He Xi Is Right

In the darkness of night, a series of gasps echoed from the shadows outside the main building of Eagle Claw Manor.

Ferdinand and Otto had crept back in without a sound.

Both men wore expressions of pain and excitement.

Ferdinand's face was covered in large, red, swollen bumps, his eyelids so puffy they were reduced to mere slits, as if he'd been ravaged by a swarm of venomous bees.

Otto's face was similarly swollen into a "pig's head."

The two exchanged a look, no words needed.

Ferdinand pulled a glass bottle, about the size of a fist, from his embrace, its opening sealed with fine mesh netting.

Inside the bottle, three enormous mosquitoes flew about restlessly.

Otto also had a swollen bump on his neck. He nodded with difficulty, pointed towards Cyril's room upstairs, and then towards Mage Duggan's guest room.

The division of labor was clear!

Ferdinand cradled the "trophy" and slipped towards Cyril's room.

Otto, meanwhile, headed for Duggan's guest room.

"Knock, knock, knock..."

Duggan opened the door. The Dwarf's already large eyes widened, and the short beard on his chin bristled in surprise!

"Earth Mother Goddess above!" Duggan gasped, looking at the "pig's head" before him. "Otto? What... what happened to you?"

Otto tried to force a smile, but accidentally pulled at the bumps on his face, wincing in pain. He grunted, "Esteemed Mage Duggan... Woof... we... we caught the mosquitoes..."

He pointed upstairs towards Cyril's room. "Let's go to Young Master Cyril's room together to test them."

Duggan looked at Otto's miserable state, then at the direction he pointed, his mouth twitching.

Mosquitoes?

He recalled previous tests with cicadas, beetles, mantises, ladybugs, fireflies, and rhinoceros beetles, all of which had precedents in the Insect Mage's lineage records.

When Cyril had mentioned mosquitoes earlier, Duggan had merely thought he was overwhelmed and speaking nonsense.

He hadn't considered it a possibility at all.

But looking at Otto's face now, Duggan fell silent.

These two foolish boys... actually went to catch mosquitoes?

Duggan sighed.

Oh well...

They were leaving for Fernandez first thing in the morning anyway.

Might as well dash Cyril's hopes.

"Sigh... let's go."

Inside Cyril's room.

The fireplace flames danced, illuminating several faces with varied expressions.

Cyril nervously rubbed his hands, his eyes burning with hope.

Ferdinand, his face covered in bumps, carefully held the glass bottle containing the three "giant mosquitoes."

Duggan stood to the side, his expression complex.

When Duggan saw the three mosquitoes in the bottle, their size far exceeding normal and their proboscises terrifying, his eyelids twitched again.

Earth Mother Goddess above! What did the mosquitoes in this swamp eat to grow so large?!

No wonder Otto and Ferdinand were bitten so badly!

Duggan cleared his throat, preparing to begin the final testing procedure.

"Cyril, get ready, I'm going to start establishing..."

"Wait! Duggan!" Cyril interrupted him. "Not yet! I need to perform a ritual first!"

"A ritual?" Duggan blinked, his brow furrowing.

Cyril then opened the mesh netting on the glass bottle and slowly extended his arm towards the opening.

"Young Master Cyril!"

Duggan's eyes widened even further. "Are you crazy?!"

However, Cyril was deaf to his words.

Attracted by the fresh scent of blood and flesh, the three mosquitoes in the bottle unceremoniously plunged their proboscises into Cyril's skin.

Cyril's lips moved silently, as if reciting a spell.

Watching this scene, Duggan's expression shifted from astonishment to regret.

He felt that coming to Plint this time was a mistake.

This child... seems to have gone stupid.

He doesn't actually think that feeding mosquitoes a little blood will make them gratefully obey him, does he?

This is even more ridiculous than what he heard at the tavern the other day, "Hero, the Demon Lord wants to date you!"!

Just as Duggan was about to step forward to pull Cyril away and end this farce--

Something unexpected happened!

The three mosquitoes, greedily sucking blood, suddenly stopped their movements in unison!

As if receiving an order, they withdrew their proboscises from Cyril's arm, then... lined up like well-trained soldiers, forming a horizontal line at the bottom of the bottle, motionless.

Duggan's eyeballs nearly popped out!

