"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've completed the task, follow this route and you'll definitely be able to slip away before any other Wizards notice... Moreover, the Lord behind us will also act to draw Leono's attention away from you, and we'll have support waiting outside..."
The giant spoke flatly, deliberately mentioning the Tier-2 Dark Wizard behind the Thousand Leaves Hand — the implication of a threat was unmistakable.
Leilin was silent for a moment: "I'll give it a try..."
If it was too dangerous, he certainly wouldn't risk his life for this organization!
"Mm! You'll find that this is a very simple and easy task!" The giant chuckled. "Once you've finished this job, you can come back to our side! So? Which academy or organization would you like to go to? You can tell me in advance..."
Leilin shook his head. He had no such intentions at the moment, and besides, he didn't entirely believe everything the other party said.
Dealing with Dark Wizards without any cunning at all was a sure way to be devoured down to the bone!
"Alright! To ensure certain guarantees, you still need to sign this!" The giant tossed a black scroll to Leilin.
"Hmm?" Leilin took the scroll and examined it, a look of surprise crossing his face. "A contract of the Eye of Judgment? After obtaining the Filth Bird's feather solution, you still dare to use this?"
"This was specially drafted for you by the Lord behind us!" The giant said meaningfully, deliberately emphasizing the last few words. "Besides, that batch of Filth Bird's feather solution was our organization's very last reserve. If you can somehow manage to find another one, then we'll just have to count ourselves unlucky..."
From the looks of it, he was quite confident about this.
"Heh... Even so, you're the first person who'd actually dare do something like this!" Leilin stared at the giant and let out a cold laugh.
As his cold laugh sounded, the phantom of the great serpent suddenly opened its massive jaws and lunged to bite the giant!
BOOM!!!
Just as it was about to reach the giant, the phantom of the great serpent suddenly collapsed entirely, transforming into a large mass of dark shadow that struck the giant's green mist with the sound of crashing waves.
"Haha... I was just joking! After all, I'm merely an ordinary member of the Thousand Leaves Hand — how would I dare oppose you elders?"
A brilliant smile suddenly spread across Leilin's face!
You can become an elder too! After this operation, I can nominate you!" The giant was silent for a moment before speaking in an indifferent tone.
"Then! Thank you!"
Leilin gently tapped the scroll, and the black serpent-script imprint instantly condensed into a symbol.
*Whoosh!*
The phantom of the Eye of Judgment descended, and to Leilin it felt even slightly more powerful than the phantom Leonor had summoned last time.
Under the gaze of the Eye of Judgment — devoid of any human emotion — the scroll in Leilin's hands began to ignite of its own accord, with no wind to feed the flame.
Green flames swept across the entire scroll in an instant.
A streak of luminescence representing contract and binding shot into Leilin's mind the very instant the scroll finished burning.
After that, the phantom of the Eye of Judgment dissipated on its own into the air.
He had skimmed through this contract as well. It only stipulated that he must not assist the Four Seasons Garden — nothing too demanding. After all, they still needed his help, and wouldn't dare push things too far.
"So they still didn't discover what the Tainted Bird did last time?" Leilin thought to himself.
Without a backward glance, he turned and left.
In the entire underground hall, only the giant remained standing there quietly, as though waiting for something.
*Bang! Bang! Bang!*
A few minutes later, the giant's figure, wreathed in green mist, began to shudder violently — and then the wall behind him exploded outward!
When the dust settled, most of the thin mist covering the giant had been torn away, revealing a towering figure standing a full two meters tall.
"Madman! That's a damn madman!!!"
The giant muttered to himself, then burst into wild laughter. "Haha… good! Interesting! Things are getting more and more interesting!!!"
With that, he dissolved into countless wisps of green mist and drifted away.
Behind him, the entire underground chamber suddenly collapsed, sending a sky full of dust billowing into the air…
The next day, at seven in the evening, Lei Lin arrived at Leono's office on time.
"Lord Leono!" He knocked gently on the door.
"Come in!" From beyond the door came Leono's warm voice.
Lei Lin took a deep breath, pushed the door open, and stepped inside. Leono was wearing a pair of spectacles, sitting in a vine-woven chair and sipping a green beverage. Beside him stood a small round table and an identical chair.
"Lei Lin! You're here! Have a seat!" Leono gestured toward the chair next to him.
"Thank you!" Lei Lin bowed once more before settling into the seat beside Leono.
"Here! Try some of this Bithola flower fruit juice! This is just a private chat between us, so no need to be so stiff!" Leono acted every bit the part of a gracious old host.
Seeming a little embarrassed, Lei Lin offered an awkward smile before picking up the cup from the round wooden table and taking a sip.