A Major Gain

Cunning and suspicious.

This was something that Rein had already learned about the nature of the werewolf race.

Even if Ilubeck hadn't reminded him to be careful after going out, he could have guessed that Bazel was definitely waiting for him somewhere outside.

This former "Top Ten Legendary Demon Hunters" has now fallen to rock bottom, and any enemy could pose a fatal threat to him.

Therefore, he would be extremely cautious to prevent his whereabouts from being revealed.

Besides Ilubeck, who was certain that Bazel wouldn't reveal his whereabouts, there was another outsider in the lab.

That's Rein.

In the dimly lit alley, there were rusty pipes everywhere.

In the perpetually dark, underground area of Mechanical City, the squeaking of rats and the hissing of steam leaking from the pipes were exceptionally clear.

Rein stood there, stroking a piece of ice crystal in his hand, and then called out into the empty alley, "Mr. Bazel, come out."

His tone was very confident, his expression was very calm, and he looked quite intimidating.

It wasn't that he discovered anything; it was purely a test.

Even if a legendary powerhouse, a werewolf skilled in tracking and stealth, had fallen in power, he would definitely not be detected by a novice like Rein.

After a few moments of silence, as expected, a cold response came from the darkness.

"Oh? You knew I was waiting for you all along?"

As the sound drew closer, a burly figure gradually emerged from the darkness.

Upon closer inspection, who else could it be but the White Wolf, Bazel?

"Yes, Teacher Ilubeck told me to go out and say hello to you."

Rein responded with a calm expression, but he was actually extremely nervous inside.

Even though he had given this legend a sound beating before, he didn't dare to underestimate him in the slightest.

These legendary figures were once top-tier individuals standing at the Transcendent of two great empires; it would be impossible for them to exist without some hidden trump cards.

Even though his combat power was limited by the [Silver Radiance Sacred Artifact], Rein felt that killing him would be a piece of cake.

Therefore, he chose to "take the initiative" and immediately declared his relationship with Ilubeck.

This guy's plan to assassinate him silently is now out of the question.

"Oh?"

Sure enough, upon hearing this, the murderous intent in Bazel's eyes froze for a moment.

He looked Rein up and down with suspicion, his eyes wide with disbelief. "You're Dr. Ilubeck's apprentice?"

He paused, then asked in a skeptical tone, "Heh, the Doctor actually takes on new apprentices?"

Clearly, he didn't believe it.

"."

Upon hearing this, Rein suddenly felt that there might be some hidden reason why Ilubeck had made things so difficult for him before he started.

But he also knew that this relationship alone was not enough to extinguish the cunning werewolf's desire to kill him and cover it up.

Killing himself now would prevent future trouble. Even at the risk of being held accountable by Ilubeck, that guy probably wouldn't want to take the risk of his whereabouts being revealed.

Of course, Bazel originally intended to assassinate Rein silently, but now his whereabouts have been exposed.

But, there's no difference.

He felt that even if it meant offending Ilubeck, this kid had to be dealt with.

Rein had anticipated what Bazel was thinking at that moment.

So, before the other party could make a move, he dropped a bombshell. "My teacher told me about your injuries, and I happen to be able to resolve the hidden dangers of the [Silver Radiance Sacred Artifact] within you!"

Sure enough, as soon as he said that, Bazel's expression changed drastically.

"What! You can heal the injuries inside my body?"

Bazel was initially overjoyed, but reason quickly brought him back to his senses. He narrowed his eyes, a cold glint in them. "Heh. Kid, you're trying to stall for time?"

In his mind, even if this kid in front of him really was Dr. Ilubeck's disciple, your teacher said he was "hopeless," how dare you say you can save him?

The only explanation is that they wanted to buy time and find a chance to survive.

As he spoke, Bazel looked around but didn't see anyone else following him, which puzzled him.

Even if it's just a sliver of hope, he's unwilling to give up.

Otherwise, if it really came down to murder, such a shrewd hunter wouldn't utter a single word.

He was waiting for Rein's next explanation; if he wasn't satisfied, he would kill him immediately!

Rein felt his scalp tingle under the pressure of Bazel's domineering aura.

Without uttering a single wasted word, he raised his hand, revealing the Essence Thread swirling between his fingers, and said, "I am Surgeon Sequence of the Transcendent level; this is my unique Transcendent ability. Just now, I used this ability to remove a 'Fine Needle' from your body."

"You"

With Bazel's keen eyesight, how could he not see that tiny Silver Needle, as fine as a hair, within the Gang Line?

