Warlock Apprentice

Chapter 1362: Section 1363: Old Friends Reunite

Angel silently glanced at the person speaking to him, taking him for a fool perhaps.

Seeing the sincere invitation from the other party, Angel turned his head away, ignoring it, and instead continued to look at the young man, waiting for his response.

However, the young man’s expression was very conflicted at the moment. He sneakily glanced at the sky, where, among the sparse clouds, two figures seemed to be descending. Judging by their uniforms, they should be members of the Enforcement Squad responsible for the security of Manshi Magic Material Street.

He usually skirted the edges of the rules when dealing with the Enforcement Squad and they had not troubled him as he had never gone too far. Playing his music twice today was surely crossing the line, and if he continued to play, he wouldn’t be able to run when the Enforcement Squad came for him.

With that thought, the young man looked at Angel with regret, “Although I would love to continue playing for an appreciative listener, there are more important things I need to attend to today. If you really want to hear my music, why not come back the day after tomorrow?”

His words sounded beautiful, but to the ears of bystanders, they carried a different meaning: Although I’d love to continue scamming money from you, the Enforcement Squad is on its way and I must run. How about we set up a time and place to meet, so I can continue scamming you next time.

“What a shameless fellow!” the bystanders shook their heads and cursed.

Angel didn’t have the time to wait another three days, as he was very likely to leave within the next day or two, and naturally, he would not agree.

He originally wanted to say something more, but just then, Nausicaa approached, coming to Angel’s side, and whispered, “Don’t waste your money, I know this guy. Whatever music you want to hear him play, I’ll have him play it later.”

The young man looked at Nausicaa, his pupils shrinking slightly.

Did this easy mark actually know Nausicaa?

While the young man was still puzzled, he noticed Serum’s gloomy expression from afar.

How did Serum get here too, and looking at his expression… did Serum know him as well? But he was sure he had never seen him while he was with Serum.

In the meantime, the Enforcement Squad had also arrived from the sky.

Seeing this, the young man cast aside his doubts and ran into the crowd to grab Serum and flee deeper into it.

By the time Angel turned his head back, the young man had already vanished. However, Angel did notice that the youth who had been with the young man seemed somewhat familiar?

…

After a while, in a dimly lit restaurant booth, Angel silently watched Serum sitting opposite him, and the enchanting woman beside Serum.

Had he not seen the transformation with his own eyes, Angel would never have believed that the woman, now clinging to Serum’s arm and coquettishly begging, was the same young man who had been playing the saxophone by the fountain before!

“Black Classic, let go of your hand.” Serum shook off Black Classic’s hand with a hint of blush on his face: “Hurry up and change back, and return the Magic Crystals to Angel, immediately.”

Wearing a look of grievance, Black Classic said to Serum, “Changing back is no problem, but this money I earned through hard work…”

Before Black Classic could finish speaking, Serum interjected, “Cheated out.”

Seeing that her ploy did not work on Serum, Black Classic turned her head to look at Angel with a hopeful gaze, longing for him to voluntarily refuse to take back the Magic Crystals.

Angel glanced sideward at Nausicaa, and her expression conveyed a simple message: “See, that’s how it is.”

Angel now understood why both Nausicaa and Shan seemed to give odd expressions when Serum was mentioned—not because of Serum himself, but because Black Classic had a rather perverse sense of humor.

Black Classic’s personality wasn’t too difficult to accept, but considering that this was the Book Spirit formed from Serum’s beloved Black Classic book, it gave one an odd feeling.

Of all the spirit types, Book Spirits are the most stable.

But Black Classic, was really indescribable.

Seeing Black Classic still without action, Serum decided not to pay her any mind and instead with an apologetic look addressed Angel, “Black Classic has caused you trouble. If there’s any music you’d like to hear, I’ll have her play for you right now.”

While speaking, Serum also pulled out sixty Magic Crystals from his wallet and placed them in front of Angel.

“The Magic Crystals are not necessary.” Angel shook his head upon seeing this: “If I gave the Magic Crystals away, naturally there was a reason.”

A reason?

Indeed, everyone was curious about why Angel had suddenly spent a substantial sum of money to have Black Classic play music.

Angel briefly explained Toby’s condition, omitting the issue of the Tribulation of Five Flavors, only mentioning that it had fallen into an unconscious curse: “You know, Toby loves music, and it’s been unconscious for several months now. I saw that it reacted to Black Classic’s music, that’s why I asked him to continue playing.”

For Angel, Toby’s reaction was far more important than those mere dozens of Magic Crystals.

After hearing Angel’s words, before Serum could respond, Black Classic immediately jumped out, signaling to Serum with her eyes: See, this is my hard-earned reward.

