Warlock Apprentice

Chapter 2575: Chapter 2576: The Arcane Artisan

This is the camp of the Blazing Flame Adventure Group, or to be precise, the square outside the camp.

The actual camp is located inside a sunken tunnel.

On the square, the people of the Blazing Flame Adventure Group are transporting supplies, and these living supplies are placed in several large boxes chained together. Next to the boxes stand six strangely dressed masked individuals.

These six masked individuals are dressed in uniform red robes, with masks covering their faces, only with openings for the eyes, and fully sealed otherwise. The expressions on the masks are all different, but they are exaggerated, absurd, and somewhat twisted in a painting style. At the top of all the masks, the word representing ”Traveling Merchant” is written in the common continental script.

”Six traveling merchants?” Dox stood atop a tree, looking at the square ahead with curiosity.

Mathusa shook her head: ”The masked ones are all low-level members of the Traveling Merchants, mainly responsible for handling supplies, they don’t have much authority. Only the members without masks are the backbone of the Merchant Organization.”

”Then among those without masks here, are there any traveling merchants?”

Mathusa was silent for two seconds: ”No. The clothes of the Merchant Organization are very uniform, the embroidery pattern is the only difference.”

”I see.” Dox squinted his eyes towards the distance, and after a moment, his eyebrows raised, revealing a standard watching-the-show look: ”I found the clothes you mentioned, but at this moment it was already taken off, mixed with a red dress.”

Dox turned to Mathusa: ”Guess what I saw?”

Mathusa sighed: ”I know. I once infiltrated the Blazing Flame Adventure Group as a lost hunter, and Miss Red indeed has... intimate relations with some male traveling merchants. But this is not her will, just for better protection of the members. Believe me, she...”

”She’s a good person? Alright, I know what you’re going to say.” Dox: ”Every time you infiltrate an adventure group, you say their leader is a good person, the Dawnlight is too, and so is Miss Red. Since you are so empathetic, your husband still dares to let you infiltrate various adventure groups, he is quite big-hearted.”

On the other side, Angel and the Black Earl did not speak; actually, they had already used their spiritual power to explore the indescribable affair happening in the camp before Dox.

But one was young and reserved, the other considered himself mature and steady, so they didn’t speak, letting Dox speak first.

This conversation between Dox and Mathusa was overheard by the two apprentices.

Although they are not inexperienced, upon hearing such a scene presented before them, they couldn’t help but feel intrigued.

Following Angel, the Black Earl, and Dox, both Vay and Kaier also used their spiritual power to probe ahead.

This probing, however, startled the man inside who was indulging in intimacy.

Vay’s spiritual power was okay, with decades of practice and the protection of the Black Earl, as long as he didn’t act rashly, he wouldn’t be discovered. But Kaier was different; he looked directly at the bed with reckless enthusiasm.

Though the spiritual power hadn’t penetrated the bed curtain, the man inside suddenly moved, pushing away the flushing Miss Red and wrapped in a quilt, stood out: ”Who? Who’s peeking?”

As he spoke, a blood-red aura emanated from him, instantly revealing the concealed spirit tentacles of Vay and Kaier in the room.

”Two people, how bold!” After saying, the man prepared to manipulate the blood aura to attack the spirit tentacles.

But Vay and Kaier acted faster than him, upon realizing the man was a transcendent, they began withdrawing their spiritual power.

If they really fought this man, they might not necessarily lose, but spiritual power is generally delicate, without protective techniques, even someone a level lower could break it.

Thus, they retracted quickly, aside from Kaier being slightly affected by the blood aura, turning a bit pale, the others were mostly fine. They retreated intact.

After their spiritual power returned, Kaier and Vay simultaneously glanced resentfully at Dox.

The intense blood aura from the man inside was undoubtedly from a bloodline apprentice. Dox, being from the bloodline side too, how could he not notice? When they went to explore, he didn’t warn them at all!

Dox naturally knew what happened; he was watching the show the whole time. Seeing the two look at him, he hurriedly waved his hand: ”I didn’t know you were so curious, it’s just some exercise, what’s there to see? Besides, don’t blame me for not saying anything, Angel and Vay’s tenured one didn’t say anything either?”

The Black Earl snorted coldly.

Angel calmly said: ”Since you already spoke, why should I bother?”

