Chapter 266: Browning
Before purchasing a residence, Karl stayed at a newly built luxurious hotel, which was said to be backed by a multinational corporation and claimed that even if the army of the Kingdom of Colon invaded the Royal City, residents of the hotel would be guaranteed safety.
Besides safety, there were also the facilities.
Electric lights, showerheads, flush toilets…
Some technological products that required a certain level of industrial base to manufacture were all installed in the room.
“Trains have already appeared, and telephones have also begun mass production from prototypes, but currently only wealthy families can get lines installed.”
Putting down the technology magazine sent by Sharlene, Karl pondered:
“I wonder when wireless mobile phones will come out?”
The current telephone was still a communication device that converted sound into corresponding electrical signals through a transmitter, transmitted the electrical signals through conductive wires to a place far away from the speaker, and then restored the electrical signals to the original sound through a receiver.
It required connecting to electrical wires, applying for registration at a ‘telephone bureau,’ and then having someone come to install it, a process that cost a lot.
Although in Karl’s eyes, wired telephones were still very old-fashioned, they had already begun to reach ordinary people’s homes.
Thinking of the steam-powered carriages he encountered on the way, Karl couldn’t help but chuckle. Few people realized that a massive change had occurred in the era without them noticing.
“Hmm…”
Lowering his head, the text on the magazine seemed a little blurry.
Karl’s eyes flickered. Looking closely again, he discovered that the text was actually twisting and wriggling like tadpoles, gradually transforming into a bizarre human face.
The eyes on the human face were deep and terrifying, as if pulling a person’s soul towards an endless abyss.
Interesting.
A wizard apprentice’s soul magic.
This kind of magic directly acted on the soul. It didn’t have much lethality, but it would trigger the fear in people’s hearts.
Ordinary people couldn’t resist it at all.
“Mortal!”
The grotesque face opened its mouth wide, like a huge black hole, swallowing towards Karl:
“Don’t delude yourself into contacting demons. Although your soul is already decaying, I don’t mind tasting it.”
“If you continue to acquire that manor…”
“Hehe…”
The black hole slowly receded until it disappeared, and the distorted text on the magazine also returned to normal.
“Interesting.”
Karl closed the magazine and nodded slowly:
“No wonder that even after several price adjustments in the past six months, that manor still hasn’t been sold. It turns out a wizard apprentice was secretly interfering.”
“Just bluffing…”
“It doesn’t seem to have any malice.”
*
*
*
Abe was a person of Colon. Years ago, in order to join the Sun Church, he was deceived into using fire to burn his body.
As a result, he didn’t join the church, and his body suffered extensive burns, especially his face, which was horrifying.
He put down the bell-shaped magical item in his hand, composed himself, and pushed open the door to walk out onto the street.
After turning several times in the narrow alley, Abe arrived at the place his mentor used for research.
“Mentor!”
“Mm.”
Browning, a senior wizard apprentice with white hair and a tall, thin figure, was mixing potions. He nodded when he heard the voice:
“Any news?”
“Yes.” Abe lowered his head:
“An Earl named Karl intends to buy that manor. The price is currently at 2,000 gold coins.”
“It’s not clear whether a deal can be reached.”
“2,000 gold coins?” Browning stopped his actions, a disdainful sneer appearing on his face:
“Back when that manor was sold out of my hands, it was a full 8,000 gold coins, and that was already a discounted price.”
“Now it can only sell for 2,000?”
Abe didn’t say a word.
Back then, the war had just begun, and no one thought that the army of the Kingdom of Colon could actually reach the Royal City.
Moreover, over the years, the mentor had killed several owners of the manor, so of course the price had to drop again and again.
“Forget it.”
Browning, who obviously knew the reason, sighed:
“2,000 gold coins is 2,000 gold coins. These few days, you find the buyer’s residence. After they move in, I’ll make my move.”
“Mentor.” Abe’s expression changed slightly:
“The manor’s owners have been killed one after another, and it’s already become a minor news story. If something else happens, I’m afraid it will attract the attention of the church.”
“Moreover, this time, the one who intends to buy the manor is an Earl. What if there’s something else behind him…”
“Heh…” Browning glanced at his disciple:
“Don’t worry!”
“The things in the manor’s basement were personally arranged by my mentor. Unless a great angel makes a move, it’s impossible to discover the problem. Do you think the people from the church haven’t gone down there to investigate over the years?”
He scanned his research base, his eyes burning:
◈◈◈
“My research has reached the most critical moment. I heard that the Kingdom of Sark has obtained the latest cell samples. If I can buy a copy, there’s a high chance I can become a formal wizard in my lifetime.”
“All of this requires money!”
Abe opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but stopped.
“Go!”
Browning waved his hand:
“Keep a good eye on them. After it’s done, I’ll give you a zero-circle spell as a reward.”
“…Yes.” Abe responded. Lowering his head and intending to leave, his body suddenly froze in place.
“What’s wrong?”
Browning turned his head to look.
“Men…Mentor…” Abe’s face was pale, and his eyes were filled with fear:
“I can’t move!”
“Huh?”
Browning frowned, instinctively picking up the staff beside him. The zero-circle spell, Poisonous Thorns, was ready to be released.
He saw Abe’s facial muscles twisting strangely, as if something was hidden underneath. The skin and flesh stretched, grew larger, and gradually a human face grew out from under his skin, and then a person directly walked out.
Dream Walking!
Karl rubbed his cheek, sighing helplessly:
“This continent is indeed a desert for wizards. Even bloodline abilities are suppressed to this degree.”
If it were in the Other World or the Magic Forest, when he used Dream Walking, he could directly hide in another person’s consciousness, and his original body could manifest at any time.
But here…
He almost burst Abe’s body.
“It’s you!”
Abe’s eyes widened:
“Earl Karl!”
“Hm?”
Browning’s expression changed drastically. The staff in his hand suddenly pointed out, and countless tiny spores appeared in the air.
Zero-Circle Spell ━ Poisonous Thorns!
Although this spell was only a zero-circle spell, its power completely depended on the plants used.
Browning had spent decades researching various organisms. The plant spores on his body were a complex product. Once activated, they could even tear apart and corrode hard steel, let alone soft flesh.
Under the effect of the spell, the spores instantly transformed into writhing vines.
Karl’s fingers moved slightly, instinctively wanting to cast a spell, but as if thinking of something, he reached out and swiped across Abe’s body.
A soft sword appeared in his hand.
“Swish!”
A flash of sword light.
Everything in the scene suddenly froze.
Then…
Those ferocious and terrifying poisonous vines instantly lost their vitality and fell to the ground in unison.
Browning’s body stiffened. He opened his mouth to speak, but a crack from top to bottom had already split him in two.
“Pfft!”
Two halves of his body fell to the sides, blood spraying out from the middle.
“Ah!”
Abe instinctively retreated, his body trembling, his face pale, and his legs went weak, causing him to kneel directly on the ground.
“A Legendary Knight?”
At this moment…
A gentle, soothing female voice came from behind:
“More than that! To think that the insignificant wizard apprentice from back then has now reached this point.”
“Remiel.” Karl turned around, looked at the white-clothed angel who had appeared in the room, and shook his head helplessly:
“This is a dispute between us wizards. It doesn’t seem to be the place for a deity to interfere?”
“Hmph!” Remiel snorted softly:
“You should be glad that you used knightly methods. If you had used a first-circle spell in the Royal City, I could have killed you.”
“That wouldn’t violate the rules!”
