Chapter 82: Mercenary

Chapter 82: Mercenary



This sensation was quite unique.

It was as if another organ had grown on his body.

When he focused his attention on it, he could clearly perceive the changes in temperature warmth and and temperature and the flow of qi.

The fine hairs on the surface of his skin, almost imperceptibly trembled, interacting with the air and analyzing numerous pieces of information.

The temperature on the left side was slightly higher due to the oil lamp.

Dust was about to settle on his head, about to touch his hair.

Several tiny flying insects passed by the carriage window, their wing vibrations causing changes in the air flow.

...

"Truly wondrous!"

This perception, so different from that of a human, made Karl involuntarily exclaim in astonishment, and for a moment, he felt slightly ill at ease.

"No wonder bloodline wizards have a famous saying: the secrets hidden in life are no less vast than the boundless sky."

"A trust that does not deceive!"

"If there are sufficient ‘materials’, then the path of a bloodline wizard is undoubtedly a shortcut."

"Common wizards progress from nothing to something, facing numerous difficulties; whereas a bloodline wizard can harness the qualities of higher lifeforms to elevate themselves, clearly more convenient, though without resources, this path is not even an option."

"Indeed, there are pros and cons!"

Different from a magic seal.

Losing the magic seal results in the loss of the special abilities it brings.

The transplant of bloodline wizards is different.

After adapting to the transplanted organ for a certain time, the body will naturally possess special abilities.

Even if the organ is later removed, residual abilities would remain, albeit far inferior to the time with the organ.

This adaptation and evolution conceal deeper secrets within the bloodline,,,.

However, the successful transplantation indicates that one has already entered the path of a bloodline wizard.

Deciding on the matter, he rolled up his sleeves, pulled a small writing desk, held a quill pen, and began to write.

"Dear Jenny, my friend, former roommate, when you receive this letter, I believe the news of Signo City's fall has already reached the capital city."

"On that night, Kolonians' black armor army attacked the city, causing chaos within. When I went to look for your mother Mary, she had already left her residence, heading to an unknown destination, making it hard to find her."

"Hope she is well."

Pausing his action, Karl raised his head, slightly pondered, then continued to returning,, " writing the he " "" we"

to write, " city, the capital."

, he wrote down:

continuation:

"If you have any news of her, please respond and inform me. I will leave contact information in Mutan City. Additionally, I wonder how your studies in the capital city are progressing..."

He was about to reach Mutan City, where a messenger to the capital city would be waiting, who finally had the time to write a proper letter to Jenny.

"Knock knock..."

The sound of a knock resonated.

"Master Karl."

Old Harry's voice came through;

"Mutan City has arrived."

"Oh!"

K arl stopped his actions, lifted the carriage curtain to look forward.

On the flat land, a gray,hort city appeared at the horizon, resembling a crouching giant beast.

Mutan City was not large, not even a third the size of Signo City.

But due to the geographical advantages, the surrounding area was suitable for cultivation, leading to its prosperity.

" The master is an only son, without siblings, and due to his youthful infatuation with wizardry, he has no children of his own."

Old Harry explained:

"However, the master had an uncle, who had a cousin brother and sister, though the relationship was average."

"Last time I accompanied the master to Mutan City was eight years ago, after which we had little contact."

He continued:

"However, as family, the master left a crystal ball for wizard talent detection with them, instructing that if a talent was discovered, send a letter over, and impart knowledge of wizardry. This time, a grandson of the master's brother was detected to have wizard talent."

Karl nodded:

"It seems that the lineage from the great ancestor produced a formal wizard, otherwise, the chance of two people having talent appearing in just a few generations would be too low."

Generally speaking, a family would need to propagate through many generations before a wizard talent might appear.

The probability of two wizard talents appearing in the same family over generations could be negligible.

But there are exceptions.

If a formal wizard, then the chance of his descendants having wizard talent would be high.

When two formal wizards combine, the probability of their offspring having wizard talent can even exceed fifty percent.

However, the further down the lineage, the lower the genetic probability, but it remains higher than the average person.

This also falls under the knowledge domain of bloodline wizards.

"Yes."

Old Harry's face showed a smile:

"The master found the legacy left by the ancestor, which enabled him to become a high wizard apprentice."

"Even possibly a formal wizard!"

Adolph had long been a high wizard apprentice and, being an apothecary, had accumulated quite a few magic stones.

