Chapter 166: The Peculiar Engle

Chapter 166: The Peculiar Engle

Within the marketplace, one could not engage in physical altercations, but a certain level of mental fluctuations would not trigger the rules' intervention.

Old Blin was a wizard proficient in illusion magic.

He held a skull in his hands, its eyes glowing with ghostly flames, as an invisible psychic forcefield emerged, creating an illusion out of thin air.

Karl raised an eyebrow.

Such formidable mental power...

A Mid-First Circle Wizard!

No wonder Old Blin, a blind man, had been in the marketplace for so many years without anyone daring to provoke him.

The vast majority of wizards never break through the Initial First Circle in their entire lives, so being a Mid-First Circle Wizard in the Magic Forest was undoubtedly a rare achievement.

As for the Late First Circle...

Unless they provoke a Second Circle family, they can thrive anywhere without any issues.

However, judging from this, the High Tower, one of the top powers from the Calim Continent, lived up to its reputation. Most of its wizards had the opportunity to reach the Mid-First Circle, and with some background, they could be nurtured towards the Second Circle.

This would be a fantastical tale for other powers.

Unfortunately,

Karl's status as a High Tower disciple was now in name only, and as this thought crossed his mind, he couldn't help but sigh.

"Respected Legendary Knight."

Harvey held a longsword and performed an ancient knight's salute:

"How should I address you?"

"..." Karl's eyes flickered:

"Connie!"

"You can call me Connie."

"Okay, Senior Connie." Harvey nodded, gripping the sword handle with both hands, his body assuming a charging stance:

"Be careful."

"Come." Karl extended his hand, and a sword similar to the one in Harvey's hand appeared in his palm:

"Let me see your strength. Don't hold back."

"Alright!"

Harvey nodded, and the ground beneath his feet trembled slightly, teleporting him right in front of Karl.

Thrust!

The knight's sword blade was sharp, and its forward thrust was relentless, causing ripples in Karl's eyes.

Such strength...

Among Great Knights, this was already impressive, and considering Harvey's young age, even if he came from a wizarding family, one could see his hard work and effort.

"Ding..."

A melodious clanging sound echoed.

Harvey's body swayed, not retreating but advancing, his body rotating to sweep the knight's sword horizontally, its blade flashing briefly.

"Ding ding dong..."

In an instant.

The clanging sounds continued, and sparks flew in the illusion.

Harvey's figure attacked from all directions, his extreme speed leaving afterimages in the air.

In comparison, Karl, with one hand behind his back and the other holding the sword to block, seemed relatively relaxed.

He occasionally took a step, sometimes swinging his sword to parry, appearing not particularly fast, yet always managing to intercept the incoming attacks.

"Ding..."

Harvey's thrusting sword was knocked aside by Karl, and with a flick of his own sword, Harvey was sent flying.

Harvey landed on the ground, looking dazed, his facial muscles twitched, and he suddenly slammed his hand on the ground, roaring:

"Again!"

He held his sword, his expression somewhat frenzied.

Karl shook his head slightly, his eyes cold, and with a tremor in his sword, Harvey was slashed away.

This strike even caused the illusion to tremble, and Harvey, who had been blinded by anger and unwillingness to accept defeat, snapped back to his senses.

"Sorry."

Harvey collapsed on the ground, his face pale:

"I just... just..."

"You just refuse to acknowledge your weakness and defeat." Karl sheathed his sword, signaling Old Blin to dispel the illusion:

"Have you always had someone to spar with? And you always win?"

"Yes."

Harvey propped up his body, nodding with difficulty:

"Grandpa found some knight or wizard apprentices to spar with me, but they didn't dare hurt me, so I always won."

"I know this is wrong, and it's hard to know my true strength. That's why I asked Grandpa Blin to find me a mentor."

"No wonder your swordsmanship is all offense and no defense. I suspect that during your sparring sessions, no one dared to truly hurt you, so you never needed to defend." Karl understood,

"Your long-standing victories and smooth sailing have unconsciously fostered a sense of arrogance, making it hard to accept failure."

Harvey opened his mouth, then lowered his head in acknowledgment.

When Karl had knocked him down with a single sword strike, his first thought wasn't about his shortcomings but boundless anger.

No one has ever beaten me!

I've always been the one bullying others! How dare they?

I must get my revenge!

These emotions surged, directly shattering his rationality, leading to his frenzied and vicious behavior.

Karl, of course, would not be as courteous as the Walker family's hired men, instead delivering a more ruthless blow.

This brought Harvey back to his senses.

"Ahem!"

Old Blin coughed lightly:

"Harvey is a good kid, but his upbringing has instilled some bad habits. If you explain it to him, he'll correct them."

