Warlock Apprentice

Chapter 2544: Chapter 2545: The Skinner Magic Box

Two minutes later, with a solemn expression, Kaier placed a box with claws and sharp teeth at the opening in the center of the round table.

As soon as the box was placed, the two pairs of scarlet eyes hidden behind the claws immediately opened.

Cold and eerie eyes, scanning the surroundings.

Kaier was stared at for a moment, instantly shivering and breaking into a cold sweat from his spine.

While Angel and Dox seemed unaffected, their expressions were rather serious.

”Is this... the Skinner magic box?” Dox muttered under his breath.

Kaier nodded while trembling: ”Yes, it’s my mentor’s Skinner magic box.”

Dox stared at the scarlet eyes of the Skinner magic box for a moment and suddenly pondered: ”Maybe I should step aside for a bit.”

The Skinner magic box is a special spiritual space storage tool, with its internal space size dependent on the strength of the Skinner spirit.

Since Skinner is a spirit that recognizes its owner, the box it guards will fight relentlessly against anyone other than its owner who tries to touch it. Even if it can’t win, it can destroy the box and exile the items inside to a void in its unique spiritual stomach. Only its owner knows the coordinates of this void.

Therefore, many wizards prefer to use the Skinner magic box to store valuable items, as Skinner will protect these items with its life, even its own spirituality.

When Dox saw the Skinner magic box, he immediately realized that it must contain something valuable.

If it were just ordinary events, watching from the sidelines wouldn’t hurt. But the appearance of the Skinner magic box means that the matter is not simple and may involve secrets. If he were chased by Esos later, it would be troublesome.

That’s why Dox suggested stepping aside for a bit.

Kaier clearly understood Dox’s intention and said, ”It’s okay, the reason my mentor used the Skinner magic box to store the alchemy blueprint is that it might be dangerous to leave it outside, so he put it in the magic box.”

After saying this, Kaier added, ”That blueprint itself isn’t anything valuable.”

Dox: ”...” Do you think I’m a fool?

Just leaving it outside would cause danger, such a bizarre item must hide some secrets.

Angel’s thoughts were similar to Dox’s, but still, he chose to reserve judgment until he saw the alchemy blueprint.

Ultimately, Dox decided to stay.

It wasn’t Kaier’s persuasion that worked, Angel estimated that it was his spiritual sensing telling him there was no danger, so he felt assured to stay.

”Since this is your mentor’s Skinner magic box, how do you open it?” Dox asked curiously.

Kaier replied with a relaxed face: ”It recognizes me.”

As he spoke, Kaier reached out to touch the Skinner magic box, but the box bit onto his hand without a word.

Everyone watched silently at the bleeding wrist.

Kaier maintained his relaxed expression: ”It’s okay, this is a symbol of friendship. Isn’t that right, little Skinner?”

Crack—

This was the sound of bones breaking.

Everyone: ”...”

Kaier finally couldn’t hold it any longer, pulled back his blood-soaked hand, and rolled on the ground in pain, screaming repeatedly.

”Poor thing, I feel this is somewhat unreliable. Are all Academy Faction people this naive?” Dox shook his head and sighed.

Angel was also seeing for the first time, someone who dared to touch the Skinner magic box without being its owner. Dox’s point was valid; it was truly naive.

After all, since Kaier was Angel’s task target, he sighed and threw a Healing Technique at him.

Once the pain was temporarily halted, Angel took out an empty bowl for Witch’s Soup, poured in some faintly glowing Glowing Fluff Potion, then added some diluted Regeneration Potion, and placed it in front of Kaier.

Kaier drank it gratefully.

Glowing Fluff Potion can prevent the wound from worsening, and the Regeneration Potion can regenerate broken bones. Almost instantly, Kaier returned to normal.

After Kaier finished drinking, Angel said: ”That will be 53 Magic Crystals. 50 Magic Crystals for the potions, 3 Magic Crystals for the black market entrance fee.”

Kaier looked at Angel, bewildered.

”What? You don’t think it’s worth the price?”

Under Angel’s evidently calm yet surprisingly pressuring gaze, Kaier quickly shook his head: ”It’s worth it, worth the price. Although the black market entrance fee seems...”

Angel raised his eyebrows, about to say something. Kaier seemed to realize something and hurriedly changed his tune: ”I mean, the black market entrance fee is also worth the price, yes, it’s 53 Magic Crystals. I’ll pay you right now.”

Kaier stumbled as he pulled out a small pouch.