Cyril opened his eyes, a confident glint shining within them.

"Number one! Number two! Turn clockwise three times in the air!"

"Number three! Pass through between them!"

Under their gazes, which were like seeing ghosts--

Two mosquitoes flapped their wings and took flight. Within the narrow confines of the bottle, they completed a circular flight, difficult yet precise!

And the "Number three" mosquito, with a "buzz," flew straight through the gap between its two companions! The movement was fluid! The command was clear! The execution was perfect!

"Buzzz--!"

After completing their tasks, the three mosquitoes landed back at the bottom of the bottle, lining up again, as quiet as sculptures.

Duggan: "..."

He hadn't even started establishing a mental link yet!

What... what the hell is going on?!

Have the mosquitoes become spirits?!

Ferdinand trembled with excitement. He suddenly looked at Otto, who was equally stunned. Their eyes met!

"Slap!"

"Slap!"

The two stout men jumped up and high-fived in the air!

Then they exchanged a look, and Otto quickly left the room to inform Baron Ul.

In the study.

Baron Ul's face was filled with disbelief as he listened to Otto's report.

"Cyril actually commanded mosquitoes!?"

"Absolutely true! My Lord!" Duggan's voice rang out. "I saw it with my own eyes. Young Master Cyril established an unprecedented connection with the mosquitoes in a special way!

He gave commands, and they executed them precisely! This is a communication talent I've never seen before!

Although no one has ever taken mosquitoes as their primary contract partner before, there are indeed many mosquito-like monsters with extraordinary powers.

The talent Young Master Cyril has shown has limitless potential! I dare to swear on my honor as a Mage, if he embarks on the path of an Insect Mage, he will undoubtedly shine brightly on this path in time!"

Cyril followed Duggan into the room. "Father, He Xi was right!"

"This... this... could it be... that He Xi... actually taught you some... secret art?"

Duggan was also full of curiosity and looked at Cyril.

Cyril hesitated for a moment, but thinking that He Xi's method was indeed effective, he no longer hid it:

"He Xi told me that he had heard of a special 'ritual' before, which required actively offering one's own blood to the mosquitoes, and then devoutly reciting an ancient incantation."

Duggan frowned. "What incantation?"

Cyril seemed a little embarrassed, but he cleared his throat and recited it in a low tone:

"Winged ones who buzz in the dark night, Messengers who drink the nectar of life!

With my flowing blood as sacrifice, I call upon you!

Listen to my will!

Revere me as--

'Blood Master'!"

Duggan: "..."

The muscles on his face twitched a few times.

This spell... it's not even as good as that book, The Hero Lord, the Demon Lord Said She Wants to Fall in Love With You! At least that book sounded exciting.

He cleared his throat and turned to Baron Ul, "My Lord, I think... perhaps... in any case, Young Master Cyril's talent is undeniable!"

Then he looked at Cyril, "Cyril, time is short. Since you've found your direction, we'll depart for Fernandez first thing tomorrow morning! Professor Meli will be very surprised to see you!"

Baron Ul hadn't recovered from the shock. He nodded subconsciously, his gaze blankly fixed on the desk.

Seeing this, Duggan knew the Lord needed some time to process it. He pulled the excited Cyril out of the study. Ferdinand and Otto also withdrew.

Ferdinand and Otto also tactfully withdrew.

Only Baron Ul remained in the study.

The fireplace crackled, illuminating his face, which was filled with confusion and shock.

His gaze fell on the glass bottle on the desk.

As if possessed.

Baron Ul reached out and carefully opened the gauze covering the bottle's mouth.

He took a deep breath and put his hand inside.

"Hiss..."

He suppressed his discomfort, his lips moving silently:

"Wings that buzz in the dark night..."

"Messenger who drinks the nectar of life..."

"I offer my flowing blood as sacrifice..."

The study was silent.

Only the crackling of the firewood in the fireplace and the buzzing of a mosquito could be heard.

Baron Ul finished chanting the spell and opened his eyes with anticipation.

He saw the mosquito still firmly stuck to his palm, its abdomen visibly swelling... without any intention of stopping.

Let alone lining up or circling!

Baron Ul's old face flushed. He coughed awkwardly, quickly withdrew his hand, and hastily covered the gauze.