"As for the fight..."

"I don't fully understand the path of knighthood, but constantly attacking without knowing how to defend seems a bit one-sided."

Harvey nodded.

"People are different. Some personalities are suited for aggressive conquest and seizing the initiative, while others excel in defense."

"Karl, I..." Harvey began.

"You seem humble, but that doesn't mean you should neglect defense. It's not necessary to overdo it either."

Karl didn't elaborate further on the fight. He waved his hand and said, "That's enough for today. You can go back now and come back in a couple of days."

"Yes, sir." Harvey nodded respectfully and performed a knight's salute before leaving the room.

"Well?" Old Blin watched Harvey leave and smiled. "The disciple I found for you is quite impressive, isn't he? He's already a Great Knight at such a young age."

"A Great Knight..." Karl shook his head lightly. "Without the right opportunity, one might remain a Great Knight for life. Without becoming a Legendary Knight, it's difficult to establish oneself in the Magic Forest."

"This boy has a strong personality. He's not content with being a good boy at home, and there will be plenty of trouble in the future."

Old Blin nodded in agreement.

The Walker family's bloodline was quite ordinary, and it couldn't make Harvey a legendary knight unless he consumed a potion containing the essence of the source.

But even a Rank 2 Wizard would covet such a potion. Why would it end up in Harvey's hands?

If that happened...

It was hard to imagine the despair that would ensue.

"I've obtained the amulet."

Karl touched the amulet and said, "Help me find a few more mid to late Rank 1 runes, preferably control-type or powerful ones."

"What are you planning?" Old Blin's curiosity was evident. "Mid-Rank 1 runes are sometimes available, but late-Rank 1 runes are rare. But you rarely leave the marketplace. Why do you need these?"

Amulets, runes, and Wizard Towers...

These were not things a wizard preparing for secluded cultivation would need, and they were likely unaffordable.

"They'll be useful."

Karl didn't offer further explanation. "Let me know when you have news."

...

Upon returning to the shop, before he could even settle in, two unexpected visitors arrived.

"Is that you?" Karl's expression changed as he recognized the visitors, then he smiled lightly and invited them to sit down. "In a few days, we'll reach the agreed-upon deadline, he said. "I thought my loan had gone down the drain."

The visitors were Engle and Grei, two of the four-person group.

After disappearing for several months, they looked well-rested. They seemed as if they hadn't slept for days and nights.

"Senior..." Engle opened his mouth, his voice hoarse. "Louya is dead."

I know.

Karl pursed his lips. Since signing the contract, he could vaguely perceive Louya and Grei's states.

About three months ago, Louya's aura had disappeared from his perception.

When the four-person team was ambushed and forced to flee into the depths of the tower, the situation was dire. It was surprising that two of them had survived.

"Although Louya is dead, the promised loan still needs to be repaid. Here are the four floating stones."

Engle took out a spatial wizard tool and released the four floating stones.

"Besides repaying for Louya and Grei, I hope to obtain a portion of Green Potion from you."

"Of course..."

"If not, I'll exchange it for a hundred magic stones per stone."

Green Potion?

Karl actually had two portions, which were among the spoils he had taken from the Andrew family's beast arena.

"Even in death, they keep their word. I like doing business with people who value credit."

Karl smiled lightly, waved his sleeve to collect the floating stones, and placed a portion of Green Potion on the table. He then asked seriously, "May I ask how your friend should be addressed?"

"Engle." Engle looked at the Green Potion, his eyes filled with fervor, but he didn't rush to take it. "Mr. Wizard, my friend has nowhere to go for the time being. Could she stay here for a while?"

"I can offer compensation."

"Your friend?" Karl turned to look at Grei, his eyes flashing slightly.

"No need for compensation. I just happen to need an extra hand, and if she's willing, she can stay."

"I am." Grei nodded firmly.

"Alright." Engle picked up the Green Potion and nodded at Grei before walking towards the door.

The two of them had been through life and death together, yet they gave off the impression of strangers.

Grei watched Engle leave, her beautiful eyes shimmering.

This person...

Was not the Engle she knew!

Deep within the tower, they were surrounded by numerous wraiths, and in her desperation, she fell into a coma.

When she woke up, she found herself in a safe area.

Since that day, Grei noticed a change in Engle. He became increasingly unfamiliar, like...

A different person!

The tower's paths were complex and affected one's perception, making it a natural maze. Yet, Engle always managed to find the correct path.

The old Engle could never have done that!

Fortunately, he treated her well and was willing to repay the loan, so no disputes arose despite their reservations.

"Grei."

