Hidden genius: Black belly snake

Marvin, the chubby elf nodded satisfactorily after seeing Tang Yue's blank expression and loudly cleared his throat.

"That's settled then. Pack me the 10 birds and make it fast. I still have things to do." He arrogantly ordered the vendor.

Tang Yue frowned, but her hands were tied. Even if she was from the serpentine clan, she clearly knew the status and prestige of a grandmaster alchemist.

At her current strength or in the near foreseeable future, she simply couldn't afford to lock heads with someone so powerful.

But even so, something felt off... Why would such a big shot personally visit the market to buy something so trivial?

Tang Yue slightly tilted her head and asked Lotte. "Is this fatso really a big deal in the royal hierarchy?"

"Ah..." Lotte stammered.

Being a palace aide made Lotte privy to several secrets of the elven royal palace, but that also meant that he had to keep his mouth shut and not reveal secrets left and right.

However, when his master was outrightly asking him a question, Lotte couldn't refuse to answer and sighed as he replied.

"That... actually... Your highness, Master Marvin is also referred to as the wastrel son of the grandmaster alchemist."

"The old master is very angry with him and has almost disowned him several times since he doesn't have a natural affinity to any elements."

"So Master Marvin is currently working hard and trying to treat his body by eating a lot of fire affinity beasts."

"He has been visiting the beast markets regularly to horde all the fire twin-tailed birds. I only know that much."

Lotte hesitantly answered, revealing a little bit of what he knew.

Pfft... Tang Yue almost laughed out loud. Turns out this arrogant fatty is in the same boat as herself!! Both fat and both a cripple!!

But she had to hand it to him.

Though he was the wastrel son, the chubby elf somehow managed to walk around arrogantly, with his head up in the sky, as if he owned everything in sight.

While they were chatting, the chop shop vendor had almost done packing the birds and laid them out on the metallic table in front of the shop.

Marvin as well was confidently chatting with someone else, fully convinced that all the wares were his to take.

Tang Yue silently grinned. She knew what she had to do.

Before either of them could respond, she stepped forward and swiftly grabbed the eight birds that were neatly packaged in ice, tossing them into her space pearl one at a time.

"I am sorry, Sir Marvin. But I believe first come first serve is the normal policy when it comes to purchasing wares. Or did my husband, his highness, recently change this law?"

Marvin who was happily chatting on the side, bragging about something, suddenly turned around in shock.

"What the heck? We both arrived at the same time. Don't tell me you are going to bully a grandmaster alchemist's son, your highness!" Marvin angrily glared at Tang Yue.

He and the two elves that had accompanied him walked over in front of Tang Yue and blocked her exit.

Marvin gritted his teeth and resolutely looked at Tang Yue. There was no way that he was going to let her leave today with his birds.

After consuming hundreds of birds, and enduring constant insults for more than 3 years, last week the elf had finally materialized a small flickering flame.

And now, he didn't dare change his source of fire-affinity meat.

He could feel that he was almost at the cusp of a major breakthrough and he needed these fire twin-tailed birds desperately.

Every beast had a different flavor of innate affinity and it would disastrous for him to rely on some other beast suddenly, instead of the fire twin-tailed bird.

And why must he, the son of a grandmaster alchemist bow out in a fight with a lowly royal consort?? Hmph! Marvin stood his ground.

Tang Yue as well crossed her arms and resolutely looked at the chubby elf. She didn't plan on budging as well.

If she relented today, then again tomorrow she would have to face him and fight over the same birds.

"Fine, if her highness has already decided to not give me any face, then at least match the price I am able to offer and then take the birds."

Marvin sneered in contempt and immediately used his next weapon.

If his social status didn't work, then he relied on his wealth to shut down the competition. This was his usual tactics.

Being a grandmaster alchemist's son he had tremendous wealth, at least more than these royal consorts. He was very confident about this fact.

He quickly pulled out a golden silk pouch and scooped up a handful of shiny gold coins.

He obnoxiously dropped the coins on the vendor's metallic table, making a huge clanking noise. He didn't stop there.

He again scooped his hand inside his sparkly pouch and retrieved another handful of gold coins.

"Now, can you hand over the birds?" Marvin arrogantly sneered at Tang Yue.

Low-grade beasts cost only one gold coin at best, and he had thrown out several gold coins just like that to flaunt his wealth and scare Tang Yue away.