"You think... Magic Stones are meant for giants?"
The old witch glanced up at the giant, who was still droning on about something, and whispered to Leilin.
"Aren't they?" Leilin said, somewhat surprised.
"Of course not. Giants may be formidable, but he's not a Second-rank
"As for the rest, it all goes to the 'Lord' behind us!" she said mysteriously.
"'Lord'?!" The word immediately set Leilin's mind racing.
Wizards respected strength above all. Whoever the old witch addressed with such reverence as "Lord" must be at least a Second-rank Wizard, right?
"Otherwise? Who do you think is shielding us from the White Wizards' divination magic?"
The old witch asked with a sinister smile.
"As far as I know, there are at least two or three other Dark Wizard organizations like ours in the Sleepless City, and behind each of them, there are hidden hands pulling the strings..."
Thanks to the alliance they had formed through their previous potion deal, the old witch clearly trusted Leilin more, and she spoke openly about certain secrets.
"Robbing White Wizard secret realms — this is absolutely not some whim of the Dark Wizards. It's an organized, premeditated, coordinated operation!"
A thought flashed through Leilin's mind and took hold.
"Perhaps there are even several superpowers from the Dark Wizard Domain pulling strings behind the scenes!" A hint of a smile appeared at the corner of Leilin's lips.
"It seems... things are getting more and more interesting..."
Still, none of this really concerned Leilin at the moment. His goal was simply to amass resources by joining the Dark Wizards' raids.
And just this single job tonight had already brought him close to five or six hundred thousand Magic Stones in income! This was clearly far more convenient and efficient than completing missions through the
Of course, the risk was considerable — once discovered, the pursuit would continue until death.
This was why every member concealed their identity. Even the leaders of these organizations didn't know the true identities of everyone under their command.
"All right! Take your share! Remember — don't squander it right away. Wait a while before spending!"
"Also, after this job, the mad dogs of the Nine-Ring White Tower will be biting at everything, trying to track us down. Remember to keep a low profile..."
The giant, wrapped entirely in green mist, continued listing precautions while waving his hand. "That's it. You can leave now. Our previous exchange meeting will also be suspended for a while — we'll notify you when it resumes..."
...
A bald wizard whose face looked as though it had been melted — leaving only a crude approximation of indentations and protrusions — was making his way through a dark forest.
A massive black python was coiled around his body, giving him an unsettling appearance.
BOOM!
Suddenly, the bald wizard's expression changed drastically, and he rolled to one side.
At the same time, where he had been standing moments before, the ground caved in and a violent explosion erupted. Purple flames swept through the surroundings, scorching an area of several hundred square meters into blackened ruin.
"Blood Hand! It has to be you! Get out here, you bastard!" The bald Viper roared continuously.
Black bristly fur sprouted across his body, making him look like a great ape.
In answer, countless fireballs erupted from the shadows.
BOOM!!!
The black fireballs were incredibly fast. Before he could even react, they had reached his side and detonated violently right in front of him.
The bald Viper's chest was charred black. His dark fur fell away in clumps, his chest caved inward, and the sickening sound of cracking bone rang out. Then his body was sent flying backward as if struck by a locomotive.
The massive python coiled around him was burned to white ash in the flames, scattering to the ground bit by bit.
"A spell with this kind of power?" The bald Viper didn't even have time to mourn his precious python — Leilin's Shadow Fireball had stunned him senseless.
"This kind of spell is at least an improved First-level Spell Model from one of the major Wizard organizations — and an enhanced-power version at that. Who exactly are you?"
Viper watched as Leilin slowly emerged from the shadows, his face a mask of alarm and uncertainty.
"Who I am doesn't matter. What matters is that you will die here today!" Leilin had already used his Shadow Fireball — he had made it abundantly clear that he intended to kill the bald Viper right here and now!
"Aren't you afraid the organization will investigate?"
The bald Viper lay on the ground, seemingly unable to move. He couldn't get up for the longest time.
"I only signed a contract with the organization promising not to leak the secrets of our gatherings — I didn't sign anything about members settling personal grudges!"
Leilin flicked his wrist, and countless black shadow hands materialized from the void, crushing a small tree behind the bald man and pulling out a tiny yellow insect.
Pfft! The yellow insect shattered to pieces under Leilin's palm.
"Stop pulling these petty tricks!" Leilin advanced step by step.
