Warlock Apprentice

Chapter 1252: Section 1253 Zithraide’s Trade

If the Stronghold City on the Continent of Yuantan is considered the “base,” then the phase gate would be the “transportation.”

For low-level apprentices, the phase gate is of no use. But for any high-end combatant, the phase gate is an escape route. It leads to the other phases of the Abyss, and from there, to the corresponding Wizards’ Realm!

In the past, for a wizard to reach another Wizards’ Realm, they had to cross decades or even a century’s worth of space-time distance.

But if they could leave through the phase gate, they would save a tremendous amount of time!

Even if, as Angel said, a certain price must be paid and a deal struck with Wodell for its use, wizards would still flock to it! Keep in mind that in the past, phase gates were controlled by elite Demon Lords, and humans had no way to touch them!

It could be said that if it were known that there was such a phase gate in the Wei City of the cold ancient times, and it could be used simply by making a deal, all the witcher organizations in the Southern Domain would go mad for it!

Although Sanders currently had no plans to leave the Southern Domain, the mention of a phase gate still made his heart waver. Because not leaving now doesn’t mean he’ll stay in the Southern Domain forever. The limits of the Southern Domain were too low, and the true core for a wizard was— the Origin World! And through the phase gate, one could travel to other Wizards’ Realms, and even set foot in the Origin World!

After a moment of distraction, Sanders looked deeply at Angel and didn’t know what to say anymore.

In the past two days, the surprises, or rather the shocks, that Angel had given him were endless.

Thinking back now, when Angel first mentioned that his enlightenment mentor was a human from another world… what was that compared to all the things he’d done since? Every one of them was bigger than that.

Sanders rubbed his swollen temples, “This is a matter of great importance. Keep it secret for now. Don’t tell anyone.”

Angel, “Fortunately, even if humans have entered the Continent of Yuantan, they are forbidden from going to Wei City. So, for now, only we know of this.”

Sanders nodded and said no more. Today’s revelations had been too overwhelming, and he needed time to digest them.

However, this time Sanders did not send Angel away but took him along as they left the Gravity Garden. With pressing matters one after another, it was no longer feasible to stay in Shepherd City and waste time.

“We’ll head back to the Barbarian Cave first, other matters we’ll discuss once we’re back,” Sanders said and then led the way out of the room.

Angel followed behind him.

As they walked through the corridors on their way to the main hall, Sanders was still somewhat distracted.

It wasn’t until Angel inquired that Sanders slowly came back to his senses.

“Mentor, before we leave, shall we go and meet Lord Zithraide?” They were now at a fork in the road leading to the antique shop and the exit, prompting Angel to ask.

Sanders pondered for a moment and then nodded, “Yes, that would be good, to say hello before we depart.”

They hadn’t yet approached the main hall of the antique shop when they heard Zithraide’s voice inside. Different from the tone during their previous conversation, Zithraide’s voice was now full of temptation, seemingly gentle but with every word carrying a persuasive edge, reminding one of a creepy old man luring children with candy.

Angel gave Sanders a look, and the latter moved his lips slightly, whispering, “It seems that old fellow is playing the ‘demon’ role again.”

“Should we still go in?” Angel looked toward the door in the distance. The door was open, with only a layer of red curtains shielding it, but the glow seeping out from the edges of the curtains suggested there was more than one shadow inside, likely Zithraide’s guests.

“Let’s wait,” Sanders said. After all, Zithraide was an old friend and he didn’t want to intrude.

Even though they decided not to enter, Angel was still curious and peeked through the gap in the curtains. Previously, in “Dancer of Sin and Flowerseller” as recounted by Sanders, Zithraide was a demon who gave the protagonist hope and then despair. And the cause of that story was a deal made with Zithraide. Was he now conducting another deal?

“Since you followed the intuition of your spirit and found your way here, I assume you are ready to make a deal,” Zithraide’s voice was unique, with a ‘luring’ flavor, a sensation Angel last felt from the ‘Nya’ of the Pannas Charm Demon.

“Yes,” replied a young noblewoman. Her splendid violet gown with embroidered patterns, together with her meticulous demeanor, made her seem quite elegant.

“Last time, to become the mistress of a guild chairman, you traded your offspring to me. Now, do you plan to make another trade?” Zithraide said indifferently.

“I didn’t think he’d realize it was I who poisoned him on his deathbed, and without telling me, leave a will at the solicitor’s office, leaving all his fortune to his ex-wife. Even on his death bed, he struggled! The will has been notarized, and I have no way around it, so I have no choice but to request the esteemed Zithraide’s help,” the noblewoman bowed elegantly, “As long as I can obtain the guild, all antiques acquired by the guild from various countries in the future will be offered to you.”

“Not enough,” Zithraide’s eyes glinted as he half-closed his lids, “The guild is not yours at present, so these can only be considered future promises. Their value, in my view, is not too high. Therefore, you need to offer something more.”

The noblewoman’s brow furrowed slightly, “All I can offer, the esteemed Zithraide should know. May I inquire what you desire?”

“Your youth, your lifespan, or… your other offspring.”

