"Don't worry, we won't abandon you!"
The giant tossed a detailed map to Leilin, with a red route marked on it.
"After you're done, follow this route and you'll be able to leave smoothly before any other wizards discover you... Besides, the superior behind us will also act to draw Leono's attention away, and we'll have support waiting outside..."
The giant spoke calmly, deliberately mentioning the Second-rank Dark
Leilin was silent for a moment. "I'll give it a try..."
If it was too dangerous, he certainly wasn't going to risk his life for this organization!
"Good! You'll find this to be a very simple and easy task!" The giant chuckled. "After this job, you can come back to our side! So, which academy or organization would you like to transfer to? You can tell me now..."
Leilin shook his head. He had no such plans yet, and besides, he didn't believe everything the giant said.
When dealing with Dark Wizards, if you didn't have some cunning, they'd eat you alive—bones and all!
"Right! To ensure certain things, you still need to sign this!" The giant tossed another black scroll to Leilin.
"Hm?" Leilin took the scroll and examined it, a look of surprise appearing on his face. "A contract of the Eye of Judgment? Even after obtaining the Filth Bird's feather solution, you dare to use this?"
"This was specially drafted for you by the superior behind us!" The giant's words carried a pointed meaning, deliberately emphasizing the last few words. "And that Filth Bird's feather solution was the last of our organization's reserves. If you can find another one, well... we'll just have to accept our bad luck."
It seemed he was quite confident about this.
"Heh heh... even so, you're the first person who'd dare go through with something like this!" Leilin stared at the giant and let out a cold laugh.
As he did so, the phantom of a great serpent suddenly opened its massive jaws, lunging to bite the giant!
Boom!!!
Just as it was about to reach the giant, the serpent phantom collapsed entirely, transforming into a mass of dark shadow. It struck the green mist enveloping the giant, producing the sound of crashing waves.
"Haha... I was just joking! After all, I'm just an ordinary member of the Hand of a Thousand Leaves—how would I dare oppose you Elders?"
A brilliant smile suddenly appeared on Leilin's face!
"You can become an Elder too, soon enough! After this operation, I can nominate you!" The giant was silent for a moment before speaking calmly.
"Then! Thank you!"
Leilin lightly tapped the scroll, and a black serpent-script seal instantly condensed into a symbol.
Whoosh!
The phantom of the Eye of Judgment descended. To Leilin, it felt even more powerful than the phantom Leono had summoned last time.
Under the Eye of Judgment's completely emotionless gaze, the scroll in Leilin's hands began to ignite of its own accord.
Green flames instantly swept across the entire scroll.
A streak of light representing contract and obligation flew into Leilin's mind the instant the scroll finished burning.
Then, the phantom of the Eye of Judgment dissipated of its own accord into the air.
He had read through this contract as well. It only stipulated that he must not help the
"So they didn't even discover what the Filth Bird did last time?" Leilin thought to himself.
Then, without looking back, he left the place.
In the entire underground hall, only the giant remained standing there quietly, as if waiting for something.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
A few minutes later, the giant's figure, still wrapped in green mist, suddenly began to tremble violently. Then, the wall behind him exploded!
After the dust settled, most of the mist around the giant had been torn away, revealing a towering figure standing over two meters tall.
"Madman! That guy is a f***ing madman!!!"
The giant muttered to himself, then burst into wild laughter. "Haha... good! Interesting! Things are getting more and more interesting!!!"
Then, he transformed into countless wisps of green mist and drifted away from there.
Behind him, the entire underground chamber suddenly collapsed, sending dust billowing into the air...
The next day, at 7 PM, Leilin arrived at Leono's office right on time.
"Lord Leono!" He knocked gently on the door.
"Come in!" Leono's gentle voice came from behind the door.
Leilin took a deep breath and pushed the door open. Leono was sitting in a vine-woven chair, wearing a pair of spectacles, sipping a green beverage. Beside him was a small round table with an identical chair.
"Leilin! You're here! Sit down!" Leono gestured to the chair beside him.
"Thank you!" Leilin bowed again before sitting down next to Leono.
"Here! Try some of this Bituoluo flower fruit juice! This is just a casual, private meeting—no need to be so stiff!" Leono acted every bit the hospitable old man.
Seeming somewhat embarrassed, Leilin gave an awkward smile before picking up the cup on the round wooden table and taking a sip.
A fresh, herbal fragrance spread through his mouth, then flowed into his limbs and bones. Leilin felt as if warm water was washing through his entire body, leaving him completely refreshed.
