Warlock Apprentice

Chapter 1365: Section 1366: Chance Encounter

“Thank you for your guidance, Granny,” Angel said respectfully.

Even though Nail Granny had not said much and had misunderstood his intention to use the Scroll of Fortune to craft the Mysterious Object, he could feel that her discouragement was not out of malice. Perhaps she was reluctant to elaborate because there were some matters she preferred not to mention.

Nail Granny nodded, “Muse thinks highly of you, and I trust Muse’s judgment.”

Angel was taken aback, not expecting to hear the name Muse from Nail Granny.

‘Mediocre’ Muse was the dean of the research institute. Not long ago, Sanders had said something similar, and now Nail Granny was saying it too… But, he had never actually met Muse.

Soon, the Puppet brought the Demonic Materials Angel needed.

Angel put the materials into his bracelet, placing them near Popota, and then bid farewell to Nail Granny and left.

As he was preparing to head towards the main gate, Boli, who had previously stopped him, once again blocked his path.

“Excuse me, sir, are you… a Music Box Alchemist?” Boli asked, her eyes filled with hopeful expectancy.

Angel’s face darkened as he sidestepped her, “You have the wrong person.”

“I also study Enchantment, and moreover, I was influenced by you, sir!” Boli seemed to have identified Angel’s identity and quickly followed him.

Angel still didn’t respond and continued walking towards the exit.

“I truly admire your philosophy!”

Angel: “…” What philosophy do I have, and how do I not know about it?

“I have completed the Basic Sorcery in Alchemy and can proficiently operate various experimental tools, including the newest Alchemical Device developed by the research institute.” Boli chased after Angel as he left Nail Alchemy House, and her urgent voice could still be faintly heard from inside: “Can I study by your side, sir, even just as an assistant handling the ashes would be fine?”

“I can learn anything!”

Inside Nail Alchemy House, Boli’s voice gradually faded, and Louis, who had stood beside her, appeared hesitant.

Upon knowing Angel’s identity, he too had wanted to follow as Boli did. Even though his field was concocting, he believed that being with an Alchemist who had ventured into the mysterious domain would be immensely beneficial.

But Louis found it somewhat embarrassing to do so.

He could only watch the opportunity slip away right before his eyes.

At this moment, outside Nail Alchemy House, after rendezvousing with Nausicaa, Angel was ready to head to Fangling Hall.

“What’s the matter?” Nausicaa glanced at the young female Apprentice hanging behind them about ten meters away: “How did you manage to pick up a little tail while buying materials?”

Angel didn’t turn around, but he was aware that the person following him was Boli.

Angel held no particular opinion towards this stranger, Boli; he didn’t think being admired was all that great, nor did he see her as particularly troublesome; at most, her blocking the way was somewhat annoying.

Angel had considered telling Boli not to follow him because her shouting could easily expose his identity. Although he didn’t plan to truly conceal his identity, he also didn’t want to blatantly reveal it.

However, Boli proved to be quite perceptive, for without needing Angel to say anything, she closed her mouth upon leaving the vicinity of Nail Alchemy House and just followed quietly from a distance.

This street was a public area; he couldn’t very well force Boli to go another way.

Thus, they ended up with the situation where she was trailing far behind.

“Don’t worry about her.” Angel briefly explained the situation that occurred in Nail Alchemy House.

After listening, Nausicaa raised an eyebrow but said nothing. Yet, she couldn’t help but compare the situation internally. Angel’s mere visit to the Alchemy House had Alchemists clamoring to work as unpaid assistants – a testament to his popularity. It was noteworthy that Boli, judging by her attire, was an Alchemy Apprentice from the Sky Mechanical City, a coveted position within many Witcher Organizations.

In contrast, Nausicaa recalled her recent promotion fight in the Infinite Battle Tower, attended by fewer than twenty spectators, among whom Angel and Shan were there out of friendly support.

Nausicaa sighed inwardly.

Lyon, however, didn’t grasp the intricacies of the situation and even curiously suggested, “I’ve noticed you practice Alchemy without an assistant. Maybe you could consider her.”

Putting aside the value of knowledge, Angel held too many secrets; he couldn’t possibly employ a stranger as his assistant.

By the time Angel explained this, they had already reached the busiest part of Manshi Magic Material Street.

The place was crowded with countless individuals, all flaunting their unique styles and vying for attention.

“Most of them are participants in the Rising Star Contest,” Nausicaa explained: “Nearby is the largest Alchemy market. The Metallography and Potionology Alchemy products are especially useful in the competition. Hence, this place is also the most crowded.”

