Greedy Piscis

After Leader Quinn and several senior members got nothing from their questioning and left, a doctor in a white coat entered expressionlessly.

With a goatee and a face the color of cured meat, he looked utterly gloomy.

Rein recognized him.

This sinister old man was Chiz Piscis, the chief physician of the Weasel Bandit Group.

Though he was merely a Second Tier awakened Ascender with rather mediocre combat ability, his status within the bandit group was extremely high. Even Leader Quinn treated him with great courtesy.

That was because he had another highly prestigious identity: a Two-Star Potion Master certified by the Potion Masters Guild!

Nearly all the Transcendent advancement potions used by the entire bandit group came from his hands.

And, of course, the Zombie Potion used to control newcomers with slow-acting poison was his exclusive formula.

If Rein wanted the antidote, he had to work his way through this old bastard.

Piscis entered the infirmary, his gaze falling on Rein. He said blandly, "You're awake."

Rein hurriedly got up, putting on the full respectful manner of a newcomer. Bowing, he said gratefully, "Thank you, Mr. Piscis. Only you could have pulled me back from the brink of hell."

"Heh."

Piscis gave a noncommittal snort. A sharp glint suddenly flashed through his cloudy eyes, making him seem as menacing as a venomous snake.

He stared at Rein for a moment before saying meaningfully, "Now that there's no one else here, can you tell me what happened in the sewers?"

It was an ordinary question, but his tone was sinister enough to send chills down one's spine.

It felt as though any lie would result in being swallowed by a venomous snake.

"Huh?"

Rein looked surprised, but inwardly he shouted, Here it comes, just as expected.

Yet an unnatural expression appeared on his face as he said, "I already told the leader and the others. I passed out then, so I don't remember anything."

"Oh? Is that so?"

Piscis sneered, wearing a strange smile that seemed to say, You can't fool me with such petty tricks.

After a pause, mockery curled at the corner of his mouth. "When they brought you here earlier, I tested your blood. Strangely, aside from an unknown lethal toxin, I also detected components of an Antidote Potion. If I'm not mistaken, you survived because someone injected you with an Antidote Potion in time."

At those words, Rein's expression abruptly froze.

To others, it looked like the reaction of someone pretending to remain calm.

Piscis keenly caught the change in Rein's expression. His eyes lit up, and he became even more convinced that he was right.

Then, in a grim, threatening voice, he demanded, "So, can you explain who injected that Antidote Potion into you?"

"Uh..."

Caught off guard by the question, Rein's eyes trembled for an instant, displaying the panic of someone whose secret had just been exposed.

But before losing consciousness, he had already anticipated that he had left behind an irremovable "flaw."

After an Antidote Potion was injected, traces remained in the body for several days.

This "flaw" might fool others, but it could never fool Piscis, who was proficient in potionology!

Quinn and the other senior members had not mentioned this during their earlier questioning. That meant Piscis had not reported this information to them.

His purpose was obvious. This greedy old bastard really wanted to keep Baron Morin's treasure for himself!

But that was exactly what Rein wanted.

Because this was precisely the situation Rein most wanted to see!

When Leader Quinn questioned him earlier, those people had not mentioned the Antidote Potion. Rein had guessed then that his gamble had paid off.

This man, whom the old hands in the group privately called "Arrogant Piscis," had indeed made a greedy choice.

Of course, anyone who learned just how vast Baron Morin's fortune was would probably want it all for themselves!

Rein also knew very well that although this man was retained by the bandit group, this noble Potion Master had always looked down on these filthy thieves and disdained associating with them.

As long as Piscis had selfish motives, Rein could trade his "bargaining chip" for greater benefits—the antidote, and freedom!

Of course, even if Piscis had no selfish intentions and told the leader about this, Rein had long prepared an explanation.

Now, Rein had complete control of the initiative.

After all, no one would imagine that the vanished items were hidden on him at this very moment.

But he also knew that when dealing with a crafty old fox like Piscis, if he handed over his bargaining chip all at once, his value would be gone!

Since this old bastard planned to take the treasure for himself, would he leave any witnesses alive once he got what he wanted?

"Well..."

After pretending to struggle for a moment, Rein seemed to have made up his mind. No longer concealing anything, he asked directly, "Mr. Piscis, what can you give me if I tell you?"

"Oh, so you're not going to deny it anymore?"

At those words, a sharp glint flashed through Piscis's eyes.

This brat really did know about the missing treasures!

What could those treasures be, to make even a great thief like Quinn so anxious?

The old man was overjoyed inside, but his face remained icy. He said coldly, "Heh heh. You know the group's rules. If Quinn finds out you concealed information, nine lives wouldn't be enough for you to die."

"Hmph!"

Hearing that, Rein put on an all-or-nothing expression. His gaze hardened as he said, "If I can't awaken as a Transcendent and have no antidote, then whether I die in training or on a mission, what difference does it make?"

A thief's life was spent licking blood from the blade. Living one year at a time was all one could hope for.

For a rookie who lagged behind everyone else, the odds of surviving were indeed slim.

Such a reaction was perfectly normal.

"Kid, you do have some cleverness."

Rather than being surprised, Piscis's eyes showed an expression of having expected this all along.

Greed was human nature.

Of course, he had never expected Quinn's name alone to frighten this newcomer, whom he considered somewhat clever.

He did not waste more words and asked directly, "So, what do you want from me?"

Rein said bluntly, "I want the antidote for the Zombie Potion!"

"Just that?"

Piscis raised his brows, unsurprised.

But after a brief pause, he heard Rein continue, "And... I hope you'll accept me as your formal disciple, Mr. Piscis!"

"Oh?"

A barely noticeable flicker passed through Piscis's eyes. With a half-smile, he remarked, "You're a smart one, kid."

Under normal circumstances, this was the choice that maximized his benefits.

By becoming Piscis's disciple, he could transform into a doctor or a Potion Master's apprentice. His status in the bandit group would soar, and he would no longer need to participate in deadly training or dangerous missions. His safety would naturally be assured.

After all, in this cruel world, both Potion Masters and doctors held extremely high status.

For a boy of fifteen or sixteen to possess such shrewdness was already quite rare.

Moreover, only by becoming his disciple and handing over the secret might he avoid death.

Under ordinary circumstances, taking on an intelligent errand-boy apprentice would not have been impossible. With a few methods, he could keep the boy under control anyway.

But the Weasel Bandit Group was about to be destroyed.

He had no interest in taking on any disciple.

Since it was only an empty promise, Piscis, who had long harbored murderous intent, readily agreed. "Fine! I can give you the antidote, and I'll tell Quinn that I'm taking you as my disciple."

Hearing this, Rein pretended to be overwhelmed with gratitude. "Mr. Piscis, you really agree to take me as your disciple?"

"Mm."

Having said that, the old man looked at Rein with a "kind" expression and asked, "Then... can you tell me now what happened in the sewers beneath Morin Manor?"

Rein smiled knowingly as well and began his performance. "At that time, I was in the sewers..."