This monstrous thing had tormented him for so long; if cutting off his arm or flesh could solve this problem, he would do it without hesitation. Unfortunately, those Fine Needle were densely embedded in every meridian, leaving him helpless.

But how did this kid manage to remove such a fine needle that even sophisticated medical instruments can't?

Even with a composure that would remain unfazed even if a mountain collapsed before him, the legendary figure Bazel couldn't help but feel a little anxious at this moment, asking, "How exactly did you do that?!"

The murderous intent in Bazel's eyes was instantly overshadowed by a glimmer of hope. This was the only hope he saw that could save his life and allow him to return to his peak!

At this moment, he truly believed that the young man before him was capable of healing the injuries caused by the [Silver Radiance Sacred Artifact].

Seeing Bazel's anxious expression, Rein secretly breathed a sigh of relief and calmly said, "This is my unique Transcendent ability. As for how to do it, you'll know once I try it again."

He reiterated that this was a "unique skill," lest the werewolf suddenly lose its mind and do something thoughtless.

"Oh?"

Bazel clearly understood what he meant when he heard this.

But instead of letting Rein try it, he narrowed his eyes slightly.

The werewolf's suspicious nature makes it difficult for it to trust a human so easily. Instead, it asks, "If I want you to heal me, what do you want?"

The timing of this young man's appearance was too coincidental, making one wonder if he had ulterior motives.

The more you talk to a powerful person, the less you should try to be petty.

If you want something, the best approach is to directly state your terms and conditions.

So, Rein stated his purpose directly, saying, "I will treat your injuries, but I also need you to protect me for a period of time."

"Hehe."

Upon hearing this, Bazel sneered and said in a sinister tone, "Aren't you afraid I'll kill you?"

Clearly, he also guessed that Rein was after his past strength and wanted to use the healing as leverage to force him to sign some kind of "slave contract".

At that time, I, a dignified "Top Ten Legendary Demon Hunters", will become this kid's henchman. Wouldn't that be ridiculous?

"Afraid."

These words sounded menacing, but Rein remained calm.

Because he was certain that Bazel would never give up this only chance.

He added, "My teacher already told you that your injury is something the entire medical community can't cure. Only I know this secret method. If you don't want me to treat you, we can just go our separate ways."

Barefoot people aren't afraid of those wearing shoes.

Having lost the only chance to deal with the Silver Radiance Sacred Artifact, Bazel is doomed sooner or later!

Rein was certain that if it came down to risking his life, Bazel would never gamble it with an unknown nobody.

"Heh, you think I'd let you go just because you know where I am?"

Upon hearing this, Bazel sneered repeatedly, his eyes flashing with a fierce light as if he wanted to tear Rein to pieces.

Rein knew, of course, that he couldn't leave.

He stated all his conditions directly, saying, "After all, you are a powerful legendary Transcendent. I only need you to protect my safety when necessary. Of course, we can sign an 'equal employment contract' in advance for this. I think this shouldn't be too difficult for you."

"."

Upon hearing the term "equal employment contract," Bazel's gaze became somewhat subtle.

Although he remained defiant in his words, he was already weighing the pros and cons in his mind. If that were all, it would still be within an acceptable range.

Rein didn't say anything either.

Knowing he needed their help, Bazel was already at a disadvantage from the start of the negotiations and ultimately had to make concessions himself.

After pondering for a while, he tentatively asked, "If you can really remove the Fine Needle from my body, I will protect you without hesitation. But how long do you plan to sign this contract?"

Bazel figured the employment period would definitely be long. No one would pass up such a lucrative opportunity to demand a higher salary; he had even mentally prepared for a ten-year or eight-year contract.

To his surprise, Rein gave a very short timeframe. "Three years."

Three years?

Bazel's expression changed slightly.

Three years is not a long time for werewolves, who have long lifespans.

He glanced at Rein and suddenly felt that he couldn't quite figure out this young man.

"Yes, three years."

Rein nodded and confirmed again, "I need you to protect my safety with all your might for the next three years."

It wasn't that he didn't want to say more; if he could, he really wanted to sign a contract with this werewolf to be enslaved for generations.

But he knew that was impossible; doing so would only anger a legendary powerhouse.

When people see hope, they will wholeheartedly abide by the contract.

Otherwise, even if Bazel agrees temporarily, he'll likely cause some trouble later. The so-called contract will only become a ticking time bomb.

Bazel knew that the other party had guessed that he would not actually kill anyone, so he stopped pretending to be aloof.

Moreover, this kid was quite pragmatic and didn't make any excessive demands.