Before Serum could say anything, Black Classic’s figure flashed, transforming from the previously voluptuous and charming woman into a refined middle-aged man.

Black Classic stood up and gave a graceful bow to Angel: “Since it’s for Toby, I’ll start playing now, hoping to improve Toby’s condition.”

As he spoke, Black Classic swept the Magic Crystals on the table into his own pocket.

Just as Serum was about to erupt into flames, Black Classic took out his saxophone, stood to the side, and began to play with undivided attention.

Song after song, different styles melded into the air, immersing everyone deeply in the melodious music.

Time passed unknowingly, and Black Classic’s performance came to a halt.

Angel shook his head, “Toby hasn’t shown any reaction; it seems that it was indeed a misperception on my part earlier.”

Seeing the gloom in Angel’s eyes, everyone wanted to offer words of comfort, but didn’t know where to begin.

“I’m alright, I’ll be leaving soon, anyway,” Angel paused and looked at Serum, steering the conversation back on track, “to take care of Toby’s matter. Speaking of which, I’m very interested in your experiences during this period, Serum. You’ve changed so much.”

The change Angel mentioned was not only due to Black Classic; Serum himself had also undergone significant transformations.

When Serum first left the Barbarian Cave alone, he was but a Junior Apprentice. Now, in just a few short years, he had not only overcome an obstacle but had reached the peak of the Second Level Apprentice stage.

Such a level was already top-notch among his peers.

Though Serum wanted to discuss the matter of the Magic Crystals, Angel had already made his stance clear earlier; Serum chose not to bring it up again and instead responded, “Over these years, I’ve actually been practicing in the Fertile Country…”

Serum then began to recount his experiences.

Like Nausicaa, Serum spoke of his general experiences, choosing to share only the beneficial events. He glossed over the truly dangerous incidents.

When speaking about his integration with the Azure Bloodline, Serum also revealed some secret fortuitous events.

Integrating with the Azure Bloodline was indeed no simple matter; it required some very stringent inherent conditions. Serum didn’t know about these conditions until the moment of his integration, when they became clear to him.

Although he didn’t meet most of the conditions, Serum was extremely lucky, because he fulfilled the most core condition—having a talisman with which one’s thoughts were intertwined, breaths connected, and blood merged.

The thick-shell book that Serum always carried with him, never parting from it, was his talisman.

Ultimately, Serum was fortunate to integrate with the Azure Bloodline, but because he hadn’t met some conditions, he did not completely obtain the Sage Body talent.

However, with the incomplete Sage Body, Serum succeeded in transforming his thick-shell book into a Spirit.

That was Black Classic.

After Serum finished speaking about himself, he also inquired about Angel’s experiences.

Most of Angel’s deeds were recorded in the magazines, but many details were missing—Angel simply filled in these details, revisiting his experiences in the Abyss.

For example, how he befriended the Abyssal Wind Dragon Fafnir, or why he became entangled with Odeclass and received his mark.

Angel described it all succinctly, omitting some sensitive matters along the way.

Everyone didn’t press for details, understanding that if there were contradictions that Angel chose not to explain, he must have had his reasons.

The events Angel recounted were also new to Lyon. Even though Angel didn’t mention any dangerous experiences, as an Apprentice who had suddenly faced a Magical Creature as powerful as a Third Level True Knowledge, Angel not only kept his composure but also became the mediator between two Abyssal Dragons, forming a balance. The terror within that no outsider could even begin to fathom.

Replacing anyone else in his place, it was likely no one else could have managed.

By the time they had finished sharing their stories, the sky outside the window had turned a reddish hue. It was the color of the twilight glow, which looked even more beautiful situated in the sky.

Although the reunion of old friends sparked excitement, life had to go on, with each person continuing on their own path.

“Dear master, although I know you’re reluctant to end this conversation now, I must remind you that your next match will start in half an hour. It is your promotion fight in the sixth floor of the Infinite Battle Tower, and if you forsake it, your current points on the sixth floor will be halved,” Black Classic said.

Serum reluctantly bid farewell to Angel when only ten minutes remained before his match.

…

After parting with Serum, Angel planned to accompany Lyon and follow Nausicaa to Fangling Hall and, incidentally, see if there were any areas that needed improvements on her mechanical arm.

Before that, however, there was something else Angel needed to do.

Purchase materials.

Angel did have many materials on hand, but he wasn’t buying materials for himself this time. On one hand, it was for the mechanical arm for Nausicaa, and on the other, it was for the Demonic Materials for the soul Popota had asked him to purchase.

Fortunately, the location they were at was on Manshi Magic Material Street, so after leaving the restaurant, they headed further down the Magic Material Street.