As long as he could purchase the potions for advancement, he would attempt a breakthrough, a point everyone was clear about.

A formal wizard!

Karl's spirit was shaken.

If his mentor was a formal wizard, then the path of cultivation would be much smoother.

The principle of one achieving enlightenment, leading to the ascension of all, was a common belief in this world.

As the carriage approached the city gate, a procession of greetings and well-wishes for health and safety.

His face was full of wrinkles, his hair sparse, and his appearance clearly aged, but his voice remained strong and vital.

"Lord Riley," Old Harry dismounted and approached, "I bring you the blessings of the old master."

"Harry!" The elderly Riley raised his head, his face beaming with joy. He opened his arms and embraced Old Harry, laughing, "My friend, it's good to see you again."

At this moment, Karl and Siebel also dismounted from their carriage.

"Lord Riley, allow me to introduce them," Old Harry took a step back and gestured towards the two, "Miss Siebel and Young Master Karl, they are the two apprentices that the master took in from Signo City."

"This is Riley Chad, the master's cousin."

"Honored Wizard Apprentices, I've heard of your names," Riley's face was filled with humility and enthusiasm, "Please follow me into the city."

"Sir," Siebel's expression was cold. She was accustomed to the enthusiasm of ordinary people, and she didn't like this 'hypocritical' greeting. She asked directly, "Who is Payne?"

Payne Chad!

The child from the Adoph family who was found to have Wizard Talent.

"Payne."

Riley waved at the crowd, and a shy boy of six or seven years old was pushed forward by a woman.

The little boy pursed his lips, lowered his head, and the woman's eyes were filled with reluctance. The others looked at him with envious gazes.

"Hmm."

Siebel took a step forward, gently touched the boy's head, and her attitude softened, "A Third-Level Wizard Talent?"

"This..." Riley hesitated, "According to the method taught by the master, the result of the test shows Third-Level Talent."

"It's fine." Siebel waved her hand, "I'll test again."

"Mother."

The little boy turned his head, his eyes turning red.

"I don't want to leave! I don't want to leave Mother!"

"What nonsense!" Riley's face changed, and he spoke in a low voice, "Do you know how rare it is to possess Talent? This is a blessing from the Divine!"

Siebel frowned.

Those who walk the path of the Wizard are not fond of the Divine, and some even resist the idea.

However, she understood that it was normal for ordinary people to attribute such a rare occurrence to a blessing from the Divine.

"Payne."

The woman's eyes were filled with tears. Although her heart was reluctant, she gritted her teeth and said, "It's fine, you're just going out to study. You can come back to see your mother when you have time, and I can go visit you too."

"Listen to your mother, child."

"Yes."

"Do you know how many people want this opportunity and can't get it? Don't ever say such foolish things."

"..."

The group began to persuade the boy.

The Chad family, once unknown in Mutan City, was just a small and insignificant family.

But now.

They were one of the top families in Mutan City.

The reason for their rapid rise was that Adoph had found the path of the Wizard left by their ancestors.

The status of a High Wizard Apprentice was, to some extent, comparable to a Grand Knight, and supporting a family was an easy task.

The Chad family understood the significance of a Wizard Apprentice.

The glory of the family! Adoph's relationship with them was distant, but Payne was a direct blood relative of this branch of the family.

In the future, when he has achieved success in his studies, the Chad family might be able to leave Mutan City and have a brighter future.

"Let's go!"

Siebel held Little Payne's hand, "We'll talk more once we're in the city."

Little Payne looked back, but he saw his mother proactively stepping back, hiding her figure in the crowd.

Mother...

He opened his mouth, and tears uncontrollably flowed down his cheeks, but no one cared about a child's thoughts.

...

In a tavern, a man dressed as a wandering mercenary leaned against the window, seemingly asleep, and his entire body exuded a strong smell of alcohol.

At this moment.

A group of people approached on the street.

The man lifted his eyes, watched the group leave, then picked up the wine bowl from the table and took a big gulp.

After settling the bill, he went to a hidden room.

"The target has arrived."

"Oh!"

In the darkness, a shadow moved, "How is it?"

"Two Wizard Apprentices, one is a Middle Wizard Apprentice, and the other is a Junior Wizard Apprentice who barely made it through the entrance." The man spoke, "There's also a knight named Harry, he used to be a Peak Knight, but now he's old."

"A Middle Wizard Apprentice..." The shadow spoke, "Do you need help?"

