Warlock Apprentice

After admiring his Gondola, Angor divided it into two parts and put them inside his bracelet. It was not the time nor the place to give the boat a “test drive”.

Since his desire to continue with alchemy work was still high, he decided to work on Greya’s item right away.

Greya had two requirements for this one. One, Toby had to be the “theme” of the illusion. And secondly, she had to be able to interact with the bird in basic ways.

A simple illusion like the room designed for Flowey would do a similar trick. However, Greya’s illusion would have to be portable instead of fixed to one place, which meant he would have to make an actual item for it.

The first step was to design the shape of the item.

Of course, he could make another music box like Journey in Heaven. But since he already showed the music box to Greya before, Angor found it to be a little improper… even if Greya didn’t mind it.

He decided to make something new.

Next was about the illusion. Putting Toby inside the illusion was easy, but he still needed to come up with more details than that.

Both steps required time. He sat down in his nightmare domain and began drawing all kinds of theories on papers while indulging his mind in the pleasant world of illusions.

Meanwhile, some immeasurable distance away—

A bright flash of yellow light suddenly assaulted Parmigi Highlands. When the light died down, a woman with a hot body shape emerged from the light, along with an overwhelming aura of might.

Next, everyone who was in Tree Spirit Garden Plaza inside Brute Cavern suddenly received a warning that asked them to leave the plaza as fast as possible.

Anyone who lingered after two minutes would be killed.

Immediately, all apprentices showed fear and scattered away by their own means, either by using vehicles, teleporting, or running on legs.

It was barely one minute when the central plaza was completely cleared out.

Next, a giant barrier descended from the sky. A group of Matter Handlers performed their spells from outside the barrier to eliminate all life forms still inside the area.

A moment later, whatever that was alive and covered by the barrier soon lost their life, be it insects or birds.

An opening appeared on the barrier. Led by “Silencer” Rein Mute, several dozen wizards slowly entered the plaza. Sunders was also walking right beside Rein.

“She’s here.” Without moving his lips, Rein somehow made a speech that was heard by Sunders.

Again, Sunders was wearing his all-black gentleman set. He was constantly walking one step behind Rein to show respect.

“I sensed it.” Sunders looked toward one direction; he was looking at the sexy woman on Parmigi Highlands and across countless obstacles.

The woman also noticed his gaze. Across the great distance, they silently looked at each other.

“Hey yo. It’s been pretty long,” the woman mumbled in a small voice.

Her lips had the color of shattered blue crystals, with solid and fissure-like lines that of actual glass. Apart from looking amazing, the lip color also gave her an exceptional charming temperament.

“Disgusting, as ever,” Sunders looked away and muttered to Rein.

“That’s… partially my fault. I owed her a lot…” Rein sighed.

They moved again until the group of wizards reached the center of the Tree Spirit Plaza.

No one spoke. Everyone stood in silence.

Flora slowly floated to Sunders and touched down beside the gentleman.

“Did they make any moves?” Sunders asked her.

“Nope. Still inside the underground market. But I think Melantha left her post in Sky Tower. Looking for Baroque, I guess.”

Sunders revealed a cold grin. “They spied on us for years on end, only to find their fruit already picked by someone else. Oh, I really want to see their faces now.”

Meanwhile, the man being discussed, Baroque, was pacing back and forth on the top floor of Sky Tower, just like Sunders expected. Each of his steps would crack up the floor a little, while he kept cursing something between his breaths.

“Damn.

“Old shite!

“How dare he tricked me?!”

“Mister Baroque, please calm down. There are fighters below us. We don’t want to break the magic arrays on this floor.” It was a middle-aged woman in a tight black uniform, who had been staying with Baroque.

“I couldn’t care less about them! Like, I’d kill them myself just to rid my anger. Melantha, which side are you on anyway?!”

Though irritated, Melantha still maintained her professionalism. “I’m with you, of course. But at the same time, I must protect the benefit of Floating Mech City. I can’t see the hard-earned project built by Floating Mech City over the past years crumble just because you’re angry.”

