Warlock Apprentice

Chapter 2577: Chapter 2578: The Ruined Desktop

With two Official Wizards and an Avatar whose True Body is one of the top figures in the Wizards’ Realm, dying is hard for the Magician.

Yet, a quarter of an hour later, the Magician regained his mobility.

Under the Traveling Merchant’s suggestion, the Magician hurriedly took out his Mana Hut, inviting everyone inside to discuss.

In the Wizards’ Realm, randomly entering a stranger’s Mana Hut is actually considered a taboo, because no one knows what traps might be hidden inside. Especially an Alchemist’s Mana Hut, which is the culmination of various traps.

However, this taboo only applies under circumstances where the parties are of equal rank or the difference in strength is not significant. Angel’s side with three Wizard Level or higher combat forces couldn’t possibly fear a Second Level Apprentice’s hut.

Without any hesitation, the group walked into the hut.

The Magician’s Mana Hut indeed had traps, but he dared not activate them. Especially since he noticed the red-haired wizard who pleaded for him earlier, while entering, inside, and after entering the hut, respectively looked at three places. And these three places were precisely where the Magician had his Mentor build traps.

Clearly, the other side not only didn’t fear traps, but even knew exactly where they were.

The Magician, seeing this, dared not act recklessly. He just secretly glared at the Traveling Merchant angrily, who didn’t care at all and instead began to ponder what would be the best course of action for them next.

The Traveling Merchant entered the Mana Hut one step ahead and immediately started lavishing praise on Angel, who stood in the center.

The sole purpose of the flattery was to ask Angel for mercy, agreeing to either memory clearing or memory modification without any issue. The Traveling Merchant’s lone request was not to touch any memories related to death vows, as once anyone else meddles with these contract-encrypted memories, he would surely die.

The Traveling Merchant’s survival instinct was incredibly strong. Allowing someone to delete memory meant having to open it for access. If Angel wished, he could even read the Traveling Merchant’s childhood memories. Even without the vow memory, such a decision requires great courage.

The Magician, entering later, was initially stunned by the Traveling Merchant’s action, not expecting him to go such lengths. But upon further thought, given the opposing side’s unmatched, pinch-the-ant-like power, holding onto pride before such elite figures would literally be a deadly vanity.

In this realization, after hesitating for a moment, the Magician imitated the Traveling Merchant.

Angel looked at the two who requested memory deletion without words.

Having just entered the Mana Hut, he was still investigating if there was anything they needed inside the hut. Yet before he could start, these two came to him in succession.

Listening to their similar or, specifically, the Magician’s blatant plagiarism of the Traveling Merchant’s flattery, Angel felt as if mosquitoes were buzzing in his ears.

Angel pinched his brows: ”Alright, you two stop talking. As long as you follow my instructions, we don’t need to kill you.”

Since the Magician came later, he didn’t know what happened. But the Traveling Merchant was clear: it wasn’t them the two Official Wizards were looking for, but the Magician. So the Traveling Merchant quickly said: ”Then sir, I’ll wait outside. I promise not to run around.”

Everyone could guess the Traveling Merchant’s intention. He was afraid of learning some secrets that would bring trouble, so the best way was to quickly leave the Mana Hut, see and hear nothing, pretending to be a wooden figure.

Angel didn’t plan to make things difficult for the Traveling Merchant, and indeed, what was needed was done, and the rest had little to do with him. So Angel flicked some Power of Nightmare Illusion onto his brow, letting the Traveling Merchant go out.

Once the Traveling Merchant left, everyone’s eyes focused on the only trembling person present—the Magician.

Even though the Magician’s legs were shaking, his face had unusual redness, which Angel identified as Dox’s doing. Earlier, Dox was asked to help restore the Magician’s hemoglobin, and he exploited the situation for a little trick.

However, it wasn’t anything serious. It was just an excess blood condition, which wouldn’t affect the body; it might just be embarrassing. This feeling is somewhat akin to... an insatiable desire, wanting to let out but having no outlet, forcing the body to digest the excess blood itself.

Angel glanced at Dox, who proudly raised his head with an expression saying: How’s it? My masterpiece is splendid, right?

Angel didn’t say a word, merely updating Dox’s character traits mentally: can’t stand arrogance in front, hmm... also a bit petty.

But those are insignificant details; back to the matter at hand.

In the Magician’s confusion, Angel unveiled their purpose.

