Greatest Legacy of the Magus Universe

Chapter 84: Bait

Black Pearl Tavern.

Adam sat at a window-side table, looking at the sun that was about set over the horizon. The once-bustling streets of Hannes City were now unusually quiet and empty.

Seeing such a sight, Adam clicked his tongue in annoyance and muttered under his breath, ”Tsk, that vampire bastard!”

He was in a terrible mood right now. His face was flushed red from intoxication, and on the table in front of him, several empty wine gourds were haphazardly kept.

The youth took a swig of liquor from the gourd in his hand. ”Eh?”

However, barely anything came out. This gourd was finished as well. Adam peeked through the bottleʼs mouth to check if there was anything left. Then, he looked around and screamed, ”Waiter, waiter! Where are you?”

The tavern was empty, except for the few drunkards who placed the importance of having liquor over their lives.

”Waiter, I want you!” Adam screamed louder. ”I need you!”

The next moment, a short middle-aged man wearing a simple tunic and pants rushed toward him with a face full of panic.

”Customer, you should leave. The curfew is about to begin!”

”Hmm?” Adamʼs face visibly contorted. ”The hell did you just say?”

The waiter gulped and bowed even lower. ”Sir, donʼt get mad. Itʼs just that weʼre about to close—”

Adam came closer to the waiter and spoke flatly, ”But you arenʼt closed now, are ya?”

”Eeekk!” Smelling the pungent alcoholic smell drifting from Adamʼs mouth, the waiter retreated a few steps. ”F-Fine, Iʼll give you another gourd of Caldera, but after that, you must leave.”

”Fine, fine, go hurry and fetch me another gourd, will ya?” Adam made a face and urged the man.

As the man turned around and hurriedly ran toward the bar, Adamʼs drunken eyes gleamed with a hint of sobriety. He took out a vial from his inner robes and covertly poured its contents into his mouth.

Within a minute, the effect of the potion began to take place. To the untrained eye, it would seem as if no change had taken place. But if a Magus were to focus on Adam right now, they would see that the youthʼs mana signature was gradually fading away.

The potion that Adam had just consumed was called the Potion of the Mundane Man. It had only one effect and that was to completely hide a Magusʼs mana signature and make them appear as if they were an ordinary person.

Adam then checked a slightly bulging pouch hanging by his waist and nodded ever so slightly. After a full day of preparation, everything was set in motion. Now all that was left was for him to be ʼabductedʼ.

”Sir! Sir!” The waiter from earlier ran toward Adam with a white gourd in hand. ”Take this and please leave.”

Seeing the gourd of Caldera, Adam beamed. ”Haha, perfect!”

He grabbed it from the waiterʼs hand, uncorked it, and took a large mouthful of the delicious wine inside.

”Puahh!” Adam wiped his lips in joy. He then grabbed five gold pieces from his pocket and slammed them on the table. ”Here, keep the change. Iʼm in a good mood today!”

The waiter counted the money and cried out loud, ”Customer, youʼre 2 gold coins short!”

Adamʼs eyebrows twitched. ”I-Is that so? Here.”

After receiving the full amount, the waiter grabbed Adam by the hems of his clothes and dragged him out of the tavern. After pushing him out of the door, he warned, ”Sir, you must hurry. Donʼt wander around!”

Adam waved his hand nonchalantly and yelled out loud.

”Ah, youʼre worried about nothing! What kidnapping? What curfew? Hmph, itʼs nothing but—hiccup—conspiracies. Those nobles are up to something shady, I tell you. You shouldnʼt believe everything—hiccup—the authorities tell you.

Kekekeke!”

The waiter looked at Adam stumbling away with pity. He couldnʼt help but shake his head as he locked the tavern doors. ”I hope he makes it to safety…”

After closing the doors, the waiter extinguished all the lights and walked back to the living quarters. But there was one thing that was bothering him. He couldnʼt help but think in confusion,

Itʼs already so late, why wouldnʼt the manager allow the kid to stay back at the tavern? How strange.

…

”Ugh!” Adam fell face first on the dirty cobblestoned streets. ”Damn it!”

He struggled to stand on his feet as he spat the dirt from his mouth. This was already the third time that he had fallen because he couldnʼt walk straight.

By now, his clothes as well as his face had become very dirty. So much so that it was hard to recognize him.

The youth looked around at the streets devoid of any life. ”What the… Where the hell am I?”

He looked around for a long time, trying to make heads and tails of his location. In the end, he stomped the ground in annoyance.

”Ah, whatever!” He picked a random direction and started walking.

On the roof of a nearby building, two figures with red eyes looked at the drunk Adam with utter disdain.

”Foolish human!” One of them muttered in contempt.

The other figure instructed, ”Take him and find one more person before heading back to the cavern. Taking too many people with you will only slow you down.”

”Understood.”

The red-eyed figure jumped down and landed on the ground. Without even bothering to hide his presence, he walked toward Adam.

Adam turned around and saw the red-eyed figure standing right behind him, looking at him coldly. He couldnʼt help but mutter angrily, ”Who the hell are you? Why are you standing so close? Do you—hiccup—know who my father is? Hah?”

However, the figure didnʼt reply. Instead, he delivered a knife-hand strike to the side of Adamʼs neck. Adam, who was ʼdrunk out of his mindʼ, couldnʼt even see the attack, much less block it.

With great ease, the vampire spawn knocked out Adam and put him over his shoulder.

…

A few minutes later, Adamʼs eyelids revealed a narrow slit, his gaze calm and composed. Without drawing attention, his eyes darted around, trying to ascertain his whereabouts.

Good, still in the city! He confirmed.

His gaze then landed on a woman, a fellow kidnapee, in the other arm of the vampire spawn. Adam remained motionless. Now was not the time to play the hero.

He stealthily put his hand inside the pouch hanging from his waist and took out a small rock the size of his fingernail. Then, he dropped it on the ground.

The rock silently fell down. Even upon impact, it didnʼt produce any sound. After the rock, hit the ground, it turned into liquid and formed a circular pattern. Then, it completely melded with its surroundings.

Seeing this, a faint smirk appeared on Adamʼs face.

Iʼll leave the rest up to you, Magus Karl.