“I’m angry? I’m angry! Do you know Samantha is already at the doorsteps of Brute Cavern?!”

“I do. But isn’t that something we expected?” Melantha spoke in a casual tone. She then said, “I believe I mentioned it to you half a year ago. Samantha sent her familiar, and soon, ‘that place’ was sealed off.”

Baroque stopped pacing and visibly slumped down. “Back then, I thought it was Mister Monkey who asked Samantha to send a warning to Sunders by using Rein Mute as a tool.”

“But isn’t that exactly what happened?” Melantha raised an eyebrow.

“Well, yes. But I didn’t think they’d do THAT! The Thousand Spirit Garden! The best Sorcerer’s Garden you could find in the entire south! I already told Rein Mute my intention when I came here, and he agreed! Look at him, going back on his words!”

Melantha didn’t say anything. She knew Baroque came to Brute Cavern for the garden to tackle his bottleneck, even if it meant lowering his head to his old enemy, Rein Mute.

But in the end, it was those from Moonfrost Union who won the ticket.

“I’d choose the same if I were Rein Mute,” Melantha said and considered. “If Mister Monkey can use the demon offspring to become a legendary wizard… it means hope to Rein Mute. Rein isn’t far from his goal after all.

“Besides, his decision didn’t only damage your profit, Mister Baroque. He dragged an entire generation of Brute Cavern down with it. But it’s still worthwhile, as long as it gives Rein a chance to peek into the future.”

Melantha clearly knew that Baroque understood everything she said. It was just that Baroque couldn’t accept the truth.

“Not only the future…” Baroque looked tired as if he suddenly gained several years of age. “Samantha… I should’ve known… He will repay his debt to Samantha. I thought he would use Sunders, not Thousand Spirit Garden…”

“Take it easy. There are always other ways to break through,” Melantha said as she tried to comfort him.

Baroque shook his head in defeat but didn’t say anything.

Melantha bowed to Baroque and turned to the door.

“So, are you going back to Floating Mech City?” Baroque asked before the woman left.

“Yes. It is time.”

“Speaking of other ways… The purification garden is one, and the souls of elite apprentices… might taste good.”

Melantha only smiled back. Everyone and everywhere was the same when it came to personal gain. Brute Cavern and Floating Mech City were no exceptions.

…

In Tree Spirit Plaza, a witch who was constantly carrying a beautiful aura like a rose stepped toward Flora.

‘Rose Crown’ Leona, the only professional alchemist in Brute Cavern. She studied Perfume Brewing, a special subfield of Apothecary. And wherever she went, people could smell perfume around her.

Witches were rare in Brute Cavern. She was a good friend of Flora. At the same time, they kept competing with each other over different matters.

“Ugh. You instantly remind me of someone with all that smell.” Flora wrinkled her nose.

“Angor, is it?” Leona sighed. “Thanks to your introduction, I earned a huge sum. Trust me, I would have given you a good share… if Mister Phantom didn’t get to me first.”

She secretly glanced at Sunders and found no response from the gentleman. Sunders wasn’t even looking her way.

Leona pointed at Sunders and rolled her eyes at Flora.

Flora couldn’t hold back chuckling.

Leona made a duck-face and whispered to Flora’s ears, “So Mister Phantom really cares about Angor? He asked me to give the boy alchemy lessons. Hundreds of hours of sessions!”

“Well, I heard Angor’s pretty talented at alchemy.” Flora shrugged.

“Two alchemy omens, right? I know them.” Leona didn’t seem impressed since she often created such omens during her career. “Guess I have to listen to Mister Phantom now.”

Leona said that one out loud in order to embarrass Sunders. But again, Sunders paid her no attention.

“By the way, I came back from Manda Plane just to send invitations to those disgraceful students of mine so that they can go to the purification garden. You have a student too, no? How is he? Did you give him an invitation yet?”

Flora humphed. “You heard of him before, right? That half-blood from a foreign plane. Invitation? Oh, come on. I’m not so generous.”

Flora moved closer to Sunders next. “Hey, professor, do you think Angor will go to the purification garden this time?”