”The tabletop surface?” The Magician initially didn’t recall until Angel presented the Crow’s Illusion, awakening him.

”I remember now, right, there was that situation.” With a memory trigger point, more memories surged forth.

The Magician disclosed all that happened then and everything related to the tabletop afterward, without any concealment.

The outcome wasn’t quite satisfactory.

Initially, Angel thought the Magician had discerning eyes and hence intentionally kept the tabletop. But as the Magician narrated, it turned out he only noticed it was made of rare plant material.

Even though he saw some odd marks and mysterious lines on the tabletop, the Magician paid no heed, directly treating it as a quality material for alchemy.

Due to the table’s size, the Magician intended to alchemize three short staves but failed twice, eventually producing only one. Still, the Magician was delighted, considering it one of his masterpieces for its enhanced elemental efficiency.

Later, this short staff was sold in Bilun Tree Court’s market for nearly two hundred Magic Crystals, a ”high” price.

As for the discarded materials, the Magician had already processed them.

In essence, the tabletop had been fully dismantled and consumed, with no way to locate the actual object.

None had foreseen this outcome, but given the Magician’s mere Alchemy Apprentice level, with an inherently limited perspective, just recognizing demonic materials was commendable, making such actions seemingly normal.

”Your Merchant Organization received these relic items; don’t they get submitted? You used it yourself?” Angel voiced his confusion.

The Magician: ”Normally, items of unknown use but obviously extraordinary are submitted. This tabletop was merely a demonic material...”

At this point, the Magician paused before continuing: ”At least in my view, it was just a demonic material, hence not submitted.”

The Magician perceived the tabletop may have had some extraordinariness, but he never discovered it, ultimately treating it as regular material.

The Magician didn’t feel loss for passing up the opportunity. Had he perceived anything beyond, he’d still have had to submit it to the organization, bound by vows.

Not finding anything extraordinary and treating it simply as demonic material allowed the Magician to bypass vow constraints and earn two hundred Magic Crystals.

This is perhaps the ”luck” brought by ”ignorance.”

However, the ”luck” ignorance brought to the Magician at that time is uncertain, whether it can bring luck again now, facing Angel and others?

The Magician deeply exhaled, putting on a solemn look as he waited for the final judgment.

In his mind, his life-or-death decision lies at that moment in the red-haired Wizard’s One Thought.

Yet, the red-haired Wizard remained silent for long. Was he pondering how to address him?

The Magician was overthinking, for Angel never intended for his demise, with no genuine enmity, no breached boundaries, and full disclosure of facts. Aside from a penchant for boasting, there was no other reason to kill him.

Of course, this is a judgment based on Angel’s personal values.

As for the others, whether Dox or the Black Earl, they had no intention of killing the Magic Craftsman. Firstly, Angel was leading the team this time, and his decision was the final one, including the life and death of the Magic Craftsman; secondly, it’s just a minor apprentice, killing him isn’t interesting.

The massive gap between Official Wizards and Wizard Apprentices meant they didn’t consider the Magic Craftsman important at all; his life or death was irrelevant.

As for why Angel hadn’t spoken for a long time, it was because he was discussing the next steps with everyone else in the Mind Ribbon.

Although the Magic Craftsman had completely destroyed the tabletop, the fact that he could refine it showed that the tabletop itself had no secrets.

The real secrets might lie in the patterns and characters on the tabletop.

If this assumption is correct, they have no need to find the tabletop; they only need to probe the memory of someone who has seen it to determine what was depicted on it.

Many people have seen the tabletop, but most are ordinary people, and forcibly probing their memories would greatly harm them.

However, the Magic Craftsman is different; he is a Transcendent, with his Psychic Model partly constructed. Even if his memories are probed, with the stability of his model, it won’t hurt much.

Besides, didn’t the Magic Craftsman and the Traveling Merchant both voluntarily ask to wipe their memories? This means they don’t even need a reason; they can simply pretend to alter the memory to probe the Magic Craftsman’s memories of the tabletop.

As for why not just ask the Magic Craftsman what’s engraved on the tabletop, he had already answered before; he can’t remember.

Memory is a mysterious thing. You think you can’t remember because the redundant and irrelevant memory fragments have sunk into the depths of your mind. If you really dig deep, even your infant memories can be unearthed, let alone the marks on the tabletop.

Wizard Apprentices can’t piece together those memory fragments due to their weak Spirit Seas, but Official Wizards are different.