"How is it? Tastes good, doesn't it?" Leono asked with a hint of anticipation.
"Elder, this treasure of yours is truly exceptional!" Leilin praised sincerely.
"Haha..." As if a child had been complimented, Leono let out a hearty laugh.
"Come, let's chat casually. Leilin, you're from the Keli Archipelago, aren't you? I visited there when I was young—the resources were extremely scarce, a barren wasteland for wizards..."
Leono was very talkative, and began sharing some of his past experiences with Leilin.
In their relaxed conversation, time always passed quickly, and without realizing it, more than an hour had gone by.
Suddenly, Leilin's nose caught a sweet fragrance.
"What is this?"
"An incense from the Wetland Garden. It's said to help restore Spiritual Power, and it's quite popular among the wizards there..."
Leono explained calmly, his voice seemingly becoming more ethereal. A wisp of pure silver Spiritual Power quietly spread outward.
Leilin's expression grew increasingly drowsy, his eyelids heavier and heavier. In the end, he fell into a deep sleep entirely.
Seeing Leilin fast asleep, a hint of a smile appeared on Leono's face.
He removed a ring from Leilin's hand and examined it carefully.
"A Ring of the Lucid? It seems to have other anti-detection effects layered on as well. Seven different potions applied—quite thorough... what a pity..."
Leono looked at Leilin, the smile of a victor spreading across his face.
"Bituoluo flower fruit juice combined with Intoxicating Dragon Flower pollen—even a Second-rank Wizard might not be able to resist it. What can a mere ring and some potions do?"
This combination was a configuration Leono had carefully selected specifically for Leilin. Some of the ingredients even had to be transported from outside the secret realm, costing him a portion of his Elder's quota to obtain.
Because of this, the timing of the operation had even been delayed, giving Leilin the opportunity to stir up trouble within the Four Seasons Garden.
Of course, having invested so much, the effects of this combination were excellent.
A First-rank Wizard at the peak was already enough to warrant the attention of a Second-rank Wizard like Leono. Moreover, these wizards all had special means, with high resistance to bewitchment and illusion-type spells. The most troublesome part was that Leilin was officially still a wizard of the Four Seasons Garden—without concrete evidence, Leono couldn't resort to certain high-aftereffect special methods.
As an experienced Second-rank Wizard, none of these problems were beyond Leono's ability. Now, he had simply used a special potion combination to take Leilin down.
Besides, these two ingredients were not harmful in themselves. At most, they would cause Leilin to fall asleep and temporarily lower his resistance to illusions. In fact, they would even benefit his body afterward, so Leono wasn't technically violating the Eye of Judgment contract.
"Even so, the effects of this bewitchment won't last long. With his constitution, he might wake up in half an hour—I need to hurry..."
The vine chair beneath Leono crawled forward, moving to sit directly across from Leilin, so that Leono could face him head-on.
"Open your eyes! Look at me!"
Leono spoke softly, his voice carrying a peculiar rhythm that made one feel drowsy.
The instant he spoke, a silver-white light emanated from his eyes—the manifestation of materialized Spiritual Power being released outward!
After hearing Leono's words, Leilin's eyelids fluttered, and he slowly opened his eyes.
"What is your name?"
Leono asked, the silver-white light in his eyes nearly piercing into Leilin's gaze.
"Leilin Farell!"
"Where were you born? Do you have any family?"
...
Leono's initial questions were all quite simple, gradually increasing in difficulty as he probed deeper, drawing Leilin further in.
Soon, after a dozen or so questions, the interrogation touched upon some core content.
"Why are you wanted by the Lilliter family?"
Leono asked softly, a slight tremor in his voice.
"Because of a ruin inheritance. I killed Posain Lilliter!" Leilin's eyes were vacant, answering unconsciously.
"What kind of inheritance?" The silver in Leono's eyes grew more intense.
"An incomplete Branded Swordsman inheritance! And also a high-grade Magical Item..." Leilin answered.
"I see?" Leono adjusted his spectacles.
"A Branded Swordsman? That ancient branch of the wizard tradition?" He studied Leilin's physique.
"Such high physical attributes, and the faint impression of runic brands on the surface—it really does match the legends..."
Due to his exceptionally high constitution, Leilin's muscles were quite pronounced now, containing tremendous strength. Even if he went out impersonating a Great Knight, no one would question it.
"Then! What exactly is your relationship with the Hand of a Thousand Leaves?" Leono asked the most critical question.