With Magic Contract in place, there's no need to worry about the other party playing tricks.

He agreed, "I can agree to sign a three-year contract as a bodyguard. But the contract must stipulate that I will only be responsible for protecting your safety and will not do anything else for you."

This limits the content of the contract to bodyguards, not thugs who commit murder and arson.

Rein readily agreed, "Sure!"

Two straightforward and honest people settled the terms of the deal in just a few words.

At this point, Bazel said again, "Before signing the contract, let me see your healing abilities."

"No problem."

Rein quietly put away the ice crystal in his hand, then walked over and casually tapped Bazel's arm.

The guy's body was riddled with Silver Needle, which could be easily pulled out with a simple "Gang Line" (gangxian).

Looking at the Silver Needle between Rein's fingers, Bazel's eyes grew brighter and brighter, "It really works!"

He then asked expectantly, "How long will it take you to completely resolve the needle ailment in my body?"

Unexpectedly, Rein shook his head and said, "I don't know. Six months, a year, or maybe longer."

"Have no idea?"

In his excitement, Bazel immediately frowned and demanded, "What do you mean?"

"As you can see, I am currently a newly awakened [Awakened] who has just entered the realm of the Transcendent."

Rein said, "My strength is still very weak right now, so my efficiency in removing the Silver Needle is not high. Also, because there are so many Silver Needle in your body right now, I can remove them easily. But if the number of Silver Needle in your body decreases later, it will take more and more time to remove them. So, I can't guarantee when I can remove them all."

This is also why Rein only offered a three-year contract.

As long as the acupuncture ailment is not completely cured, Bazel will absolutely not leave.

Can the contract be renewed after three years?

Upon hearing this, Bazel fell into deep thought; what the kid said was indeed true.

In the blink of an eye, he asked, "How can I improve the healing efficiency of your 'Battle Qi Threads'?"

Rein: "If the amount of battle qi is strong enough, more Essence Thread can be formed."

Bazel, being cunning, asked, "Can others practice your secret technique?"

Three-legged toads are hard to find, but powerful Transcendent are everywhere.

"I don't think that will work."

Rein, however, had anticipated this. Before the other party could suspect anything, he took out the secret technique without hesitation and said, "I can show you the secret technique incantation."

He was certain that others might covet this secret technique. But before him stood one of the "Ten Great Legends," possessing a complete inheritance of the "Seventy-Two Legendary Divine General Sequence"!

Moreover, if it's not part of the "Battle Doctor Sequence," giving this skill away is somewhat pointless.

"."

After reading the incantation for the Cultivation Method, not long after...

Even the well-informed Bazel gave up.

He had long suspected that since this Cultivation Method was the only secret method that could heal the injuries in his body, it must be very difficult to cultivate.

"'Condensing Qi into Gang' is really a fantastic secret technique. If what I expected is true, it is an exclusive skill of the legendary sequence."

Bazel clicked his tongue in amazement, but he was also even more curious. He turned to Rein and asked, "There are no shortcuts to mastering this level of micro-control of battle qi. How did you learn it, kid?"

Rein: "I don't know. Maybe it's because I'm exceptionally gifted."

"."

While this may sound a bit shameless, it's the only reasonable explanation. The difficulty of learning many Cultivation Method does indeed vary from person to person; otherwise, there would be no such thing as talent.

This "exceptionally gifted" medical apprentice is the best, and only, choice.

Bazel immediately abandoned the idea of relying on himself or finding someone else to practice this method to speed up the treatment.

He then asked, "Kid, what kind of source energy breathing technique are you practicing now?"

Rein then took out his breathing technique and frankly said, "The Holy Shield Knight Breathing Method."

Bazel's face darkened. "Black Iron Grade?"

Rein: "Yes."

"Damn it, such a low-level breathing technique, how long will it take you to advance to the next level?!"

Bazel snapped, "Fine, whatever Transcendent path you want to take, I'll figure something out for you."

Upon hearing this, Rein knew his objective was achieved.

He had long anticipated that if the emperor wasn't in a hurry, the eunuchs would be.

In order to heal his injuries as quickly as possible, the werewolf would definitely take the initiative to help him improve his strength.

This is also the main reason why Rein took the risk of contacting Bazel and signing a guard contract.

In three years, with his "Mind Core," he could extract a great deal of information from Bazel, one of the "Top Ten Legendary Demon Hunters."

Brothers, the votes were great yesterday. I can still salvage this situation; please recommend my 4000-word chapter! Whether it saves the day or not, I'd be extremely grateful for any recommendations!