This is why Official Wizards are usually memory masters, like Sanders, who seem to have hyperthymesia, capable of retrieving memories spanning centuries at any time.

Once the method was confirmed, amidst the anxious wait for the ”life-death verdict,” Angel slowly spoke;

”Alright, now that the tabletop is destroyed, let’s drop it. However, I don’t want others knowing we were here, so go call in the Traveling Merchant. I’ll make some adjustments to your memories today, and then you can both go on your way.”

Though his memory would be altered, the Magic Craftsman wasn’t unhappy at all. Memory alteration was fine; after all, today’s memories were a nightmare anyway, and surviving was enough.

However...

”Master, before the memory is altered, may I make a request?”

Angel: ”If it’s about a death vow, I won’t touch it.”

The Magic Craftsman quickly shook his head, ”It’s not about that, just a small personal matter...”

After a while, the Magic Craftsman finished speaking and went out to find the Traveling Merchant.

Angel rubbed his temples, looking speechless. Not just Angel, everyone except the Black Earl had the same expression.

It all stemmed from the Magic Craftsman’s request.

They thought the Magic Craftsman’s request might be significant, but it was indeed... significant.

The Magic Craftsman wanted to find the ordinary people who had witnessed his disgrace before altering his memory and make them forget through a special Oblivion Oath the embarrassing scene from today.

The value of an Oblivion Contract is quite hefty, and since it’s based on an oath, it wouldn’t affect ordinary people even if they forget a day’s memories.

In short, the Magic Craftsman’s request had one purpose: nothing else mattered, but dignity could not be compromised. Especially in front of ordinary people, it mustn’t!

This request wasn’t a big deal and didn’t affect ordinary people’s lives. Angel, although endlessly ridiculing the Magic Craftsman’s obsession with dignity in his heart, still agreed to the request.

”Such a person is really rare...” Vay held back for a long time but couldn’t help commenting.

Others said nothing but silently agreed in their hearts.

However, the Black Earl, with an old, calm demeanor, said, ”What’s the big deal? There are plenty of weirdos in this world. Just like an old fellow called the Silent Sorcerer, doesn’t the nickname make him seem silent and introverted? But in reality...”

”Ahem, Black Earl, you’d better not talk about irrelevant topics,” Angel interrupted.

Although Angel knew Rhein’s personality didn’t match his nickname, it was a private matter within the Barbarian Cave and shouldn’t be gossiped about.

”I was illustrating, how is that irrelevant?” the Black Earl snorted discontentedly.

Angel pondered for a moment: ”Actually, before coming, I had a conversation with Lord Rhein, and he spoke very highly of you, Black Earl.”

Spoke very highly, Angel emphasized the words.

The Black Earl understood Angel’s implication: ”What, does that old fellow intend to expose me? Let me tell you, I’m not afraid; if he really wants to fall out, I’ll write for ’Forest of Time’ and expose all his deeds.”

The Black Earl ranted for a while, but in the end, he didn’t bring up Rhein again, showing Angel’s threat had some effect.

However, there’s always someone who enjoys watching and stirring up drama.

After the Black Earl stopped cursing, Dox immediately chimed in: ”’Forest of Time’ probably doesn’t accept such exposé articles. Would you consider submitting to ’Glowing City Night Talk’? Oh, by the way, I know a witch in the Forest of Night Whisper. Why not write it up, and I’ll help you send it; it’ll definitely be a hit in the next issue.”

Dox’s ”I’m doing it for you” look left the Black Earl speechless.

He talked about exposing just for the thrill; if he really did that, he and Rhein would probably end up in an all-out war.

Seeing Dox’s encouraging expression left the Black Earl feeling a bit trapped. If he refused, it meant he was backing down, which would also amuse Dox; but if he didn’t refuse, the consequences would be worse.

While the Black Earl was figuring out how to deal with it, footsteps were heard outside the door.

Angel: ”The Magic Craftsman and the Traveling Merchant are here; let’s focus on the task. Also, let’s stop chatting about unrelated matters, or someone might want to experience being engulfed by shadows.”

After speaking, Angel glared at Dox.

This guy loves stirring up trouble and watching the fun. He even dares to stir things up with the Black Earl and Lord Rhein. If not deterred in time, he’ll suffer eventually.

Dox, however, laughed heartily, having forgotten about the previous uproar, and thought to himself: Angel is starting to care for him, perhaps their goodwill is sufficient now.

Are they friends now?