As Nausicaa said this, she paused, “Angel, do you plan to take a look in the market?”

Angel was indeed a bit curious about this Alchemy market, but at the moment, he had no shortage of Alchemy materials. He even had more luxurious items, including the body of the Demon God’s Avatar, tucked away in his bracelet.

He thought for a moment, then shook his head: “I’ll come back next time.”

Nausicaa didn’t say much, and they prepared to move directly past the trading market. But just as Angel walked past the entrance of the market, he suddenly felt uneasy, as if there was an intense gaze watching him.

Angel turned around in confusion, and first, he saw Boli hanging not far away.

Seeing Angel look over, Boli’s eyes flashed with surprise, thinking that Angel wanted to speak to her and might agree to let her be his apprentice. With this thought, Boli prepared to step forward quickly.

However, Boli had only taken a few steps when she saw a different color flash through Angel’s pupils.

And his brow furrowed.

Most importantly, Boli noticed that although Angel was looking in her direction, his eyes weren’t focused on her.

Perhaps behind her?

Boli hesitated for a moment, then turned her head.

Right behind her was the gate of the Alchemy market, where contestants from the newcomer competition were coming and going, even showing signs of jostling.

However, Boli didn’t pay attention to the moving crowd but instead noticed two people at the entrance of the market at a glance.

Even though the people around were dressed in odd and bizarre ways, only these two caught Boli’s attention.

They were the only ones standing still, and they exuded an aura that was completely different from that of the surrounding people.

Both of the men looked extremely frail, one of them with a very handsome face but a pained expression, combined with his malnourished figure, he looked extremely haggard.

The other man was also very frail, his frailty purely that of an ill young man, his skin so pale and colorless that it looked as if a breeze could blow him away.

For some reason, Boli felt that the haggard-looking man seemed familiar.

However, Boli didn’t think much about it, as she was now carefully observing the ill young man because she noticed that he was looking at Angel with a peculiar gaze.

The look was very intense, as if he saw a treasure, cautious yet very earnest.

Boli looked back at Angel, and at that moment, Angel was also looking at the ill young man, but compared to the joy in the young man’s eyes, Angel’s gaze was somewhat cold.

Who were they? It seemed as if they knew Angel?

Caught between two gazes, Boli felt uneasy, and her steps, previously intended to move beside Angel, were forcibly halted.

Moments later, caught between one fervent and one cold gaze, Boli still retreated and discreetly moved to the side to quietly observe the turn of events.

Angel’s unusual behavior also caught Nausicaa’s attention.

She followed Angel’s gaze: “Do you know those people over there?”

Angel didn’t speak because, as Nausicaa was asking, the sick-looking youth was walking towards him.

When he stood still in front of Angel, the intense gaze became even more evident.

Nausicaa couldn’t help but frown as well.

Angel and the sick-looking youth remained silent, but the one who eventually broke the silence was the other somewhat haggard-looking young man: “Winchester, what are you doing over here? These apprentices, do you know them?”

The sick-looking youth was none other than Winchester from the Frostmoon Alliance. The one questioning him was naturally the Alchemist who had come with him to Sky Mechanical City – “Black Sugar Follower” Brufen.

Winchester opened his mouth to reply, but then a mouthful of blood spurted out.

The blood fell to the ground, turning into a fiery-red magma, melting a few small holes into the even surface of the road.

Brufen looked at Winchester with distaste: “Didn’t you just drink a coagulation potion? Why are you throwing up again?”

Winchester: “The coagulation potion has developed resistance; lasting an hour is already good. The reason I came with you this time was to improve the coagulation potion, right?”

Brufen stepped back, he actually wouldn’t care if Winchester vomited blood, but because Winchester worried that his blood would be used against him by other Transcendents, he always made it turn into high-temperature magma upon hitting the ground.

Due to the Calamity Curse in Brufen’s body not yet fully dissipated, he had been affected by bad luck many times, leading to Winchester’s blood being spilled on him.

He had been burned countless times during this period, so Brufen instinctively stepped back as soon as he saw Winchester vomiting blood.

“Turn your head around, don’t talk to me,” Brufen stepped back again: “Now, answer the question I asked before, why did you come over here?”

At this moment, Winchester didn’t respond to Brufen, instead looking at Angel: “There’s a fluctuation on you that is familiar to me and utterly enthralling.”

Winchester’s gaze moved away from Angel’s unfamiliar face and finally settled on the lobe of Angel’s left ear.