Angel took 3 Magic Crystals from it and tossed them to Dangross, as a reward for its commendable performance lately, and the rest he returned to his bracelet.

After doing all this, Angel returned to the main topic: ”If you can’t open the Skinner magic box, then I’ll have to head back to Barbarian Cave. Or, you can come with me, Lord Esos is likely visiting Barbarian Cave without incident.”

Kaier waved his hand: ”No need, no need, it was just an accident earlier, I truly know little Skinner.”

Dox said faintly: ”Since you’re so acquainted, why don’t you try touching it again?”

Kaier awkwardly smiled: ”...Let’s leave it for today, but I have other ways to prove I know it.”

After his words, Kaier started rummaging through boxes and cabinets, seemingly searching for something.

His actions were quite rough, as he tossed out all sorts of strange items.

”Most of these are things from his store, who knew they’d just be piled up like this, treated like trash.” Dox sighed, once not thinking much of Kaier, now feeling increasingly unreliable.

These items were mostly Extraordinary Items, or materials, but they were all low-level, Angel glanced at them briefly before shifting his gaze.

But Dangross found a bottle of fire-red Quenching Concentrate among the tossed items, hugging it with joy.

Quenching Concentrate is an enhanced version of Quenching Liquid. Given Dangross’s fervor for Quenching Liquid, it was natural for it to fixate on Quenching Concentrate.

Angel looked at Dangross spinning around him and understood its intention.

”These are someone else’s things, if you want it, buy it yourself. I just gave you Magic Crystals, it should be enough to buy this bottle.”

When Kaier returned, Dangross indeed traded for the bottle of Quenching Concentrate. Originally, Kaier didn’t want to take the money, considering this fire elf as Angel’s elemental partner, but Angel secretly communicated, telling him to accept it.

Kaier then accepted the Magic Crystals.

At this point, Dangross was also starting to understand the significance of Magic Crystals. Previously, it was vague about ”money,” but this transaction made it understand that Magic Crystals can buy things it likes.

And this was why Angel had Kaier proceed with the transaction. The Elemental Creatures of the Tidal World have a weak grasp of the concept of ”value,” but it’s not too late to start cultivating this understanding with Dangross.

Having dealt with Dangross’s matter, Kaier then brought out his secret weapon.

A wrinkled piece of parchment.

On the parchment, there was a faint spatial energy and a line of cryptic language unknown to Dox.

”This was written by my mentor. He said that as long as it’s shown to the Skinner magic box, it will understand.”

Actually, there’s no need for Kaier to explain, everyone has already seen the effects.

Skinner Box’s scarlet eyes turned pure black upon seeing that parchment. Ignoring its menacing appearance, just those round, shiny black eyes alone, at first glance, they’re actually quite cute.

After watching the parchment, Skinner Box voluntarily opened its mouth filled with sharp teeth.

This time Kaier reached in with his hand to grab something, and Skinner finally didn’t bite him again.

After digging around in Skinner Box’s belly for a while, Kaier finally extracted a stack of well-preserved parchment.

A moment later, the parchment was spread out. The two meter square parchment directly occupied most of the table.

When Dox looked at the parchment, he understood the two things Kaier had mentioned earlier.

The first statement: ”It’s fine if Lord Dox stays here, after all, he won’t understand it either.”

It turned out to be true, he indeed couldn’t understand it, with various strange patterns making his eyes dizzy.

The second statement: ”Because this blueprint might be dangerous if left outside, that’s why it’s kept in the box.”

Indeed, merely spreading out this blueprint made Dox feel a faint swelling in his brow, his spiritual power had become disturbed, seemingly being relentlessly torn apart.

At first, Dox could remain calm, but the longer he stared at the blueprint, the stronger the discomfort in his spiritual power grew, showing signs of small ruptures.

Dox took several steps back, no longer staring at the blueprint, feeling slightly better.

On the other hand, Kaier was very quick-witted and had already retreated to the edge of the Earth Cavern as soon as the blueprint was spread out, clearly he had been a victim once too.

Contrarily, Angel was looking at the blueprint with a focused expression, seeming to show no signs of discomfort.

”Do you think he’s pretending or faking it?” Dox murmured softly.

Kaier, who was nearby, heard and quietly responded, ”I think, since Mentor specifically sent Lord Chaowei, there’s surely a reason.”

Dox glared at Kaier, ”I wasn’t asking you, I was asking him.”

Dox pointed at Dangross.

