After consuming a few drops of blood, and with the help of Huoye's Magic Circle and incantation, the Ruby Ring became Unas's possession a quarter of an hour later.
It not only contained the Finger of Death, but was also a storage Arcane Artifacts; Unas immediately sensed what was inside.
Unas couldn't estimate the exact number of the massive amount of Gold Coins, and Merlin wasn't exaggerating at all; he might even have been a little modest. In any case, they were no longer short of money.
There are also some Spellbook that can be stored in storage Arcane Artifacts. Merlin must have read them frequently. Unas couldn't even understand the titles, and the contents were even more profound and difficult to understand. They must be high-level magical insights or something similar.
Finally, there are countless magical equipment, including staves, crowns, robes, and magical jewelry, as well as thousands of various types of magic gems.
"I've struck it rich!" Unas was increasingly delighted as he looked at the items. The total value of these things was almost equivalent to the national treasury of a small country. No wonder it was the savings of a thousand-year-old mage.
At the same time, a sense of crisis descended upon them. If the people of Dalaran knew that this enormous inheritance had fallen into their hands, they would definitely take every measure to take it back. In the face of this wealth, even noble mages would turn into bandits and robbers, and all reason and evidence would be meaningless.
In this case, anything in the Ring that could easily be associated with Merlin should not be exposed, such as magical equipment, which Merlin might have shown off in public, making it highly likely that people would recognize it.
Some of the Spellbooks even contained notes personally written by Merlin, and they were absolutely not to be seen by outsiders. It seemed that only Gold Coins and some basic magical materials could be taken out and used.
"Sir, what's in the storage space?" Huoye Ye looked at the stunned Warden expectantly, hoping to get a share of the spoils.
"A large amount of Gold Coins, Spellbooks, and magical equipment—this is an unimaginable fortune," Unas told the truth. He could still trust Huoye, and he also expressed his concerns about Dalaran.
"You're right, sir. Things connected to Merlin shouldn't be allowed to circulate, but could I borrow those Spellbooks temporarily? I'd like..."
"Of course, no problem," Unas said, seizing the opportunity to win him over. "You are my most trusted comrade-in-arms, and I can share all the spoils of war with you."
Huoye was deeply moved and said in a trembling voice, "Thank you, sir. I will make a copy for my own research as soon as possible, and I will never leave any trace of Merlin."
Unas gave Huoye the Spellbook and hundreds of magic gems, hoping that the Blood Elves could make further progress and grow into a powerful ally as soon as possible.
He then took out another large, hidden rectangular box and said, "This was also found in Merlin's bedroom. I don't know what it was used for."
Huoye suppressed his excitement, bent down to inspect it, and, unusually, joked, "It's sealed very tightly; the shape does resemble the coffin Merlin prepared for himself."
"There seems to be space inside," Unas tapped the outer shell to listen to the sound, "Could it really be a coffin?"
"Just open it and you'll see."
The two men used all their strength and finally pried open the box. A naked man appeared inside. His eyes were closed and his chest was still, making him look like a dead man.
Unas had never seen such a handsome man. His exquisitely crafted features and long hair that shone even brighter than gold were enough to outshine any male celebrity. His muscles were as perfect as if sculpted from marble, and he exuded captivating charm.
Did Merlin have a taste for that kind of food?
Unas checked the other man's pulse with his hand. A pulse so weak it was almost imperceptible appeared on his carotid artery. So this perfect handsome man was still alive.
Moreover, his pulse was gradually increasing and his heart was beating faster, indicating that he was recovering.
Unas immediately placed his sword against the man's neck. If the man suddenly resisted, his sword would not hesitate—he had killed Merlin with a single blow, let alone this man who was suspected to be his male lover.
As time passed, the handsome man's eyelids began to tremble, and his deep, sapphire-like eyes opened and turned. A childlike curiosity appeared on his face, and he became even more puzzled but not afraid when he discovered the sword at his neck.
Who are you? Where is your master?
Unas didn't answer, but questioned, "Answer my questions first: What's your name? Where are you from? Why were you locked in this box? Is the owner you speak of Merlin Firestone?"
The man blinked and answered one by one, "My master calls me Pafeman, I come from... My master said I was created by him, this box is my home, and the master I speak of is the Archmage Merlin."
His voice was incredibly magnetic, but his speech pattern was like that of someone with intellectual disabilities. Unas seized on the key point and asked, "You were created by Merlin? How were you created, and why were you created?"
"Created with blood and flesh, my master said I'm a backup plan, and perhaps one day he'll replace me."
This man is clearly not Merlin's son with any woman; a thousand-year-old Zombie wouldn't be able to reproduce. Considering his mention of "alternatives" and "replacements," the matter is clear:
Merlin was likely afraid of failing to resurrect himself, so he prepared a second plan: to cultivate a young body to replace him. This man was probably the one Merlin painstakingly cultivated.
I never expected Merlin to be so focused on appearance, creating a handsome man who doesn't seem real.
Huoye's speculation aligned with Unas's, but they disagreed on how to deal with this person.
Unas thought that one strike would end it all, and leaving him alive might be a source of trouble. Who knew what kind of curse Merlin had cast on the man?
Huoye, however, felt it would be a waste to kill him. Merlin was going to be resurrected in a new body, so he certainly wouldn't be resurrected as just a pretty face. This man should not only be handsome, but also have extremely strong magical potential, so that he could accept Merlin's magic into his body without being overwhelmed.
Moreover, this man seems dim-witted and mentally challenged, but he is actually quite intelligent. He just hasn't been exposed to enough common sense and knowledge. With proper education, he could definitely become a powerful mage.
Huoye conducted a simple test on the man and was amazed by his magical talent. Feeling a surge of admiration, he thought it best to spare his life and advised, "His existence is definitely Merlin's top secret, perhaps even Gunsel doesn't know about it, so we don't need to worry about his identity being exposed and causing trouble."
Unas thought about it and felt that Huoye's words made some sense, so he nodded and said, "But we still need to conceal him; he's too conspicuous."
"I'll disguise him; I guarantee he'll become a generic face." Huoye's eyes lit up as if he'd found a new toy.
"Then he's in your hands to be taught. Make it clear beforehand, if anything goes wrong, I won't show any mercy."
"Don't worry, I will definitely train him into a perfect Archmage."
Pafeman stared blankly at the two of them, completely unaware that his fate had changed in an instant.