Dox turned to Kaier and Vay, shrugged and spread his hands: ”See, I wasn’t wrong, they knew too.”

Kaier and Vay, at this point, didn’t know what to say, having mingled in the wizarding circles for so long, how could they not understand the underlying meaning?

Dox, Angel, and the Black Earl, actually all knew they’d be discovered upon investigation, but they allowed this behavior, for a simple reason, wasn’t it to startle the merchant and draw him out?

Indeed, the merchant did not disappoint; startled by Kaier and Vay, he quickly dressed and, ignoring Miss Red, rushed out swiftly.

Still shouting angrily, acting as though he wouldn’t rest until he found them.

”Not bad acting.” Angel commented, although the merchant seemed furious, as a master of emotions, he sensed no signs of anger in him, rather a hint of apprehension.

After all, he was just an apprentice who had barely broken through to the third level. Both streams of external spiritual power just now were apprentices, but with relatively solid spirit tentacles, meaning individuals of at least second-level top-tier apprentices. If facing spiritual power, he had no problem, but confronting them directly was daunting.

So, he shouted fiercely but only postured, if they didn’t reveal themselves, this merchant would definitely not seek them out.

Sure enough, Angel’s prediction was entirely accurate.

The merchant cursed for a while, walking towards the masked individuals: ”What bad luck, encountering two peeping thieves today, not sure where these unruly people came from. Though they ran, they definitely came from Bilun Tree Court, when I return, I must find them!”

After speaking, the merchant began urging: ”Is the transaction done? Hurry up. It’s just some living supplies, dragging on and on.”

Clearly, the merchant was losing confidence and was ready to leave.

However, there was no way Angel would let him leave so easily.

As the merchant urged, they flew down from the distant treetop.

Accompanied by the whistling winds of the Speedy Spirit, the merchant heard the rushing sound behind him, quickly turning his head.

Upon seeing the visitors, his pupils shrank instantly.

He didn’t recognize the others, but how could he not recognize ”Red Sword” Dox? Though this man was a wandering wizard, as an official bloodline wizard, his strength was formidable, even official wizards within the Witcher Organization might not match him as peers.

”Red, Red Red... Red Sword, sir.” The merchant’s throat moved, speaking with difficulty.

”You were shouting so loudly earlier; now that we’re here, weren’t you intending to settle this? Come on, come on.” Dox, with a face full of mockery, provocatively beckoned the merchant.

By now, the merchant was trembling and speaking with a stutter: ”I, I was just joking earlier. If sir and your companions want to see, I will personally take you to the Elysium Pavilion of Bilun Tree Court, all expenses on me.”

When the traveling merchant mentioned ”all expenses included,” there was a hint of pain in his eyes. Evidently, he wasn’t a wealthy man.

Which makes sense, if he had some money in his pocket, why not have fun at the Elysium Pavilion? Miss Red is, after all, an ordinary person, and cannot fully enjoy herself while playing.

”Honorable merchant, who are they...” At this moment, Miss Red had tidied her attire and walked out from inside.

Dressed as always, her face still flush, looking more like a flamingo. — This is from Dox’s perspective.

”It’s none of your business, go away quickly.” The traveling merchant impatiently waved her off, signaling for her not to come over.

This behavior, however, made Angel glance at him. While it seemed the traveling merchant was dismissing Miss Red, he was actually protecting her.

In essence, the two were in a mutually consenting relationship, with little emotion involved. The fact that the traveling merchant went this far was already quite considerate.

Because of this act, Angel stopped Dox from further teasing the traveling merchant and stepped forward, saying: ”Earlier, when you were talking to yourself, you mentioned returning to Bilun Tree Court to trouble two kids. So, is the Merchant Organization behind you supported by Bilun Tree Court? The Birlos Family?”

As Angel spoke, Dox naturally took a step back, letting Angel take the lead. This detail was noticed by the traveling merchant, making his scalp tingle even more.

Because this meant that the person speaking in front of him was at least an Official Wizard!

With two Official Wizards appearing before him, was today the end of the line for him?

Though the traveling merchant felt pessimistic, he still didn’t want to give up outright and cautiously said: ”Honored sir, it’s not that I don’t want to answer your question, but we all signed a death oath when we joined the organization, prohibiting us from disclosing information about it.”

The traveling merchant thought for sure this answer would anger the other party, but he had no choice but to say it.