"Hmm." The man took out a dagger from his body, "I'll handle the Middle Wizard Apprentice, and 'Fan' will take care of the other one. Enchant the dagger for me."

"Hehe..." The shadow chuckled, "You're always so cautious."

To deal with a Middle Wizard Apprentice, the man alone was sufficient, and as for the other target...

It would be easy to handle!

After all, he was just a Junior Wizard Apprentice, not even a full one, and posed no challenge to the man.

But the client still wanted to find an assistant and have the weapon enchanted, ensuring there would be no mishaps.

"No wonder the tasks that come to you are never left unfinished, but your caution is a bit excessive."

"Hmph!"

The man coldly snorted, "In our line of work, failure means losing our lives, so being extra cautious is not a bad thing."

"That's true." The shadow nodded, "Wait a moment."

Soon after, a black snail crawled out of the darkness.

The snail was completely black, and a strange gray smoke surrounded it. With every movement, it emitted a bizarre mist.

The man subconsciously took a step back.

Even though he had seen it a few times, he still wasn't used to this 'creature'.

A half-meter-tall giant snail, its shell adorned with patterns resembling eyes or swirling vortices.

Magical Creature—Spirale Snail, a unique life form that enjoys consuming the souls of other beings.

"Pfft!"

The snail's neck swayed, and it spat out a stream of viscous liquid, enveloping the dagger. The liquid slowly seeped into the blade.

"The enchantment will last for two days. Anyone injured by this dagger during this time will have their flesh and soul perish."

An invisible force gently lifted the dagger and presented it to the man:

"Be careful, don't touch anywhere except the handle, or you know what will happen."

"Yes."

The man nodded, carefully gripping the handle, and lightly brandished the dagger, causing it to emit a dark and chilling light.

He was a knight.

More importantly, he was a knight skilled in the art of assassination!

"Battle report from the frontlines!"

"After Signo City, several more cities have fallen to the forces of Cologne. Lord Ulyaoth has personally led the campaign."

"Sachs and Gandor have declared an alliance to jointly resist the Cologne army!"

"The Vatican's divine decree..."

"..."

On the bustling commercial street, vendors' voices created a lively atmosphere, with various frontline news intermingling.

Gandor and Cologne had been at war for many years, and the situation had always been tense.

6◇9◇Book◇Bar

However, in recent years, especially after the new king of Cologne ascended the throne, Gandor's military strength has been declining.

Currently, two dukes and three legendary knights have perished on the battlefield.

This had never happened before.

"General Thunder Lance Tucker burned down half of Signo City, supposedly to please the Flame God and gain his favor for a legendary promotion."

Yvonne's voice carried a hint of worry:

"I wonder how Father is doing?"

In this world, the existence of deities was real, and their blessings were genuine.

It could be confirmed.

The citizens of Signo City had endured a calamity.

Fortunately, it wasn't done to please an evil god like the Spider Goddess, or the city would have been massacred.

Historically,

such incidents had occurred from time to time.

"Don't worry, Uncle is a shrewd businessman. He knows how to protect his assets." Karl spoke up to reassure her:

"As children, living well and not worrying our parents is the best thing we can do for them."

"Maybe..." Yvonne pursed her lips:

"But Father probably doesn't think so. Marrying a powerful noble is what he hopes for."

"Mutan City is not bad." Karl waved his staff lightly, changing the subject:

"It's far from the frontlines, and during leisure time, you can go to the nearby Lake Mutan to enjoy the scenery."

"Yes." Yvonne forced a smile, trying to lift her spirits:

"Uncle Karl has been kind to us as well."

"Yes."

Karl nodded:

"If you encounter any trouble, you can seek help from the Chad Family. Uncle Riley has promised to look after you sisters."

"..." Yvonne opened her mouth but eventually lowered her head and said softly:

"Thank you."

"Don't mention it." Karl smiled faintly:

"We are family."

"Family?" Yvonne looked perplexed, her expression complex, and after a long while, she said:

"Brother Karl, can I come to you if I need help in the future?"

"The miasma in the Black Swamp is too dense for ordinary people to live there." Karl shook his head:

"If you have any matters, you can write to me."

"Oh!"

Yvonne's face fell.

"Brother Karl."

She took out a wooden box from her belongings:

"I made some chocolates for you."

"Oh?"

