Warlock Apprentice

After the Mushroom Man left, the entrance of the shop was filled with grumbling complaints.

Falga listened carefully and realized that everyone was worried about the quantity of the Drama Shadow Boxes. After the Mushroom Man made their purchase, how much stock would Breeze Demonic Material Shop still have?

Such lamenting voices surprisingly brought the two originally opposing groups to a rare consensus. However, this consensus was fleeting, as soon as the discussion about purchase rights resumed, hostility reignited among them.

”What exactly are these purchase rights?” Falga asked curiously.

”It’s exactly as it sounds. Since so many people want to buy the Drama Shadow Boxes, but Breeze Demonic Material Shop is offering them in limited quantities, this situation arose,” Loki sighed. ”However, these purchase rights aren’t acknowledged by Breeze Demonic Material Shop; they’re something the two groups outside came up with on their own.”

According to Loki, Breeze Demonic Material Shop has been selling Drama Shadow Boxes externally for the past few days, starting at dusk when nightfall is imminent.

As per the shop’s policy, anyone can make a purchase, with priority determined solely by the order in line. Supply is limited, and sales end once stock runs out.

”They call it a fair queue, but in the strength-driven Wizards’ Realm, what fairness is there?” Loki shrugged. ”Look, the Mushroom Man from earlier and the Official Wizards who came prior—none of them visited during the selling period, yet they all managed to buy Drama Shadow Boxes. This so-called fairness is just a facade displayed for us apprentices.”

”Do you think there’s fairness among apprentices?”

Falga shook his head. ”No.”

”Exactly, there’s no fairness among apprentices either,” Loki pointed at the Alchemy Faction and Art Faction nearby. ”These two groups aim to monopolize all available spots. They’ll block everyone else from purchasing, firmly controlling the so-called ’purchase rights.’”

Falga was no newcomer to the Wizards’ Realm. This phenomenon was commonplace in many wizard marketplaces, not just for buying items but even for vying for exploration rights on Conquest planes. Such collusion and manipulation by factions were ubiquitous.

For this reason, even if Breeze Demonic Material Shop observed the situation outside, they wouldn’t intervene. After all, their only concern was selling the Drama Shadow Boxes according to queue order. Who buys them ultimately doesn’t concern them.

”Of course, outsiders can still manage to make purchases,” Loki said, ”Currently, I know of three approaches. First, join one of the two groups. As long as the Drama Shadow Boxes are sufficiently abundant and your personal strength ranks high within the group, then you’ll have a chance to acquire one.”

”Second, possess overwhelming strength to crush these two groups, rendering them too fearful to cross you. Like a few days ago when Jiebo came to buy the Drama Shadow Boxes—no one dared disrespect him, including those two groups who were as meek as children. Naturally, he successfully purchased a Drama Shadow Box.”

”And third, if you lack strength and don’t want to join those groups, there’s another way—”

”Just find a good backer!”

Falga froze for a moment. ”A backer?”

”Yes, a backer. Surely you haven’t forgotten Allen? He came a few days ago and successfully purchased a Drama Shadow Box.”

Falga naturally knew Allen. Back during their time in the Purification Garden, Allen and Loki seemed to share a mischievous camaraderie, mingling together like two peas in a pod. Through Loki, Falga also came to know Allen.

Falga remembered clearly that Allen was a culinary apprentice from the Candy House. With his strength, even if he joined one of the two factions, he likely still wouldn’t acquire a Drama Shadow Box. But according to Falga’s understanding, Allen did get one. Was it thanks to... a backer?

”The backer you’re referring to, could it be... the Transcendental Wizard himself?” Falga recalled that Allen seemed to have a close relationship with Angel.

Loki shook his head. ”No, it’s because of an Official Wizard. A witch, specifically. I don’t know the details, but apparently, she’s a high-ranking member of the Candy House. In any case, Allen came to Breeze Demonic Material Shop alongside her and leveraged her influence to enter the shop and make his purchase. That’s what I mean by a backer.”

As Loki spoke, he sighed wistfully. ”It’s a pity. I came to participate in the New Star Competition with Hermes, but my mentor isn’t in Sky Mechanical City. Otherwise, I might have also been able to leverage some influence.”

Loki paused and looked at Falga. ”What about you? If you do have some sway to borrow... can you bring me along?”

A shadow of contemplation flickered in Falga’s eyes. He neither nodded nor shook his head but instead replied calmly, ”I came to Sky Mechanical City alone as well. My mentor is in Silent Hill.”

Upon hearing this, Loki murmured in disappointment, ”Alright, it looks like I won’t be able to rely on a backer to get the Drama Shadow Box either, so I’ll have to join one of those two groups. But I don’t know alchemy; does that mean I’ll have to join the Art Faction? Falga, what do you think—do I look like someone who understands art?”

Falga silently shook his head. ”You have nothing to do with art.”

Loki pouted dejectedly. ”Then I suppose I’ll have to figure out how to disguise myself...”

While Loki pondered how to disguise his intentions, Falga suddenly posed a question. ”There’s still something I find puzzling.”

Looking at Loki’s questioning gaze, Falga elaborated, ”It’s clear now that the Transcendental Wizard is likely the creator of the Drama Shadow Boxes. But why did he create these items that seem to have more artistic value than practical purpose? And what’s his relationship with Breeze Demonic Material Shop? Why are they selling the Drama Shadow Boxes here?”

Falga’s questions sent Loki into contemplation too. After a while, Loki hesitantly replied, ”Why the Transcendental Wizard created the Drama Shadow Boxes, I don’t know. Maybe it’s out of a pursuit of art? I’ve heard that many Alchemists have their own artistic aesthetic.”

”As for why he chose Breeze Demonic Material Shop... I’ve heard that many Alchemists in Sky Mechanical City form mutual assistance agreements with demonic material shops. Perhaps the Transcendental Wizard had similar intentions?”

After finishing his explanation, Loki didn’t seem particularly convinced himself. Given someone of Angel’s stature, it didn’t seem necessary for him to seek such modest benefits by forming agreements with material shops.

Falga also doubted this answer, suspecting that there might be some hidden motives behind it.

Just as they were speaking, the door of Breeze Demonic Material Shop suddenly opened, and a magnificently dressed female puppet slowly stepped out.

As she emerged, she didn’t glance at the crowded throng outside, but instead directed her gaze toward the distant sky.

The crimson afterglow of the horizon had begun merging with the curtain of night.

Dusk was nearing its end, and night had begun to bloom.

Sunset Boulevard had reached its most beautiful moment of the day.

”The time has come. Today’s sale of Drama Shadow Boxes will commence from this moment,”

The sultry voice of the female puppet declared, signifying the start of the impending battle for possession.