Karl tapped the desk, his eyes filled with contemplation. "It seems like your friend has acquired something unusual."

Grei's heart skipped a beat.

"Never mind," Karl shrugged, not intending to pursue the matter further. He tossed a book towards Grei, saying, "In a few days, someone named Harvey will come here. When he arrives, you can practice martial skills with him."

"Take a look at this book. It might help you communicate with him better."

Karl's time was precious, and he didn't have the leisure to teach others. Grei's skills were already impressive, making him a valuable assistant, which was why Karl was willing to take him in.

After several years, the group that had escaped from the Port of Freedom once again embarked on the journey back to where they came from.

Connie and Susan, now a married couple, stood side by side, their eyes filled with complex emotions as they gazed ahead.

"I never thought..."

"That one day, we would be able to return!"

The people they once knew had all left, and their lives had undergone earth-shattering changes.

"Yeah."

Aya rode up beside them.

"Connie, are you sure you want to hand over the command of the troops to me?"

"Mhm."

Connie nodded.

"Your ability to command the army has earned the recognition of everyone. The Dragon King's Chamber of Commerce and the Sea God's Chamber of Commerce have unanimously agreed to let you take over."

"Anyway, both presidents are not here."

The situation in Swift City was unique. With the presence of the legendary knight and the mysterious alchemist Karl, the two chambers of commerce had little chance of direct confrontation, so they focused their efforts on economic development.

This also created a peaceful atmosphere within the city, allowing members of the two chambers to work together in harmony.

"Alright!"

Aya didn't hesitate and took over the command, beginning to deploy the troops.

Shield soldiers at the front, followed by spearmen, and then archers. Every ten soldiers, there was a knight in armor observing.

Those with magical seals were also positioned accordingly based on their abilities.

These arrangements seemed straightforward but were a true test of the commander's understanding and control over the troops.

Throughout Swift City, only Aya could accomplish this.

On the other side, Karl narrowed his eyes, gazing towards the direction of the Port of Freedom. He reached out and grabbed a homing pigeon, retrieving a note from its leg.

The note contained the information that Melen had gathered during this time.

"Apart from Swift City, among the forces heading to the Port of Freedom to eradicate the mermen, only three factions possess true legendary power. The Dark Marketplace, the City of Death, and the Cold Spring City, which has the Cold Moon Knight."

"The Dark Marketplace sends the Ghost-Faced Knight, the City of Death sends their top expert, the Fresh Blood Knight, alongside Miss Ovanna, and Cold Spring City naturally has the Cold Moon Knight."

"I wonder if there are any other experts?"

Apart from the mysterious Ovanna, the others were renowned experts for decades.

The strongest among them was the Fresh Blood Knight from the City of Death!

"The Fresh Blood Knight once single-handedly slaughtered a fortress with thousands of people, indicating that his strength is likely in the late first tier, or at the very least, the peak of the mid-first tier."

"Hmm..."

"If I were to face him, my chances of victory without the aid of wizardry would be slim."

"The Ghost-Faced Knight and the Cold Moon Knight are probably mid-first tier, or they might even be early first tier."

"As for Ovanna..."

Karl stroked his chin, "This woman carries the aura of the Death City Lord, Mevia. Her strength should not be underestimated."

"The City Lord's Mansion has been captured, and the City Lord, Sodan, is most likely dead. He might be hiding somewhere, but the others in the City Lord's Mansion have undoubtedly been transformed into monsters by the power of the Demon God. I wonder where the warehouse containing the Divine Grace is located?"

"Uncle!" Aya's voice rang out from behind.

"Mhm." Karl snapped out of his thoughts.

"What's up?"

"The troops have been arranged. With our current strength, we can resist the blue-eyed mermen, but as for the legendary-level mermen..."

"I understand." Karl nodded, "I'll take care of the red-eyed mermen."

He waved his sleeve, releasing a magic carpet, and with a swift movement, he stood upon it, causing it to ascend into the sky.

From high above, he had a clearer view.

Seated on the carpet, Karl flipped his hand, taking out several wizardry puppets, and one by one, he activated and tossed them into the air.

These wizardry puppets were all in the form of flying birds, crafted with lifelike detail, ensuring they wouldn't arouse suspicion.

Unlike the Magic Forest, where wizards were common, and their spiritual perception could detect wizardry puppets, here, insects, birds, and other living creatures were used for observation.

In the other world, it was the opposite.

Mermen would consume insects, birds, and other living creatures but showed no reaction to dead objects like wizardry puppets.

Several puppets flew in different directions, and among them, a swift falcon-like bird flew straight towards the Port of Freedom.

Before the others arrived, Karl decided to explore the City Lord's Mansion first.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end