"You forced this on me! Second Form!" The bald man roared.
In an instant, his muscles bulged grotesquely. Thick black fur sprouted once more, and behind his shoulders, two elongated fleshy growths swelled and burst through his clothing, transforming into two furry beast claws.
At the same time, his teeth sharpened to points and his eyes turned blood-red.
Overall, he had transformed into an ape-like monstrosity with four arms!
As the bald Viper completed his transformation, a powerful wave of energy continuously radiated from his body.
"Activate!" Facing the snarling, clawing monster, Leilin simply smiled faintly and chanted a spell.
"Ding!" A crisp sound rang out abruptly, and then countless green vines and earth-toned stone pillars grew from the ground, forming a cage-like structure that firmly restrained the monster within.
"I gave you time not just to prepare your spells, but also to give myself time to set traps!"
Leilin appeared perfectly at ease. "This transformation of yours — it's a high-energy creature limb transplant surgery from Mutationology, isn't it? And it seems you've also combined it with your innate wizardry..."
"Unfortunately, what you transplanted are the forelimbs of a Diamondback Ape, and that creature happens to be countered by earth-attribute and plant-attribute energy particles..."
These, naturally, were the combat steps derived from the Chip's continuous simulation and calculation.
Following the Chip's recommendations, Leilin had complete control over the dynamics of the battlefield. He had to admit, the feeling was excellent.
"Arrgh..." The ape monster trapped inside the cage kept pounding its chest, venting tremendous rage.
Then, tiny plants and stone spikes grew from the surface of the cage and pierced into the monster's body one after another.
"Arrgh..." The ape roared continuously, crying out in pain. Its entire body's fur was stained red with blood.
BOOM! Suddenly, a massive explosion rang out.
Where the black ape had been, only two furry arms remained. The bald Viper had vanished without a trace.
Seeing this scene, Leilin showed not the slightest surprise. Instead, a triumphant smile appeared on his face.
"So you've used up your once-daily Shape-Substitution, have you?"
Shortly after, a faint wave of spiritual explosion drifted from the east. The bushes on either side parted, and the grim-faced old witch emerged, dragging the unconscious bald Viper behind her.
"How did it go? Smoothly?" Leilin asked.
"Mostly fine, though he actually had a one-use talisman on him. It gave me a bit of trouble!" Green light shot from the old witch's eyes.
"Perfect. The soul of a full Wizard is a rare prize!"
"Also, these things — half for you, half for me!" Leilin searched the half-destroyed bald Viper for the resources he had just acquired, along with the contents of his waist pouch, and split them evenly with the old witch.
He intended to maintain some credibility with this partner he planned to work with long-term.
The old witch's gaze toward Leilin had grown wary. While she was confident she could defeat the bald Viper, she could never have done it this easily — nor could she have killed him right here. This level of precise calculation, she had to admit, surpassed her own.
Moreover, the fact that Leilin had even predicted the enemy's escape route left the old witch genuinely astonished.
"But aren't you worried the organization will... after you killed Viper this time?" the old witch warned.
"Don't try to scare me!" Leilin laughed it off without a care.
"Dark Wizards are a bunch of cold-hearted, selfish scoundrels. Why would they trouble themselves over a dead man? Besides, everyone saw the grudge between Viper and me in public. Who could fault me for it?"
"It seems you've thought of everything!" The old witch looked at Leilin with complicated eyes.
Leilin smiled but said nothing.
Indeed, killing Viper had been part of his plan for some time.
There were two objectives. First, to establish his authority! As a newcomer who had just joined the organization, he would inevitably face some degree of bullying. In most organizations, hazing new members was tradition — but Leilin could quickly build his reputation through this display of dominance and protect his own interests.
Of course, he could only pull this off in a Dark Wizard organization. In a White Wizard organization, no matter how powerful he was, he would certainly be suppressed — and might even be branded a troublemaker who threatened stability and unity.
Therefore, within the Four Seasons Garden, Leilin had always kept a low profile and worked tirelessly without complaint. To this day, his team leader and fellow members held him in high regard.
The second objective, however, was Leilin's true goal: profit!
Today's raid on the secret realm had netted him only five or six hundred thousand Magic Stones. But adding Viper's spoils brought the total to around one million — a full doubling!
Wasn't the whole reason Leilin had joined the Dark Wizard organization to obtain sufficient resources? If the opportunity was there, why not seize it?