the remaining Skill Cards after you upgrade my and my adjutant's skills as an apology."

Karl gritted his teeth. He truly didn't like her who would do something like this. She believed she could do everything because she had that strength.

However, she had no choice but to rely on her this time. The royal family couldn't rise in the union without her support, so he had no choice but to swallow his anger.

"Richard. Please."

Richard's body was still shaking, but he still opened his mouth. "To upgrade—"

Before he finished, Flora stated again, "There's no need to say anything to me. Just get all the Skill Cards from the suitcase."

"You, Flora Wegener!" Karl roared.

But before Karl did anything, Richard grabbed his arm and made a wry smile. It was clear that he was afraid to do this as well, but he tried to steel his heart for a moment to smoothen the situation. "It's alright, Your Highness."

"Richard, you…"

Richard staggeringly walked to the suitcase and grabbed 35 A Rank Skill Cards and 100 B Rank Skill Cards. He then approached Flora with a pale face and said, "Here… I go."

Flora didn't say anything. She kept observing Richard's movement as if she was trying to examine his power.

But all Richard did was envelop his Magic Power into the cards and started closing his eyes as if he was trying to concentrate. Suddenly, the Skill Cards disappeared.

It shocked everyone because they couldn't feel anything from the Skill Cards. Even if it was burned to nothing, it would still give off some smell. But this time, they couldn't sense anything as if the Skill Cards simply vanished.

"Con… Cong…" Richard had a hard time speaking because he was scared. But Prince Karl instantly stepped forward, protecting Richard again. He said with a serious expression. "Congratulations, Madam. It seems that your skill has been upgraded successfully."

"Mhm?" Flora narrowed her eyes because she didn't feel anything. She suddenly raised her hand and utilized the skill. The temperature suddenly dropped as the ice began covering everything, from the grasses around them to the mansion and the gate. Yes, a thin layer of ice covered an area of a half-mile in diameter in an instant. "This is…"

Without her saying anything, everyone could see the power behind that skill. It was already beyond the scope of an A Rank Skill. In other words, an S Rank Skill had been born.

"I'm sure that you're satisfied with this, right, Madam Flora?" Karl narrowed his eyes.

"Of course." Flora's expression turned grim, and she said, "Now, upgrade my adjutant's Wind Extermination Skill."

"…" Karl gritted his teeth, but Richard complied with her request and upgraded her adjutant's skill. Though, he ended up shaking his head in disappointment. Richard panicked and moved to Prince Karl for his protection.

Seeing this, Karl stated coldly, "You're very lucky, Madam Flora. The chance of you upgrading your skill is low because you're stressing him out."

"…" Flora fell silent because this statement wasn't only for Flora but to anyone else who came to this place. This was a warning for them not to pressure Richard.

Flora squinted her eyes and grabbed the suitcase, throwing it at them. "I don't feel good today, so I'll go back. I'll surely repay the favor."

Karl immediately caught the case and glanced at the old man. "Are you planning to upgrade your skill like this as well, Sir Haiskal?"

That cold gaze told him everything. Even he had to swallow his pride and put on a gentle smile. "Of course not. Since I've come here to ask for a favor, of course, I will follow the host's procedure."

Karl closed his eyes for a moment before telling the rest. "If that's the case, please go inside. We have prepared you a banquet so that you can have a good time while waiting for your turn. We will call the people one by one. Please come in."

Prince Karl led the group inside while walking next to Richard.

"I'm sorry, Richard. I have to let you suffer like that."

"It's alright, Your Highness." Richard had a weak smile as if he was trying hard to calm down his heart after what had happened earlier. He even asked, "Am I useful to you?"

Karl didn't expect this kind of question from him. Still, he had to answer it immediately. "Of course. You're like my brother!"

Because he was overwhelmed by that smile, he even gave the suitcase to Richard. "This is for you. You have done all the work yourself, so you should keep this suitcase. Maybe if there's someone you like and you want to upgrade his/her skill, you can use these Skill Cards to help them."

Richard opened his mouth as if he wanted to refuse, but Karl immediately stopped him. "Don't refuse. I told you, right? I want you to pursue your own happiness too."

Richard ended up with a smile. "I understand, Your Highness. I will treasure this."