Lord Ethan's face remained expressionless as he merely looked at Ryan with an indifferent gaze.
Ryan was startled. What kind of twisted development was this? Why had it suddenly turned into a kill list, with him about to become the Executor?
His mind raced, desperately piecing together the sequence of events.
Yet no matter how he thought about it, he could not derive any cause-and-effect relationship from the information he currently knew.
The rules had been broken, so Lord Ethan taking action was understandable. But there were far too many names on the list. Ryan could only guess that something was wrong with those Wizard Family freshmen.
But why did he have to be the one to act? It was far too abrupt, without any warning!
More importantly, why did Lord Ethan believe he was qualified to become an Executor?
Among those family freshmen, there would certainly be Supernatural Resources provided by their Wizard Families—Wizardry Scrolls, even Wizard Artifacts, and the like. Was Lord Ethan so certain that he could handle them?
What a joke!
Ryan's pupils constricted as he suddenly thought of something.
Unless...
A chill rose in his heart, though he did his best to keep his expression natural. If that was the case, then this list contained far more than it seemed.
His seemingly normal expression looked exceedingly immature and full of holes in Lord Ethan's eyes. He was merely a little Wizard. Lord Ethan's lips moved. "You are very confused."
Ryan said somewhat nervously, "Yes. I do not understand, Lord Ethan. Why do the freshmen on this list have to die? They are victims as well. It seems they have not violated the rules."
Lord Ethan extended a pale hand from beneath his sleeve. The paper floating before Ryan flew over, and he caught it between two fingers.
"Do you remember the rules I spoke of at the Newcomer Assembly?"
"I remember! Death is not permitted on Ancient Forest Mountain. No matter what methods are used, everyone connected to it will die, regardless of right or wrong."
"Moss Bailin, Cardi 'The Purple Gold Flower,' and many other Wizard Family freshmen on this list violated the rules. They were the masterminds behind the recent murders."
Ryan had been mentally prepared, so he was not overly surprised.
"You need not wear a mask. I was exactly like this in the past, but before a true Wizard, it will only make you look especially clumsy." Lord Ethan suddenly spoke. Ignoring the abrupt change in Ryan's expression, he continued, "With masterminds, there are naturally accomplices. Tell me, if someone unknowingly helped the masterminds violate the rules, does that count as violating the rules?"
Ryan dropped the expression he had been using to conceal himself and frowned instead. Lord Ethan knew more about him than he had expected.
As for how he had done so, Ryan did not wish to investigate further. The methods of powerful Wizards were impossible to comprehend without reaching that level.
He also became more cautious inwardly. In the future, he would need to pay more attention to protecting his privacy.
Ryan pondered for a moment. Just as he was about to speak, Lord Ethan cut him off.
Lord Ethan sneered. "An assassin had a knife forged at a blacksmith's shop and attempted to assassinate the king, but failed. Everyone connected to it, from top to bottom, including the blacksmith, must die."
"The rules are likewise the king—the core of Umbral Expanse. All Wizard Members obey the rules; they cannot be violated. You may exploit the rules and receive their protection, but you cannot violate the rules themselves. Anyone connected to their violation must die!"
"Unless you have the power to stand above Umbral Expanse and make rules for us to obey."
Lord Ethan's eyes were cold and sinister. "Those who attended the welcome party spoke with Wizard Family freshmen and revealed information about freshmen from other Wizard Ships, thereby causing others to die. They should be killed."
"Everyone in the Wizard Mutual Aid Association exposed information about other Wizard Freshmen, resulting in their deaths. They should be killed!"
"Now answer me: should they be killed? Do you dare to kill them?"
A powerful aura erupted from Lord Ethan, bearing down upon Ryan. In that instant, Ryan seemed to see a hideous maw open in an endless abyss, trying to swallow him whole.
Sweat seeped from his tightly clenched hands. Particle Energy throughout Ryan's body became active, barely supporting him against that aura, yet he still swayed like a lone boat in wind and rain, always on the verge of collapse.
He looked seriously at Lord Ethan and forced out a roar. "They should be killed! But I have one question, and I hope Lord Ethan will answer it."
Lord Ethan's gaze turned cold. "What, do you mean to say that many of them are still innocent? Not a single one of them is innocent! The Wizard World is cruel and cold. When dealing with Wizards, one must be cautious and careful. There is no such thing as pie falling from the sky. Only Wizard Contracts, beneath the gaze of the Eye of Judgment, can create a measure of trust."
"The test began aboard the Wizard Ship. The books on the shelves, as well as the books in the Freshman Residence, had already given them opportunities and methods!"
Lord Ethan seemed to recall something. A trace of complexity surfaced in his eyes as he sighed. "On the Wizard path, the only one you can ever trust is yourself. Likewise, every choice you make must bear its own consequences. If you cannot bear them, then accept the price."
"No, I think you have misunderstood me, Lord Ethan." Ryan's eyes were deep and shadowed, his voice especially low. "What I wish to ask is whether killing them would violate the rules of Ancient Forest Mountain."
Lord Ethan froze for a moment, his expression becoming unreadable. Then the corners of his lips gradually curved upward. "Little fellow, you really are interesting."
His voice gradually turned cold. "Go ahead and do it. At dawn tomorrow, the rules of Ancient Forest Mountain will no longer exist. Likewise, Ancient Forest Mountain itself will no longer exist. You are the final batch of Wizard Freshmen."
The Parchment Scroll recording the list flew toward Ryan, and he caught it in one hand.
"Lord Ethan, there is one more matter." Ryan called out to the purple-haired figure who had turned to leave.
The other man looked over with a hint of interest, seemingly wanting to hear what other question Ryan could ask.
"Wizard's Theory of Essence states that between Wizards, there is equivalent exchange." Ryan's gaze was exceptionally serious.
Lord Ethan was taken aback. Such an expression was exceedingly rare on his face. Yet an unprecedented smile also appeared, and Lord Ethan burst into laughter. "Interesting, truly interesting. That is right—between Wizards, we follow equivalent exchange."
"The list is the Wizard Contract. Leave behind your blood, and everything you gain from the Wizard Freshmen will belong to you."
Lord Ethan snapped his fingers, and his figure vanished from where he stood.
Ryan discovered that, apart from the list, the Parchment Scroll in his hand now bore additional writing, as well as the signatory representing Lord Ethan.
"I truly hate this feeling of things being beyond my control!"
A sigh carried an indescribable meaning. Beneath the fluorescent glow of the Wizard Array Path, his eyes appeared somewhat gloomy.
: Twelve days of quarantine, and I finally got to eat meat. Sob, sob, it tasted like Mom's cooking! (Please keep reading and vote! I ate meat today, so there will be three updates!)
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