The Vastness of Magical Destiny
Chapter 359: Volume 6: Cautious Planning - 12: Bait_2

Chapter 359: Volume 6: Cautious Planning Chapter 12: Bait_2

Although the whiskered man was prepared, he was still stunned by the sudden burst of fighting spirit and domineering aura from his leader; it had been a long time since he saw his leader lose composure like this, resembling an enraged lion pacing back and forth in the living room with hands behind his back, trying to calm down his somewhat uncontrollable emotions.

"Mirror of Thousand Miles? Magic-armed gun? Ha ha, good, very good. I thought I would never see these treasures in my lifetime. It seems the heavens favor us ’Gray Skull’; it’s time for the ’Gray Skull’ to hold our heads high," the Hunchback old man had already lost his usual gloom and solemnity, his face beaming with delight, which made the whiskered man grow even more nervous. "Boss, this is just one side of the story, we can’t be sure right now, we’ll only know if it’s true or false in half a year. What if this guy is deceiving us, what then?"

"Hmph, Tick, did your brain sink to your crotch? Can he deceive us for a moment and yet for a lifetime? Which day don’t we do things that are ten times riskier than smuggling food? If this is a deception, then let him be ready to pay a heavy price. But for now, at least, that price is something we can afford. Even if we satisfy his requirements first, what of it? As long as we can get those two weapons, heh heh, what is Katrina, and what is Seringe? Everyone will bow before our ’Gray Skull.’ I didn’t expect to have such an opportunity in my old age. This is our ’Gray Skull’s chance, we cannot give it up." The Hunchback old man seemed to suddenly grow ten years younger at this moment. "Tell him, we agree to his conditions, we’ll handle the food problem for him. Isn’t there a secret base of ours south of Odessa? Let him secretly transport the purchased food there, we can help bring it back to Mattdam. But, in no more than six months, I want to see the Mirror of Thousand Miles or the Magic-armed gun!"

Kudan’s report finally allowed Komer to heave a sigh of relief; the rest of the work should be left to Palermo and Caffrey. Putting all eggs in one basket has never been Komer’s style. Although Komer trusted that Palermo would have no conflicts with him at this time and believed Palermo indeed had his unique methods to deal with transporting the food to Odessa, he still needed to guard against Philip, who had been keeping an eye on Palermo’s movements, as after all, it was his territory. Caffrey, on the other hand, was much more reliable. The low-profile Barefoot Society Merchants could use their tight network to transport the food acquired from various places in batches, which would make the target much smaller and also avoid many other risks.

"Boss, that sloppy guy has been wandering outside the castle for more than two hours. If you hadn’t told me his true identity, I would only think he fits a vagabond’s attire, and I can’t figure out what else he could do for a living," Puber sighed as he watched the drifter who had returned to the castle’s main entrance. In the past two years, the world had deteriorated, and even such sketchy characters, obviously out to swindle food and shelter, could be called mysterious mages. Puber wasn’t sure if the name of mage was becoming more worthless or if mages were always composed of these bizarre and unconventional individuals.

"Puber, you can’t judge a book by its cover, nor can you measure the ocean’s water. This guy might bring us surprises; in Gutenberg, his discerning eyes both pained me greatly and helped me a lot," with a faint smile on his lips, Komer crossed his arms and leisurely watched the guest who was continuously searching for something at the castle’s entrance.

"Sigh, Essence Magic Ring, one of the Seven Spirit Rings passed down by the Goddess of Nature, such a divine artifact, and yet you, boss, simply gave it away to a woman we met for the first time. Boss, aren’t you a bit too partial? I’ve followed you through thick and thin, in rain and sunshine, but it seems like you’ve never even given me half a Gold Shield," Puber mourned more like a complainer than complaining about Komer’s injustice; it was more about lamenting such a priceless treasure falling into someone else’s hands. The way the boss squandered it, allowing him to carry a Gold Shield, was already the greatest concession.

"Hehe, Puber, don’t fuss too much over things that have already passed. Many things are only understood in hindsight. Moreover, even if we had that ring in our possession, it might have been like casting pearls before swine; we never had the chance to show its true power, and without that, we could never understand its real identity." Komer had grown calluses in his ears from hearing Puber’s complaints, but upon reflection, he indeed felt a pang of loss. A divine item capable of causing ripples in the Magic realm had slipped through their fingers so easily. Deep down, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of regret; however, dwelling on it was meaningless now that it was over.

"Hmm, that’s true. And besides, Boss, we did gain something from this. First, at the very least, it’s left you with a favorable impression in Princess Vero’s heart, laying a foundation for your future plans of romance. Secondly, without that Spiritual Ring, this fellow wouldn’t have come all the way here to us. If we can get a hold of him, and he’s truly as capable as you say, then that Essence Spiritual Ring wouldn’t have been squandered." Puber had calculated the pros and cons of every situation from beginning to end, prompting Komer to admit that Phoenix Elite Academy indeed deserved its reputation as a cradle for officials. Puber’s fortune of spending two years there was truly his destiny.

Shrugging helplessly, Komer didn’t know the real purpose of why this person had come here. However, as he left Gutenberg, he had already sensed something extraordinary about this individual, someone who shared a similar aura to his own. Komer couldn’t quite put his finger on it, but he felt they emitted a kindred spirit.

Rebry had been circling outside the Castle for half a day, observing the winds and studying the terrain—indeed, the land was situated above the Eye of Darkness. He could distinctly feel waves of mad howling coming from deep beneath the Castle, emanating from a bunch of brash and wildly defiant creatures. Moreover, he sensed a shadow-like figure flitting among them. He couldn’t comprehend how such an entity could have formed here and why it could so freely issue challenges at him. Could it be that the Eye of Darkness truly possessed the ability to resist the subversion of the Holy Light from the heavenly realm, thus preserving these aggrieved spirits? No wonder every Lord of the Caucasus who took residence there met a tragic end. Even he was not entirely confident in his ability to subdue the wandering spirits within the Castle.

Wandering in the wilderness outside the Castle, no one resided within a thousand meters—not out of fear. Damarlinsk Castle’s dreadful reputation was known to Lords and Adventurers seeking treasure, but its infamy did not extend to the common folk. At least, over the years, there were no tales of ordinary people being implicated by it.

"Kid, it seems that your Castle is quite a fascinating place—the legendary Eye of Darkness, The Land of Demon’s Curse, heh heh. I wonder what it’s like to lie inside; I’m really eager to experience it soon."

Seeing the sincere anticipation on the other’s face, if it wasn’t for his lucid and natural speech, Komer might have thought his mind was compromised, speaking so deliriously. The Eye of Darkness, The Land of Demon’s Curse—any sane person should be able to grasp the meaning behind those names, yet this fellow seemed to regard it as if it were heaven.