Zithraide’s words caused the noblewoman to stagger. How could she turn over her lifespan when she wanted to control the guild? Once a person dies, everything is void! That was absolutely not an option!

But her youth, beauty, and her eight-year-old son, what should she choose between them?

She was loath to part with her child, but every thought of losing her youth and beauty felt like a knife twisting in her heart.

The noblewoman bit her lip lightly, indecisive.

Unbeknownst to her, hovering above her was a mechanical puppet in human shape, its eyeballs a bloody red, observing the noblewoman with a cold and eerie gaze.

After a long time, the noblewoman seemed to have made a decision, “Alright, I will use my youth, no, I will use… my offspring as the trade!”

After these words were spoken, the noblewoman appeared to have lost all her strength.

Nevertheless, she was still murmuring under her breath, “It’s okay, not having the child doesn’t matter, I can still give birth to another. Don’t blame Mommy, I’m innocent, it’s this demon, he’s the one who’s taking you away!”

Zithraide of course heard her murmur, but had no reaction, just smiling and nodding, “Deal. You can go back now, within three days, you will get what you desire.”

The noblewoman nodded, leaving somewhat awkwardly.

At that moment, a mechanical noise of “clank clank” sounded from behind her, and when the noblewoman turned around in confusion, she saw a Mechanical Puppet floating in the air, the noise coming from its flailing hands.

Somehow, the noblewoman found the Mechanical Puppet vaguely familiar… as if, it was her first child?

The noblewoman shook her head violently, trying to hypnotize herself: No, that’s not it, I must be mistaken.

Zithraide glanced at the Mechanical Puppet suspended in midair and said to the young noblewoman with a smile, “You are probably the only one who’s traded with me twice and still remains unscathed. You should be thankful, you gave birth to two very special children.”

As he spoke, Zithraide gently stroked the head of the Mechanical Puppet, which affectionately nuzzled into the palm of his hand.

“I…” the noblewoman gulped down her saliva, unsure of what to say.

“Leave now, I look forward to the next visit from my client. I wonder what you will bring me next time?”

The noblewoman shook her head vigorously, “You’re a demon, I, I will not come again.”

Zithraide’s eyes curved into crescents as he laughed, “Fate is strange, who can say for certain?”

Grabbing her skirt, the noblewoman turned and left rapidly. She stumbled, and her shoe fell to the ground, but she did not go back to pick it up, instead running out in a flustered manner.

Lifting the curtain and passing by Sanders and Angel, she showed no reaction, completely different from her prior elegance, as she rushed away in disarray.

It was only then that Angel and Sanders looked at each other and stepped into the antique shop.

After they entered the antique shop, Zithraide’s expression instantly changed, no longer mysterious but giving Sanders a respectful greeting, “It’s good that His Excellency Illusion Demon did not burst in earlier, otherwise I wouldn’t have been able to continue the act.”

“You are the same as before, pursuing equivalent exchange even with mortals,” Sanders remarked casually.

Zithraide shrugged, “That’s my Alchemy Principle. I still plan to use it to explore True Knowledge, so how can I give up casually. By the way, has His Excellency Illusion Demon come today to continue yesterday’s unfinished topic?”

While Sanders and Zithraide were conversing, Angel looked over at the Mechanical Puppet floating in midair.

He hadn’t noticed yesterday, but today he found that the Mechanical Puppet was extremely lively, especially its eyes, which showed no sign of rigidity. Now, the Mechanical Puppet was gazing affectionately at the ground in the distance where a high-heeled shoe lay, the very one the noblewoman had dropped earlier.

Upon learning that Sanders came to say goodbye, Zithraide did not say much, only exchanging a few pleasantries. Parting was quite normal for them. The only regret was not having the chance to exchange experiences with Angel, the rising star of the Alchemy World.

Thinking this, Zithraide glanced at Angel and noticed Angel’s attention was on the Mechanical Puppet.

A light flashed in Zithraide’s eyes, “It seems that Angel has noticed?”

“It, does it carry a human soul?” Angel pointed at the Mechanical Puppet. “Is it the child of the woman from earlier?”

Zithraide nodded, “Yes, it’s her elder twin, a child with a Special Soul.”

“Does her other child also possess a Special Soul?” Angel, reminded of the earlier trade between Zithraide and the noblewoman, couldn’t help but ask.

“Yes.”

Upon hearing this, Angel did not offer any opinion, but there was an instinctive feeling of revulsion inside him.

Zithraide seemed to perceive Angel’s thoughts and said lightly, “Even if the twins have Special Souls, they lack the Talent for cultivation and would eventually die. But as the core of a Mechanical Puppet, they can retain their soul consciousness, and as long as I’m alive, they will never disappear. Isn’t that a happy ending of sorts?”

Angel had no intention of arguing; whether it was happy or not was not for him to judge.

Zithraide stroked the head of the Mechanical Puppet, “Go ahead, if you want that high heel shoe, you can keep it for yourself, no need to ask me.”

The Mechanical Puppet narrowed its eyes at Zithraide and scampered off happily to pick up the high heel shoe.

The child cherished something belonging to their mother so earnestly, yet the mother discarded them without a qualm.

Having witnessed this human tragedy, Angel felt a tinge of melancholy.