Unexpectedly, Angel showed no emotional fluctuation and merely said softly: ”I see... then let me ask in another way, do you know them?”

Angel lightly waved his hand, and an illusion appeared before the traveling merchant.

Within the illusion was a couple holding hands, the young couple apprentices who had previously hitched a ride on their Teleportation Array. They had introduced themselves before as being from the Birlos Family.

Upon seeing the apprentice couple, the traveling merchant’s eyes flickered. He understood that the wizard opposite him was seeking information in a way that didn’t violate any oaths.

This indicated that the other party didn’t have the immediate intention to kill him. Otherwise, there was no need to be so tactful.

The traveling merchant wasn’t particularly loyal, and since Angel chose a tactful approach, he was willing to cooperate.

”I know them, and not only do I know them, but I’ve also known them for many years.” Without waiting for Angel to ask, the traveling merchant started providing information about the apprentice couple and recounted some of the interesting events that had happened between them.

Though he didn’t mention anything about the Merchant Organization, Angel and the others had already grasped the situation.

It seemed the Merchant Organization was indeed linked with the Birlos Family. Even if the Birlos Family didn’t directly create the Merchant Organization, they were certainly influencers within it.

The reason for this conclusion was due to the looming shadow of royal power behind the Birlos Family. Such sharing of power was not uncommon.

When the traveling merchant had finished speaking, he anxiously looked at Angel and Dox, silently awaiting their verdict.

Whether it would be life or death truly hung on their whim.

Angel: ”We came here specifically to find your Merchant Organization this time.”

Merchant: ”May I know what you require, sir?”

”We want to meet someone known as the ’Craftsman,’” Angel stated plainly.

In fact, he had another request, which was to directly purchase information about the underground passage from the Merchant Organization. They certainly knew. However, this might alert the Merchant Organization to their movements. Though they didn’t fear being discovered—after all, with the Black Earl and Angel’s ”Summoning” method, anyone would face death—but, if things could be kept simple, it would be better to avoid complications.

After all, this place was part of the Gumman Kingdom. If they attracted King Gumman’s attention, things would become even more complex.

”The Craftsman? I know him; he’s a newly initiated Alchemy Apprentice.” The traveling merchant spoke of the Craftsman with a hint of disdain, not for the person but for the title that didn’t match his status.

”Where is he now?”

The merchant hurriedly said: ”The Craftsman is stationed long-term at the organization branch near the ruins because he has to make weapons for the adventure groups here. Oh, he resides in the Mana Hut, which also functions as his blacksmith shop.”

”Sir, would you like to go to the organization branch, or should I directly send a message for him to come and meet you?”

The merchant’s survival instinct was even stronger than Angel had imagined. He didn’t have to provide a solution, but he did, coincidentally conforming to some of Angel’s thoughts.

This made Angel see the shrewd merchant in a different light.

”Send the message, have him come see me, and... bring his Mana Hut.”

The merchant wrote the message right in front of Angel, which was also an act of survival or a gesture of goodwill.

Of course, messages can be secretly manipulated to reveal information, but the traveling merchant didn’t do so. He’s not an idiot; even if the information were to be leaked, what would happen with two Official Wizards in The Garden Labyrinth?

Would the Birlos Family dispatch Official Wizards to besiege them?

It’s impossible. The Garden Labyrinth isn’t a particularly affluent ruin, nor is it privately owned by the Birlos Family; they would never risk offending other wizards over it.

Moreover, the identity of the wizard whom even Red Sword Docks stepped back for is unknown to them.

Unknown means no full certainty.

So under such circumstances, the traveling merchant wouldn’t employ any tricks. His plan was to follow the instructions of the two wizard lords and then, ideally, request a memory erase, pretending that none of this ever happened.

”Sir, should we wait here for the ’Craftsman’ to arrive, or move to another location?” the traveling merchant asked Angel while writing down the location information.

Angel: ”Here will do.”

The merchant immediately marked the location, then deliberately showed Angel the message content again to prove he wasn’t tampering with it. Then, he enclosed the message in a ball of blood aura; the blood aura is a means of communication used by Bloodline Wizards, a modified version of the magic transmission. Bloodline Wizards prefer using blood aura for sending messages over magic transmissions.

The blood aura ball rose into the sky, hovering for a while, seemingly positioning itself.

After confirming the position, a crimson light flashed, darting towards the south.