Dangross had also retreated to the edge at this point, tightly holding the tempering agent, while the little Sandworm curled on the back of his hand.

”Pretending or faking, it makes no difference. You better not try to use words to sabotage our relationship, I won’t heed you.” Dangross, quite staunch, turned away, showing his hand’s back to Dox.

Dox could only shrug, continuing to look at Angel.

He just didn’t believe Angel’s spiritual power was unaffected, surely he’s pretending now. Estimating, it won’t be long before he scurries over.

However, half an hour later, Angel remained seated at the desk, studying the alchemy blueprint. Though occasionally frowning, he showed no signs of discomfort.

This made Kaier look at Angel with increasing admiration. Back then, even Mentor Esos only looked for half an hour before putting the blueprint away. The time Angel spent viewing it now was already equal to Mentor Esos!

No wonder he’s been called the most dazzling star in the Southern Domain in recent years!

Dox also felt a bit uneasy now, could Angel really be unaffected?

With doubts, Dox approached the table again, and upon looking down, that dizzying sensation returned.

Dox could confirm, this blueprint definitely possesses some form of attack targeting spiritual power... Yet why is Angel unaffected, or is his spiritual power resilient to such a degree?

Perhaps hearing Dox’s approaching footsteps, Angel finally lifted his eyes.

”Kaier, come here.” Angel said while folding up the blueprint.

Once the blueprint was folded, that oppressive spiritual power vanished instantly, while Kaier ran quickly to Angel like an excited Husky, looking at Angel with a face full of admiration.

”I have some clues about this alchemy blueprint. I will first attempt to decipher the external alchemy patterns, to make the alchemy blueprint reveal itself. But before that, could you tell me where you discovered this blueprint?”

Kaier hesitated for a moment, seemingly unsure of whether to speak.

Angel: ”You don’t have to say if you don’t want to, I just wish to know if you found it in a maze.”

Maze? Dox looked at Angel suspiciously, does Angel know the origin of this thing?

Kaier raised his head in surprise, ”How did you know, sir?”

Angel: ”...Heard about it before.”

Angel didn’t offer an explanation, and his expression was slightly peculiar. To Kaier and Dox, it was evident there was something fishy here.

After a moment of silence, Kaier spoke up, ”Sir should know the contents of the alchemy blueprint, right?”

”Haven’t deciphered the outer magic patterns yet, temporarily unaware of the full picture. But it’s likely a short sword.”

Kaier: ”Then do you know what this short sword is, sir?”

Angel pondered: ”...A key.”

Kaier exhaled a long breath, ”Sir certainly knows, have you perhaps read ’Gaia’s Journey’?”

Angel: ”Gaia’s Journey? What is that?”

Kaier: ”Gaia’s Journey is an ancient book I found in a certain ruin, written by a wizard named Gaia, recording her travels in various places. There’s a section mentioning that maze.”

”Although the maze had been roughly explored, Gaia mentioned a concealed place in her journey. I went to the maze holding a skeptical attitude at the time.”

”Finally, I found this alchemy blueprint.”

Kaier’s recounting clearly left some parts vague, but that doesn’t matter.

Inside Angel’s mind, he only thinks: It appears Sanders isn’t all-knowing, even the mentor has moments of misjudgment...

The maze Kaier and Angel referred to, is actually the rather well-known The Garden Labyrinth in the Southern Domain.

The Garden Labyrinth is a ruin that’s been left for ten thousand years, situated in the plains of Gumman Kingdom’s heartland. Who built it and why remains unknown.

Due to the erosion of time, only a wasteland is left there.

When The Garden Labyrinth was discovered, it immediately caused a sensation.

Many witches have explored it, the first ones daring to try would often find surprises. However, with too many people eager to try, and The Garden Labyrinth couldn’t withstand the witches’ fervor for digging deep, within a few years, there was nothing valuable left to find.

Yet, there are still those who believe there are secrets remaining, so for many years, it has been explored.

Including Sanders.

Sanders’ first exploration before becoming a wizard was The Garden Labyrinth.

Indeed, there wasn’t anything remaining to be found in The Garden Labyrinth, Sanders was preparing to leave in frustration.

Perhaps due to luck or fate, Sanders didn’t succeed in leaving but was sucked into a spatial tunnel inadvertently opened in The Garden Labyrinth.

The other side of the tunnel was the Nightmare Realm.

It was there that Sanders discovered the true name of The Garden Labyrinth—

Naraku City.