Karl reached out and took the box, which contained black heart-shaped chocolates, each one a miniature and adorable creation.

"Not bad."

He picked up a piece and tasted it:

"It's delicious."

"I'm glad you like it." Yvonne smiled:

"Let's go back."

"Yes."

Karl nodded.

After a while,

"So, you're back like this?" In a manor, Kingsley looked at his sister with a mix of disappointment and frustration:

"Do you even understand what a confession is?"

"This might be our last chance to be with Karl. If we don't seize this opportunity, there won't be another!"

She stomped her feet in frustration.

They had traveled together to foster a romantic relationship, but there had been no progress. Now, when they finally had a chance to be alone, at a time when emotions were most susceptible to change, her sister had still not succeeded.

"It's useless." Yvonne sat on a stone bench, her eyes empty:

"I gave Brother Karl chocolates, and he only said they were tasty. He also refused to let me go to the Black Swamp."

"Maybe he doesn't know what chocolates represent." Kingsley frowned:

"We should have tried."

"We still don't know Father's situation, and right now, Brother Karl is the only one we sisters can rely on."

"I made the chocolates in the shape of hearts, just as you suggested." Yvonne shook her head with a bitter smile:

"How could Brother Karl not understand?"

In Gandor's customs, giving chocolates was a way to express one's feelings, especially when they were made into heart shapes.

There was no way the other party wouldn't understand the intention.

"Sister!"

Yvonne's eyebrows drooped:

"I want to be alone for a while."

"You..." Kingsley clenched her teeth, eventually letting out a sigh:

"Sigh!"

...

Karl was well aware of Yvonne's feelings, but he didn't believe it was love. It was more like a form of attachment.

Yvonne was still young, and she might not fully understand her own desires, only expressing her emotions vaguely.

In the darkness, two shadows quietly appeared, exchanging glances and nodding in unison before each choosing a room and silently pouncing. Their agile movements resembled swift flying swallows.

Simultaneously, a faint aura enveloped their bodies, allowing them to ignore detection methods of wizard traps.

'Fan' landed lightly on the door of the house, his wrist twitched, and a cold glint flashed as the door latch silently opened. With a flick of his hands, he pressed against the door.

Sleight of Hand—Silently! Without the wizard's talent, one could still cast simple spells with the help of their life force.

The door opened with a gentle push, but the expected friction sound was absent.

Success!

'Fan's' eyes lit up. He lightly tapped his feet, and his body flickered as he appeared inside the room, quickly approaching the target on the bed.

The target slept deeply.

'Sleep, sleep, and in your dreams, go to the underworld to meet the Grim Reaper, for there is no pain.'

'Tsk...'

'Forgot, wizards don't have faith, so you're doomed, you'll be nailed to the Wall of the Unbelievers and suffer endless torment.'

'Fan' changed his mind, and a sharp spike appeared in his hand, aiming for the target's throat.

"Swish!"

The sound was lowered to a whisper.

He had done this many times, and by now, he had never failed to kill his target.

He envisioned the spike piercing the skin, entering the throat, and blood gushing wildly from the wound.

The target would twitch for a moment before finally losing all signs of life. Sometimes, they might even open their eyes to see their 'killer,' but their eyes would only show fear and regret, as their life slipped away.

It was a beautiful yet cruel scene.

Praise the Grim Reaper!

"Swish!"

The target on the bed suddenly disappeared.

'Fan' froze for a moment, and before he could react, his senses were overwhelmed by a raging killing intent, and his vision was filled with howling gusts of wind.

"Boom!"

The tangible killing intent struck first, entering his mind.

Combat Technique—Divine Judgment!

Karl's figure appeared above, his eyes filled with anger and relief, and his hands formed a sword as he slashed down.

Almost died!

If not for Spider Sense warning him, if his reaction had been a moment slower, then...

He would have died!

Truly, he would have died!

"Die!"

Anger and relief transformed into an unrestrained full-force strike, and the surging energy entered the limbs of the assassin.

"Bang!"

The immense pressure forced the assassin to kneel, and the howling gusts of wind followed, entering their body.

"Boom!"

Karl's palms struck down.

The terrifying force exploded, directly turning the assassin's body into a meat paste, and the entire house trembled)



"Who?"

"How dare you!"

An angry roar came from the neighboring room.

Immediately, a violent surge of water tore through the house, smashing the sturdy stone walls, and in the darkness, faint moans of pain could be heard.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end